Around The Culinary World

Good evening everyone and welcome to a new week here at Out Of The Culinary! It's Monday once again, and we're counting down the days until Christmas - (for those who are numerically challenged or just lazy - we're at 5). We've got another full week of recipes planned before the big holiday kickoff - so were not slacking off for the holidays just yet. Of course, it isn't officially a start of a new week until we've gone 'Around The Culinary World' and shared the latest and greatest in the world of food with you. As it turns out, last week was sort of a snoozer for food related news - but the stories I do have a great ones.

We'll begin in Iowa - where the locally distributed Templeton Rye has become big business. For some reason that hasn't fully been explained or figured out - the local whiskey is selling like hot cakes from any grocery store that can get their hands on it. Long lines and high demand have kept this beverage in scarce supply for a solid month now. Naturally, when the something becomes hard to find and you manage to find it - what is the first thing you do? Ebay. (For example, the unbelievable pries the Nintendo Wii commanded a few years ago). Not so fast, say state officials. Technically, selling any alcoholic beverage without a license is a form of bootlegging - which comes with a heft price in Iowa. Check out the full details HERE

Eggs - the culinary (and scientific) world has had a love/hate relationship with the round little chicken deposits for years. Eggs are bad, eggs are good, parts of the egg are bad, but the other parts are really good. Brown eggs are better, white eggs are better, free range eggs are better. It seems whenever something about an egg is declared to be good for you - another study immediately follows suit that claims that the very same part of the egg will kill you in your sleep* The Huffington Post has a story breaking down some of the biggest egg myths. It's worth a read - especially if you're not sure what the difference between a free range and cage free eggs are. Check it out HERE

*Slight exaggeration

Has anyone seen the countless Activia and Dannon yogurt commercials that tote the product's amazing ability to regulate your digestive system and bowel movements (gross) as well as keep you healthy, fit, happy and able to run freely in a pasture of daisies without a care in the world? It turns out, the FTC says Dannon cannot make those claims any longer. The reason? Well, it turns out that their claims are not...true. Or backed any basis of fact...oops. It's a goof that has cost Dannon $21 million in claims and a whole lot of other legal trouble. Read the full details HERE

Still have a foodie on your Christmas list that you need to buy for? How about a novice chef that could use a few beginning tools for getting off the ground (cooking wise). HERE'S yet another list of kitchen gadgets - this time all of these gadgets come under $25.

The public water supply has always been a hot topic among health activists and marketing firms. Marketing firms would have you believe that publicly funded water (I.E. 'tap water') is going to kill you and suggest you purchased bottled or filtered water instead. Health activists and many local governments point out that public water is actually just as good if not better than the bottled water alternative. It turns out, in some cases, the marketing professionals may have a point. Read the startling story on the Washington Post.

And there you have it. That's what's new and exciting 'Around The Culinary World' for Monday, December 20th 2010. We're back tomorrow night with another new recipe. Be sure to stop back in tomorrow evening to see what we've got cooking. Until then,

~Cheers