"For the past five years, the concept of culinary authenticity has been a topic of intrigue for gastronomes, chefs and scholars alike. In urban cities where international flavors can be found in markets and restaurants on every corner, how have cultures been able to maintain the 'tradition' of their cuisine? Is Chinese food eaten in New York City's Chinatown as authentic as Chinese food eaten in Beijing? Is 'authenticity' specified in the quality of ingredients and the execution of a precise recipe, or by a restaurant's geographic location and the ethnicity of the chef preparing the cuisine? Moreover, what does it mean for a dish to be Americanized when America has long been considered the melting pot of all cultures and cuisines?"

Continue reading Industry Voices >> May 2009

"The two-letter word 'OK' just may be the most frequently uttered phrase in the English-speaking world. OK implies assent, agreement, approval, authorization, even endorsement. In Obama parlance, it means 'yes you can.' Though in many ways, OK conveys even more optimism than yes because yes can sometimes mean something quite negative—such as when it’s the honest answer to the question, 'Is this the worst meal you've ever had in your whole life?' Of course, OK doesn't always mean something is great; sometimes it means that something is, well, just OK. Yet, OK (like 'No,' its linguistic opposite) proves that little words and little things in general can have a big impact."

Continue reading The Last Word >> May 2009