The Juicy Bits
I came across some obscure news stories this month, including a 36-course dinner in Seattle with a Wu-Tang clan theme and a recipe for dandelion jam. But newsletter space is limited, so I focused below on more hard-hitting news, such as the return of competitive cheese rolling to the British sporting calendar. 🤣 The videos of flailing arms, legs, and heads are worth the watch. But seriously, some important news this month: the USDA has allocated $2.1 billion to combat skyrocketing food prices and chronic food shortages. Researchers have discovered a way to transform plastic waste into vanilla flavoring. And sensory scientists are beginning to unravel the mysteries of COVID and smell loss. Plus, it's award season in the food world. The James Beard Awards, UK Guild of Food Writers Awards, and "World's Best" Awards were all doled out this June. Congratulations to the winners!
-Dave Joachim
Cooking
2022 Cookbook And Food Media Award Winners Announced
Image Source: EatYourBooks
Recipients of the prestigious James Beard Foundation Media Awards were announced in Chicago earlier this month. Eater has the full winners list here. The Gourmand "World's Best" Cookbook Awards, now in their 27th year, were given a few weeks earlier, and Eat Your Books has this roundup. Finally, the UK Guild of Food Writers announced its 2022 award recipients here. 👏👏👏 winners!
Restaurants
2022 James Beard Chef And Restaurant Award Winners Announced
Image Source: Getty Images
But wait, there's more! The James Beard Foundation also revealed its 2022 Chef and Restaurant Award winners this month. Standouts include Mashama Bailey (pictured above) for Outstanding Chef, Chai Pani for Outstanding Restaurant, and Cúrate for Outstanding Hospitality. The last two restaurants are both located in Asheville, North Carolina, and Chef Bailey's restaurant, The Grey, is in Savannah, Georgia. Dining tip if you're traveling in the area this summer! Hats off to all the winners.
Beverages
E&J Gallo Named Official Wine Sponsor Of The NFL
Image Source: VinePair
You probably associate Budweiser beer with football, thanks to a longstanding sponsorship arrangement between Anheuser-Busch and the National Football League. But Gallo wine? As of this August, Barefoot wine be the first brand that Gallo spotlights in its new role as the official wine sponsor of the NFL. Wine and football...a sign of the times.
Supply Chain
USDA Allocates $2.1 Billion To Strengthen US Food System
Image Source: Bloomberg/Getty Images
The pandemic, climate change, and the Ukraine war exposed some cracks in the US food supply chain. To wit: skyrocketing food prices and chronic shortages. To help shield us from future shocks, the USDA is pumping more than $2.1 billion into shoring up our food system, including $900 million for food processing worker training and supply-chain infrastructure, $550 million for developing small regional food businesses and reducing food waste, $375 million for organic and urban agriculture projects, and $370 million to boost public access to healthy food. Bring it on, monkeypox. We'll be ready for you.
Food Processing
Stockholders Sue Costco Over Alleged Mistreatment Of Chickens
Image Source: Tim Boyle/Getty Images
A Costco rotisserie chicken costs $4.99, a ridiculously low price made possible by slashing production costs. That means growing chickens so fast and so fat that they can’t stand up to reach food or water, according to two Costco shareholders allegations. Their lawsuit claims that animal mistreatment is "an integral part of the company's poultry production strategy and its business model," violating Nebraska and Iowa livestock welfare laws. We shall see if the judge agrees.
Science
Chemist Explains Science Behind BBQ Smoke And Char
Image Source: Harry Knight/Unsplash
Grilling is a simple way cook, right? Actually, there's a lot going on under the hood. Chemistry professor Kristine Nolin explains how cooking with open flame – whether gas, charcoal, or wood – amplifies the "Maillard reaction" and "caramelization," two chemical processes that transform proteins and sugars on the surface of meat, vegetables, and/or fruits, making them taste more meaty, savory, toasty, and/or caramel-like. Nolin also reveals how dry heat creates delectable char and how smoke "seasons" food with alluring aromas. No wonder barbecue tastes so good.
Last Bite
VIDEO: Cheese Rolling Returns To British Sporting Calendar
Image Source: Reuters/Steven Paston
After a two-year hiatus, a bizarre British sporting tradition has triumphantly returned. Cheese rolling is a literal race to the bottom, as a large wheel of Double Gloucester is released from a hilltop, followed by ill-equipped competitors in hot pursuit down the treacherous incline. The 2022 competition featured a fair amount of mud, resulting in several injuries. Yet one look at the besmirched and smiling winners' faces reveals the joy of beholding the prized Double Gloucester - even if it means losing a tooth. Such is the power of cheese.