Commentary

Today, the food world's gone into hyper-discussion mode over the fact that Paula Deen reportedly has diabetes. This isn't a first — we've been hearing rumors of her diabetes for a while now — but she's also reportedly signed on to be the spokesperson for a diabetes drug from pharmaceutical company Novartis.

Paula Deen, who's been dubbed the Queen of Southern Cuisine, is known for her decadent Southern dishes and her liberal use of butter without pause to any concerns about health. "I really don't worry about it," she told a reporter in one interview. Yet with increasing concern over America's obesity epidemic, her push for exceedingly rich foods has faced more than a few tough questions.

"You know, we don't eat this [stuff] every day," she said, defending herself to an unconvinced Barbara Walters in 2009. Her mantra of licking the bacon grease spoon — in moderation, of course! — has faltered. Even the Cooking Channel's admitting to that, with the debut of Not My Mama's Meals, with a lighter, healthier bent on Paula Deen dishes.

And so it comes full circle. The expected announcement is bleak, yet clear: nobody, even a personality with rock-star status like Paula Deen, is immune to health consequences. It's time to face the reality that we can't routinely succumb to indulgences, even if they're "in moderation." With almond milk and quinoa flying off shelves, we're finally starting to realize that you can't have red velvet cake every day. Maybe once a week — if you eat a bit of kale on the side, too.

Like small-scale supermarkets and savory oatmeal, fusion food is going to make a statement in 2011. No, not that kind of fusion food. Put aside notions of Pacific Rim specialties like miso-glazed butterfish and sesame tuna tartare. Think another take on East-West fusion: the combination of Indian and Latin cuisines.

Last Fall, Texas restaurant pioneer Stephan Pyles opened up Samar, a small-plates restaurant that serves the spices of south India alongside the specialties of Spain, and features desserts like coconut rice pudding with saffron and cardamom. Chef Maneet Chauhan, who's gained recent attention as a competitor on The Next Iron Chef, is perhaps the biggest poster child for Latin-Indian fusion, offering creations such as amchur- and ancho-crusted chicken at her New York restaurant, Vermilion. And Lisa Fain, who writes the popular Tex-Mex blog Homesick Texan, has professed her love of saag paneer enchiladas.

It'll be interesting to find out whether this new culinary direction has the legs to catch on, as opposed to other floundering fusion concepts like Chinese-Cuban. Does Indian-Latin have mainstream potential?

Source: Flickr User thebradsblog