News
What's Trending... September 09 2016
I love keeping up with what is happening in the food world by watching cooking shows, eating out and reading lots of magazines. I may not be the best source of information on where to eat out in New York City anymore, but I do have my eye on what is happening in regards to producers and artisans around the world. I recently was reading an article about the current culinary trends taking America by storm. Like the Cronut, these trends may not last too long.
- Center Plate Vegetables: When I go to a restaurant I often order a dish based on what vegetables it contains, not what the protein is. As it turns out, I am not the only one doing this. Chefs are starting to showcase vegetables more and more and in some cases they stand out much more than their meat or fish counter parts.
- Rediscovered Jewish Deli Classics: I’ve always loved a good bowl of Matzah Ball Soup or a delicious Reuben Sandwich. These classics are being rediscovered in an upscale setting. The meats are still delicious and smoked but they are being offered in a more refined way. We have our eye on one of the up and coming rediscoveries and will definitely share the excitement with you when the product reaches the marketplace.
- Creative, Ethnic Fried Chicken: Some believe it doesn’t get much better than Pop-eyes or Kentucky Fried Chicken. Chefs across the country are doing their best to make this classic American dish even better. I had a delicious Fried Chicken Sandwich at Red Rooster in New York a few weeks ago. They call it the ‘Crispy Bird Sandwich’ and it was crispy and messy. Topped with Barbecue Sauce and cheddar cheese, I had to use a fork and knife to get through it!
- Insects on the Menu: This is one trend that I just cannot wrap my head around. When I used to go camping we would joke about eating insects for protein. Now you can get cricket flour and use it to make many amazing recipes. Just thinking about insects has me itching all over so I’ll leave this trend for someone else.
- Real Food and Mindful Eating: People often say to slow down and smell the flowers. In the food world, we say slow down and taste the food. These days more thought is going in to how food is grown and how it gets from the farmer to our table. We learn to treat ingredients with respect and enjoy their flavor much more than we did before.
While it is always interesting to see what is new and trending, I tend to stick with what I love. Delicious food made with the best ingredients possible. I hope you’ll find this in all of the products in the marketplace at Julie’s Beet. Some of them are definitely on trend for the moment and I believe those are the trends that are going to last.
Happy Friday,
Julie
Good Bye Summer! September 02 2016
There is just something about being at the beach that relaxes me. Maybe it is the sound of the waves crashing on the beach or the feeling of the sand in my toes? Perhaps it is knowing that after my kids play at the beach all morning they’ll take the best naps ever? Or that since we have a grill my husband will be cooking dinner? I’m not sure what it is exactly but my family and I just returned from the most relaxing week on Block Island. We went to the beach every day and some days twice.
When I return from a relaxing week like last week, I always welcome the hustle and bustle of New York City to get me back to reality. I’m a bit less relaxed as I see the possibility of checking things off my To-Do List but I always have a better perspective than before a week away. I enjoy going back to all of our usual spots and just being home. My children love rediscovering their toys and they still take naps (thank goodness!). My husband still helps with dinner and we find a few minutes each day to unwind together.
This weekend marks the unofficial end of summer. My family and I are off for one last getaway before we get into the rhythm of the school year. It is sure to be another great weekend, hopefully as relaxing as the rest of them. Enjoy the last weekend of fun in the sun. Let me know where your adventures take you and if you find any good food gems!
Happy Friday,
Julie
Get Organized for Back to School! September 04 2015
Summer is coming to an end as Labor Day approaches this Monday. For many of you this also means back to school time! While my son isn’t old enough for school, this is the time of the year that I tend to get more organized for the season ahead. Fall typically means more social commitments since everyone has returned from their summer travels and before we know it the holiday season will be upon us. Here are a few ideas I can share on how I try to keep my life more organized. Being organized helps me relax and hopefully it can do the same for you.
- Plan ahead – On Sunday evening I always look at the week ahead to see what our commitments are, who will be home for dinner on what nights and just see what important plans we have coming up. I do my menu planning almost a week in advance so I’m not frantic at the last minute and am able to feed my family something delicious and hopefully nutritious. I do everything I am able to do the night before, so there are not too many last minute items that need to be handled in the morning. I think this comes from working in a restaurant. There were so many variables that you never knew what you were going to walk in to the next day. By planning ahead and preparing as much as possible the night before, the next day typically went a lot smoother.
- Write Lists – I typically forget everything but if I write it down, I will eventually remember it. I write lists for everything from what I am going to do on a certain day to what I’m going to buy at the grocery. I keep an ongoing list for the grocery so when I run out of an item, I’ll write it down straight away. Try making lists (even just typing up a note on your smartphone) and see if it helps you through the day.
- Delegate - Sure you can try to do everything, but then you might go crazy. With a little organization you can delegate some of your projects to others around the house. Having someone else do something as small as taking out the trash will save you some time and energy.
- Keep a Calendar – I create a special calendar each year for my family full of pictures and IMPORTANT dates like birthdays and anniversaries. I have this hanging on the wall so I won’t forget any of those important dates. I also write down any travel plans we have and any expected visitors. I use the calendar on my iPhone to keep track of doctor’s appointments, classes and other meetings. Set a reminder a few hours or days ahead if you think you’re likely to forget something.
I hope by being organized you will be able to enjoy more time with your family and friends.
Have a great Labor Day weekend. Enjoy the sunshine, barbecues and pool parties.
Happy Friday,
Julie