Mars Hill Update

Things have been going well at Mars Hill Cafe.  Apparently, my food is a hit.  Sales are up based solely on word of mouth.  We haven’t started advertising yet.  Tomorrow we roll out the new menu, my menu.  Sure not everything is my own creation but I have tried to put my own stamp on things.  Gone is the 1000 Island on the Rueben – I forget which fern bar started that back in the 80’s but a pox on your house (sorry Bennigan’s, if it was you – your house has been sufficiently poxed).  The French Dip is a standard French Dip, but the horseradish sauce has a little “me” in it.  My new Tuscan wrap is really great and the rest of the staff predict it will be the biggest seller: pesto mayo (which we make ourselves), spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, feta, and grilled chicken in a whole wheat tortilla.  We have a Memphis Quesadilla – smoked turkey, pepper jack cheese, and our signature BBQ sauce.  Everyone seems to like my potato salad and my garbanzo bean salad which is spiced with Moroccan flavors.  If you guys are nice, I may post the recipe for the garbanzo bean salad.  The Tuscan wrap was inspired by my Mediterranean Pasta from Everyday Gourmet:

On the horizon we have a few things scheduled in the media.  Our local NBC affiliate is sending a reporter out to do a story on us for their series “What’s Right with Mobile.”  We are also trying to get on the local CBS affiliate once a month to do a cooking demo during their noon news show.  Now, who wants to nominate us for Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives?  I think Guy will love the revamped sweet potato hash browns.

Attack of the Killer Potatoes

Found at NewsInferno.com:

Chips and Fries Carcinogen to be Reduced Over Three Years

Did you know that some of your favorite potato chips and French fry snacks contain cancer-causing chemicals?  In a settlement announced late last week by the California state attorney general’s office, four food firms have agreed to lower levels of the toxic substance and pay a combined $3 million in fines.  The state of California sued H.J. Heinz Co., Frito-Lay, Kettle Foods Inc., and Lance Inc. in 2005, alleging all four violated a state requirement that companies post warning labels on carcinogen-containing products.

According to officials, the four companies avoided trial by agreeing to pay the fines and reduce acrylamide levels in their products; the acrylamide reduction will occur over three years. 
”Other companies should follow this lead,” Attorney General Jerry Brown said, calling the settlements “a victory for public health.”  In compliance with settlement terms, Frito-Lay, which is owned by PepsiCo Inc. and produces most of the chips sold in California, will pay $1.5 million; Kettle Foods will pay $350,000; Heinz, maker of frozen fries and tater tots, agreed to pay $600,000; and Lance will pay $95,000.  In 2005, California sued McDonald’s Corporation; Wendy’s International Inc.; Burger King Corporation; KFC, a subsidiary of Yum Brands Inc.; and Procter & Gamble Company over acrylamide levels. Those lawsuits were settled after the companies agreed to either properly label their products or lower acrylamide levels.

Acrylamide is found mainly in foods made from plants and is a chemical that forms naturally when starchy foods, such as potato products, are exposed to high temperature cooking processes such as baking, roasting, or frying; boiling and steaming do not typically form acrylamide.  Acrylamide is more likely to accumulate when cooking is done over longer periods or higher temperatures.  Acrylamide is also found in grain products and coffee.  Food-rendered acrylamide forms from sugars and an amino acid—asparagine—that are naturally present in foods and does not originate from packaging or the environment.  Acrylamide also does not form, or forms at lower levels, in dairy, meat, and fish products.  Studies confirm acrylamide causes cancer in lab animals and nerve damage to those exposed to high levels of the chemical, which also has industrial uses in products such as plastics, grouts, water treatment products, and cosmetics.  Acrylamide is also found in cigarette smoke.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is researching whether acrylamide in food poses a health risk.  “Everybody’s trying to figure out how to lower levels (of acrylamide) without significantly, adversely affecting taste,” said an attorney for Lance, which produces Cape Cod chips.  The attorney said modified snacks will be available nationwide.

The attorney general’s office said acrylamide levels in most Cape Cod chips are near the compliance level as defined by the settlement; Cape Cod Robust Russets contain 25 times the acceptable amount, said Brown.  Robust Russets chips are no longer being sold according to a Cape Cod attorney.

The FDA has not yet determined the exact public health impact, if any, of much lower acrylamide levels in foods.

Broccoli may undo diabetes damage

I found this on the BBC’s web site:

Broccoli may help ward off prostate cancer Eating broccoli could reverse the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels, research suggests. A University of Warwick team believe the key is a compound found in the vegetable, called sulforaphane. It encourages production of enzymes which protect the blood vessels, and a reduction in high levels of molecules which cause significant cell damage. Brassica vegetables such as broccoli have previously been linked to a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes. Our study suggests that compounds such as sulforaphane from broccoli may help counter processes linked to the development of vascular disease in diabetes Professor Paul Thornalley University of Warwick People with diabetes are up to five times more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes; both are linked to damaged blood vessels. The Warwick team, whose work is reported in the journal Diabetes, tested the effects of sulforaphane on blood vessel cells damaged by high glucose levels (hyperglycaemia), which are associated with diabetes. They recorded a 73% reduction of molecules in the body called Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Hyperglycaemia can cause levels of ROS to increase three-fold and such high levels can damage human cells. The researchers also found that sulforaphane activated a protein in the body called nrf2, which protects cells and tissues from damage by activating protective antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes. Countering vascular disease Lead researcher Professor Paul Thornalley said: “Our study suggests that compounds such as sulforaphane from broccoli may help counter processes linked to the development of vascular disease in diabetes. “In future, it will be important to test if eating a diet rich in brassica vegetables has health benefits for diabetic patients. We expect that it will.” Dr Iain Frame, director of research at the charity Diabetes UK, stressed that research carried out on cells in the lab was a long way from the real life situation. However, he said: “It is encouraging to see that Professor Thornalley and his team have identified a potentially important substance that may protect and repair blood vessels from the damaging effects of diabetes. “It also may help add some scientific weight to the argument that eating broccoli is good for you.”