Pumpkin pies follow Eggos on to endangered foods list

It looks like a grim winter for Americans who will now have to get through the coldest months without two of their favorite food groups.

Nestle, which owns the Libby’s brand of pumpkin pie and announced this week that heavy rain has hurt its pumpkin farms in Morton, Ill., to the point that it will not pack any more pumpkins this year.

And it’s not just our poor underprivileged industrial food producers being hurt by this. In case anyone cares, there are reports that mere people are also being effected.

“Our calculations indicate that we may deplete our inventory of canned Libby’s pumpkin as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Paul Bakus, vice president and general manager of Nestle Baking.

Damn. Just as I was poised to get rich off my pumpkin pie with Eggo crust recipe. Maybe next year.

UPDATE

I agree with Mister Impatient’s comment (below) and sense an attempt to drive up the price in both the pumpkin and Eggo markets by creating a fictitious shortage. As evidence I offer this picture of shelves at my local supermarket overflowing with Eggos!

I CALL SHENANIGANS!!!

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Italy outclasses us by giving parmesan to the poor

Permetta loro di mangiare formaggio!

I am not in general a fan of any Italian government that holds power for more than a week and the current one is no exception. However my hat is off to them for this plan that will help both the poor and the cheese makers.

Agriculture Minister Luca Zaia has committed to buying 100,000 66-pound wheels each of Parmigiano Reggiano and the very similar Grana Padano cheese to donate to the needy. Producers sought government help in the face of prices that have fallen some 25 percent over the past five years.

Sure as hell beats the “processed American cheese product”* that our government gives away. It’s a great idea Mr. President-elect. Don’t just give food to the hungry, give them good food. I say we help out the Italian cheese industry too!

*Which I eat, too.

Beijing takes fun out of ordering Chinese food during the Olympics

As it readies for an influx of visitors for the August Games, the Chinese capital has offered restaurants an official English translation of local dishes whose exotic names and alarming translations can leave foreign visitors frustrated and famished.

• “Husband and wife’s lung slice” is now “beef and ox tripe in chili sauce”
• “Bean curd made by a pock-marked woman” = “Mapo tofu.”
• “Chicken without sexual life” = “steamed pullet”

Oh the humor! Will no one think of the humor???

Is there a version of Engrish.com for China?