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☆ Dieuveil Malonga visited 48 African countries to create a new 'Afro-fusion' cuisine
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Rebecca Cairns | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Malonga visited 48 of the 54 African countries in a bid to better understand the diverse traditions, dishes and ingredients. Combining his Euro-centric training with his experiences of African cuisine, Malonga developed his signature style. Nigerian restaurant Ikoyi became the first Michelin-star West African restaurant in the UK in 2018, and the meteoric success of Chika’s, a multi-million-pound UK snack brand that highlights Nigerian flavors, shows a growing appetite for West African food. While the trend caused controversy and a backlash from some in Africa, it also sparked interest in West African cuisine among US internet users that has continued since. Next will be African cuisine – that’s why we are preparing the market,” he adds.

Persons: Meza Malonga, Dieuveil Malonga, ”, Malonga, –, Dieuveil, Chris Schwagga, Europe’s, “, matriarchs, Meza Organizations: CNN, Michelin, Chefs, Malonga's, Ikoyi Locations: Uganda, Cameroon, Africa, “ Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, Germany, Kigali, Rwanda, France, Europe, Malonga's Congolese, Congolese, Münster, Ivory Coast, Ghana, West, West African, Musanze, Lake Ruhondo

☆ Andrew Bellucci, Pizza Visionary With a Troubled Past, Dies at 59
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Pete Wells | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

He collapsed from heart failure while working at his restaurant, Andrew Bellucci’s Pizzeria, in Astoria, said Matthew Katakis, his business partner. He was pronounced dead at a hospital a short time later. Mr. Bellucci’s pizzas first won attention when he worked at Lombardi’s, a revival of a venerable coal-fired pizzeria on Spring Street in Little Italy. Nancy Silverton, Todd English and other chefs came to to taste his pizza, which was a far cry from the foldable, gold-and-orange and mostly interchangeable slices sold across the city. Ms. Silverton was especially impressed by a pie topped with fresh clams, garlic, oregano and olive oil.

Persons: Andrew Bellucci, Andrew Bellucci’s, Matthew Katakis, Nancy Silverton, Todd English, Silverton, Eric Asimov Organizations: New York Times Locations: New York City, Queens, Astoria, Lombardi’s, Little Italy

☆ Risks the global economy still faces as threat of US debt default recedes
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

London CNN —With the threat of an unprecedented US debt crisis receding fast, the global economy looks to have dodged a huge shock. While an immediate crisis has likely been avoided, the litany of problems that had been temporarily overshadowed by the specter of a US default — among them, high inflation, rising interest rates and sluggish growth — haven’t gone away. Bloomberg/Getty ImagesInflation still too highAgainst that backdrop, inflation has eased in Europe’s second biggest economy, mimicking falls in Germany, Spain and Italy. But it could still arise from two longstanding threats: the Ukraine war and the climate crisis, both of which pose risks to global supply chains and food prices. The war helped drive international food prices to an all-time high last year.

Persons: specter, haven’t, ”, Carsten Brzeski, “, Charlotte de, Neil Shearing, Vladimir Putin, Michael Bociurkiw, Bociurkiw, Marcelo del Pozo Organizations: London CNN —, ING, Charlotte de Montpellier, Bloomberg, Getty, Data, United, Deutsche Bank, Capital Economics, Atlantic Council, Isla Mayor, ” Gro Intelligence Locations: United States, China, Germany, France, Beijing, Europe’s, Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, Russia, Isla, Europe

☆ Has New York Reached Peak Pork?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Ella Quittner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The presence of fancy ham in New York is not new. Local institutions like Estela, King, Ernesto’s, Carbone and those of the Momofuku group (where Pinsky used to cook) have long touted elevated cured pork to diners looking to pretend they’re vacationing in Europe. And there’s a $29 hot dog on the menu at Mischa, the chef Alex Stupak’s new restaurant in Midtown. Cured meat, there’s nothing more sophisticated.”“Consumers have gotten supersmart,” says Grant Reynolds, a co-founder of Pig Bar and Parcelle. “In fine dining, there’s talk about perception of value,” says Pinsky.

Persons: Ernesto’s, Carbone, Pinsky, revel, Mischa, Alex Stupak’s, Ignacio Mattos, ”, Grant Reynolds Organizations: Bar, Pig Locations: New York, Europe, East Siders, Midtown, Lodi, “

☆ Ayvalık and Cunda: Turkey's prettiest Aegean coast resorts
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-24 | by ( Feride Yalav-Heckeroth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Alongside classic beach towns like Bodrum and Alaçatı, two of the coast’s loveliest spots are the little-known seaside town of Ayvalık and the nearby island of Cunda. Near the Taksiyarhis Memorial Museum, in a beautifully renovated historic house with large arched windows, is Moyy Atölye. For a truly Aegean dining experience inside an olive grove, Karina Ayvalık is worth the 10-minute drive south to the village of Küçükköy. “I can breathe in the Aegean air and feel history as I walk through the old streets with their historic houses. Getting lost on Cunda leads to discoveries – like the Cunda Taksiyarhis Rahmi M. Koç Museum inside a renovated Greek Orthodox church with a collection of antique cars, motorcycles and toys.

☆ How to make your own salad dressing
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Casey Barber | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Here are my favorite methods and tips for homemade salad dressing from my years of experimentation. Try any of these recipes to get you going:• Creamy Italian dressing with mayonnaise (regular or vegan)• Avocado green goddess dressing• Lime tahini dressing• Miso ginger dressing• Spicy cashew butter dressing, just like Trader Joe’sAs for ranch dressing, I’ll admit: Even though I have a recipe for homemade ranch in my cookbook “Classic Snacks Made From Scratch,” sometimes I can’t resist the craving for the bottled version. However, if you do want to make homemade ranch dressing, it’s not too difficult. Homemade dressing tips and tricksMake your dressing with a blender or food processor to emulsify the oil evenly with the acid. Tetiana Strilchuk/iStockphoto/Getty ImagesTo get a creamier, thicker texture for any homemade dressing, make it in a blender or food processor.

I used to see travel insurance as an unnecessary expense, but the peace of mind is worth it. I've traveled a lot in the past, but I've never purchased travel insurance. So, I bought travel insurance for the first time ever. When I debated travel insurance for accommodations, my mind flashed back to last year, when I traveled with two friends. I think I'm a travel insurance convertWhen I was traveling solo, I couldn't imagine canceling a trip and having to use insurance.

☆ Yotam Ottolenghi Celebrates Spring With Asparagus
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Yotam Ottolenghi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In her cookbook “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat,” Samin Nosrat reduces two cups of heavy cream — add olive oil and Parmesan in very generous amounts — in an asparagus-and-mint pasta. Alice B. Toklas tossed her asparagus in melted butter and heavy cream. But as she served it, she whipped up some more heavy cream, seasoned with salt and pepper, to ward off any false sense of restraint. You can take a minimalist approach and roast your asparagus spears with some oil and salt. I also love Alice Waters’s classic salad of raw, thinly shaved asparagus with vinaigrette and Parmesan.

☆ It’s Coronation Day
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Melissa Kirsch | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But as with a sports playoff game or Hollywood awards ceremony, the coronation of Charles III has made me into an instant, if temporary, royals superfan. In a recent poll of 3,070 adults in Britain, 64 percent of respondents said they had little to no interest in today’s coronation. The ceremony has been modified to be more inclusive, but still “the hoary rituals of the coronation are a reminder of how — in a secular, multiethnic, digital-age society — the crown is fundamentally an anachronism,” wrote The Times’s London bureau chief, Mark Landler. An over-the-top coronation for a new king does make for an incongruous viewing experience while Commonwealth nations call for Britain to redress its colonialist legacy and the country reckons with a cost-of-living crisis. It’s possible to be fascinated by the pageantry while remaining skeptical of it, to gawk at the fairy-tale elements of the coronation while still questioning the system that supports them.

☆ Fact Check-Compounds in Apeel’s edible food coating deemed safe by FDA
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Edible food coatings from U.S. company Apeel Sciences are made of monoglycerides and diglycerides that are not “toxic” to humans, contrary to posts on social media. The company received funding from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, but is not owned by Bill Gates, as also claimed online. This is a Bill Gates founded company using toxic mono & diglycerides to make you SICK!” alongside a photo of an avocado with an Apeel label (here). Reuters has debunked posts conflating the edible food coating with a UK-manufactured cleaning product (here). The edible food coating known as Apeel is made of monoglycerides and diglycerides, compounds that are generally recognized as safe by the FDA and a nutritional expert in the quantities proposed by the company.

☆ Best rice dishes: 20 delicious specialties from around the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Terry Ward | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

And while famous rice dishes such as sushi, fried rice and paella are among the most prominent in the global spotlight, there are so many more rice recipes out there to put on your radar – and seek out on your travels. Wali wa kukaanga, KenyaWali wa kukaanga is Kenya’s answer to fried rice, and translates to just that in Swahili. So it’s no surprise that the Polynesian island country’s most popular rice dish, alaisa fa’apopo, has ties to the coconut, too. Thai fried rice (Khao Pad), ThailandThai fried rice uses the layering of flavors that's characteristic of the country's cuisine. ArenaCreative/Adobe StockWhen it comes to fried rice, the Chinese version tends to steal the spotlight.

☆ A History of British Coronations Past and Present, in Photos
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( David Luhnow | Max Colchester | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Anointing is a key part of the ceremony: holy oil is administered to symbolize God’s descent on the monarch. Here is George V in 1911. Charles is putting a more eco-friendly twist on this by using olive oil instead of the intestinal wax of sperm whales or from the glands of civets. Paul Popper/Popperfoto/Getty Images

☆ Spain's drought has pushed olive oil prices to a 26-year high — and they're expected to stick
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

When renowned Spanish-American chef José Andrés tweeted that eggs should be fried in olive oil a finger deep, one user commented: "Olive oil can be expensive at a finger deep. "Aldi olive oil spread used to 99p. According to data from the International Monetary Fund, global olive oil prices have hit $5,989.8 per metric ton, marking a 26-year high. The outbreak of war in Ukraine, which created a global shortage in sunflower oil, pushed up the demand for olive oil even more. "The outbreak of war in Ukraine, which created a global shortage in sunflower oil, pushed up the demand for olive oil even more," he added.

☆ The Link Between Highly Processed Foods and Brain Health
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Sally Wadyka | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

They’re increasingly edging out healthier foods in people’s diets and are widely consumed across socioeconomic groups. “The problem is that in order to make the products taste better and better, manufacturers make them less and less like real food.”What effect do ultraprocessed foods have on mental health? Recent research has demonstrated a link between highly processed foods and low mood. A 2022 study that followed nearly 11,000 Brazilian adults over a decade found a correlation between eating ultraprocessed foods and worse cognitive function (the ability to learn, remember, reason and solve problems). It’s possible that eating a healthy diet may offset the detrimental effects of eating ultraprocessed foods.

☆ Quiche is the official coronation food. Prices are up 21% in a year
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Still, quiche from a store is just one of a number of items that are outpacing the painful rise in British food prices, according to the ONS analysis. Average annual food price inflation was more than 19% that month. Food price crisisUK taxpayers will pay tens of millions of pounds towards the cost of the King’s coronation, according to estimates published by British media. But, for many Britons, including fans of the royals, the expense feels particularly galling while millions of people struggle to make ends meet as prices rise. Food price rises show no signs of pulling back.

Catalonia, Spain CNN —Standing in his field of stunted, withered maize, Santi Caudevilla is very worried. It’s becoming increasingly hard to make ends meet as crops shrivel through lack of water – or cannot be planted at all. “This is the worst period that we have had for the last 100 years,” Samuel Reyes, director of the Catalan Water Agency, told CNN. Allison Nussbaum/NASA Allison Nussbaum/NASA These two images show shrinking water reservoirs in the Catalonia region of Spain. In April, Spain requested emergency funding from the European Union to help farmers cope with the impacts of the drought.

☆ Starbucks’ new CEO lays out improvement plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —During his first earnings call as the new Starbucks CEO, Laxman Narasimhan praised the company for its financial performance. In the quarter ending on April 2, sales at company-operated Starbucks stores open at least 13 months jumped 11% globally, including a 12% increase in North America. Before officially becoming CEO in March, Narasimhan spent about six months shadowing former interim CEO Howard Schultz in an incoming CEO capacity. Since December 2021, about 300 Starbucks stores have voted to unionize and been certified by the NLRB. It’s a relatively small number compared to the roughly 9,300 company-operated Starbucks stores in the United States.

☆ Vegan food blogger Nisha Vora tried ChatGPT for recipes. She says they're edible — but not exactly great.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Nisha Vora is a vegan recipe developer and the creator of the popular food blog Rainbow Plant Life. She tested a cauliflower curry recipe written by ChatGPT to evaluate the bot's recipe-writing skills. Vora is the creator of Rainbow Plant Life, a vegan food blog that she updates with new recipes weekly. She also has her own recipe for a vegan curry with cauliflower and tofu that is well-liked by her readers. Chat GPT's 'cauliflower curry' recipe Prompt: I have tomatoes and onions and cauliflower.

☆ This Week’s Tiniest Social Media Drama Is About Olive Oil
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Madison Malone Kircher | Anna Grace Lee | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

There was drama this week in the olive oil business — and it unfolded on LinkedIn, the online haven of start-up feuds, oversharing and self-mythologizing odes to #founder culture. An angry post by the olive oil entrepreneur Andrew Benin caused a stir in a small corner of the internet food world, in part because it raised a slippery question: Who owns the squeeze bottle? Mr. Benin is the chief executive and co-founder of Graza, a direct-to-consumer start-up launched in 2022 that sells olive oil in squeezable, forest-green plastic bottles designed for optimal drizzling and Instagramming. Whole Foods sells it, Bon Appétit gave it a rave, and Food & Wine magazine called it a “cool kid olive oil.” As The Wall Street Journal noted this year, Graza struck a “sweet spot” in the market with its two extra-virgin olive oil bottles, the Drizzle ($20) and the Sizzle ($15). That gesture, along with posts on Graza’s blog (the “Glog,” as the company calls it), painted a picture of an enthusiastic founder.

☆ An olive oil startup founder apologized after accusing a rival brand on LinkedIn of copying his squeeze bottle. It's not his first public apology.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The CEO of olive oil startup Graza issued a public apology after a recent LinkedIn post garnered criticism. Andrew Benin accused Brightland, another food startup, of copying Graza's squeeze bottle design on Tuesday. "Andrew, with all due respect, you did not create the squeeze bottle," Alison Kayne, founder of Haven's Kitchen, commented on Benin's post. In an updated version of the post, Benin apologized to Iyer for the accusation, and called the post "out of character." The Graza CEO emailed thousands of customers during the company's first holiday season to apologize for issues like shipping delays and dented bottles.

☆ Why this rusting industrial city could be Greece’s next tourism hotspot
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Elinda Labropoulou | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

For 2023, it’s been given the title as a Cultural Capital of Europe – a title it shares with Timisoara in Romania and Veszprem in Hungary. Sergio Tsitakis / Design Farm ProductionsFor the occasion, the city’s magnificent archaeological site has been overhauled, improving its accessibility. Being a Cultural Capital has helped dozens of cities that have previously held the title to foster urban regeneration and find a spot on the travel radar. Among upcoming highlights this summer is a play, “Ma,” by Italian director and playwright Romeo Castellucci, a performance specially created to be staged in Eleusis’ archaeological site. And with the majority of international flights landing in Athens, Eleusis is perfectly located as an easy-to-reach destination.

☆ I Made You a Meal Plan: 3 Not Sad Vegetarian Desk Lunches
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Tanya Sichynsky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Before the pandemic, I went into an office five days a week and, supposedly, ate five lunches, most of them schlepped from home. Sound the meal plan airhorn because we’re back with three lunch-friendly recipes that check all of those boxes — with plenty of ingredient overlap and substitution opportunities to boot. They can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home or in the slight discomfort of overhead fluorescent lighting. First, you’ll need a grocery list. Orzo (you’ll need 1 cup)1 bag green or brown lentils2 cups walnuts1 small jar pickled pepperonciniYou’ll also need salt, pepper, olive oil and honey, which you probably have handy in the pantry.

☆ TikTok is divided over Starbucks' new olive oil-infused coffee. Some say it looks like an 'oil spill on your iced coffee,' others say it's tasty.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

One TikToker called it an "oil spill on your ice coffee." Starbucks' Oleato line consists of a variety of olive oil-infused beverages. A person named Bananashrooms on Tiktok posted a video of her coffee, describing it as an "oil spill on your ice coffee," adding that the oil was "ooey-gooey." Other TikTokers did seem to like the smoothness of the olive oil in their coffee. The Oleato line was first introduced in Italy in February and was later rolled out to customers in the US on March 23.

☆ Some Starbucks customers are complaining the company's new olive oil-infused coffee drink is making them run to the bathroom
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Starbucks is betting big on olive oil infused coffee, hoping customers will be enticed by the anomaly and the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil. Science behind the painOlive oil is a staple in Mediterranean culture and some drink bits of olive oil in the region daily. But the Starbucks drink has a potentially fragile combination: caffeine, which is a stimulant, and olive oil, which is a relaxant. Former CEO Howard Schultz picked up this habit himself from olive oil producer Tommaso Asaro while in Sicily, Italy. “He thought it was a little strange.” Asaro is the chairman of United Olive Oil, through which Starbucks is sourcing its olive oil.

☆ World Health Day: 5 easy steps to get healthier
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Madeline Holcombe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Wouldn’t it be nice if there were some undiscovered ingredient, and one bite of it would cure all our health concerns? But scientists do know the recipe to better health, and it is a long-term practice of good habits when it comes to sleep, eating, exercise, socialization and stress. In honor of the 75th anniversary of the World Health Organization, here are the factors that add up to better health and what you can do today to improve in these areas. Fortunately, a balanced diet, good sleep, exercise and social support can help with stress reduction. You may be thinking, I am already stretched thin in my day — adding in all these health behaviors will cause stress by itself.

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