28 May 08 Get Fresh, Get Flavor

Regular readers amongst you will know how much I enjoy my coffee, particularly first thing in the morning.

Now, cynical old me doesn’t take too much notice of advertising claims, and that includes food, and some of the claims for “organic”.

However, for me, food and drink is all about taste, and I’ll buy what I consider has the best flavor, even if it’s not always the healthiest or most environmentally friendly choice.

I feel that so much food and drink these days comes under the category of “bland”. That’s the main reason I avoid most fast food – not that I’m on a huge health kick – although I do try to be more sensible than I used to be – but that most fast food, is basically ruined. It’s processed beyond almost all recognition – tastewise at least.

Bacon and ham often taste of little more than salt; sharp or strong cheese – oh please, it’s more like a bar of soap. It’s also the reason why I avoid most beer from the megabreweries around the world, particularly the “lite” ones. I don’t care if it’s got less carbs, it’s got no flavor!

So, having said that when I do find something that stimulates my taste buds, I go and get more. Some recent examples, I’ve found in Publix. OK, so you pay more for their “Greenwise” chicken, but it really does taste like chicken used to taste years ago, before they will pumped full of who knows what, and lived in a few cubic inches from egg to slaughter.

Of course, anyone who’s grown their own vegetables knows the difference that really fresh really brings. Alas, we can’t have a vegetable patch in the condo community here, but when we move, we’ll certainly start one up again.

However, some of the roadside stalls dotted around the lowcountry have some excellent produce, and can be worth stopping by at.

Some things you can’t feasibly grow yourself, even in your own patch, which brings me to coffee. I found out many years ago, when I bought my first electric coffee machine, that there is a vast difference between different beans. I have been lucky enough to have tried Jamaican Blue Mountain, and it’s wonderful. If you’ve ever got the money (yes, it’s very expensive) then go to a good coffee roasters, and buy some – even a quarter pound. It’s has a mellowness, smoothness and roundness you’ll never forget.

However, most of us, can’t afford such luxuries for everyday drinking. Many of the coffee beans on sale at Starbucks make a good brew. I tend to prefer a stronger, darker roast, most of the time, but I do like to get something that has a good flavor, without the rough edges – like some of the cheaper coffees can have.

I prefer to buy beans, and grind them as required, as ground coffee quickly loses oils, it’s aroma, and flavor. A grinder is only a few dollars, and takes but a few seconds to use, so there’s really no excuse not to use one.

Last evening, we were getting low on coffee, so Kathy dropped into Publix, and got some more. She picked up some Paul Newman’s Organic French Roast, and so this morning, I had to try it. It’s robust, but smooth, and just what I like first thing. I take my coffee with a little milk, but never ever any sugar. Anyhow, I recommend it. It’s about $7.50 for a 10 oz bag of beans.

Tags: bacon, cheese, coffee machine, condo community, cubic inches, egg, fair trade, fast food, food and drink, health kick, lowcountry, organic, organic coffee, paul newman, slaughter, soap, taste buds, taste like chicken, vegetable patch, vegetables