Friday, December 16, 2005

10 fun food and beverage factoids...

I don't know what to write about, so here's a list of things you may or may not know about...

1. You probably know that peanuts are not nuts at all (they're in the legume family), but did you know that pecans and walnuts aren't nuts either? They're actually both in the hickory family, but they're also both in a fruit family called "drupes". Other drupes include mangoes, cherries, olives, and raspberries.

2.Tomatoes are a fruit, not a vegetable. They are members of the nightshade family along with potatoes and eggplant.

3. You'll get drunk quicker off of 4 vodka & tonics than 4 shots of vodka. The carbonation speeds up the process in your bloodstream.

4. Most wasabi has no actual wasabi in it. Authentic wasabi is very expensive and loses its oomph after 15 minutes of being cut. Most wasabi is horseradish with coloring.

5. Ginger, wasabi, horseradish, galangal, etc. are not roots but rhizomes.

6. There are actually 5 tastes on the tongue rather than 4. Sweet, bitter, sour, salty, and... umami. (Found especially in mushrooms, soy sauce, fish sauce, parmeggiano reggiano, walnuts, miso, things with MSG). It is hard to define, but it has a "savory" character.

7. About 95 percent of the balsamic vinegars you find in supermarkets are not legally balsamic vinegar at all. The real stuff sells for $100 a bottle and up.

8. Legally, Champagne must come from the Champagne region of France to be called Champagne. Anything else is just sparkling wine. The same goes for Cognac. Cognac is brandy from the Cognac region and nowhere else.

9.Red wine and grapeseed oil are high in polyphenols which are antioxidants that are great for your heart. Grapeseed oil is a great oil for sauteeing as it has a neutral flavor and a high smoke-point.

10. Extra virgin olive oil should not usually be used for sauteeing as it has a low smoke-point (it burns at higher temperatures).

Tonight's gonna suck at the restaurant...reservations up the ass!
I've gotta take some packages to the post office ASAP!
Have a great weekend!



Blogger Amanda said...

All things I had no idea about EXCEPT for the tomato! WOOT! I got that right!

4:32 PM  
Blogger Kathleen said...

I've read that about wasabi before, but why does it NOT taste like horseradish? I don't like horseradish at all, but love wasabi.

8:23 AM  

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