YumSugar

New Machine Turns Sushi Rolling Into Child's Play

YumSugar — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:48:31 -0700

While children in America continue to burn themselves on Easy Bake Ovens, the children in Japan are going burn-free. They might however, start giving off an odd fish odor.

Toymaker Bandai Namco has created a great new toy to help create perfectly rolled sushi. The Sushi-Rolling Machine works by adding rice and ingredients, and then sealing it up and rolling a piece of seaweed over it.

Personally, I think this would make a sushi party a snap. Imagine if you had a few stations and folks could roll their own?! They were released in Japan this summer, and I hope I can find one imported somewhere soon!

Source: TokyoMango

Off To Market: Kid's Cooking Kit

partysugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:12:08 -0700

My cousin Caroline is very mature for her 11 years. She is the oldest of four children and loves learning. I'm not sure how much she cooks with her mom, but I thought it would be fun to get her a cooking kit. I'm hoping to find one that comes with an apron, cookbook, cooking tools, and everything in between. Let's head off to market in search of a fun cooking kit for Caroline. It should be age appropriate, informative and challenging. Bookmark your finds in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag Kid's Cooking Kit.

To learn how to participate in Off To Market please refer to geeksugar's guide to saving on TeamSugar.

Koodies: So Hot Right Now

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:50:38 -0800

Meet the biggest buzzword in the food world this minute: koodies. No, I'm not referring to the term we used prolifically as fourth graders; I'm talking about kid foodies. Food trend analyst Phil Lempert, also known as the Supermarket Guru, coined the term to refer to children with an "ardent or refined interest in food" or "an unusual, sometimes fanatic, desire to eat unusual foods."

The term may be brand-new, but the idea of kids with refined palates has been on the horizon for a while. Remember Greg Grossman, who catered in the Hamptons? Or David Fishman, who dined alone at 12? Let's not forget Julian Kreusser, the 5-year-old with a cooking show. They're all poster children for the term "koodie."

Do you have any koodies in your life? Do you respect their precocious appreciation for food - or do you find it to be obnoxious?

Top Chef Quiz: Dinner Party

partysugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:30:10 -0700

On last night's episode of Top Chef the cheftestants host a dinner party and are forced to cook in the house's small kitchen. Tyler Florence is the guest judge, Padma runs around in a green silk jumper, and we learn that Michael Voltaggio has two children. Were you watching? And if so, how well did you pay attention? Find out now and take the quiz!

Photo courtesy of Bravo

Take the quiz

YumSugar Gift Guide: The Lil Foodies

YumSugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 13:35:33 -0800

The other day we presented you with some great gift ideas for the parents on your list, now it's time for their kids! If you've got a good eater or a budding chef to buy for, one of these gift ideas will definitely satiate their appetite! For the wee ones, there's a set of I heart food bibs - in take out, tacos, and sushi - and for the older ones there's Jennifer Low's Kids Kitchen: 100 Yummy No-Knives, Heat-Safe Recipes That Children Can Really Make. There's also aprons for girls and boys, and play restaurants and kitchens to inspire them. Scroll through for all of our gift ideas and leave your ideas in the comments below!

3-pack Favorite Food Bibs-Sushi/Take Out/Tacos ($16.99)	Kitchen for Kids Cookbook ($19.95)
Kids Pizza Making Kit ($23.95)	Transportation Vintage-Print Kids’ Apron ($34.00)
Pink Princess Cookbook, Apron & Hat ($34.00)	Let's Play Restaurant! Dramatic Play Box ($39.99)	Step2 Lifestyle Grand Walk-In Kitchen ($259.99)

Giada Loves Cooking With Her Family

partysugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:15:03 -0700

Although her demonstration at the Food & Wine Classic was first thing on Saturday morning, Giada de Laurentiis was full of bubbly energy. In front of a huge audience she cooked three dishes - fregola salad with citrus and red onion, prosciutto lamb burgers, and a ricotta cappuccino dessert - while answering questions from the crowd. Now that she's a mother, it's very clear that Giada is all about her family. Her husband, aunt Raffi, sister, and nephew sat in the front row cheering her on, and she even invited them up on the stage! To learn how Giada set an example for mothers everywhere, read more.

Giada's young nephew, Julian, was eager to get in the kitchen. She promptly found him a stool, and although he couldn't have been 5 years old, she put him to work. "This is how I learned to cook, by being in the kitchen with my mom and grandfather."
The best way to teach kids to cook is by letting them do things hands-on. When Raffi was making the lamb burgers, Julian started to roll small pieces of prosciutto into the shape of a burger. Giada cooked Julian's tiny burgers next to the normal ones.
Don't get mad at children if they don't understand how to cook. Julian started to throw chopped parsley into her dessert and Giada calmly replied, "Thanks Julian. Parsley will be just lovely in that." It was touching to see her not care that the dish was practically ruined.
By adding a lot of fresh flavors, Giada attempts to cut out fat. She advises taking baby steps (like removing the buns from a burger) to obtain a better diet.
Her show shoots 20 episodes per season. She films the cooking segments together, then shoots the party segments and introductions later. It takes two 14-hour days to film one episode.
Like Tom Colicchio and Michael Symon, she uses regular olive oil most of the time and reserves the extra-virgin stuff for finishing dishes and vinaigrettes. Her favorite brand of olive oil is Lucini.

View 17 Photos ›

Celebrity Chefs Share Recession Tips With Oprah

partysugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:30:08 -0700

Yesterday celebrity chefs Tyler Florence, Cat Cora, and Curtis Stone made an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. The chefs shared recipes and tips on how to cook more affordably during the recession. They also went into the kitchen of viewers to perform culinary interventions. Stone helped a couple cut their takeout budget by learning to cook, Cora taught a family how to use fresh ingredients to make healthy dishes, and Florence showed a mom the best way to feed her children. The chefs provided some great suggestions on how to save money when grocery shopping. For their ideas, read more.

Use a lesser cut of meat. A whole chicken is cheaper than chicken breasts. Opt for pork shoulder instead of pork tenderloin.
Use a slow cooker. They're ideal for turning lesser cuts of meat into fantastic dinners.
Purchase a whole block of cheese and grate it yourself. In the end its cheaper than buying the pregrated bags.
Be smart at the meat counter. According to Stone, steaks that are nearing their sell-by date are usually marked down.
Select cheaper fish. Skip salmon and choose tilapia.
Always shop with a list. Cora says that people spend 50 percent more if they don't have a list.
Buy only what you need. If you want three bananas, break off three from the bunch.
Plan meals that share ingredients.

How do you save when at the supermarket? Please share your helpful hints below!

Source

Marco Pierre White: "You Have a Duty to Put Reality Into TV"

YumSugar — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:00:32 -0800

If you're a fan of reality cooking shows, you may have heard about NBC's upcoming show, Chopping Block, which airs March 11. The show stars Marco Pierre White, the UK's original bad-boy chef, who has been known to make even Gordon Ramsay cry.

When I spoke to White today, the Chopping Block host was, in stark contrast to his deviant reputation, incredibly gracious, even-keeled, and - dare I say it - sentimental. He denounced bad behavior in the kitchen and on his show ("I will not tolerate bad language or anybody raising their voice") and insisted on being called by his first name ("Marco's my name; chef's my trade"). The one negative thing he had to say, however, was about Hell's Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay's reality cooking show. Get to know the chef when you read more.

On Hell's Kitchen and host Gordon Ramsay: I've seen nothing original about Hell's Kitchen. Gordon is allowed to conduct himself as he wishes. It's quite interesting, watching someone's legacy unravel. Of course, it would be easy to swear, to shout, to suppress people, and to cut people down. Do I want my dear children seeing that? There's a very fine line between being a bully and a protector. [But], let's not forget Gordon Ramsay is a great cook.

On what sets Chopping Block apart from the rest: I will never be a performing seal. I do not perform for a camera - I am myself. If you do reality TV, then you have a duty to put reality into TV. If you don't do that, then what you're doing is questioning your integrity. The one thing we do deliver is reality. That's what reality TV should be all about.

On his contribution to the restaurant industry: I showed people what was possible. I helped people create their dreams. I remember Heston Blumenthal on his first day in the kitchen, Mario Batali on his first day in the kitchen, Gordon Ramsay, as a little boy, coming to work for me. All I did was share my dream with them. All you can do is share your story, your philosophy.

On the organic and healthy food movement: I came from the most humble side of society. They can't afford organic. If everything was organic, what would the price of bread be? Of eggs? If you're going to question farming, then question farming on every level. Let's not forget that there are a lot of people out there who have not a lot of money.

Source

Growing Trend of Child Foodies Faces Backlash

YumSugar — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:15:04 -0800

Last week, Rocco DiSpirito declared he was sick of foie gras. Then we made a list of things we're over. Here's another tired food trend to add to the queue: kid foodies. Lately, the little ones have been making a lot of noise in the kitchen. First, there was Greg Grossman, a 13-year-old who was the hottest rising caterer on the Hamptons circuit. Then the New York Times told the world about David Fishman, a 12-year-old aspiring food critic, and Paramount promptly purchased the rights to turn his story into a movie. Last, but certainly not least, was Julian Kreusser, a 5-year-old from Portland with a recurring cooking show.

What to make of this growing trend? While those with a fondness for a child's precociousness may be bowled over, the rest of us are left feeling slightly perturbed. In response, at least one journalist has voiced her issue with it.

In a Slate article, food writer Regina Schrambling argues that letting children into the kitchen at such a young age is both dangerous and premature. Childrens' taste buds differ from adult palates and they have a smaller frame of reference for food, making it hard to tell the difference between a good burger and a bad burger. Schrambling writes:

On a larger scale, the trend emphasizes the worst of the food frenzy today: The celebration of celebrity and novelty over authenticity and seriousness.

Maybe it's because I didn't hone my culinary skills until I was an adult, but I have to side with Schrambling. Kids should be kids - childhood, in all its joys, is short enough. Do you agree - are you equally sick of hearing about tots flipping omelets in the kitchen?

Source

Obamas to Plant White House Garden Today

YumSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 03:30:53 -0700

Today is the day that Alice Waters and other Slow Food supporters have been waiting for: the Obamas will begin planting a garden on the White House lawn, the first such victory garden to be created since the one Eleanor Roosevelt planted during World War II.

The garden, which will be overseen by Sam Kass, the Obamas' former private chef from Chicago, will provide food for the first family's meals and formal dinners. White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford will write menus based on what's available in the garden.According to First Lady Michelle Obama, the biggest reason for growing a garden is to educate children about the benefits of growing fresh produce locally. She said:

There’s nothing really cooler than coming to the White House and harvesting some of the vegetables and being in the kitchen with Cris and Sam and Bill, and cutting and cooking and actually experiencing the joys of your work.

The first lady, who will dig up soil for the 1,100-square-foot plot of land with fifth graders from a local elementary school, has stressed the significance of healthful eating ever since entering the White House. Last month, she opened up the White House kitchen for a press tour, and recently spoke about the importance of fresh, local eating.

Advocates of farm-to-table eating have been campaigning for a White House edible garden for months now, and there is little doubt that many eat-local proponents consider this to be a huge step in the right direction. To see what fruits and vegetables will be in the White House garden, read more.

Arugula
Spinach
Chard
Black kale
Red romaine
Green oak leaf
Butterhead lettuce
Red leaf lettuce
Spinach
Cilantro
Tomatillos
Hot peppers
Berries
Thai basil
Bees, for honey

What do you think of the project? What would you plant if you were Michelle Obama?