Nourish the Thought

Your Five Senses - Eating Healthy and Eating Out

We all know that eating healthy requires at least some conscious thought and planning. With so much going on in our lives, it can be hard to make healthy eating choices more often than not. It seems sometimes particularly challenging when eating out.

I have been reviewing a lot of menus lately, specifically those for casual dine restaurants like Applebee's or Ruby Tuesday's. Many of them feature a specific section on the menu that they call healthy or light fare or something similar. Applebee's for example features a Weight Watchers section.

The idea of trying to eat healthy when eating out paired with the review of various menu offerings has evoked my curiosity on a few levels:

1) How frequently do people specifically look to this "healthy" section of the menu when eating out? Does it need to be a dedicate section or can restaurants just add healthier options to the main menu and let customers make the educated decision? 

2) Do people on diets consciously choose one restaurant over another due to this dedicated section on the menu? For example, do people on Weight Watchers choose to eat at Applebee's more often because they have a specified Weight Watchers section on the menu?

I will admit, I look for healthy options on most any menu. I don't always choose them, but I do take the time to look. Additionally, I may look at the lighter fare section, but often do not order from it. Instead I like to look at the full menu and choose a reasonably healthy option.

What do you think? Does the dedicated healthy section on the menu deserve the space?

Our Five Cents-Father's Day Food Memories

After writing this past post about Father's Day and food memories that my father and I share it left me sitting at my desk pondering the big picture.  See I am not a father, but some day I hope to have a son and what I was thinking about is what memories he might have of me when he is older.  I won't get mushy on you, but seriously what lessons have I've learned from this business that can be relayed down the line.

• Passion-  In the foodservice industry you work long hot hours and if you don't have that will and  passion for your job or you will fizzle out and get ran over.
• Integrity- Your name follows you in this industry, people will remember the good guys and those that stand for the high quality that they set. 
• Creativity- Being creative and thinking on your feet is the hallmark of many of the great chefs around the world, I have had the fortune to work with many chefs that could produce an entire menu out the air and most important, they follow through with quality.
• Work Ethic- This is at the core of anyone getting into the foodservice industry.  This quality is the culmination of the above, without it you will not make it far in this industry or life in general.

These are just a few thoughts that can nourish the ideals of an aspiring chef.  Whether or not my son would ever get into this business is up to him, but maybe he can learn something from a father and grandfather who spent their lives working hard to be their best.

Your Five Senses - No Greenwashing!

Calling all "greenwashing" poser hotels across the country - you better "Green-Up," because iStayGreen.org is the new environmental/consumer voice watchdog in town.

It can be difficult for consumers to truly know if a hotel is really eco-friendly or just greenwashing with slick PR.  Frustrating and confusing in the least.  This is where Richard Varner, founder of iStayGreen.org, steps in and gives the travel consumer a soapbox for their heartfelt voice.

It's all about accountability.  This accountability will come via a strong iStayGreen social network.  This network will give consumers a powerful grassroots tool to make a difference.  This voice should only grow, as Americans interest and concern for the environment grows.

Richard Varner states, "Our members separate fact from hype. We've created a social network structure, much like Facebook, where our members can rally together to support the cause of environmental sustainability. Our users provide in-depth hotel reviews, but unlike TripAdvisor and other similar review sites, our members review and rate the property's eco-friendliness. Our membership will create tremendous social pressure, forcing hoteliers to be transparent and environmentally responsible."

It is interesting to see the impact of social networking and how people from around the globe will gravitate together for a worthy belief.  As a fellow road warrior, I will now take a closer look at the places I choose to call home while on the road.  I was getting inundated by the concept of green and how do I best participate - but now have found a better clarity of purpose.

Please share your travel stories and your environmental discoveries of properties that are making the effort to do better.

Your Five Sense-Father's Day Food Memories

This past Sunday was Father's Day and I realize that most people don't think of food when you think of Father's Day, but with my father and I food always is a hot topic of conversation.  I have great memories of times my father and I spent traveling around and where ever we went finding something good to eat was as important as finding a gas station.  I remember having a fresh pecan pie in southern Georgia, where knowing how to say pecan is as crucial as how to grow a pecan.  There was the over the top cheese pizza in Tampa where neither one of us could finish it and that's saying something considering we are both accomplished eaters.  Those are just a few of the food memories I have with my father, but the best for me is the time we spent together making his "world renowned" coney sauce for hot dogs.  I didn't realize it then but the reason it was so good is the fact that we made it together or the fact that if we made it, it most likely meant mom was out of town and we could eat whatever we wanted to and didn't have to make our beds.  Whether or not mom was gone cooking and talking about food has always been important to my father and I.  I can't express how much those coney sauce moments have impacted my thoughts as a chef and a son.

I know there are many sons out there that have some of the same type stories, I encourage you to send in some of those stories about your fathers. Maybe it is grilling out, going to the ball game and sharing hot dogs and ice cold (fill in your beverage of choice) Coke, whatever that story is share it with us and everyone.  Your father would appreciate it.

Our Five Cents - A Slice of Americana

Top submitted memories include:

• Fresh peeled mango on a stick, swirled with chile syrup:  on the beach in Mexico
• Pierce's BBQ in Williamsburg, VA:  pull over on I-64, jump the fence and chow down on great BBQ
• Galey's breakfast joint, Mediterranean omelet: downtown Springfield, MO
• Danish Kringle:  Racine, WI
• Chicken Stoltzfus:  PA Amish country
• Conch Fritters:  Norman Island, BVI
• Elk Tenderloin; Spring Creek Ranch Granay Restaurant, Jackson Hole, WY
• Oyster Bar, NYC

Here's a few starters.  Keep 'em coming!

Denny's All Nighter ROCKS!

Do you like to eat, are you up after hours and looking for a great hangout?? – then check out what Denny’s is up to these days.  Go to dennysallnighter.com

Denny’s, yes I said Denny’s, is getting into the music business via its recently launched Adopt-a-Band program. The initial bands are EndeverafteR (Razor and Tie), Forever The Sickest Kids (Universal Motown Records), Foxy Shazam (New Weathermen/Ferret Music), Saving Abel (Virgin Records), Switches (Interscope) and Take The Crown (Rise Records). Every two months six new bands will be "adopted" and added to the site.

In addition, four higher profile bands -- Taking Back Sunday (Warner Bros. Records), Eagles of Death Metal (Rekords Rekords / Downtown), The All-American Rejects (Interscope), and Plain White T's (Hollywood Records) -- will create Rock Star Menus. Rock Star Menus will consist of a dish concocted by one of the bands. The first one, developed by Taking Back Sunday, will be available nationally in August.  I suggest you take a road trip to Denny’s…who knows it may even turn into a culinary/music pilgrimage.

Chef Andrew Dismore is leading the charge for this innovative platform.  Chef Andrew has been traveling the country cooking at premier music festivals like Sasquatch, chefing it up with America’s hottest bands, developing signature recipes with them and raising the bar on late night dining.  Hats off to Denny’s for their innovative thinking and creative focus.  Gotta love their slogan – Nothing Good Happens After Midnight, Except Denny’s.

Let’s take a page from Denny’s and leap into unexpected!  Strategic creativity is an inspiring thing.

Your Five Senses - How does your garden grow?

Oh the memories of helping my parents in the garden. In our household, it was just part of the spring/summer routine. Every year we had a garden full of potatoes, corn, beans, lettuce, carrots and more. As a young child, I particularly liked watching the watermelon and pumpkins grow. I can also remember helping mom can tomato juice and make jams from the fruit off of our own trees. Yes, fond memories indeed, but is anyone of Gen X or Gen Y even considering growing gardens these days? Are people of any generation?  My parents still have a small garden, but I have not carried on the tradition.

With the cost of groceries and gas, not to mention the growing obesity problem and concern about our environment, I have to wonder if we all shouldn't consider getting back into gardening.

For me personally, the top excuses for not putting in a garden are: No room in my backyard, No time to take care of it and maybe at the very top - I am not exactly sure how to go about it. Common excuses among consumers today I am guessing. And yet, I can't help but start to think that getting back to some basics in life - like gardening-may be just what society needs.

Below is look at how some people are overcoming obstacles to be sure they can see "how their gardens grow".

Around New York are urban gardening centers where people can rent a space to grow their greenery, and they've been booming with business. At Drew Gardens in the Bronx, for example, membership doubled from last year and W. Atlee Burpee & Co., the American largest seed company has sold twice the seeds of last year.

Another niche market enjoying terrace farming are those of different ethnic backgrounds as it allow them to grow the foods they might not otherwise find in stores.

Your Five Senses - A Slice of Americana

If you could bottle a slice of Americana, I think I may order fried bologna, a coke, side of fries and the vibe of Ike's in that bottle.

I had the pleasure of enjoying a relaxing weekend with dear friends and the pure joy of enjoying one of their favorite, local Spartanburg South Carolina iconic haunts - Ike's.  I had no idea what I was in store for when they suggested lunch.

From the moment you drive up, walk up the wooden steps and open the door into the blissful chaos that you will soon call home; Ike's delivers.  Ike's is the kind of place that defines experiential.  It is original, it is true to its roots, it is unassuming, it is value when value is hard to find these days - it simply, just is.  All 5 senses will be fully engaged; sitting picnic table style are suits and shorts, business and very casual, clever signs & old pics, the yell of the orders from the server over the crowd to the griddle which is humming with the constant sizzle of food.  It's not sensory overload, it's just plain 'ol comforting.

We dove into a pile of burgers (cause it was one of those days)...but next time, their classic fried bologna will be satiating my stomach.  Ike's is not just about great food, it is about how you feel arriving and leaving.  Both are indelible memories that have you longing for more and another visit.

Would love to hear what are your favorite back yard, out of pocket, off the beaten path local favs.  Email pics, top menu and stories and share the experience.

Our Five Cents - The Economy

It doesn’t appear that the economy will be improving much in the near future. So, if you’re like many of us, finding ways to save are becoming more apart of everyday life.  Cutting the ever-growing grocery bill is a challenge with the rise of food prices.  As I mentioned last week, the government raised its projections for how much the price of food will go up this year to five percent. Meaning, a typical household may soon pay about $350 more for the same cart of groceries.

And while there is a vast amount of resources out there helping you live lean during these tough times, I’d like to share a few of my favorites:

The Economides – America’s Cheapest Family

Watch their plan of attack for buying groceries:

30 Day Gourmet - The Leader in Freezer Cooking

2008 Coupon Insert Schedule - Know when the different coupon inserts are scheduled to appear in your Sunday newspaper