RIP Snowman ☃️
You will be missed..
Good morning and happy Holi! We’re constantly tweaking this newsletter to keep things as fresh as the grocery store apple, on top of the pile. This week we have a bonus section for you!
Sunday marks the first day of spring. The only sad part about snow melting is watching snowmen melt. To be honest, we should have a system where we go around taking them down honorably so that we don't have to watch all the cuteness melt to a slow demise!
Farm to table is a lot more expensive!
When you go out today, you will notice
Gasoline prices are up 38% this month
Household grocery bills are up 8.6% than last year
Rents are up 4.7% over last year
Wheat prices are up 40% over last week
Corn prices are up 21% over last month
Soybean prices are up 15% over last month
Why has the everything gone whack? We try to give an overview here
Covid: Remember it? While its end is near, its repercussions are far from over. The pandemic was as good for the global supply chains as the new batman movie was for anyone being introduced to superhero movies
Bad weather: Drought and bad weather in major agriculture producing countries worsened the situation
Labor shortages: Shortage of truck drivers and shipping containers added more bottlenecks to an already strained system
War in Ukraine: The last thing we need (apart from overpriced avocado toasts) at this time is a war. Ukraine accounts for 8% and 13%, respectively, of global wheat and corn exports and Russia accounts for 10% of the global gas exports. Add this to an already chaotic system and we land up where we are today
What next?: To make sure that this situation does not drag along as the Fast and the Furious series, countries are taking steps such as raising interest rates, preventing consolidation in the meat industry (which leads to monopoly), expediting export shipments and achieving food independence. However, there is no immediate solution for such a complex problem. Hence for the time being, we need to sit tight, perfect our rain dance for the weather gods and ride it out.
In the food world
Mocha trail: After the bourbon trail, there will soon be a mocha trail between Denver and Seattle. Starbucks and Volvo are teaming up to install electric vehicle charging stations outside 15 of its cafes. This will help build out the infrastructure required for EVs to become a practical choice for consumers... Unlike their $6 nitro cold brew!
Namaste Tim!: The lure for Canada will reduce as Restaurant Brands International, Inc. plans to launch over 300 Tim Hortons restaurants in India over the next 10 years. The first is expected to open in New Delhi later this year
Naan of your business: Unlike career growth, flatter is better when it comes to breads as consumers shift towards flatbreads. Greater demand to cook healthier meals at home and the successful introduction of a variety of naan breads by various companies are the main driving factors
Recipe of the week: Leche flan
by Tarun Sehgal @taruntriedit
The world as we know it today is a melting pot of cultures - Globalization has resulted in variety of fusion foods! The banh mi in Vietnam, baasto in Somalia or chicken tikka masala in England 😜, are all products of the world becoming smaller.
Leche flan is no different. It is a result of the Spanish colonization in the Philippines. A filipino feast without this treat is as unlikely as being able to hum while holding your nose (did your ears pop??). This recipe uses espresso coffee and heavy cream instead of condensed milk for more flavor and reduced sweetness. And while we don’t believe in trapping things, there is something oddly satisfying, almost liberating, in breaking this beautiful sugar cage before getting into the good stuff! Set yourselves free here!
Meal Plan
Today is Supreme Sacrifice Day and we take it very seriously around here. Creating the perfect plan for this week, came with consequences. We did not have any time to follow it ourselves and may have to eat out all week. So please don’t let our sacrifice go waste!
Cottage cheese pasta: Instead of the usual Alfredo sauce, this uses one made with blended cottage cheese.
[Calories/serving: 587 Fat: 20g Carbs: 68g Protein: 34g]
Sweet potato chili: Needs no introduction, spicy, smokey and comforting. Yum!
[Calories/serving: 260 Fat: 40g Carbs: 40g Protein: 12g]
Banh Mi bowls: My goto lunch for 4 straight days. You have been warned. Wins the crown for latest best finds.
[Calories/serving: 729 Fat: 22.5g Carbs: 116g Protein: 14g]
Did you know?
Potatoes were the first vegetables ever planted in space. That’s the secret ingredient in the Mcdonald’s fries
The Egyptians believed that the god of agriculture, Osiris, taught humans how to make beer. As we can feel it from last night, St. Patrick taught us how to consume it
The word Dorito means “little golden things” in Spanish and based on our experience “stomach pain” in English
Quiz
While going over some food trivia, we came across a few facts that required a double take. Here are a few of these. Can you guess whether they are true or false?
Over 70% of the world’s cabbages are grown in Croatia
Dog food gets tested by humans
Creme fraiche was initially created as a cure for baldness
Ketchup was used as medicine in the early 19th century
*Answers at the bottom
Cooking Tips
The best way to avoid cracks in a cheesecake is to let it cool gently in the oven, propping the door so the heat can escape slowly… If you can resist the lure!
To rehydrate sun-dried tomatoes, soak them in hot water or stock for about 20 minutes. Make sure it’s on a gloomy day to thoroughly reverse the process
Cilantro stalk has more flavor than the leaves and is perfect to use in broths, soups, sauces, shower gels, lotions, deodorants. #cilantrowitheverything
Media Watch
"Omit and substitute! That's how recipes should be written. Please don't ever get so hung up on published recipes that you forget that you can omit and substitute."
-Jeff Smith (the Frugal Gourmet)
Recipes, much like the speed limit on the freeway, should always be treated as general guidelines. You should not flout them completely but there is always some room for modifications!
Learn about its evolution and Strawberry’s Dirty Secret in the podcast Gastropod which looks at food through the lens of science and history.
A quick guide on how to host a hot-pot party that leaves guests feeling full, tipsy and lucky to have been invited.
“If you no like it, then don’t do it-that’s it.” - Dom DeMarco. Owner of the iconic NYC pizzeria (read institution) Di Fara passed away at the age of 85. May he rest in 🍕 heaven.
While this simmers….
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Answers
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