Tag Archives: Food Insider

Food Insider: Why Grade A Maple Syrup Is So Valuable

Insider Business (July 22, 2023) – Once pierced, century-old maple trees drip sap referred to as liquid gold. It will take roughly 50 gallons of these drops to make one 1 gallon of 100% pure Grade A maple syrup.

Farms in the Hudson Valley, New York State, can sell that gallon for over $200, almost 29 times more than popular imitation syrup. Despite the price, Grade A maple syrup is incredibly sought-after. So much so that C$18 million worth of it was stolen in one of the largest heists in Canadian history.

But why is Grade A maple syrup worth so much? And why is it so expensive?

Seafood Insider: Catching Spiny Lobsters In Bermuda

Eater (March 8, 2023) – In Bermuda, spiny lobsters are only in season for seven months. Fisherman and restaurant owner Delvin Bean has been catching lobsters for 30 years, and he takes them straight to his restaurant where they are one of his most sought-after dishes.

Commonly referred to as the Florida spiny lobster, the Caribbean spiny lobster inhabits tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. Spiny lobsters get their name from the forward-pointing spines that cover their bodies to help protect them from predators. They vary in color from almost white to dark red-orange. Two large, cream-colored spots on the top of the second segment of the tail make spiny lobsters easy to identify. They have long antennae over their eyes that they wave to scare off predators and smaller antennae-like structures called antennules that sense movement and detect chemicals in the water.

Food Insider: ‘Wasabi – Japanese Horseradish’

See what’s up with wasabi (Japanese horseradish), the root with a pungent punch that plays an important role in Japanese cuisine.

Wasabi or Japanese horseradish is a plant of the family Brassicaceae, which also includes horseradish and mustard in other genera. A paste made from its ground rhizomes is used as a pungent condiment for sushi and other foods. 

Food & Travel: ‘Barbecue Around The World’ (Video)

Barbecue is so much more than just throwing meat on a grill. It is a time for family and friends to come together in celebration. From Turkey’s shish kebabs, which originated from hunted animals skewered on swords, to earth ovens in the South Pacific, which involve cooking food underground, we’ll take a look at how cultures barbecue around the world.

Food & Travel: How Barese Focaccia Bread Is Made

Breaking away from the more well-known olive oil seasoned flatbread, focaccia in Bari, Italy is a feast of flavors made with tomatoes, olives, oregano, and olive oil. We visited Panificio Fiore, a local bakery that’s been churning fresh focaccia every day for over a century. The bakery is just a few steps away from the city’s Basilica di San Nicola, an important destination for pilgrims all over the world. For those foodies exploring the old town on another kind of pilgrimage, a slice of focaccia here will cost only 1 euro and will for sure open the doors of heaven.

Culture: The Food, Sights & Architecture Of Japan

From wandering between Tateyama’s Snow Wall to spending a night in a Koyasan temple, we take you through Japan’s travel spectrum showing the best food places, architecture, sights, thrills, and shopping experiences.

Food – Dotonbori District: The Dotonbori district is the most colorful area in Osaka. When visiting you must try takoyaki and okonomiyaki. Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum: Taste nine different types of ramen at the world’s first food-themed amusement park.

Architecture – Koyasan: Temples and shrines can be found all throughout Japan. Tourists can experience Buddhist lifestyle through traditional practices by spending a night in a Koyasan temple. Reversible Destiny Lofts: The space is meant to challenge your mind and body to interact with your living space in a new way to allow new possibilities daily. It is made up of only three shapes. Shirakawa-go Village: Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995 for its gassho-zukuri houses, the thatched roofs without nails are symbolic of hands pressed together in prayer.

Sights – Tateyama Snow Wall: The Snow Corridor of Tateyama rises up to 65 feet. Bonin Islands: During the second world war, the islands were used as military bases, so if you enjoy diving, you are likely to see many shipwrecks. Nagano’s Jigokudani Monkey Park: In Nagano’s Jigokudani Monkey Park there are no barriers. These monkeys are the only ones in the world that enjoy bathing in hot springs.

Thrills – Hokkaido: Hokkaido has light, powdery snow perfect for snowboarding or skiing in the winter. Yonaguni: Nevertheless, the Yonaguni monument requires a 9 to 52 foot dive to reach the bottom, and it is recommended that you have at least 100 hours of logged diving experience.

Shopping – Kanazawa: This city is most famous for its teahouses and geisha and samurai districts, along with its gold leaf production. Akihabara: Akihabara, also known as Electric Town, is a hub for all things electronics, game paraphernalia, anime, and manga. Canal City: Called a city within a city, Canal City is a large shopping mall and entertainment center in Fukuoka.

Legendary Food: ‘Ben’s Chili Bowl – The Chili Half-Smoke’, Washington DC

Washington, DC, has a little bit of everything for history buffs and foodies, but it’s Ben’s Chili Bowl, which sits on the historic U Street once known as Black Broadway, where the two come together. Insider’s Lisa Paradise stopped by for a bite of the chili half-smoke: a half-pork, half-beef sausage smothered in homemade chili crafted from a generations-old secret family recipe that has remained popular for so many generations it was named the city’s signature dish.

Culinary Travel: Inside Iconic ‘St-Viateur Bagel’ In Montreal, Canada (Video)

St Viateur is an iconic bagel shop that has been around since 1957. The Montreal-style bagels are made 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Editor’s Note: This was filmed in February 2020.