The Food Nerds

There’s no shortage of food programs on television and now with the Food Networks recent addition of new dessert shows, we’re all getting our sugar fix on nightly television. Recipes, competitions and delicious creations will leave your mouth watering after watching an episode or two. If you’re a cook, attempting to earn that title, or just fascinated by the creative cuisine, check out a few of these great shows.

1. Cupcake Wars: Airing Tuesdays 9pm/8c, each week 4 cupcake bakers from around the country come together for an epic battle of baking. Three challenges are used to determine a winner amongst the four, who gets a chance to showcase their work. Oh yeah, and 10,000. Three judges decide on each week’s winner.
2. Kid in a Candy Store: Host Adam Gertler travels around the country to find some of the most unique and delicious sweets you’ve ever seen. Some stops take us through the production process of some of our favorites such as dip and dots or salt water taffy, while others introduce us to new concoctions including deep fried cupcakes and beet ice cream. Adam hits the trail every Monday at 8p.m./7 c. And if you’re having trouble sleeping, re-runs air Monday nights at 3a.m./2c. (more…)

Our trendspotting radar has recently been on high alert with this summer’s latest tasty trend taking over the country. Everywhere you go, self-serve frozen yogurt shops are popping up to the delight of city residents. Especially popular this time of year as temperatures soar into the 90s and everyone is looking for a refreshing snack, frozen yogurt (nicknamed fro yo) stores are starting to get extremely creative with flavors and toppings.Though it’s not a new concept, frozen yogurt seems to be making a comeback, likely attributed to the improvements manufacturers have made to its taste. Most of these fro yo companies are totally changing their look to create a futuristic, healthy looking product. Yogurt has much lower fat and caloric content than ice cream and has the benefits of bacteria cultures present in yogurt. With such large selections of toppings and large bowls made for self serve, there is a new appeal amongst customers to make this a meal not just a dessert. The self serve aspect is coupled with a pay per weight system so you can pack on as much as you like. (more…)

As the dog days of summer are upon us and the heat becomes unbearable, you may find yourself looking for something light and refreshing to snack on. In this weather, anything heavy might not sit too well. Whether you’re throwing a dinner party for friends or just looking for a quick, delicious meal for tonight, take a look at a few of our favorite summer salads.Caribbean Salad: This feisty summer recipe calls for a hint of sweet and spicy. Customize it to fit your taste by adding your favorite fruits. Popular selections include slices of mandarin oranges, cherries, and mango. If you want something a little more filling, add on chicken or shrimp marinated in lime juice. Of course it’s optional, but if you want an extra kick, top it off with a little salsa. This can also serve as your dressing if you choose, which makes this tasty treat even healthier. (more…)

Of the thousands of applications being created every day for smart phones, Foursquare has become one of the most popular. This is a type of social network that focuses on sharing your location as opposed to activity. When downloaded to your smart phone, the application will recognize where you are and let you “check in” to nearby locations. You can connect with friends and share where you are and track where they’re headed. You can win various badges and awards and the person who checks into a location the most number of times within a certain period is awarded the title of mayor. Many companies, particularly restaurants, are taking advantage of this new social trend and using it as a marketing ploy to attract customers to their venue. Restaurant managers and owners who are up to date with this concept may start offering a free drink if you check in at their restaurant or even hold Foursquare nights with a free drink or discount to all users. (more…)

We’ve been taught to place food items into very rigid categories, usually classifying them as strictly good or bad. As more studies and research are conducted, we are discovering that many of our preconceived notions about what foods are healthy and not are actually flawed. Many times practicing moderation or being cautious about how you prepare a certain food item can completely alter its nutritional benefits. So for a little good news, take a look at these five unsuspecting healthy foods.

1. Chocolate!…ok dark chocolate, but either way it’s a start right? Most of what we know about food teaches us that sweets, particularly chocolate, are unhealthy and loaded with calories. As surprising as it may sound, dark chocolate can actually help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Dark chocolate also contains (more…)