Seasons Greetings and welcome to a double edition of Food Week December 20/27, 2024. Lots to digest here with many things that are the best but none better than the Haters Guide to the Williams Sonoma catalog. Enjoy!
MACRO
- Governmental funding plan fails as Republicans fail to agree with Republicans, finally gets done. This kabuki under-rates the importance of the dollar in the world and as a US asset.
- Holiday sales rise almost 4 percent.
- 7 noteworthy trends in climate change
RETAIL AND CONSUMER
- Failed mega-merger will mean more competition because, of more competitors. (duh). However, the specialty chains like QFC that Kroger was going to spin off are in limbo.
- Relatedly, discounters like Aldi are winning the retail war by competing on price. However, e-coupons are still not exactly perfect
- I don’t go into Walmart often (ever) but what goes on in there that requires the employees to have body cams? Also, economic analysis shows Walmart makes communities poorer even when factoring the lower prices.
- Are things about to change for ultraprocessed foods? The debate is often superficial but at times the narrative is actually misleading.
- FDA re-defines criteria for healthy claims.
- The best bakeries in America
- You can regularly get a fantastic Barolo at Costco for about $20
RESTAURANTS AND FOODSERVICE
- Sysco workers threaten strike in Houston and maybe more cities.
- Fast Casual continues to grow while other sectors stagnate
- Arun’s has been a Chicago landmark for decades and the first place I began to experience the subtlety and complexity of Thai cuisine. Sadly, its last day is the 29th. Front line description of what it is like to run a restaurant that does everything right from a culinary perspective but can’t make ends meet. Finally, on the bright side, a waitress who ascended to James Beard award winner.
- QSR restaurants that use real eggs. FYI -only Jack in the Box uses a pasteurized shell egg. The others put their clients at risk.
- Coming trends in the restaurant biz. Also the Big Mac index for comparing burger prices – and relative wealth – around the world.
- Restaurant workers in Minnesota take an active role in harm reduction in the opioid crisis.
FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN
- The future of food amid climate change
- Congresswoman DeLauro trying to get to the bottom of the Boar’s Head outbreak. She has been a tireless advocate for food safety.
- Large poultry producers settles $180 million in price fixing suit but in reality that is close to a rounding error for Tyson, et. al.
- Mars purchases the snack food spin off of Kellogg’s. Meanwhile Kellogg’s is closing several plants due to falling profits.
- Cows in California are rife with Avian Influenza. Governor announces State of Emergency.
- I can’t believe we are having this debate in 2024 but, yes fluoride in water is safe.
- Did you know that cinnamon can make you feel warmer? It’s not just the lead. This factoid and others about cinnamon and its sources.
DRINKS
- In a surprise result, New Hampshire leads the nation in alcohol consumption per capita.
- The Jewel of the South is at the top of the bars I want to drink at in 2025. Also the Mezcal Carajillo from Mexico.
- Quercetin is giving you red wine headaches, not sulfites.
- Some must try whiskeys. And the whiskey of the year. Or the best rye of the year. The vodka of the year and the best rum of the year. Finally, the best gin of the year. (It is wrong.)
- And Fever Tree is the best Tonic.
- When to use which beer glasses.
FOOD WEEK December 20/27 LAGNIAPPE
- The haters guide to the Williams Sonoma catalog.
- The best eggnog. (And eggnogg cookies).Untested and purported best hot chocolate recipe and, as a big time milk scalder myself, I am intrigued by using brown sugar. Furthermore on the diabetes acquisition front, a recipe for orange glaze.
- We are full of microplastics. But what does that mean?
- A cheese slice has been hanging around for months on the window of a closed chocolatier. You are welcome to click on the link but no, there isn’t much more to this story.
- ‘Bad foods’ that can help you cut visceral fat.Because eat less, move more doesn’t work. And can fasting help you live longer? Or should you start eating clay?
- An annoyingly vague or inconsistent or AI written article in the NYT about how and when to store hot food in the fridge and freezer.