Spice Things Up

An article in the Arizona Republic explains why hot weather and hot food are a cool combination. I’ve interviewed the chef, Randy Zweiban, who’s quoted in the story.

What is your go- to ethnic cuisine when you’re in the mood to spice things up? Where do you find it?

News about Ethnic Food Lovers

An interesting press release arrived this morning from Mintel, a company that tracks what we eat. 

  Chicago (February 16, 2011)—Consumers love tickling their taste buds with Italian, Mexican and Asian cuisine, so much that all three have become so mainstream, they’re hardly considered ethnic anymore. However, according to Mintel’s Global New Products Database (GNPD), lesser-known ethnic fare has enjoyed robust product growth in recent years, as ethnic-food lovers and their palates are hungry for more exotic ingredients and flavors.

            In 2010 alone, Mintel’s GNPD tracked a 150% increase from 2009 in new food items that contained “Caribbean” in the product description. “Japanese” product launches soared more than 230% from 2009-2010.  Meanwhile, “Thai” products launches saw a 68% increase from 2009- 2010.

            “Italian, Mexican and Asian cuisine are the more mainstream, popular ethnic cuisines,” says David Lockwood, senior analyst at Mintel. “But Thai, Caribbean and Japanese foods are seeing healthy growth, and consumers seem to be getting more comfortable with a wider variety of ethnic flavors.”

            This increase in product launches may be due to the wide variety of outlets consumers have at their disposal to learn more about ethnic foods that aren’t common to their ethnic background. In fact, 26% of ethnic food-lovers say they were introduced to the cuisine by TV programs, newspapers or magazines that feature cuisine from other countries.

            Twenty-three percent of ethnic food users say they were spurred to try them after reading cookbooks that include recipes for dishes that are popular in other countries. Additionally, 18% developed a taste for ethnic chow after travelling abroad and 25% say they were introduced to their favorite ethnic fare because they live in a diverse neighborhood where the food and ingredients are readily available.

            SO- where/how do you learn about different ethnic cuisines? Have you eaten Thai, Japanese or Caribbean recently? Where?  Tried any new ethnic cuisines in 2010?

I Say Pierogi

Apparently they spell it differently in Columbus (or the editor missed correcting the mistake) but it’s clear they like to eat these packets of dough stuffed with all kinds of goodness just as much as we do uo here in Cleveland.

http://www.dispatchkitchen.com/live/content/food/stories/2011/01/19/main.html?sid=101

The story includes recipes if you want to make your own. But I’d rather buy mine. Love the ones from Perla Homemade Delights and Pierogi Palace at the West Side Market. Where do you get yours?

Mexico’s Gift

Great story about what makes Mexican mole so delicous.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/10/11/101895/holy-mole-the-sauce-mexicans-love.html

Where do you go to get your fix of this traditional labor intensive  sauce? If you make it yourself,  what’s the best source of ingredients? Antone out there have a recipe to share?

Ethnic Apps

Not talking appetizers. This is about how smartphones can help you eat ethnic.  Anybody using these? Have others to recommend?

Foodies find new flavors with global-cuisine apps
A slew of new iPhone apps aims to aid food lovers in their continual quest for what’s new in global cuisine. Apps offer everything from help deciphering dish descriptions on ethnic menus to directions to the nearest drive-through sushi joint, writes consultant and Mashable contributor Jeana Lee Tahnk, who shares her top 10 list. Mashable

Saveur Spotlights Cleveland, Akron and Canton

The October issue of Saveur Magazine has a great article written by Jane and Michael Stern about the pleasures of eating around northeast Ohio.  Here’s a teaser:

   “…a road trip from the shores of Lake Erie around Cleveland south to Rubber City (a k a   Akron) and Canton is, in our opinion, one of the finest a food lover can take in all of America.”

What prompts this high praise from these writers are the traditional ethnic dishes served at mom and pops throughout the region. In fact, based on the places named, I’d be willing to wager that they used my book as their guide (although they don’t mention it). The pair give big shout outs to  the West Side Market (the subject of my next book), Balaton, Perla Homemade Delights, State Meats, Little Polish Diner, Babushka’s Kitchen, and Al’s Corner Diner.   

 None of this will come as a surprise for those of you who read this blog. But it’s nice to see this part of our culinary community in the national spotlight and getting some well deserved compliments. Take a look at the article. Find more details in Cleveland Ethnic Eats. Then get out there  and enjoy what the region has to offer.

Beyond Pad Thai

CNN reports on the growing popularity of real Thai food among Americans.

http://www.cnngo.com/bangkok/eat/americas-secret-thai-menus-no-longer-so-secret-435596

Are you a fan of authentic Thai cuisine? What’s your favoite spot to enjoy it in northeast Ohio?

Eat Healthy and Ethnic

Interesting report from CNN 

The 10 healthiest ethnic cuisines

Which ethnic cuisine do you think of as a healthy alternative to burgers and fries? Where do you fo to get it and what dishes do you order when you want to do your body a good turn?

Eastern European pastry

Nice story in the Kansas City Star about kolaches, with recipes.

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/07/20/2094194/a-shawnee-bakery-delivers-the.html

If you don’t make them yourself , where do you go when have a taste for these traditional  treats ?

Time for Something Turkish

An article about Turkish food in London’s Telegraph got me hungry for the stuffed eggplant and chicken adana at Anatolia.  Click below to read, then head over to the Cleveland Heights restuarant to dine Istanbul style. 

 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/recipes/7625743/Diana-Henry-talks-Turkey.html