The #1 Hall of Shame Winner is...Emeril Lagasse, a man for whom I have a lot of respect in many ways, but his sauces are sugar based. You never see an Italian grandmother standing over her pot of tomatoes in Italy with a cup of sugar or a container of corn syrup but unfortunately even Emeril instead of using nice ripe tomatoes and great seasonings resorts to this trick of sweetening the sauce. It's plain bad cooking and from a man who SHOULD know better. Go stand in the corner Emeril, along with Rachel Ray and The ladies from the Silver Palate who get a shameful mention for hiding the sugar in the form of evaporated grape and pear juice.
#2. Mustard Bread Crumbs...what a great idea.Coating the fish with mustard can make the bread crumbs soggy and the fish less crisp. I was very exciting to try this new product from the Iron Chef...until I tasted it. Mustard for dessert is not so appealing. I checked the ingredients...SUGAR...in bread crumbs. Bad idea, bad taste, SHAME on you Iron Chef.
That's it. I'm done. I have more than 200 additional potential entrants for this category. There was so much (S.O. told me not to say crap, or shit), bad food at the food show, that I just can't pick. I find the top two the most offensive because they are big names and widely available. Most of the other entrants were just crap food that likely won't get far and it does not deserve too. Just a general warning to the consumer, read the label, if you see corn syrup, put it back, if you see hydrogenated fat, put it back. If you see sugar, think...is this a product that needs or should have sugar? If so, great, but if it's a chip, or a pretzel, or a salsa, put it back. Use your dollars to tell the manufacturers to work on flavor, not covering up the lack thereof with sugar.
Let me give you a few more GOOD products to send you off. Blue Smoke Salsas have a natural sweetness from good onions The Extra Hot is not so hot, but it is delicious. Check out Bluesmokesalsa.com
Oogies makes really good flavored popcorn. It's not low calorie but it tastes really good. Check out www.oogiesnacks.com
Two rotten, two good, and a reminder to read your food labels.
Now we go back to our regular programming. I think we need some recipes for all the amazing vegetables that are hitting the Farmer's markets these days. When you support your local farmers you are supporting your own health. Eat your vegetables.
