Have you ever noticed that mothers always seem to be able to fit everything from the table into the dishwasher, no matter how loaded down it already is? My dad, on the other hand, could use these pointers from the Consumer Reports Home and Garden blog. These tips will help your dishwasher perform at its best, and to prevent your dishes from chipping: continue reading...

Regional cuisine is a great way to get a feel for the culture of the location to which you are traveling. And what’s the best part of the meal? Dessert. Check out this list of foreign desserts you shouldn’t skip while traveling: continue reading...

Italy is currently the world’s biggest consumer of wine…  But not for long.  By 2012, the United States will overtake Italy.  And China and Russia will soon overtake Spain, which is a country whose history is associated with this alcohol.  Read more… continue reading...

Here is a list of the world’s most expensive beverages. The funny thing is, many of the items on this list are actually known for their cheapness. Coffee, water, beer - you could easily not spend much money on these drinks. But here’s how the marketing industry has appealed to thirsty people with too much money in their wallets:

Most Expensive Coffee: Kopi Luwak, a.k.a. Civet Coffee - made from coffee berries which have been eaten, digested, and then, well, pooped out by the Asian Palm Civet.
Price: About $50-100 per cup continue reading...

Let’s think about Chinese food for a minute: Fried rice. Breaded chicken. Sure, there are veggies, but they’re usually covered in a sauce. Point is, our normal Chinese take-out can be a big bowl of chicken-fried calories. Here is the worst-offenders list, the seven least healthy choices on the Chinese food menu: continue reading...

We’ve all seen pictures or heard stories about horrible English translations from Chinese sayings.  As if watching kung fu movies that are voiced over isn’t bad enough, sometimes when travelling, you may even have to deal with bizarre menu items.  If “Husband and wife’s lung slice” or “Chicken without sexual life” don’t sound appetizing to you, you’re in luck.  According to CNN.com the impending Olympics have prompted China to come up with standardized, and more western-oriented English translations of over 2000 of their dishes.  The Chinese names of their dishes focus on the look of the food.  Westerners are used to their meals being named for ingredients or how the meal is cooked (i.e.: roast beef).  Read more… continue reading...

Campbell Soup has decided to sell its premium chocolate unit Godiva for $850M to Yildiz Holdings Co., the unit generated $500M in annual sales.  The sale will allow Campbell to focus on its soup, juice and V8 units, instead, with a focus on the Russian and Chinese markets. continue reading...

OSAKA, JAPAN–(Marketwire - November 15, 2007) - Next time your food spoils, think twice before you throw it out; you may have stumbled on a medical breakthrough.

When it comes to major health discoveries, accidents have proven to be an important step in science. Penicillin was discovered accidentally from moldy bread in 1928 by Alexander Fleming, and a famous Japanese warrior, Yoshiie Minamoto, stumbled upon a new discovery in reversing cardiovascular disease with his spoiled lunch. continue reading...

We’ve heard a lot about the dangers - both myth and reality - about food from China, but what about ordering food in China?  Read on:

Eating out in China used to be one of the great experiences of living here. I often thought going out with friends and colleagues for dinner was a bit like the game of “Hungry Hungry Hippos” — vast quantities of amazing food that made dining a pleasure. Best of all, it was affordable and palatable. continue reading...

China has closed 180 food factories after inspectors found industrial chemicals being used in products from candy to seafood, state media said Wednesday.The closures came amid a nationwide crackdown on shoddy and dangerous products launched in December that also uncovered use of recycled or expired food, the China Daily said.

Formaldehyde, illegal dyes, and industrial wax were found being used to make candy, pickles, crackers and seafood, it said, citing Han Yi, an official with the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, which is responsible for food safety. continue reading...