Continuing my posts from Connoisseurs’ corner...here are some topics...discuss!
Breakfast
I always heard that breakfast is the most important meal of
the day. Lately, I’ve seen an upswing in
the breakfast restaurants. From the
Route 9 Diner in Hadley, the Rox Diner in West Roxbury and Newtonville to the
Deluxe Depot Diner in Framingham (and other locations in Watertown and Newton)
and Stephen Anthony’s in Marlboro…breakfast is back.
I grew up working with my dad in his diner, so we have affection
for a big breakfast. To me, nothing
beats two eggs any style, corned beef hash, home fries (extra crispy), buttered
wheat toast and hot, strong coffee.
Places like the Route 9, Rox and Deluxe Depot execute homemade corned
beef hash, while Stephen Anthony’s in Marlboro goes for the hot coffee carafe
on the table for constant self-refilling.
Service at all of these places is just what you need first thing in the
morning-professional, personable and prompt.
I walked away from all these places satiated, and ready to start my day,
with a full stomach and juiced on diner coffee.
Coffee
Who among us doesn’t like a hot cup of coffee in the morning to start
our day? I enjoy a cup, or two, each
day, and even though my mother has been chastising me about my coffee intake, I
am happy to report that there may be some benefits from drinking coffee.
The 2015 Dietary Guidelines
Advisory Committee has submitted the Scientific Report of the 2015
Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (Advisory Report) to the
Secretaries of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in February 2015. The purpose of the
Advisory Report is to inform the Federal government of current scientific
evidence on topics related to diet, nutrition, and health. This helps determine the USDA’s new food guidelines
for Americans.
As the Washington Post reported here, not only can people stop worrying about whether drinking
coffee is bad for them, according
to the panel, they might even want to consider drinking more. The panel cited minimal health
risks associated
with drinking between three and five cups per day. It also said that
consuming as many as five cups of coffee each day is tied to
several health benefits (!!!), including a reduced risk of cardiovascular
disease and type 2 diabetes. BENEFITS!!!!
So, for
you three and five cup a day coffee drinkers, don’t worry about caffeine so
much. Now if only they could come out
with a study that says burgers and onion rings are good for you…
Coffee
brewing methods
I know
it’s not exactly a food topic, but my day wouldn’t start off right if I didn’t
have a hot cup of coffee. While America
may run on Dunkin’, I prefer a different brew.
As I have
written and spoke about in the past, I prefer a strong brew, and my preferred
purveyor is Starbucks. Starbucks surely
offers a respite from the hustle and bustle, but for me, it’s still about the
coffee. Lately, I’ve been paying attention
to my coffee a little more, especially over the weekends, at least as it comes
to brewing.
Allegedly,
K-cup pod brewing has overtaken the current home-brewing market. With convenience and variety, from cup to
cup, who wouldn’t enjoy that? But, for a
quality, personalized brewing experience, nothing beats a French press or a
vacuum syphon brew of your favorite beans.
Both
French press and syphon brewing methods are what are referred to as “full
immersion”; in each case, the coffee grounds are steeped in water for period of
time, as opposed to having the water pass through grounds quickly. With each method, you retain some of the
coffee’s unctuousness; the oily sweetness and mouth feel, letting you savor
some of the more complex flavors of the coffee.
Sure they are more labor intensive, but the results are worth it.
Most
people are familiar with French Press style brewing, but vacuum syphon brewing
is somewhat unknown. For more
information, and a lesson on how to syphon coffee, click here.
Take that
Juan Valdez!
For a little coffee talk, click here.
Now, go
home and start brewing.
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