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Chocolate Crops to Become Endangered Species?

partysugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:15:40 -0700

With the production of African cocoa beans in a serious decline, the future of chocolate is questionable. A crop that's naturally grown in the rainforest, two-thirds of the world's cocoa beans are now harvested in in West Africa. However, the African soil degrades quickly, shortening the lifespan of the plants to 30 years or so. The director of Ghana's Nature Conservation Research Council, John Mason, explains the situation:

I think that in 20 years chocolate will be like caviar. It will become so rare and so expensive that the average Joe just won't be able to afford it. The way we farm is just not sustainable. I'm afraid by the time we wake up to that fact it will be too late. I've worked in Ghana for 25 years and I can show you huge areas that can no longer support a crop.

Drastic changes need to be made in order for the world to meet the chocolate demand. Together with international environment charity Earthwatch, Cadbury (which gets all of its cocoa beans from Ghana) is looking for a solution to the problem. I find this highly disturbing and can't imagine a world without chocolate. How about you? Will you start stockpiling chocolate now?

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Would You Eat This Lamb and Couscous Without Utensils?

partysugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:30:49 -0700

Last week before interviewing Marcus Samuelsson, I ate his African spiced lamb chops and mango lime couscous. The pairing was delicious: the meat was moist and succulent and the couscous flavorful and exotic. While the ingredients were not grossly insane, the method for eating the dish was out of the ordinary. There were no serving utensils and the chef requested that we eat the lamb while using the bone to scoop the couscous out of the bowl. I greatly enjoyed sucking on the lamb bone as it doubled as a spoon, however I can understand how some people might not be interested in eating without utensils. Do you have a problem with it?

Would You Eat This Lamb and Couscous Without Utensils?

Yes, I love getting to touch my food while I eat it.

I guess I would give it a try.

No, I prefer not to get dirty and would request utensils.

No thanks, I don't eat lamb.

Other — share below!

Meeting Marcus Samuelsson

partysugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:20:16 -0700

Last week I was invited to a demonstration hosted by Chef Marcus Samuelsson. An awarding-winning chef and cookbook author, Samuelsson is known for his role as chef and owner of Aquavit, New York City's innovative restaurant devoted to Scandinavian cuisine. Taking inspiration from his Ethiopian roots, the chef recently opened his first African restaurant, Merkato 55. His love for African cuisine was illustrated at the demo where he cooked shrimp piri piri in lettuce wraps and rack of lamb with couscous. In San Francisco to promote BlueStar cooking ranges, Samuelsson took some time out of his hectic schedule to speak with me. To see where he likes to eat in San Francisco and hear what he has to say about his buddy Rocco DiSpirito,

Sunday Dinner: Harissa-Crusted Tri-Tip Roast

partysugar — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:11:52 -0700

Tri-tip is one of my favorite cuts of beef because it's affordable and feeds a crowd. Besides being lower in cost, tri-tip is also incredibly flavorful with a lower fat content. If you have never experimented with it before, I suggest you do so tonight.

This simple recipe coats the steak with a spicy African sauce known as harissa. While the meat cooks, the sauce forms a delicious crust.

To see how it's made,

African Safari Martini Glass: Love It or Hate It?

YumSugar — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 06:30:11 -0800

I was flipping through a catalog and stumbled across these African Safari Martini Glasses ($42 each). Each one is hand crafted in South Africa and would make a great gift for the safari lover in your life. Having said that, I just can't get behind these. I think they're a little on the tacky side, and question how easy it would be to hold them. Especially the rhino, that one looks downright dangerous. What do you think? Would you buy them?

African Safari Martini Glass: Love It or Hate It?

Love It

Hate It

Undecided

Definition: Harissa

partysugar — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 08:00:44 -0700

Harissa
A hot sauce from Tunisia that is usually made with garlic, cumin, coriander, caraway, olive oil, and hot chilies. It's a great companion to couscous and is used to flavor soups, stews, and other main dishes. The paste is sold in tubes or jars in most Middle Eastern grocers and gourmet markets.

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