Forests Corked?

by Erik Olsen on

Did you know that Mediterranean cork-oak forests provide 15 billion corks a year to the wine industry? They say this is a sustainable enterprise, mostly because cork is harvested from live trees rather than dead ones. But oddly, while plastic and screw-top closures are growing in popularity, some say this drop in the cork market could lead to poor forest management or abandonment, putting forests at heightened risk of desertification and forest fires.

And so the World Wildlife Fund is is urging the wine companies to stick with cork, saying that the forests could be imperiled if management goes awry. What an odd thought. Let’s use more cork to save it.

Mango Madness

by Karen Walrond on

Ah, the noble mango!  I have to admit that mangoes are absolutely, by far, my most favourite of all favourite fruits ever.  It might be partly nostalgic — the memories of growing up in the tropics, eating mangoes with my friends, juice running down my arms — but it’s also because it is one of the sweetest, most amazing fruits I know.  And mango juice?  Nectar of the gods.

And if you think that perhaps my fixation on mangoes is a bit nuts, check out this article in the New York Times:  it’s mango season in India, and everyone is taken with this succulent fruit.  Why, even President Bush himself has lifted a ban on importing Indian mangoes into the United States, as part of a recent deal struck with allowing for easier access by India to nuclear technology.  “The U.S. is looking forward to eating Indian mangoes,” he said at a recent press conference in reference to the deal…

…aaaaanyway…

…the article is a delightful read, and in addition to describing the mango culture that surrounds this particular season, a very detailed account on how to properly eat a mango is included — and I have to say that the author has it spot on. 

German Food

by Neil Woodburn on

When visiting a foreign country, one should always try the local food.  It’s best to eat Chinese in China, Italian in Italy, and German in Germany.  This is not, however, good advice for someone like Armin Meiwes who embraced the “eat German in Germany” concept literally; he ate a German. 

The 44-year-old computer technician from Rotenburg posted an online ad in 2001 searching for someone to personally consume.  An equally sick compatriot dutifully volunteered and in no time, Meiwes was soon dining on Deutsches fleisch.  Knockwurst and bratwurst be damned!

Meiwes, who told the court, “I wanted to eat him, I didn’t want to kill him,” was convicted of manslaughter in 2004 despite his argument that the victim was a willing participant. 

A federal court overruled the decision, however, and Meiwes was recently retried and yesterday convicted once again of murder.  He was sentenced to life in prison, which, if you ask me, is like locking the fox up in the chicken coop. 

One Night Stand: Columbus, Ohio

by Adrienne Wilson on

Perhaps this is something I should just hand over to the folks that handle it best and could refer to the most exciting hot spots the state of Ohio has to offer over at our sister site BloggingOhio, but dear readers I’m out to ask you this evening where or what should and must I do on my one full day of play in Columbus, Ohio? As it stands right now my knowledge on the areas most exciting attractions or knowledge on Ohio as a whole is pea-sized. Right now I sit in a hotel room in Zanesville listening to that awful faint noise the semi-trucks make as they move down the highway and tomorrow you will find me wandering somewhere around on Hwy 800 (I believe) and as I walk Columbus will be on my mind. What to do? What to see? What is the nightlife like? Is there anywhere to go dancing? What will I eat? My walking pals and I are scheduled to arrive in nearby Grove City on Thursday, but we’ll be making the trip to the capital for sure.

If you’re out there Columbus help me out! Here’s your chance to really show your city some love and tell the world what it’s all about. Don’t worry about my tastes as I’m not picky, but to give some area of focus let’s concentrate on food and dancing. All recommendations welcome.

Red Corner: Hungarian Wine, Unique and Enticing

by Neil Woodburn on

There are so many wonderful little wine regions throughout the former Soviet Empire which sadly remained anonymous to the West during communism and today, are only slightly becoming known. A few weeks ago we posted about the yummy wines of Georgia, the former Soviet Republic most famous for wine making during the USSR days. Today, we point you towards an utterly unique wine that comes from Hungary and which has attracted the attention of Travel & Leisure.

Like most of the other wine regions in the area, Hungary was once quite world famous for their vintage before falling on hard times. Perhaps the most heralded, Hungaricum, comes from a unique white grape grown only on the north shore of Hungary’s Lake Balaton.

Journalist Bruce Schoenfeld (who has written for Wine Spectator and it shows) recently traveled to Hungary’s most famous lake to speak with wine makers and imbibe the local specialty himself. The article is lengthy and fascinating and accomplishes two very important goals; it makes you want to travel and it makes you want to drink. I’ll leave you with a very insightful quote typical of what you will find in the engaging article.

“…another reason is Hungary’s cuisine: rich and heavy, spiced with paprika, utterly unsuited to bottlings in the ultra-ripe international style. Balaton’s wines cut through that spice and fat, refreshing the mouth with their bright acidity but also adding a measure of complexity that emanates from the strong minerality of the soil.”