Read Up On It – The “No Paula Deen” Edition for January 20th, 2012
It seems like half of the food writing that has come across my board this week has been about poor Paula. Although we here at Passable have nothing against the southern maven, we would like to provide a sanctuary from all the news that has come up around her.
Instead, we have news that SNL’s Stefon has his own Yelp page (Skinny Cholos!Gary Busey!Closeted Guidos!), Tim Horton’s recent foray into the world of 24 ounce drinks (seriously? That’s almost a freaking litre!), the uncutous underworld of umami and a video about the craziest test anyone may ever take: to be a sommelier. This is Read Up On It, The “No Paul Deen” edition.
- First, what is probably the best collection of Yelp reviews out there, Stefon from SNL has his own Yelp profile.
- An interesting food blog from (where else?) Brooklyn, gives advice on how to enjoy (um, drink?) older vintages of wine. I have to admit though, if someone showed up at my house with a bottle of 1945 Petrus, I would read this and pay close attention.
- The Globe & Mail has much love for the humble parsnip, as do I. Roasted root veggies anyone?
- The G&M also discusses Tim Horton’s recent aggrandising in the world of coffee.
- CNN’s Eatocracy discusses umami – what it is, how it works and how some people still think it’s a myth. Go suck on some kelp, haters.
- Nathan Myhrvold of “Modernist Cuisine” shares some secrets with the New York Times’ Diners Blog on making some of his stunning recipes with home equipment.
- The nice thing about The Atlantic is that they make a point of publishing all sorts of points of view. In the case of James McWilliams, although I find him at times to be almost militant and unwavering in his ideas, his arguments towards the importance of a vegetable based diet are an interesting read.
- SOMM is a film that tells the story of four individuals who are about to take the Master Sommelier Exam. This film makes cramming for medical exams look like a piece of cake.
