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
- 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.
- 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.