Hosts & Interviews

Question of the Week: Would You Eat Cheese Made of Breast Milk?

Catherine Jheon — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:20:00 GMT

(Maple caramelized pumpkin encrusted breast-milk cheese with texturized concord grapes courtesy of Chef Daniel Angerer)

I’m being totally serious! A chef in New York is raising plenty of eyebrows, not to mention a chorus of ewwwwwwws, by putting cheese made from his wife’s breast milk on the menu.

Before you dismiss it as just plain icky, Chef Daniel Angerer, who is known for sourcing local ingredients and supporting sustainable practices, has plenty of supporters. You have to admit, it doesn’t get more local and sustainable than your wife's breast milk. And if you un-crinkle your nose long enough to think about it, is it SO different from consuming cow’s breast milk or goat’s breast milk? (And the picture does look good!)

It raises some interesting questions. I mean his wife had produced more than enough milk for their newborn daughter, which meant all that precious liquid gold was headed to the dumpster, so why not experiment?

Chef Angerer has even posted a recipe for breast milk cheese on his blog. Apparently it tastes like raw milk cheese, like really sweet cow’s milk. So what say you?

Question of the Week appears Mondays.

Related:

Question of the Week: Have You Tried Pet Food? Be Honest!
Question of the Week: Have You Smuggled Food Across Borders?

Interview: Lynn Crawford Dishes on Pitchin' In and Her New Resto

Catherine Jheon — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:57:00 GMT

(Lynn and Cherie inside the restaurant, the future site of Ruby Watchco, currently the Citizen)

I don’t know about you, but I’m so enjoying Lynn Crawford in her new show, Pitchin’ In! It’s laugh-out-loud funny – I mean the woman loses her pants for Pete’s sake! (If you haven't already, do yourself a favour and watch the Turkey episode). I don’t care what you may say, that’s good TV.

When I caught up with Chef Lynn at her latest venture – a restaurant of her own with partner Cherie Stinson of Restaurant Makeover fame to open later this month – it was pretty clear Lynn was living life to the fullest and enjoying every minute of it.

Standing in the chaos and the cold (which is why I look like I have no neck btw) of what will be Ruby Watchco Restaurant in Toronto's Leslieville, I asked her to give us the scoop on Pitchin’ In.

BTW, here's the link to the Lobster episode Lynn talks about in the video (funny stuff).

Ruby Watchco – the name comes from a sign Cherie uncovered during a taping of Restaurant Makeover -- will be headed by Chef Lynn and Truffles Chef Lora Kirk. Kirk was one of the sous chefs who accompanied Lynn to New York when she competed against Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America.

Lynn told me they’ll be cooking local, seasonal dishes served family style. Can’t wait! Be sure to check out my fellow blogger Elana's post on Ruby Watchco with Cherie Stinson over at HGTV.ca.

Related:

Question of the Week: Have You Smuggled Food Across Borders?

Catherine Jheon — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:41:00 GMT

There are still 20 more days of winter – sorry for the reminder. Mind you, we’ve had a mild winter so far pretty much across Canada. But I can’t wait for shorts and tank top-weather. And if you can’t wait for warmer temperatures, why not chase it down?

To that end March is Getaway Month here on Foodnetwork.ca and HGTV.ca (check out our pretty banner above).

We’re kicking off our Getaway Month with this Question of the Week (it's a two-parter): 1. Have you smuggled food across borders, and if so 2) what was it?

I once smuggled in Korean herbal juice for my father. It didn’t help that the brown sludgy liquid was a pungent brew made with God knows how many extinct animals. Let’s not even go there, I can only hope the PETA folks won’t come after me.

I sweated buckets when the custom officers went through my bags. Luckily they didn’t find the stuff, but I cursed my family the entire trip home. But when you’re a teenager being strong-armed by a gaggle of Korean aunties, trust me when I say I didn't have much of a choice.

So, confession time: Tell me your best food smuggling story!

Question of the Week appears Mondays.

Related:

Question of the Week: Have You Tried Pet Food? Be Honest!

Anna and Michael Olson at the Vancouver Games

Guest Blogger — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:55:00 GMT

(Anna and Michael Olson goofing around; layering the tiramisu)

Aside from all the sporting events, the Winter Games is a cultural hub for participating countries to showcase their art and food.

I was lucky enough to check out the Ontario pavilion, at the Vancouver Games, where Food Network Canada’s hostess with the mostess, Anna Olson, and her talented husband, Michael, put on an awesome food demonstration.

Anna and Michael are very passionate about sharing their love of using local and seasonal products, which, as Anna pointed out, includes meats, baked goods and cheeses.

The husband and wife cooking duo did Ontario proud and cooked up a menu featuring:

Puff pastry tart with onions, apple and goats cheese (delicious!) paired with Jackson-Triggs Delaine vineyard Riesling
Dry glazed pork tenderloin with maple sugar and cherry compote paired perfectly with an Inniskillin reserve Pinot Noir bursting with cherry flavours
Tiramisu with lady fingers soaked in ice wine paired with the Inniskillin Espirit Vidal Ice Wine.

Anna has definitely caught Olympic fever.

She mentioned how amazing it was to see all these nations together rooting for their respective countries, but with a sense of togetherness.

She also loved watching the arial jumpers. She watched them live and said they were totally awe inspiring.

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Peter Bagi is a food blogger and photographer based in Vancouver. He blogs at www.closetchef.c a with a love for sharing food with friends.

Related:

Question of the Week: Have You Tried Pet Food? Be Honest!

Catherine Jheon — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:49:00 GMT

Now I realize today’s Question of the Week may gross a few perhaps a good many of you out. It's not pretty but it happens, kind of like life. And I’m willing to bet it happens more often than we suspect. I mean have you seen the recipes Rachael Ray makes for her dog?! They look good.

But one brave man, Talha our “video dude,” has come clean to share this shocking but completely true story with us. Move over Jeff Corwin of Extreme Cuisine!

Let’s see how many more will show the same courage and confess to eating… yup… pet food. Watch the video for details.

Question of the Week appears Mondays.

Related: Interview: Jeff Corwin talks Extreme Cuisine