"wrapped" news and stories

Ever since we realized how easy these bacon-wrapped dates are to make, they've been a picnic staple. Sarah Gim has had other versions at restaurants in L.A., but there's really no reason not to make them at home. As with any recipe with very few ingredients, it's crucial to not skimp. Get moist, plump dates with no cracks in the skin and pit them yourself by making a small slit with a paring knife. I'm fond of medjool dates, and they're widely available and usually a pretty decent size. As for bacon, just try to avoid anything sliced too thickly, as it will be more difficult to wrap around the dates. For the version you see above, each date was wrapped in half a slice of bacon and baked in a foil lined sheet pan at 350º for about 15 minutes, or until the bacon rendered much of its fat and began to crisp up. By that time the dates will have softened into a sugary paste, perfectly suited to the salty crunch of the bacon. Sometimes toothpicks are necessary to hold the bacon in place. They make serving these gems easier on a picnic, too. As for stuffing them, I didn't. But you can. Slivers of garlic work great, as do almonds, or Parmesan cheese, says Sarah.

I recently stumbled across Minimus, an online retailer that specializes in individually wrapped foods designed for travel. I don't know that I'll ever need to mail-order a single packet of Saltines or two Grissini breadsticks ($0.06 and $0.11, respectively), but having a few packets of Frank's Red Hot Hot Sauce in the glove box or carry-on bag might not be a bad idea. The Minimus FAQ also states quite clearly that "[n]one of our items are from hotel guests or from restaurant tables." Still, it seems like some of these things aren't usually offered for individual sale. The disposable tea stick seems kind of cool, although I don't know why it would be any better than a regular tea bag. Like the entire site, maybe it's the novelty that's drawn me in.