Back in Business
Food science and studies…
Branding…
The new packaging has 20 design trademarks and copyrights. It took 30 people five months to develop it. Three alternative designs were scrapped including a revised orange and straw version and a Pepperidge Farm-like depiction of an orange grove.
and
The design team…took half of a mid-season orange and created a cap that mimicked its peel in both color and texture. Because you have to squeeze it and turn it, “the cap symbolically represents the essence of the message which is that it the juice is fresh squeezed,”
I think that the Tropicana redesign looks bland and generic and to me the symbol of the orange with the straw did a better job at conveying the brand. Marketing and branding has long been among my interests too.
From Pepsi product to Coke product: Coke Sued Over Vitamin Water.
File under “cool stuff”…
And speaking of pr0n, though this goes under the categories of research and studies:
And strange news…
Locally…
In Taste T.O., beer aficionado Greg laments the lack of good beer drinking establishments in Toronto, using a TAPS Magazine article for inspiration. The piece takes the reader to Montreal and Halifax. Interesting read. By the way, I think that Greg (and/or Sheryl) needs to create a Taste T.O. Twitter account.
At Forum Liberalis Carolyn Bennett asks:
“Many experts suggest that Canada needs a comprehensive National Food Policy. What do you think should be essential elements of such a policy in the areas of agriculture, fishery, environment, industry, transportation, health, food protection, food security, aboriginal affairs, international trade and international development? Are there any other areas you think should be included?”
…Tell them what you think.
Finally…
Do bars serve beer floats? They should.
A blog post about what I’ve been cooking and baking coming soon and there’s a blog redesign in the future. I’ve changed templates but I want to do so much more.
Happy Obama Inauguration Day! We Canadians are thrilled.
I’m trying to increase frequency but I don’t really want to post @ work…
Photo links:
Pretty clementine granita (Click photo for more info.)
Is this cool or what? (Click photo for more info.)
Happy eating.
Post script: I’ve just added the tag “food pr0n”. Will be interesting to see if I’m denied access to posts tagged as such while at work. It won’t let me view mightygodking’s award-winning blog (mightygodking.com) or certain posts at other food blogs.
Good gosh. Video: Wrap your phone in bacon.
From Slashfood: Make Girl Scout Cookies at Home.
In the New York Times Mark Bittman talks about cleaning out the kitchen with a list of what you should toss and what items you should have. His list includes aerosol oil, bottled salad dressing and marinades, which he calls “The biggest rip-offs imaginable”, spices older than a year, canned beans (I disagree), imitation vanilla, imitation “Parmesan” (“beware the green cylinder”, he says) and fake syrup.
I ran out of cooking spray awhile ago and have considered buying an oil sprayer. Most of my spices are old. Very old. Three items listed above should go without saying:
His supplemental piece is “What to Ditch in the Kitchen”, which I want to read as “What to ditch in the kitch” or “What to ditchen in the kitchen”. Who doesn’t like a good rhyme? The reader comments are worth reading.
Similarly, The Kitchn on How To Stock a Vegetarian (or Vegan) Pantry.
Michele from Serious Eats assembles meals from groceries bought at IKEA.
City News on how to eat healthy despite the recession. On the list (see article for more info):
More Ways to Eat an Egg, from The Kitchn.
Criticism for food firm sponsors of anti-obesity campaign in the UK.
Slashfood reports on McCormick’s 2009 Flavor Forecast. Cayenne and Cherry? Smoked Paprika and Agave? Toasted sesame and root beer? Interesting.
More news tipped from Slashfood: Ben & Jerry’s Renames Butter Pecan Flavor, ‘Yes Pecan’. *groan* Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
(Truthfully, I like it. It’s my secret appreciation for puns.)
More from the B&J website: If you decide to indulge in some “Yes Pecan” in Scoop Shops during the month of January, Ben & Jerry’s is donating the proceeds to the Common Cause Education Fund.”
I’ve been interested in it for awhile but tickets are over $100. Yesterday Taste T.O. posted a call for volunteers and I think I’m going to do it. I usually forget that volunteering is a way to have costly experiences for free. They need 100 volunteers. Check it out and let me know if you decide to register either as a volunteer or as a participant.
I’ve been writing this post for days….
Food review from Friday: Subway’s Veggie Max sub.
What it is: A veggie patty with vegetables.
Options: The usual slice of cheese, array of breads and vegetables, the usual selection of sauces, toasted or not toasted.
I chose toasted on Parmesan oregano bread with cheese, with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, green peppers, carrots and cucumbers and chipotle mayo.
The verdict: The veggies and bread were fresh The option to toast is to toast the bread with the cheese. THe patty alternated between quite good – especially when I got a hit of sauce with it – and having a chemically taste. Overall the sub was just okay. I’d like to try it with a warm patty. In fact, I’d suggest that this should be a hot sub.
Coming soon: My review of the falafel at agenda cafe. It’s the best falafel in downtown Toronto – made by Israeli men who know falafel. The restaurant’s breakfast menu includes Shakshouka (Wikipedia, about.com), which I will try at some point. Maybe this Sunday.
Links:
-Chocolate Tasting 101 from The Globe and Mail.
-Pairing beer with cheese.
The New York Times on The 11 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating. Without the details that they provide, here’s the list:
1. Beets
2. Cabbage
3. Swiss chard
4. Cinnamon:
5. Pomegranate juice
6. Dried plums
7. Pumpkin seeds
8. Sardines
9. Turmeric
10. Frozen blueberries
11. Canned pumpkin
Full story here.
Check out this Vegetarian Sushi Cake and the story that Slashfood ran!
