Any day now, the ramps will be arriving at the Union Square Greenmarket. And when they do, I will be going on a ramp binge.
Update: Looks like ramps arrived on Saturday. Doh! I should have gone over to see, but was going other things. Wednesday I'll check for sure. [via Gothamist]
The FDA is considering a change to the definition of 'chocolate.' "Their plan is to change the basic formula of chocolate in order to use vegetable fat substitutes in place of cocoa butter, and to use milk substitutes in the place of nutritionally superior milk." The result? A crappier product that can be labeled 'chocolate.' You can fight the change in the chocolate standard by sharing your comments with the FDA until April 25. [thanks Shannon!]
The Shake Shack camera was fixed there for a couple days but I guess the huge crowds over the weekend taxed its capacity and it's busted again. I'm sure the line is over an hour long though with the gorgeous weather, so no need to check it to see how long you'll be waiting if you head over today. You'll be waiting all afternoon.
Update: Seems to be fixed!
One dollar can buy 1,200 calories of cookies or potato chips but only 250 calories of carrots. Michael Pollan argues this is the year for everyone to get involved in the Farm Bill, and to realize it's really a Food Bill that effects everyone in the United States. I agree with him, but am not optimistic it will happen. At least, not this year. Maybe by the next Farm Bill.
Because people use to go to sleep around sundown, the biggest meal of the day once centered around noon. As candles and lamps became more common, mealtime shifted. By the 1800s, the upper class would have supper at 2 AM and stay up until dawn. Who knew the history of mealtime could be so interesting? [thanks Jason]
http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/syndicated_player/index.jhtml
Stephen Colbert explained rBGH the other night on "The Colbert Report." So if you're still in the dark about this milk additive, perhaps the amusing clip will help you understand the issue more clearly. [via The Ethicurian]
Veal becomes more flavorful if it’s allowed to walk around, and that deliciousness has contributed to a rise in humanely raised veal consumption. More producers are allowing calves to roam pastures with their mothers, and using feed and grass in their diets in addition to milk. The result? Guilt-free, tasty veal. Of course, "The American Veal Association, a majority of whose members still raise their animals in crates, maintains that the new kinds of veal on the market don’t even deserve the name." They want it to be called "calf" or "young steer." I'm partial to the label "humanely raised veal" so you know what you're getting: a young calf that wasn't confined to a crate.
Beautiful looking white chocolate cheesecake from Flickr user Sashertootie, recipe included.
NYC Trend Alert: high-end late night dining! Tribeca Vietnamese restaurant Mai House recently announced they'll be serving a late night menu "28 terrific plates, all priced at $10 or less from 10 PM on." Remember, Momofuku Ssäm Bar started out with a late night menu after 10 PM, which they then began serving at 6 PM because their early night menu wasn't nearly as delicious. So it looks like options for fancy late night dining in New York are increasing. Of course, there have always been options for non-fancy late night dining. And sometimes, nothing tastes better at midnight than a grilled cheese, if you ask me.
