MSG is a food additive that sits in a complicated place. In Asia it is eaten everywhere; it is the secret ingredient for many dishes, like ramen. But in the West, MSG is considered to be a taboo. Asian restaurants actually advertise that they don’t serve MSG. Why is a food additive so controversial? The reason for this is primarily…
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Kofta is a type of meatball or meatloaf dish that is eaten throughout the Indian subcontinent, Middle East, Balkans, Central Asia, and Caucasus regions. It originated in the middle ages, where it was almost exclusively eaten by the nobility and aristocracy. Back in the day, this was quite the lavish dish. There is a great amount of diversity amongst kofta…
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Tonic water has been on the rise in popularity lately as a healthy alternative to sodas and other sugary fizzy drinks. It is also a very popular mixer used in cocktail crafting. There are even songs out there now, raising the prestige of certain brands to that of luxury labels. Tonic water shouldn’t be confused with seltzer water though. Seltzer…
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One of the most insufferable words in existence is the term, “foodie”. It originated in the 1980s during New York’s restaurant boom. A book, The Official Foodie Handbook, hit the scene and described a foodie as “a person who is very, very, very interested in food.” What does that even mean? Well, whatever the author meant for it to mean,…
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Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. It is the spice of kings, that once changed the world. It comes from the crocus flower and is used as a coloring and seasoning agent in food. Saffron most likely originated in Ancient Persia where it spread to Europe and Asia. The largest saffron producer in the world today is…
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Ghee is one of the main staples of all Indian kitchens. You really can’t cook Indian cuisine without using ghee at some point. In the West, it is more commonly known as clarified butter or desi ghee. It isn’t just eaten for its ability to make Indian food taste great. Since ancient times, it has provided a wide range of…
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Jamun is a lesser known tropical fruit that has a high nutrition content complete with unique health benefits. It is also very tasty and satisfying to eat. Jamun comes from an evergreen tree known as Syzgium cumini. It is more commonly known as the java plum, jambul, or black plumb. But it is similar in size to a large grape.…
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