The Feed - January 23, 2013

The Feed is my weekly round up of interesting food-related stories from newspapers, magazines, blogs and websites.

The Guardian: “Can vegans stomach the unpalatable truth about quinoa?” by Joanna Blythman. Quinoa is all the rage in the U.S. and other first-world nations as food-conscious consumers devour the healthy, chic grain. Blythman looks at how its meteoric rise in demand is affecting poor South Americans who once relied on the grain as a diet staple but can no longer afford it. Also worth reading: this counterpoint that ran a few days later by PETA’s Mimi Bekhechi.

New York Times: “Roasting Renders Leeks Tender and Versatile,” A Good Appetite by Melissa Clark. Times’ Dining section recipe writer Melissa Clark shares her first foray into roasting leeks, along with a recipe for Farro Salad with Leeks, Chickpeas and Currants and a helpful video on how to clean leeks.

New York Times: “Restaurants Turn Camera Shy,” by Helene Stapinski.” Oh dear. I hope I'm not in trouble. I enjoyed Stapinski’s article about how restaurants are reacting to the growing trend of amateur food photography during food service. As a food blogger, I take pictures occasionally at the restaurants I visit, although I try to be very discreet about it. I didn’t realize Chef David Chang was so against it though, or I might not have taken (these darn cool) pictures at Ma Peche.

Washington Post: “Wine choices: Are they an illusion?” by Dave McIntyre. The Post Food section’s wine columnist discusses the corporate consolidation of the American wine industry. I was rather surprised to learn that more than half of the wine sold in the United States is produced, licensed or imported by just three companies.

Washington City Paper: “Trademark Dispute Between Green Hat Gin and New York’s Greenhook Ginsmiths,” by Jessica Sidman. I was excited to pick up a bottle of Green Hat Gin, the first spirit legally distilled in Washington D.C. in generations, produced by New Columbia Distillery. Unfortunately, they’re being sued by Brooklyn-based Greenhook Ginsmiths in a trademark dispute. Frankly, I don’t think the bottles or the name are that similar, so I’m siding with New Columbia. D.C.

NPR: “Distilling Presidential History Into 44 Cocktails,” by All Things Considered. As an inauguration tie-in, NPR profiles D.C.’s Willard Hotel Bartender Jim Hewes, who has fashioned original cocktails inspired by all 44 presidents. Fox News ran a similar story, including a list of all the cocktails.

ABC Good Morning America: “Group Finds More Fake Ingredients in Popular Foods,” by Jim Avila and Serena Marshall. I learned about the adulteration of olive oil last year from Tom Mueller’s Extra Virginity. Now, ABC News takes a look at the issue of food adulteration, highlighting the release of a new database by U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), a nonprofit center dedicated to uncovering food fraud. Also covered by The Consumerist.