Food News 09.30.14

• British chef celebrates new season of Walking Dead with "human flesh burgers (Huffington Post)
• Olive Garden's food challenged in a CNNMoney food test (CNN) 
• A 15,000 sq. ft. "gaming" lounge coming to downtown San Jose (KGO)
• Long Island woman celebrates 102nd birthday at White Castle (ABC News)
• 7-Eleven testing "healthy" food in its stores; junk food staying put (USA Today)
• Louisiana restaurant: Bring in a gun, get 10% off (Huffington Post)

Satirical Essay: The Omnivoire's Dilemma's Dilemma

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,The Colbert Report on Facebook,Video Archive

In The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollan asks: What exactly am I eating? Where does it come from? And why should I care? He then painstakingly traces a number of foods from source to table, highlighting disconnects between nature and the typical American diet. For this assignment, you will write a satirical response to Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Satire is a unique style of writing in which humor, irony, hyperbole, or ridicule are utilized to critique a person or issue. Satire is a way to use humor, sometimes cruelly, to enlighten the reader about the underlying faults of an issue. For example, in A Modest Proposal, Jonathan Swift famously satirized his society’s indifference toward the poor by suggesting they sell their children as food to the rich. Today, popular producers of satire include The Daily Show, The Onion, The Colbert Report, The New Yorker, and South Park.

Here, you are either writing a pro-Omnivore’s Dilemma essay masquerading as an anti-Omnivore’s Dilemma essay OR an anti-Omnivore’s Dilemma essay masquerading as a pro-Omnivore’s Dilemma essay. You may utilize sarcasm, exaggeration, juxtaposition, and other techniques to “tear down” Pollan’s views. Keep in mind that satire benefits from a strong point of view. Therefore, be mindful of your essay’s “voice.” Look to the week’s readings about satire (located in the eR) for examples and discussions about satire.

Requirements:

• Two full pages
• MLA Style
• Parenthetical citation
• Works cited page

Due: Wed 10.01—Draft 1 outline (bring 2 copies); Wed 10. 08—Final draft (attach draft 1 outline to back)

Week 06: New Orleans Shrimp Pot Pie

New Orleans Shrimp Pot Pie from Sunny Anderson's Cooking for Real (Food Network, USA)

Week 06: New Orleans Shrimp Pot Pie
Mo 09.29/We 10.01
Readings: OMNI—p. 334-411; “The Great Satirical-News Scam of 2014,” “The 35 Best Times Someone on Facebook Thought ‘The Onion’ Was Real,” “Midyear Roundup: The 10 Best ‘Colbert Report’ Segments of 2014—So Far,” “Diet Book Author Advocates New ‘No Food Diet’”
Class: Reading discussion; Writers workshop; Library research session (TBA)
Due: SATIRICAL (DRAFT 1OUTLINE; BRING 2 COPIES)

Upcoming:

Week 07: Chicken Tikka

Mo 10.06/We 10.08

Readings: BOAT—“Meet the Parents” – “This American Life”

Class: Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“On Wordiness”

Due: SATIRICAL (FINAL DRAFT 1; ATTACH DRAFT 1 OUTLINE TO BACK)

Editorial Essay: Getting Back into the Kitchen

What will it take to get Americans to once again embrace cooking? Are there barriers in place that discourage Americans from cooking more at home? As a society, what can we do to encourage American families to cook more at home? In a concise editorial, present your solution(s) to this issue. How would you bring Americans back into the kitchen?

Remember, an editorial expresses an opinion on a current issue. It may take a formal or informal tone, but its primary goal is always to persuade readers. Because editorials were born in newspapers, they are traditionally succinct in form and can often carry the "voice" of the author. Below are a series of recent editorials from around the country.

• "Drought Not Just a California Problem" (USA Today)
• "Congress Needs to Raise the Minimum Wage" (Dallas Morning News)
• "The Enablers of ISIS" (Boston Globe)
• "NFL Fumbled Domestic Abuse, but Public Can Still Advance the Issue" (Oregonian)
• "More Than Pictures Stolen in Celeb Phone-Hacking Case" (Seattle Times)
• "The Sluggish Fight Against Ebola" (New York Times)

Citing these articles in your editorial is optional.

Requirements:

• Two full pages
• MLA Style
• Parenthetical citation
• Works cited page

Due: Mon 10.29

Food News 09.24.14

• Chipotle and Pizza Hut ready for unlikely battle (Business Insider)
• Tackling a Whole Foods salad bar whilst keeping your bank account intact (Huffington Post)
• Americans throw out more food than anything else (Washington Post)
• Starbucks tests beer-flavored coffee drinks (USA Today)
• All the rage: Butter in coffee (Huffington Post)
• Now there are forks that make vegetables taste like chocolate (Los Angeles Times)

Week 05: Piperade Basque

Piperade Basque from Laura Calder's French Cooking at Home (Food Network Canada, Canada)

Week 05: Piperade Basque
Mo 09.22/We 09.24
Readings: OMNI—p. 226-333; eR—“Is it True That People Don't Cook Anymore?,” “Cooking Isn’t Fun,” “Out of the Kitchen, and Onto the Couch,” “10 Reasons You Hate to Cook (And What to Do About It)”
Class: EDITORIAL; Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“Twelve Essential Grammar Rules to Know”

Due Sa 09.27: REFLECTION 3—Email your reflection to dhdelao@gmail.com by midnight

Upcoming:

Week 06: New Orleans Shrimp Pot Pie
Mo 09.29/We 10.01
Readings: OMNI—p. 334-411; “The Great Satirical-News Scam of 2014,” “The 35 Best Times Someone on Facebook Thought ‘The Onion’ Was Real,” “Midyear Roundup: The 10 Best ‘Colbert Report’ Segments of 2014—So Far,” “Diet Book Author Advocates New ‘No Food Diet’”
Class: Reading discussion; Writers workshop; Library research session (TBA)
Due: SATIRICAL (DRAFT 1; BRING 2 COPIES)

 

Food News 09.16.14

• Burger King's dark Kuro Burger (Black Burger) debuts in Japan (Fox News)
• LA coffee house debuts edible chocolate-dipped waffle coffee cups (Los Angeles Times)
• Are you ready for a pumpkin spice burger? (Time)
• Backlash over a London death row-themed pop up restaurant (Buzzfeed)
• Presenting ten PSL hacks for fall (Bustle)
• Papa Murphy employee admits rubbing genitals on uncooked pizza was "stupid" (Huffington Post)

Reflection 03: Tasting the Bounty—California Farmers' Markets

Though summer in California is quickly fading, our amazing farmers' markets abound. Silicon Valley, with its proximity to both the Central Valley and the Pacific Ocean, is especially blessed with several markets throughout the week. And it is not an exaggeration to say that these markets bring with them some of the finest foods in the world. Your task for this reflection is simple: Go to a local farmers' market and sample what it has to offer, then write about the experience. Be sure to take in the market's colors, smells, textures, and, most importantly, tastes. Describe the feel of the market, its clientele, and the foods.What is it like being at a California farmers' market in the summer?

Below is a partial list of farmers' markets around Silicon Valley; choose whichever is most convenient: 

SUN.
Palo Alto: California Avenue
California Ave., California Ave. at El Camino Real
9 AM - 1 PM

San Jose: Alum Rock
James Lick High School, 57 N White Rd.
8 AM - 1 PM

San Jose: Blossom Hill
Princeton Plaza Mall, 1375 Blossom Hill Rd.
Sundays 9 AM - 1:30 PM

Campbell
Downtown, 200 E. Campbell Ave.
9 AM - 1 PM

San Jose: Evergreen
Evergreen Village Square, 4075 Evergreen Village Square
9 AM - 1 PM, Wed. and Sun.

Milpitas
Indian Community Center, 525 Los Coches St.
8 AM - 1 PM

Mountain View
Mountain View Caltrains Station, 600 West Evelyn Ave.
9 AM – 1 PM: Relocates to Bryant and California on 49er Home Game Sundays: August 17 & 24 • September 14 & 28

WED.
San Jose: Cambrian Park
Cambrian Park Plaza, 14418 Union Ave
4 PM - 8 PM

San Jose: Evergreen
Evergreen Village Square, 4075 Evergreen Village Square
9 AM - 1 PM, Wed. and Sun.

THU.
Los Altos
Downtown, State St. and Second St.
4 PM - 8 PM

FRI.
Cupertino
Vallco Shopping Mall, 10123 N. Wolfe Rd.
9 AM - 1 PM

Santa Clara: Kaiser Santa Clara
Kaiser Permanente, 710 Lawrence Expressway
8:30 Am - 1: 30 PM

San Jose: San Pedro Square
San Pedro Square, 87 N. San Pedro St.
10 AM - 2 PM

SAT.
Palo Alto
Downtown, Gilman St. and Hamilton Ave.
8 AM - 12 PM

San Jose: Berryessa
Berryessa Union School District, 1376 Piedmont Rd.
9 AM - 1 PM

Santa Clara: Franklin Square
Franklin Square Mall, 1200 Franklin St.
9 AM - 1 PM

San Jose: Japantown
Japantown, Jackson Street between Sixth and Seventh Streets
8:30 - 12 PM

San Jose: Kaiser Santa Teresa
Kaiser Permanente, 250 Hospital Pkwy.
10 AM - 2 PM

Saratoga
West Valley College, 14000 Fruitvale Ave.
9 AM - 1 PM

Sunnyvale
Downtown, Murphy Ave. at Washington St.
9 AM - 1 PM

San Jose: Willow Glen
The Garden Theater, 1165 Lincoln Ave.
9:30 AM - 1:30 PM

You are not limited to these markets.

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be one full page in length

Due: Sa 09.27 (In order to maximize your opportunities to visit a market, email your reflection to dhdelao@gmail.com by Saturday the 20th at midnight.)

Week 04: Buttermilk Biscuits

Buttermilk Biscuits from Martha Stewart's Martha Stewart Living (Syndicated, USA)

Week 04: Buttermilk Biscuits

Mo 09.15/We 09.17

Readings: OMNI—p. 85-225; eR—“The Art of Almost Homemade,” “Three in Ten Americans Love to Cook, While One in Five Do Not Enjoy It or Don't Cook,” “Americans Prefer Eating at Home But Still Don’t Cook and Don’t Eat More Healthily”

Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—"Crafting the Essay: Writing as a Process"

Due: REFLECTION 2

Upcoming:

Week 05: Piperade Basque
Mo 09.22/We 09.24
Readings: OMNI—p. 226-333; eR—“Is it True That People Don't Cook Anymore?,” “Cooking Isn’t Fun,” “Out of the Kitchen, and Onto the Couch,” “10 Reasons You Hate to Cook (And What to Do About It)”
Class: EDITORIAL; Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Lecture—“Twelve Essential Grammar Rules to Know”

Due Sa 09.27: REFLECTION 3—Email your reflection to dhdelao@gmail.com by midnight

Food News 09.09.14

• Baltimore pizzeria offers customers a free pizza in exchange for a Ray Rice jersey (New York Daily News)
• Chinese mooncakes threatened in new tainted food scandal (Businessweek)
• Now you can make ice cream and play kickball at the same time (Los Angeles Times)
• Is Sugar in the Raw really better for you? (Mother Jones)
• New San Francisco eatery draws controversy for name called racially insensitive to Latinos (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Durex: No, pumpkin spice-flavored condoms are not a real thing (Consumerist)

Reflection 02—Eating Au Naturel: Consuming a Whole Foods Diet

Since WWII, America has come to rely heavily on processed foods—those foods that have, in some way, been altered from their natural state. Low costs, ease of use, and wide availability have made processed foods convenient and popular options at every meal. However, in recent years many have begun to rethink the place of these foods in the American diet. Now, as people are again recognizing the value of whole foods, processed foods are increasingly under fire for their role in everything from obesity to malnutrition to Diabetes. How difficult would it be for you to avoid eating any prepackaged or processed foods for 48 hours? Can you abstain from eating anything that comes frozen, in a box, a can, a bag, or any type of packaging, instead eating only whole, natural foods? Which processed foods would be the most challenging for you to give up? Likewise, with which foods are you most likely to cheat? And if you must cheat, explain the circumstances. For this reflection, attempt to eat only whole foods for two full days, excluding dairy, meats, grains, coffee and tea.

Include at least two of the following articles in your discussion :

• "How to Eat Unprocessed Foods on a Budget" (San Francisco Chronicle)
• "Eating Clean? Six Processed Foods You Can Avoid and Easily Make at Home" (Eating Well)  
• "Nine Ways that Processed Foods are Slowly Killing People" (Authority Nutrition) 
• "Science Compared Every Diet, and the Winner is Real Food" (Atlantic) 
• "What is Clean Eating? 5 Dos and Don’ts for Your Best Body Ever" (Shape)
• "What Eating Only Unprocessed Foods has Been Like" (DrunkOnLife)

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be two full pages in length
• Must include a works cited page

Due: We 09.17

Week 03: Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Pizza

"Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza" from Christopher Kimball's America's Test Kitchen (PBS, USA)

Week 03: Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Pizza

Mo 09.08/We 09.10

Readings: OMNI—p. 1-84

Class: DIAGNOSTIC; Reading discussion

Upcoming:

Week 04: Buttermilk Biscuits

Mo 09.15/We 09.17

Readings: OMNI—p. 85-225; eR—“The Art of Almost Homemade,” “Three in Ten Americans Love to Cook, While One in Five Do Not Enjoy It or Don't Cook,” “Americans Prefer Eating at Home But Still Don’t Cook and Don’t Eat More Healthily”

Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations

Due: REFLECTION 2

Food News 09.03.14

• Pizza Hut's Cheesy Bacon Stuffed Crust Pizza is exactly what you'd think (Huffington Post)
• American families still struggling to get enough to eat, despite improving economy (NPR)
• Here's what you're overpaying for at restaurants (Wise Bread)
• Can you train your brain to prefer healthy foods? (BBC News)
• Fast food workers to push for $15/hour wag i 150 American cities (Huffington Post)
• Häagen-Dazs: No synthetic vanilla for us (Mother Jones)

Multimedia Presentations, Sec. 06

As you know, this semester you and a classmate will be responsible for a 10-minute multimedia presentation and class hand-out.

By midnight on Friday, September 5th, follow these steps:

1. Click on "Comments" at the end of this post.
2. In the "Post a Comment" box, leave the group's names (first and last), section, topic, and the preferred date—only one entry per group is required.

Example:
David Cortez and Kerry Clancy: TV Genres: Hospital Dramas, 10.16.14

Please be sure to post in the correct section! All topics and dates are first come, first serve.

Requirements:

• The work distribution is up to each group, though it should be somewhat equitable
• The presentation must be approximately 10 minutes in length—everyone must present at least part of the time
• There should be approximately 10 slides, including at least one video clip (no more than 2-3 minutes in length)
• You must provide a handout related to or outlining your presentation (23 copies) 
• On the day of your presentation, email both your presentation (or a link) and handout to me at dhdelao@gmail.com.

You may utilize any presentation program you like. 

The best presentations will:

• Have an introductory slide which contextualizes the topic—very important 
• Use words economically 
• Include visually interesting illustrations—gifs are also acceptable
• Avoid a heavy use of animation and effects 
• Have a style that complements the subject matter and strikes the appropriate tone
• Engage the class through a conversational style, utilizing questions and/or activities
• Embed a relevant video or audio clip (e.g. YouTube, SoundCloud)—ad blockers are also helpful in saving time*
• Conclude with a slide that summarizes the topic—also very important

Remember, this is an opportunity to be creative, so feel free to have fun with the visual layout of your presentation.

*If you use PowerPoint 2007, here is a quick video explaining how to embed a YouTube clip into your presentation. Remember, embedding clips can save time during a presentation.

Lower scoring presentations might:

• Begin without an introductory slide and/or fail to offer any context upfront
• Be thinly researched
• Allow visuals to overrun their content, or lack a cohesive style
• Fail to engage the class in any meaningful way
• Lack multimedia
• End without a concluding slide

Remember, you are responsible for providing your own laptop. Also, Macs will require a special connector.

Email me your group's first and second choices from the list below:

1. Starbucks: Inside the Empire
2. Aphrodisiacs: The Myths and Realities
3. The Irish Potato Famine of 1845
4. In the Mess Hall: What Soldiers Eat
5. The California Food Revolution: Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse
6. The Science of Taste
7. The American Breakfast: Now and Then
8. The Foods of Colonial America
9. Food of the Gods: Food in Religion
10. Food on Film: Four Iconic Scenes
11. Tailgating: The Essential Guide
12. Just One of the Guys?: Understanding Women and Alcohol
13. Cal Eats: In-N-Out, California Pizza Kitchen, and Jamba Juice
14. Five Fatal Foods!
15. A Brief History of Cannibalism
16. The Six Healthiest Foods You’re Not Eating
17. The Rise (and Fall) of the Gourmet Cupcake
18. Frankenfoods: Understanding Genetically-Modified Foods
19. The Life and Times of Julia Child
20. Dining at the White House: State Dinner Protocol
21. Nachos, Mozzarella Sticks, and Fortune Cookies: How America Transformed Mexican, Italian, and Chinese Foods
22. Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill: Basic Food Safety
23. Cooking 101: Five Techniques Everyone Should Know
24. What is the Cuisine of Canada?
25. A Brief History of Dessert
26. The Foods of Fairytales
27. BBQ: An American Love Affair
28. All About Food Trucks
29. Chocolate 101
30. Now on Sale: The Psychology of Supermarkets 

 In that email, include your first and second choices for presentation dates:

1. Week 06: New Orleans Shrimp Pot Pie - Mo 09.29/We 10.01
1. Dom P. and Alia K.—All About Food Trucks
2. Week 07: Chicken Tikka - Mo 10.06/We 10.08
1. Peter R. and Michael Y.—Just One of the Guys?: Understanding Women and Alcohol
2. Alec d.—Nachos, Mozzarella Sticks, and Fortune Cookies: How America Transformed Mexican, Italian, and Chinese Foods
3. Week 08: Steak, Guinness, and Cheese Pie - Mo 10.13/We 10.15
1. Shuron R.—Five Fatal Foods!
4. Week 09: Boeuf Bourguignon with Baguette Dumplings - Mo 10.20: /We 10.22
1. Ben M. and Jamie A.—Tailgating: The Essential Guide
5. Week 10: Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes - Mo 10.27/We 10.29
1. Anin S. and Justin V.—Cal Eats: In-N-Out, California Pizza Kitchen, and Jamba Juice
2. Jeniffer R. Flores & Melinda C.—Chocolate 101
6. Week 11: Jalapeño Roasted Chicken - Mo 11.03/We 11.05
1. Akash A. and Maninder K.—Dining at the White House: State Dinner Protocol
7. Week 12: BBQ Thai Snapper - Mo 11.10/We 11.12
1. Nicole S. and Sarah C.—Starbucks: Inside the Empire
8. Week 13: Pasta alla Gricia  - Mo 11.17/We 11.19
1. Alvin P. and Vivian T.—The Foods of Fairytales
9. Week 14: Mixed Seafood Congee - Mo 11.17/We 11.19
1.  Qasim C.—The Rise (and Fall) of the Gourmet Cupcake
10. Week 15: Brooklyn BBQ Chili Burgers - Mo 11.24
1. Nishit A. and Christian C.—A Brief History of Dessert
2. 
   
11. Week 16: Cinnamon Espresso Churros - Mo 12.01/We 12.03
1. 
   
12. Week 17: Duck Breast with Cannellini Beans - Mo 12.08
1.  Kayla P., Alejandra S., and Alexa P.
   —Frankenfoods: Understanding Genetically Modified Foods