The Sage of Discovery

Potato Harvest by Dr. Hemmert on Flickr

The Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium (PGSC) has released a draft sequence of the potato genome. The PGSC is an international coalition of scientists from academic institutions and industry in 14 countries. Their stated mission is to “elucidate the complete DNA sequence of the potato genome (850 Mbp) by the end of 2010.”

The genome of an organism is the complete set of DNA on one set of chromosomes. A genome acts like a blueprint, containing information about the structure of the organism’s genes and also about how these structures function and interact. Information from DNA tells the organism how to build cells and helps determine its traits. The potato genome consists of 12 chromosomes and has a haploid length of approximately 840 million base pairs. The PGSC draft sequence describes roughly 95% of this information and will be updated over the coming months.

Unlike humans, which are diploids, a potato plant is a polyploid. It gets two copies of chromosomes from one parent plant and another two copies from the other parent. These four sets of chromosomes interact in complex ways to create the many variety of potatoes we see in the world today.

A main objective of the PGSC project is to help improve the quality of potatoes grown as crops by pinpointing the genetics behind varying potato traits and by making it possible to create new, more viable crop varieties in a lot less time. According to the group, the potato is the world’s third most important food crop after wheat and rice. They estimate that by 2020, over 2 billion people will  depend on the potato for food, feed, or income. For those supporting the PGSC’s project, enhancing the viability of  potato crops is a large step toward enhancing human livelihoods.

[via Science Daily]

It’s not just New York sushi restaurants that cheat diners by substituting different, often cheaper fish for the ones listed on the menu; a Florida researcher has uncovered that seafood joints across the country are making the same kind of switch. According to the NPR Health Blog, the scientist, Dr. Mahamood Shivji, tested 150 fish samples from across the U.S. His findings? replacements are common; other fish were substituted for snapper or grouper more than half of the time!

Red Snapper Hand Panted Sign by Pink Moose on Flickr

By routinely substituting imported catfish, which goes at around $2.50 a pound, for imported grouper, which runs at $11 or $12 a pound, restauraneurs can wriggle away with quite a catch.

Take the time to view Western Spaghetti; it’s not just for people who like Italian food or spaghetti westerns. Tip of the hat to Fern on Chowhound.

In an article on Weather Sealed, Stephen Von Worely asks, what is the farthest distance you can be from a McDonald’s in the continental United States? After analyzing thousand of coordinate data points he comes up with the answer, 104 miles as the crow flies, and generates this awesome map of McDensity. Regions dense with McDonald’s restaurants, such as urban areas in the Northeast, appear brighter on the map. Where is the farthest point? It’s hard to tell by the map alone, but it’s located in Northwestern South Dakota.

Oversize watermelons, cherubic children, and blushing maids grace the pages of the Smithsonian’s Seed Catalog Collection. This collection of catalogs, dating from 1830 onward, is housed in the Smithsonian Institution Libraries, but you can view the collection online at your leisure.

Burpee 1901 Special Cover from "burpee" on Flickr

[via Boing Boing]

Gentle tea or dangerous menace? — A Scientific American video discusses the future of the Bolivian coca industry.

For those of you who might appreciate it more, Neatorama reports that the soda manufacturer Jones Soda has released 5 new soda flavors based on the role playing game Dungeons and Dragons. I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard a soda called “Potion of Healing” before.

While soda labels may remain specialized, Geek Dad laments the disappearance of the kitschy tin lunch boxes of his youth.

How stuff works examines causes of winter holiday weight gain. I for one, would opt for more stuffing over a slimmer New Years Dress.

Dress and Shoes by Carlo Nicora on Flickr

Speaking of slimming, is there a better way to make Bacon Flavored Bourbon? The Food Section discusses “fat washing.”

Desset Bar at Bellagio Buffet by Wenzday01 on Flickr

Apparently, stuffing my face silly this holiday weekend did not have the predictable effect of making me swear off anything besides stale bread and water until Thanksgiving. Quite the contrary; I am once again fantasizing about massive quantities of luxurious foods. Here are 5 acclaimed North American buffets I’m adding to my all-you-can-eat wish list. I haven’t had the chance to try any of these places, but I don’t mind being treated by friends with disposable income…*hint**hint*.

1. Bellagio Buffet, Las Vegas, NV

When I think of Vegas, I think of buffets. Sure, sure, gambling comes to mind, as does tangles of neon, opulent fountains, and Sigfried and Roy, but the real substance comes on a dinner plate. Of Vegas’ endless list of buffets, one of the most lauded is the one at the Bellagio Hotel. The Bellagio Buffet serves what it describes as Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Seafood, and American cuisine to over 4,000 tourists each day. And just in case you find luscious crab legs and beef wellies too dull, the Bellagio steps up the menu on the weekend for “Gourmet Dinner” and “Champagne Brunch.”

2. The Broadmoor Sunday Brunch, Colorado Springs, CO

The Broadmoor is a 5 star resort nestled in the scenic Rocky Mountains. It’s also home to one of the best buffets East of the Continental Divide. The hotel’s own understated description of its all-you-can-eat brunch practically says it all:

“Enjoy an extravagant Sunday Brunch featuring over 70 items, ice sculptures and live easy-listening piano music.”

Yep, that would be 70 food items each week, all of spectacular quality. In fact, just a quick glance at the regular breakfast menu is enough to make your eyes bulge and your mouth water.

One thing to remember, the Broadmoor is pretty fancy for casual Colorado, so kick off your hiking boots in the car — there’s a pan seared trout fillet and a buttery croissant calling your name.

3. Café Fleuri — Chocolate Bar

This one’s for you chocolate addicts out there: Café Fleuri in Boston offers an all-you-can-east chocolate buffet. And they take their dessert seriously. Offerings include old standbys like tortes and mousses, but many dishes have a more creative spin. For instance, you might select from “an assortment of dessert sushi in mango, strawberry, chocolate and
green tea flavors.”

[1, 2, & 3 via the Travel Channel]

4. Court of Two Sisters Jazz Brunch, New Orleans, LA

Dishing up a mouthwatering mix of Creole and Southern cuisine, the Court of Two Sisters is a popular New Orleans brunch locale. The food has generally favorable reviews, and the idea of sitting in a French Quarter courtyard, savoring duck  à l’orange, and listening to top rate jazz  sounds pretty terrific.

5. Buffet Maharaja, Montreal, QC

With an arsenal of over 100 items, such as coconut shrimp and lentil dumplings in yogurt sauce, this Indian buffet Quebecois is sure to be a treat for any traveler or city native. But the best thing about this Montreal hot spot are the prices: $10.99-$11.99 for lunch, and $14.99-$16.99 for dinner!

If you have a favorite all-you-can eat hot spot in your city, or can provide information on the locations above, do tell!

Burner by AZAdam on Flickr

Before we moved west, my husband and I flew out to our new city for an extended weekend of apartment shopping. Not quite flush with cash, we searched around for that “diamond in the rough” of low-cost apartments in a high-rent town. Luckily, we found a great place – a little beat up, yes, but a cozily efficient flat with just enough space and a prime location.

I do enjoy my apartment, but one thing that drives me crazy is cooking on its electric stove top. Despite the fact that our range has a ceramic top and not just a bunch of horrible coils that attract crumbs, and despite the fact that I hopefully refer to it as “Grease Lightning,” our relationship has not, shall we say, warmed?

I’m sure that my misgivings stem partly from inexperience; I grew up cooking for my family over a gas range and cooked on gas for 6 years in my last home. I’ve gotten used to gauging how hot food is by peering under pots and pans at the height and color of the flame below. I’m sure, however, that poor temperature control contributes much more to my frustration. I’m not fond of waiting forever for a wok to heat up. I’m tired of my eggs sticking to the pan at breakfast. And I’m weary of performing weird juggling acts with my pots – lifting them up and down at intervals to avoid burnt veggies.

There’s also something inherently appealing about cooking over flame – it’s more primal somehow: a bare essential of human survival. Okay, okay, maybe I’m getting a little carried away here, but I’m not the only one who gets emotional over burners. If you keep your eyes peeled you’ll find many who share my point of view. Particularly affecting are the words of one woman:

Most would agree, however, there’s one marked advantage to electric ranges: they’re safer. Not surprisingly, it’s easier to start fires when there’s a possibility of a gas leak. However, when handled by responsible cooks, modern gas stoves have safety features that greatly minimize this risk.

Please let me know about your experiences with gas and electric range tops, and if you prefer one or the other. In the meantime, however, one thing’s for certain, Grease Lightening and I will need to come to terms – we’ll be spending a lot of time together.

Baobab fruit by dwanjabi on Flickr

According to Fooducate, there’s a new FDA-approved food in town: baobab fruit. That’s not to say you should expect to see these almost watermelon-sized pods garnish family fruit salads any time soon; baobab fruit, also called “monkey bread,” will most likely make its appearance as a natural, nutritional enhancement to other drinks and foods.

Although the baobab fruit doesn’t taste like much, it is good for you; for starters, it has six times the vitamin C concentration of an orange. It also contains good helpings of thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, and fiber. In addition, limited evidence suggests that the fruit has anti-inflammatory properties.

The baobab fruit grows on trees found in mainland Africa, Madagascar, and Australia. In fact my husband, who grew up in Kenya, used to have a tree in his backyard. The largest known living tree in the world is an African baobab tree that’s located in the country of South Africa. It has a diameter of about 15 meters (49 feet)! Most baobab trees are impressively sizable,  growing to a thickness of about 7 to 11 meters.

Baobab at Sunrise by Anton Mattheee

Over at Gherkins and Tomatoes, Cynthia Bertelsen recounts historical perspectives on the baobab. She attributes the name, baobab, to the Arabic word bu hibab (“the fruit with many seeds”). She goes on to discuss culinary uses, such as grinding the seeds to powder to use in baking and stewing the leaves as a thickener in soups and sauces. Lastly, Bertelsen offers up some regional baobab recipes.

I haven’t had a chance to try these fruits (Once again, if anyone wants to buy me a plane ticket, I’d be happy to take up the offer), but my husband said he used to eat something similar to the Kenyan recipe as a snack at school. He seemed to like it okay. The snack featured the seeds, which are often eaten raw, or cooked as the main ingredient in a dish. The baobab is currently making a splash in Europe as well; a British chef discusses the potential for baobab in European style recipes in the Guardian online [via All About Baobab].

We’ve all heard of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but did you know that there’s a rock band called Baobab? If you’re having a no duh moment right now, cut me some slack — my indie rock days are a few years behind me. And let me know if you’re a fan or if you’ve been to a Baobab show.

The baobab also figures in popular culture through stories and literature. Thungle recounts a folktale explaining the funny shape of the baobab tree. The famous French novel, Le Petit Prince, features a protagonist battling baobab trees that threaten to overwhelm his planet.

Baobab trees do have a pretty funny shape. Has anyone had the chance to see one? If you do come across some baobab fruit, give it a chance–it’s good for you, and you just might like it!

Baobab trees by Daniel Montesinos on Flickr

It might be a lunch box by Mazarine on Flickr

In one of the oddest food-related sites I’ve seen in a while, the One Ring Zero Recipe Project puts recipes from well-known chefs to rock and roll music. [Via Serious Eats].

For those of you who want to mix it up a bit this Rosh Hashanah holiday, this scrumptious collection of refreshing recipes and thoughtful essays from the New York Times is worth a look.

The food history buffs out there should enjoy Gherkins & Tomatoes‘ series of posts on food in logging camps in the 1800’s. What impresses me most about  G & T posts, including these, is how well the author uses primary source quotations to liven up her entries.

Check out the lunch box, a new site committed to the cause of providing healthy lunches for school children. [Via the daily table].

Speaking of advocates for more wholesome food choices, The Ethicurean sings the praises of the Life Lab, a nonprofit organization that sets up gardens as “living laboratories,” to help school kids understand the ecology of food.