Cooking class in Tuscany

Quick bites from around the food safety arena this week Taylor Farms CEO Bruce Taylor has outlined steps the company will take after a major outbreak of produce-related Cyclospora this past summer. Among other actions, the company announced that it is suspending the harvest and …

Oyster and clam harvesting has been shut down on a stretch of the Little Wicomico River in Northumberland County in Virginia after state health officials traced a Salmonella outbreak in Pennsylvania back to shellfish pulled from those waters.  Virginia health officials closed the river to …

Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc. of Brooklyn, NY, is voluntarily recalling Starfish Seafood Trio – Cold Smoked Salmon, Halibut, and Trout because the product has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was distributed in New York, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina and …

Smoked mackerel is under-used outside of Scandinavia. It is cheaper than smoked salmon, richer in flavor, and holds up better in a salad. This recipe breaks smoked mackerel into pieces and serves it with a honeydew chili salsa of diced tomatoes, honeydew melon, red chili, …

The sizzling cast iron platter at a restaurant is mostly theater, and we would rather have the bowl. The idea behind it is right, though: high heat, charred peppers and onions, thin-sliced beef with a proper crust. The bowl format makes all of that accessible …

If you have ever made a gravy, a bechamel, or a pot of gumbo, you have made a roux. Equal parts fat and flour, cooked together until they form a smooth paste that thickens whatever liquid you add to it. It is one of the …

Floods and prolonged power outages after hurricanes can jeopardize the safety of your food. It’s important to take the proper steps to evaluate and discard certain foods and utensils after these events. To stay safe, be sure to follow these tips: Never taste a food …

Walker’s Wine Juice LLC of Forestville, NY, is recalling its pumpkin juice because it may be contaminated with Botulism.  Botulism is a potentially fatal form of food poisoning and can cause the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double-vision, and trouble with speaking or swallowing. Difficulty …

Another company is recalling its branded sprouting seeds linked to a Salmonella outbreak, but the Food and Drug Administration continues to refuse to reveal the name of the seed supplier. This time, Gardeners Basics of Spanish Fork, Utah, is recalling one-pound bags of broccoli sprouting …

Most of what passes for chicken teriyaki in the West bears little resemblance to the real thing. Authentic teriyaki is not a thick, syrupy glaze loaded with garlic and ginger. The word itself tells you what it is: teri means gloss, yaki means grilled. It …