*Just to let you know, the following link may contribute to loss of appetite. 

I apologize in advance.  I came across an article that I think is important for all food consumers, us.  Food articles, pictures, tv programs, classes, our friends and such tend to glorify food and elevate it to an almost iconic status where most of us "bottom feeders" don't even recognize it.  I'm posting this link to help demonstrate that food is and always will be the sustanance that we draw our life energy from so that we can thrive and perform in this physical world.  It can get pretty basic.  With that thought, we need to always have in the back of our mind, a discerning standard of "is this or is it not, beneficial to my overall wellbeing?"  That little check will always be on your shoulder to help guide you in developing your personal food culture.  If you don't seek out information that helps that "little voice" to do it's job, you'll eat anything, with consequences!

Sometimes, information that you might "skip over" in the newspaper/magazines or on television or from alerted family and friends might be the fact that there is a local event of a salmonella outbreak, or an egg recall, or that some people feel we need to know what products are Genetically Modified Foods, or how can you tell something is Organic, or not.  With that mission, I am sharing a little link to give you just a taste of how the Food & Drug Administration affects your food world.  I highly recommend you use your own browser bar to explore other articles that will enlighten you as to what are our current Food Laws (yes, they affect you) and other insightful information. 

The article I'm sharing is not for the sensitive stomach, so brace yourself:

http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/23/8982673-a-second-chance-for-faulty-food-fda-calls-it-reconditioning

Bon Apetit!

Something that tastes good!  But, really, "good" is not one of the specific taste sensors that we have to determine if something "tastes good".  So, what do we have to work with?  Chef Roland has told me that people "eat with their eyes first" and that's why presentation is so important.  However, I thought it would be fun just to offer a little science lesson about our 'tasters' and how they work for us.  I took the link from Wikipedia and if you don't like the information there, try putting in a search yourself for "how do we taste" or something similar.  You'll get a whole host of links to choose from.  It's amazing how many 'taste' there are that I just wasn't aware of there being.  If you have children, or just want to entertain yourself, you might go through your frig and cupboards and conduct your own little bit of research and see how many items you can catagorize.

Bon Apetit!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taste