Some Hot Air From Tacoma
A friend of a colleague alerted us to an article published in the Tacoma Reporter weekly magazine with the headline: “Another Reason to Stay Away from Spokane.”
The subtitle of the article: “Chili Consumption High in the Northwest.”
The author asked chili distributors how much chili is consumed in various geographic areas. The author ranked cities for their chili consumption, based on figures from Nalley’s, the only distributor who responded.
So the author writes: “… the Northwest is well above the national average for chili consumption. Spokane’s pungent odor can be accounted for with its No. 1 rating - on a scale that marks the national average at 100, Spokane leads the pack with a whopping 400 rating.”
Taking the next four spots are Portland, Salt Lake City, Boise and Seattle/Tacoma.
The Nalley’s representative quoted in the article suggests that area residents’ fondness for camping, hiking and outdoor life may be one reason for the high rating.
So the author’s point? Well, we can’t really find one in the article.
We defer to the friend who sent us the article’s comment: “We know who has the excess of hot air! Not Spokane.”
Nutrition hotline
With so much information floating around these days about food, it’s nice to know there’s a place to find some answers. The Nutrition Hotline is a free service of the American Institute for Cancer Research. A registered dietitian will return your call within 48 hours, answering questions about food, nutrition and cancer. The service is available Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pacific time. Call (800) 843-8114.
Bad burgers?
Did your Memorial Day burgers leave your mouth dry? The May issue of Food & Wine magazine offers these tips for grilling juicy burgers: Be gentle when forming the patties, as overhandling the meat makes it tough. And don’t smash the burgers with a spatula while cooking; that squeezes out all of the juice.
Embarrassing fridge
Afraid to let strangers open your refrigerator lest they see the food splatters on the shelves, walls and door? The Soap and Detergent Association reminds us to clean up (with a hand dish detergent and hot water) those spills promptly. Not only are they unpleasant to look at, they’re prime places for bacteria to grow.