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Britain's Curry Crisis

YumSugar — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:25:15 -0800

It seems that the US is not the only country dealing with immigration issues. In England, the government uses a point-based system to determine migration by non-EU citizens. While this may be a good move for security reasons, it is actually bad for food reasons. You see, over the last several decades, many believe that curry has become England's "true national dish". However, thanks to the immigration restrictions, many of Britain's curry houses are suffering from a staff shortage. Restauranteur Ahmed Koysor said:

It's been really difficult to recruit locally. We have tried hiring eastern European staff but they have been mostly useless. No skills, no understanding of what we do. And besides, they need to speak the language of the kitchen if we are going to be good at what we do.

There are no confirmed figures, but the Bangladesh Caterers' Association states that there are 27,500 vacancies in Bangladeshi-owned restaurants and that immigration officials have said that no more Bangladeshi nationals will be allowed in. If this continues, many restaurants may be forced to close.

So what do you guys think of this? With curry being England's "national dish," do you think there should be some more wiggle room?

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US Immigration Has Influenced Sales of Ethnic Foods

YumSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:45:16 -0700

Tonight, I'm cooking curry - and it looks like I'm not the only one. Sales of ethnic foods have hit an unprecedented high of $2.1 billion this year. According to market research firm Mintel, this segment has increased by more than 17 percent in the last five years.

Mintel conducted a survey in which "ethnic food" encompassed Asian and Mexican products, as well as other ingredients such as chutneys and noodles. Mexican food comprises the largest percentage of purchases at 62 percent, but Indian and Asian foods have each grown 11 percent between 2006 and 2008. The cause? More than a million immigrants have become permanent legal US residents since 2005, "piquing Americans' interest in new cuisines," according to a Mintel analyst.

Perhaps the staggering sales numbers and statistics will prove to be an auspicious sign; incidentally, today happens to also be World Food Day. Have Americans' palates become more open to the culinary ways of the world? How often do you cook ethnic food at home?

Source: Flickr User avlxyz

Must-Read: The Fortune Cookie Chronicles

YumSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:00:15 -0700

If you've ever cracked open a fortune cookie - and I bet you have - then see this book in your future. Far more satisfying than those sugary slips of paper, The Fortune Cookie Chronicles, by New York Times reporter Jennifer 8. Lee, explores the American obsession with Chinese food, from delightful trivia to dark realities.

Considering the US has more Chinese restaurants than McDonalds, Burger Kings, and Wendy's combined, it makes sense that the cuisine comes with a stir-fry of great stories. Lee begins her journey with the tale of how the Powerball lottery was once almost brought down by a set of lucky numbers printed in dozens of fortune cookies. She follows with fun facts about the origins of the cookies, as well as of chop suey and General Tso's chicken. But this book isn't as lighthearted as you might think

Kolaches Are a Taste of Central Europe in Texas

YumSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:00:59 -0700

If you're not from Texas - or a few other choice towns across America - you may have never had the pleasure of eating a kolache. A Central European pastry iconic across the Lone Star State, the kolache is prized for its soft, pillowy dough and its versatility: kolache fillings range from the sweet (apricot, prunes, and poppy seeds) to the savory (sausages). And some fillings, like cheese, even possess qualities of both.

Texans owe the enjoyment of this fluffy yeast roll to the number of Czechs who immigrated to the state in the 1800s, and while there's nothing more authentic than enjoying a kolache in one of the state's few remaining Czech towns, city dwellers can savor kolaches on the go at any of the state's ubiquitous Kolache Factory stores. The Kolache Factory, a breakfast chain somewhat akin to a Texas kolache version of, say, Dunkin' Donuts, is also known for its unconventional kolache fillings, such as chocolate cream cheese, sausage and gravy, ranchero, and even Philly cheesesteak.

Set your sights on these regional specialties when you read more

Father of The Vine?

partysugar — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 01:38:31 -0700

If he were still alive, today would be the 195th birthday of Agoston Haraszthy de Mokcsa (pictured, left). A Hungarian immigrant, Haraszthy was invited to the United States in 1840 by a group of Democrats that included Daniel Webster. Believed by some to be the father of the California wine industry, Haraszthy did much to promote and enhance the agriculture and viticulture of the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1857 he purchased a large plot of land in Sonoma and began planting grapevines sent from in Europe. At one point many people accredited Haraszthy with the introduction of the Zinfandel vine, however it is now an honor thought to be shared by several different pioneers. Still, Haraszthy's major contributions to the wine world were cemented earlier this year when he was inducted in the Vintners Hall of Fame. Happy Birthday ol' Haraszthy!

Source: Wikipedia
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Today's History Lesson: The Whiskey Rebellion

partysugar — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 01:38:39 -0700

213 years ago, American citizens rose up in protest against the federal government. What were they protesting about? Whiskey! In order to decrease debts, the newly formed US government imposed a hefty (6-9 cents) tax on whiskey producers. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton came up with the idea to tax the whiskey makers per gallon, with the large producers paying a lower tax and the small producers paying a higher tax. Most of the small time whiskey manufacturers were immigrants, poorer farmers, or frontiersmen. Angered by the tax, they rose up in a rebellion that formed on today's date, 1794. To stop the action, President George Washington used martial law to call a 12,950 man militia to suppress the rebellion (he actually commanded the soldiers!). The Whiskey Rebellion is a pivotal moment in US history because it is the first time the government has used military force on its own citizens.

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