Welcome to Food Week February 21, 2025. One month of wnter to go. A smorgasbord of different topics this week; it can’t be all RFK and eggs all the time. A lot on ultra-processed foods, some stuff on vermouth and an introdction to bologna cake, And more. Enjoy!

MACRO

• Financial markets get the jitters.

• Consumer inflation expectations highest since 1995

• Coca Cola sticks with DEI initiatives, Pepsi bails

RETAIL AND CONSUMER

• Squeezing avocados in the store is a jerk move. You ruin them for the other customers. Here is a better way to see if they are ripe.

• Independent grocers hit especially hard by egg shortages. Costco joins Trader Joe’s in limiting egg purchases. Also a service for remote chicken rentals, to ensure your supply.

• Plant based meats are heavily processed; what does that mean in RFK Jr.’s HHS? Is it the ultra-processing that’s the problem or is it the caloric density? In other words health science is hard. Here is a list of the most and least processed foods you will find at the supermarket. And this CEO ate a lot of ultra-processed foods so you don’t have to.

• Prebiotic sodas garnering all sorts of attention – and money.

• Bridal dresses in the supermarket? The British say yes.

RESTAURANTS AND FOODSERVICE

• Madrid is hot right now as a culinary destination. Lots of good info on this very site.

• And Guadalajara is on the radar too. Viva Santo Coyote!

• The monster that is Panda Express. On the other hand, Papa John’s is struggling

• The battle lines are drawn over dining sheds in NYC

• The best fried chicken restaurant chains. Number one? Fluffies

• How to eat salad properly when in France.

FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN

• Conspiracies and drama aside, here are the reforms our food system really needs.

• Is organic produce healthier? It’s not that simple.

• We are eating younger, smaller cod. And that’s not good.

• A compendium of citruses.

• Canadian growers weighing their options in the face of threatened tariffs.

DRINKS

• Reported a couple of weeks ago that the maker of Two-buck Chuck was struggling. Now Bronco Wines is making a move on an even more imperiled competitor.

• A distillation from Old Fitzgerald won the best bourbon in the world award. Also, naming the world’s best gins.

• I don’t really like Koji whiskey from Japan but you might

• Rosevale Kitchens in NYC focuses on vermouths, an under appreciated part of the cocktail world. Plus, how to chose a good Italian vermouth.

• Refrosting your martini is a grand idea. Also seasoning you liquors with other liquors

• Love a good Cotes du Rhone. Here are 10 excellent ones.

FOOD WEEK February 21 LAGNIAPPE

• I never heard of bologna cake before. I don’t feel like I missed much…

• What did the ancient Egyptians eat? Also, the time England and the Netherlands went to war over nutmeg. More weird food from the past.

• Black tea is a great brine for chicken.

• How the sugar you choose impacts your coffee

• DEI policies under review in restaurant chains.