The Swiss Spaghetti Harvest: Earliest Example of Farm to Table

In 1957, the BBC reported on Switzerland’s spaghetti crop. According to the report, spaghetti cultivation wasn’t carried out in Switzerland to the same scale as it was in Italy... it was more of a family affair.

It turns out that the last 2 weeks of March are an anxious time for the spaghetti farmer as there’s always the chance for a late frost, something that would impair the flavour of the pasta.

The report is also the first time that the now popular `farm to table` concept was mentioned!

Nonetheless, some things never change... there really is ``nothing like homegrown spaghetti! “

Happy April Fool`s Day!!

Listeria Fears Prompt Smoked Salmon Recall in Canada

This is not an April Fool's joke... there's yet another food recall!

This time, salmon has been recalled due to possible Listeria contamination. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Niagara Smoked Fish Limited are warning consumers not to eat certain brands of Smoked Salmon and Grav-Lox. The products have been shipped to Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada and Alberta.

So far, no illnesses have been reported. However, eating foods contaminated with Listeria can cause listeriosis, a food-borne illness that can cause high fever, nausea, headache and stiff neck.
People with weakened immune systems, the elderly, pregnant women and children, are at higher risk.

The following products, bearing the registration number 0609, are affected:

• Strubs Bagelox Norwegian Style Sliced Smoked Steelhead Salmon

• Strubs Norwegian Style Sliced Smoked Steelhead Salmon

• Strubs Scottish Style Sliced Smoked Atlantic Salmon

• Strubs Danish Style Sliced Smoked Grav-Lox Steelhead Salmon

• Niagra Smoked Fish Steelhead Salmon Cold Smoked Sliced

• Niagra Smoked Fish Steelhead Salmon

• Niagra Smoked Fish Atlantic Salmon

• Niagra Smoked Fish Atlantic Salmon

• Ocean Jewel Smoked Atlantic Salmon, sliced

Visit the CFIA website for more information.

Pistachio recall hits Canada

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Frito Lay Canada are warning consumers not to consume Frito Lay Munchies brand pistachios due to possible Salmonella contamination.

The product is sold in 50g packages (UPC 0-60410-04595-4)dates between Aug 4 and Dec 15 2009.

The Munchies brand was distributed all over Canada but there have been no reported illnesses yet.

Visit the CFIA website for more info.
Visit the FDA website for an updated list of recalled products.

Pistachio Recall: Salmonella scare

The FDA and the California Department of Public Health are advising consumers to avoid pistachio products as they investigate Salmonella contamination in pistachio products sold by the California company Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc.

The company has issued a nationwide voluntary recall today on nuts shipped on or after Sept 1 2008, about 2 million pounds of pistachios- a small fraction of the 55 million pounds of pistachios the company processed last year.

California is the second-largest producer of pistachios in the world.

The FDA states that the pistachios were used as ingredients in many products and, as a result, many products may be recalled as the investigation continues.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and people with weakened immune systems. So far, according to the FDA, several illnesses have been reported by consumers that may be associated with the pistachios but it's not yet known whether any of the Salmonella strains found in the pistachio products are linked to an outbreak.

Setton has recalled their bulk roasted shelled pistachios and roasted unshelled pistachios sold to wholesale customers, as well as its Setton Farms brand roasted salted shelled pistachios (sold in 9-ounce bags with a "Best Before" date between Jan. 6, 2010 and Jan. 19, 2010) distributed in seven Southeastern states. Grocery chain Kroger Co recalled its Private Selection shelled pistachios on Friday due to potential salmonella contamination and Kraft Foods recalled its Back To Nature Trail Mix after it was found to be contaminated with Salmonella.

The FDA site will soon provide a list of recalled products... stay tuned.

Guatemalan markets

The art of tortilla making in Guatemala

I loved the 'hand-clapping' sound of tortilla-making that is very prevalent in Guatemala. I was even lucky enough to get to try to make a tortilla and, I can tell you, it is not as easy as the Guatemalan women make it out to look- the dough kept on getting stuck to my hands!

To make a tortilla, "nixtamalized corn" is used to make the dough (masa). Nixtamlized corn involved dissolving the hardened corn kernels in boiling water in which an alkali has been dissolved (in Guatemala, the alkali used is calcium hydroxide).
The masa is cooked on a comal (a traditional stove made with a heavy steel or iron sheet used as the cooking surface) that is heated with firewood, giving the tortillas a slightly smoky flavour.

Delicious!