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Fundamentals of Pairing Wine with Food

Post by Jamie Ryan, Wine Consultant & Educator, Mt. Nittany Winery

In wine and food pairing, the fundamental goal is balance. The flavors found in both the wine and the elements of a dish should be balanced and neither should overpower the other. A well-matched pairing should enhance the existing elements of each and ultimately bring out new flavors that are not detected in the wine or food when they stand alone. As a wine educator, the most frequent questions my students always ask how they can make safe pairing choices when they are on their own, either at home or dining out. Here are some basic guidelines that are fairly universal in the world and I find that they are a great place for beginners to dive in and start playing with their pairings.

Continue Reading: Fundamentals of Pairing Wine with Food

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 05/23, 2013 at 12:17 PM

PASA sows seeds of sustainable, innovative farming practices in Pennsylvania fields

Article by PASA Staff

Back in the early ‘90s a small gathering of Centre County “kindred spirits” came together around the idea of founding an organization that focused on a variety of sustainable farming practices, addressed issues family farmers faced, and filled a need for those who wanted to support “alternative” agriculture, as some may have called it back then. Through the dedicated efforts of this group (many of whom still live, work, and farm in Centre County), the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) took root over 20 years ago and today continues to flourish throughout Pennsylvania.

Continue Reading: PASA sows seeds of sustainable, innovative farming practices in Pennsylvania fields

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 05/20, 2013 at 09:58 AM

At the Dinner Table with French Penn State Graduate Student Sandra Rosseau

Editor’s note: At the Dinner Table is a new series on Local Food Journey. The concept behind this feature is a type of conversation you might have at dinner with a friend. I am sure many of you have talked local food at dinner, while having local food on the table (how meta is that?), so this series will feature members of the local community talking about local food and the role it plays in their lives. This is the first in the series, and in this inaugural At the Dinner Table I talked to Sandra Rosseau, a PhD student at Penn State from France. She came to Penn State in 2007. Her research interests now focus on the roles that humor plays in the context of Franco-Algerian memory. In her free time, she enjoys music, photography, and as you will soon see, cooking.

Continue Reading: At the Dinner Table with French Penn State Graduate Student Sandra Rosseau

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 05/02, 2013 at 10:00 AM

Stanford student finds connection between local food and building a diverse community

Local food has many benefits, from supporting local businesses to just plain tasting good. But did you know that local food has potential to enhance diversity and improve race relations in the local community? A student from Stanford makes his case on the Huffington Post.

Continue Reading: Stanford student finds connection between local food and building a diverse community

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 05/01, 2013 at 11:02 AM

My Local Food Fantasy Revisited: Part Two

Editor’s note: You can read Part One of this post here.

What would a local food system look like? Unless really hard times come when we are unable to import anything, we are likely to continue to draw upon distant sources for such things as olive oil, citrus fruit, avocados, pistachios, and high fructose corn syrup (just testing to see if you are paying attention on that last one).

Continue Reading: My Local Food Fantasy Revisited: Part Two

Posted by James Eisenstein on 04/19, 2013 at 02:20 PM

My Local Food Fantasy Revisited: Part One

Several years ago, I shared what I called my “local food fantasy,” one of the results (besides soreness and sweat) of performing repetitive tasks on the farm that require little thought (think weeding and digging carrots). Could we move to a “local food system” here? We live in a rich agricultural setting, have an educated population and some large institutional purchasers of food (Penn State, the hospital, schools, retirement communities), a supportive media, and a small but growing supply of locally grown food. “Why not?” I concluded But this was, as my title indicated, just a daydream.

Continue Reading: My Local Food Fantasy Revisited: Part One

Posted by James Eisenstein on 04/17, 2013 at 04:51 PM

Comments (0) | Permalink | Tags: LocalFoodFantasy | community |

Newly incorporated Friends & Farmers to hold local food potluck April 16

Some good news to report for those looking for more local food sources. Friends & Farmers, a food cooperative in State College committed to showcasing the best local products in support of a strong local economy, has taken several important steps toward opening a member-owned community grocery store that is open to the public, seven days a week.

Continue Reading: Newly incorporated Friends & Farmers to hold local food potluck April 16

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 04/05, 2013 at 01:20 PM

Sneak More Veggies Into Your Recipes

The premise behind the Volumetrics Diet, created by Dr. Barbara Rolls, is that people like to eat. Her solution is to eat more food that is less dense, like non-starchy vegetables, and to sneak them in to the dishes we’re already eating. Dr. Rolls is a professor of nutritional sciences and the Helen A. Guthrie chair in nutrition at Penn State. She’s creator and author of The Ultimate Volumetrics Diet, a #1 New York Times Bestselling Diet book. Listen to her interview with WPSU’s Patty Satalia.

Continue Reading: Sneak More Veggies Into Your Recipes

Posted by Frosty on 03/22, 2013 at 09:46 AM

The Great Cilantro Debate

Love it or hate it? The great cilantro debate heats up as scientists start pinpointing cilantrophobe genes. Read more on NPR’s food blog.

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Posted by Emily Wiley on 09/14, 2012 at 02:07 PM

Comments (0) | Permalink | Tags: food |

A Market Dictionary

Today we are faced with a laundry list of considerations when shopping at the market. Is this an organic apple? Does it come from a sustainable farm? Is this beef from grass-fed cattle, and are these eggs from free-range poultry?

In an attempt to simplify the elusive terminology of the farming world, we have created a what’s what of words and phrases to make your local eating experience a more informed one.

The following ten terms are the most important ones to consider when browsing markets and buying from local farmers.

Continue Reading: A Market Dictionary

Posted by James Gherardi on 08/27, 2010 at 09:34 AM

Keep it Clean, Keep it Cold

The first rule of food safety is “keep it clean.” In a close second to that basic food safety tenet is “keep it cold.”

The principles of safe food handling haven’t changed much from the basics my great-grandmother taught my mother. Those tips that were passed down from a 1900 southern Missouri homestead came from a simpler time, before the modern efficiencies of modern agriculture (and their unfortunate associated skepticism) were known.

Continue Reading: Keep it Clean, Keep it Cold

Posted by Chris Raines on 08/23, 2010 at 11:55 AM

Comments (0) | Permalink | Tags: meat | foodsafety |

Slow Food on a Slow Boat

Planting and nurturing your own food can be hard work—especially from a canal boat.

Continue Reading: Slow Food on a Slow Boat

Posted by Emily Wiley on 07/13, 2010 at 02:15 PM

Comments (0) | Permalink | Tags: slowfood |

What Are You Grilling?

What’s going to end up on your grill this July 4th weekend? We’re having lamb burgers and pork chops at my place.

Continue Reading: What Are You Grilling?

Posted by Chris Raines on 07/02, 2010 at 02:21 PM

Comments (1) | Permalink | Tags: meat | foodsafety |

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Food Stories from NPR

Meet London's Master Architects In Jell-0

May 25, 2013

London duo Sam Bompas and Harry Parr have made names for themselves with their wild, experimental food installations. From pineapple islands and banana vapors to re-creations of famous architectural monuments, their work playfully pushes the boundary of how we experience food.

Gals Who Grill: What Will It Take For Women To Man The Q?

May 25, 2013

The grill "is the one and only male-dominated appliance in America," says a researcher who recently crunched the numbers. He found that men are more than twice as likely as women to be the primary grillers at home. One reason? Grilling can feel like a form of recreation.

The Great Charcoal Debate: Briquettes Or Lumps?

May 24, 2013

Does the kind of charcoal you use really make a difference when it comes to grilling up a tasty steak or other food on the grill? Yes — but deciding which one to use depends on what you're after. Both briquettes and lump charcoal — aka "natural" hardwood charcoal — have their advantages and disadvantages.

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