Look what I found at the State Fair – Mealworm covered caramel apples!

We all know that State fairs around our beautiful country have been known to offer up some weird and wacky culinary delights – and I for one love to share these finds with all of you.  So when I came across this delicacy being offered up at the Arizona State Fair in Phoenix, I knew I had to  show and tell – take a look at mealworm covered caramel apples (warning….not for the squeamish or those light of stomach!)

Believe me folks, this is not a hoax!  This is an actual ‘treat’ being served at the Chef du Jour booth at the Arizona Exposition and state fair.  I’ve gotta say that I’m not brave enough to try this one, but it may have it’s benefits.  I’ve certainly heard that many insects pack a powerful dose of proteins and other essential nutrients, so this could be a way of getting your vitamins and enjoying dessert as well.  I wonder if this thing is sweet?  Well, if you’d like to give it a try you’re welcome to attend this years festivities, which will be held October 14 – November 6, 2011 in Phoenix.  If you’re feisty enough to try this out please let us know what you think – no doggie bags necessary.  Oh yeah, and if this isn’t exactly your cup of tea, you can always try some deep fried crickets while you’re there – another unique item on the menu!

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Edited: July 11th, 2011

Sprinkle a little gold leaf on my burger please!

When you think of typical burger fixin’s most of us would suggest things like ketchup, lettuce, maybe a little mayo.  But if you’d like to join the ranks of the burger elite then perhaps you’d be more interested in toppings like oh, lets say truffle oil and gold leaf flecks.  Take a look at this:

Now this little beauty is what you’d call a four star burger!  Called the Richard Nouveau, and created by the Wall Street Burger Shop in NYC, this is a burger for gourmands!  Made of 10 ounces of prime kobe beef, and foie gras simmered in truffle oil, they then top it with gruyere cheese, foie gras and mushrooms.  But wait, there’s more!  How about a topping of shaved black truffles, and a side of golden truffle mayo and real gold leaf flecks!  Mmmm, sounds wonderful!  If you’re heading to the Big City anytime soon you might want to stop into the Wall Street Burger Shop and try one out.  It only costs a mere $175 for all of this beefy awesomeness.  And hey, don’t forget to bring me a doggie bag!

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Edited: June 7th, 2011

Giving new meaning to food for thought-brain shaped cupcake molds!

Looking for a new way to get the kids interested in cooking?  Make it fun with these cool skull shaped cupcake molds – take a look:

Creepily cute right? Called ‘NomSkulls’ (get it?), this kit comes with 4 silicone molds just waiting for your best cupcake batter.  I bet these would look pretty cool with a red velvet cake batter.  Pipe on a little ‘brain’ frosting, and you’re good to go!  Ah, what will they think of next?  Who knows, but I plan to keep finding it!  Want your own set of NomSkulls?  Head over to Perpetual Kid to pick up a set, and get started creating your own ‘brain food’!

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Edited: June 1st, 2011

Savory wedding cakes – thumbs up…or no deal?

Planning a wedding is no joke.   Between finding the perfect dress, picking attendants, venues, invitations and planning the perfect menu – it’s enough to drive you nuts!  Now there’s even more to choose from with a new wedding cake dilemma – savory or sweet?  This new trend-to-be toward savory cakes may be a flash in the pan (no pun intended!) or it may be here to stay, but more and more bakeries are getting in on the act of creating not so sweet wedding cakes.  Take a look at a couple:

This wedding cake, created by Bray’s Cottage Pork Pies is a four tiered confection made of hot crust pork pies.   You can have the tiers filled with their traditional onion marmalade pork, or you can customize your fillings with flavors such as chili, or lemon, garlic & parsley.  A cake like this will certainly get your guests attention that’s for sure!   Looking for something a tad bit more elegant?  No problem!  Jan Kish, of La Petite Fleur has a gorgeous savory cheescake wedding cake that’s sure to please – take a look:

Isn’t that beautiful?  Served with a red pepper coulis, and adorned with herbs such as basil & thyme, this might be quite a pleasant surprise for your guests.  So what do you think of this idea – would you go savory for your wedding?  Or not traditional enough for you?  Let us know what you think.  And if you come across more savory wedding cakes be sure to come by and share!

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Edited: May 26th, 2011

Want an edible napkin? I do…when it’s made out of gin!

I love the idea of taking unusual items and making them edible.  When I saw this napkin made out of gin, I knew it had to share it with you – talk about a cocktail napkin!  Take a look:

It looks very artsy, and picturesque – but I just want to get to the eating of it!  And believe it or not, this little beauty was created quite by accident.  Bartender Ryan Moore was attempting to create an alcohol based foam to use in food recipes when his experiment ran amok, and he was left with this paper made of gin and cellulose after heating his ingredients into a thin film. Voila – a masterpiece from the destruction!  Want to give it a try?  Well, if you’re ever in Washington, D.C. you can head over to Rogue 24 and try it out for yourself.  Have one for me while you’re at it!

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Edited: May 23rd, 2011

Wear your midnight snack to bed with…bread slippers!

Well, sometimes you have to wonder: ‘What will they think of next?’ At least, that’s what I thought when I first spied these cool looking slippers made out of bread, and created by twin brothers R & E Praspaliauskas.  They say you shouldn’t wear them on your feet, but I’m willing to bet that some have tried!  Take a look:

Yes my friends, these slippers are created from real bread – and for a mere €39 they can be yours!  Don’t particularly care for the baguette style?  No problem, there are other styles & colors available – I’m looking for a dark pumpernickel myself.  And they come conveniently packaged in a hand picked cardboard box for your storing pleasure.  So, what’cha waiting for?  Head on over to Dadada Studio and put your order in!

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Edited: May 19th, 2011

Gigantic gingerbread! A 12 foot gingerbread house!

I’m a huge cake fan – I can eat it anytime, and most any way.  But it’ll take an awful big glass of milk to wash down this gigantic gingerbread house, created by French pastry chef Jean Francois Houdré – take a look:

This colossal work of art is indeed 12 feet tall,  and was inspired by the chateaus of the Southwest of France.  The house features 30 rooms,  20 circular towers, and has it’s own surrounding village.  Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention the working train that runs around this sweet chateau.  Want to know what it takes to make something like this?  Okay, I’ll tell ya:  60 pounds of flour, 40 pounds of molasses, 70 pounds of gingerbread, and 100 pounds of christmas candy!  Whoo, talk about a sugar rush!  Anybody want to take on the challenge and try to create one of these?  If so, I just might be willing to volunteer to help devour it!

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Edited: May 17th, 2011

Who needs leather when you can have a bag made of beef jerky!

That’s right folks!  Todays outrageous fashion feature is focused on a handbag.  If the price of an average Chanel Bag is out of your range, perhaps the umm, beef jerky version will be more affordable.  Created by designer and artist Nancy Wu, this take on a classic design is created entirely from jerky.  Take a look:

Nancy Wu created this chic clutch by hand sewing together sheets of dried beef.   Sturdy enough to be carried for a night on the town, you can have your purse and eat it too.  How’s that for creative!

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Edited: May 9th, 2011

Not your average chocolate Easter egg!

Chocolate, bunnies and baskets, oh my!  Easter is almost here, and I wanted to share something with you that I came across recently that certainly puts my plain old dyed Easter eggs to shame.  Take a look at this:

Gorgeous isn’t it?  Meet the Oeuf Maisonette chocolate egg.  This petite chocolate marvel was created by french chocolatier Michel Cluizel, and the name means ‘Little egg house’ in le francais.  It’s available in either dark chocolate or milk chocolate – feel free to leave either one in my Easter basket!  Check out Michel Cluizel’s website for more chocolate treats – if you get your hands on one of these you might not be able to bring yourself to eat it!

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Edited: April 19th, 2011

Pancakes get all dressed up!

Ahh, the things we do to impress our children!  One California father has become a king of pancake design when he started inventing cool new ways to dress up his 3 year old daughters breakfast.  Jim, of Jim’s Pancakes has come up with some awesome ways to create the standard flapjack.  Take a look at a couple of his designs:

Umm, taco’s anyone?

It’s a campfire – bring out the smores!

Cool, huh?  And there’s lots more where those came from – Jim has turned pancakes into everything from a crab, to bacon and egg shaped pancakes, and even a mini golf course!  You can see more of his work by stopping by his blog – Jims Pancakes .  Maybe you’ll be inspired to try out some pancake art of your own!

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Edited: April 4th, 2011