The New York Times seems to think so. Indeed, many grocery stores in urban areas are closing up shop, and all that's left is a big open lot and a smattering of mom and pop convenience stores left in their wake. But despite the name, convenience stores aren't always, well, that convenient, especially when you're in need of fresh fruit and veggies, low-fat snacks and fresh poultry or seafood.
A study by New York's Department of City Planning estimated that over 750,000 New Yorkers live five blocks or more from a supermarket. And when that's the case, most people opt to drive or cab it to the store, especially if they have lots of shopping to do or little ones in tow. And at the end of a long work day, many people just don't have the energy - or the time - to stroll down to the grocery. (The study also found that there is enough need for 100 additional supermarkets across the city).
So what's a hungry person to do? Most people simply go without fresh produce and other things that are carried by larger supermarkets. Others are currently shopping at a store, but worry about it closing, because the only other option is miles away.
What about you? Did you or someone you know ever have trouble getting to a decent grocery store, especially if you live in a populated urban area?
Are wine-lovers pretentious, easily-manipulated fools who can't tell Two-Buck Chuck from a pricey Napa cabernet? Eric Asimov inquires.
Urban farmers: now selling at your local farmer's market.
The myths and realities of organics - Curious Cook Harold McGee looks for some real information and comes up kinda empty-handed. Seems everyone has their biases.
The Minimalist does crustless quiche, in cute little ramekins. OMG, the one with sauteed mushrooms sounds so good!
A search for the best chocolate pudding leads the author through dozens of cookbooks, calls to pastry chefs, and a multitude of cooking experiments. The pictures nearly led me to the grocery store at midnight to satisfy my suddenly awakened craving for bittersweet chocolate pot de crème. Included recipes look insanely delicious.
Tuscan vintners get in a battle over labeling laws, grape origins, and possible wine contamination - is a brunello di Montalcino by any other name as pleasing?
An Iraqi restaurant in midtown Manhattan is a gathering spot for Iraqi ex-pats, Iraqi-Americans, and journalists home from the Baghdad beat.
The Minimalist does tacos Yucatán-style, with poblano peppers, potatoes and corn.
After losing a lawsuit, Pinkberry is forced to reveal what's in its frozen yogurt, and the truth is less than "all natural."
Seems that when the Century Association, an august gentleman's club on West 43rd St. in New York City, learned that its macaroon supplier of 60 years would be closing its doors soon, it went on the hunt to find another baker with just the right stuff.
Craig Claiborne started as the editor of the New York Times Dining and Wine section in 1957 spent the following 25+ years changing the way that the American people thought about food. He took a section of the newspaper that had once focused helping upscale ladies throw dinner parties and transformed it into the resource of record that we know today.
The Best of Craig Claiborne collects 1,000 recipes from his days at the Times, as well as recipes he tested and published after he left that paper. The book came out just a year before he died and it was his last major culinary work. It includes stories of his dining experiences, notable encounters with other foodies of import and anecdotes about his years as a chef and food writer. If you are a fan of the New York Times Dining and Wine section, this is definitely a book to check out.
We've been seeing a lot of stories lately about art made from recycled packaging. We've also seen a few posts about food art and a lot about tea. In this yesterday's New York Times, I found an article to tie them all together.
Oh how I love my tea, but this group of artists in Capetown, South Africa would rather have the tea bags, thank you. The group, called Original T-bag Designs, collects used tea bags, which turn dry and brown. The artists can then paint them and turn them into any number of things from coasters and magnets to original artwork.
The artists group does well enough selling the magnets and such. Their real hope, though, is to put together a traveling show of artwork similar to the traveling quilts from Gees Bend, Alabama. I wish them the best of luck. And if you want to donate tea bags, you can go to the website for contact information.
• West Coast frozen yogurt stores, led by Pinkberry, descend on Manhattan. Godzilla-style madness ensues.
• The Minimalist cooks with canned tomatoes, with a video on roasted tomato soup.
• Alex Witchel writes about bigos, Polish sauerkraut soup; Elaine Louie discusses a one pot recipe for homemade meatball sausage cooked with tomato sauce.
An article in today's New York Times Dining and Wine section addresses the question of differing diets in relationships (just in time for Valentine's Day!). The piece opens with a vignette from Shauna James Ahern (aka the Gluten-Free Girl) about a man she dated before she met her husband, who ended things because he loved bread too much and she was unable to eat it. The article then moves on to tell stories of other relationships that ended because of diet differences, before giving examples of people who've been able to overcome their mixed menu situations (including Philly based Urban Vegan aka Dynise Balcavage).
I admit that I would struggle being in a relationship with someone who's eating style differed drastically from mine but I admire the people who are willing to be flexible and able to make it work.
How about you, Slashfood readers? Are you willing to be in a relationship with someone who eats a substantially different diet from the one you follow?
Sushi has become so popular in the U.S. in the last few years that most people have at least some idea what nori seaweed is. It's that lovely green wrapper encasing your favorite maki rolls. For most Americans, this is the only place to use the delicate seaweed sheets. However, a group of chefs are creating a movement to use nori in a variety of new and different ways.
According to an article in this week's Dining Out section of the New York Times, a substantial number of chefs are thinking way outside the box when it comes to using nori. From an accent ingredient (nori stirred into black truffle risotto) to the main flavor (nori ice cream "sushi"), the seaweed sheets are appearing in more and more menus. Though low grade nori is generally used for sushi, high grade sheets are available and are generally preferred for these high end uses.
I must admit, I was a bit taken aback when I first read the article. But the more I thought about it the more intrigued I became. I always like to try new things and there are some pretty interesting things happening with nori seaweed out there today. So in the words of Chef Yasuda of Sushi Yasuda, "Please, eat".
The first time my mom gave my younger sister a taste of mashed banana when she was a baby, my sister screamed and hollered like she was being poisoned. My mother was really confused by her behavior as I had loved mashed banana as a baby. She even went so far as to take a taste of the bananas, to make sure that they hadn't gone bad. They were perfectly fine. To this day, my sister still isn't particularly fond of bananas.
Yesterday, the New York Times Dining and Wine section ran an article on kids who are picky eaters and a recent study that may have confirmed that being a averse to new foods may well be a trait that is based in biology. It seems that it's fairly normal for kids to be off-put by new foods as that was a way for them to be protected from the hazards of the world back in our caveman days. They have some good suggestions from the experts on ways to handle introducing new foods to your reluctant kids and mention a book by Jessica Seinfeld (wife of Jerry Seinfeld) on ways to hide healthy food in with the stuff your kids will eat.
For those of you out there who are parents, were your kids picky eaters? If so, how did you handle it?
You're going to think that I have toasters on the brain, since it was just a few weeks ago that I posted about the toaster concept that would enable you to leave messages on your toast. But I was just glancing at the New York Times and noticed in the lower right hand corner of the screen, where they often advertise a branded product from the NYT, that they are now selling toasters that have the ability to mark you toast with the 'T' from the Times. It's certainly a fun literary way to decorate your morning meal.
I turned my browser to the New York Times Dining and Wine section yesterday morning and was startled to discover that the headlining story was about the burgeoning restaurant movement in my very hometown of Portland, OR. As I began to read, I was totally delighted to discover that the very first restaurateur they mentioned and then quoted was none other than my cousin, Andy Ricker. Forgive me the familial pride, but I'm bubbling over with excitement that what started as just a little Thai take-out shack in SE Portland has become enough of a city institution to merit a mention in country's newspaper of record.
Oh, and if you happen to get an opportunity to go to Pok Pok, make sure to have the fish sauce glazed wings. It's been nearly ten months since I had my last taste and I still dream about them.
Eric Asimov searches for a beer that can cool you down without leaving you feeling weighted by the heaviness of hops and too much alcohol. The winner? A Belgian Pale Ale.
Frank Bruni reviews Rayuela. You can learn to cook in Paris without spending your whole vacation in front of the stove. You can feel safe eating all the deep-fried Oreos you want at the Indiana State Fair, as they are now cooked in trans-fat free oil.
Have you ever stashed a Coke in the freezer, hoping to chill it quickly, then forgotten all about it, only to have it explode all over your frozen peas?
The New York Times seems to think so. Indeed, many grocery stores in urban areas are closing up shop, and all that's left is a big open lot and a smattering of mom and pop convenience stores left in their wake. But despite the name, convenience stores aren't always, well, that convenient, especially when you're in need of fresh fruit and veggies, low-fat snacks and fresh poultry or seafood. 
The Minimalist
We've been seeing a lot of stories lately about art made from recycled packaging. We've also seen a few posts about food art and a lot about tea.
• Frank Bruni ranks his 
An article in today's New York Times Dining and Wine section 
Sushi 
You're going to think that I have toasters on the brain, since it was just a few weeks ago that I posted about the toaster concept that would enable you to leave 
A fraking amazing Battlestar Galactica cake
Iced Tea 101
Pierogies + cheese + onions + kraut = Parmageddon!
