Raines Realm

I have to admit, when I think of people eating bugs, I think about ancient cultures and survivalists. The suburban family of five does not spring to mind. According to the Scientific American , it's estimated that individuals unknowingly ingest between one and two lbs of insects annually. Most of this is due to the less than sterile process of canning vegetables and fruit preserves. Insects are not thoroughly removed before everything is sealed up and shipped out. But, accidents happen, right? Well, you may also want to be aware of the fact that confectioners glaze and red food dye are intentionally made with insects. The Lac bug is used to make glaze, which is used for everything from candy to furniture. The cochineal beetle is our source for red food dye. It's used for everything, from red candy to red lipstick. Even Starbucks admitted to using it in their beverages at one point. You can read about that here:  http://blogs.starbucks.com/blogs/customer/archive/...

We've all heard the saying, "we eat with our eyes". Well, restaurants have started taking it to the next level. If you've noticed the dimly-lit, cozy atmosphere in restaurants replaced by bright, unflattering lights, you can blame social media. As the quest to be "Facebook famous" grows, more people are searching for that perfect dining photo. Restaurants have picked up on this and are attempting to cash in on the free advertising. This means brighter lighting for higher quality phone camera shots. Some restaurants are taking it a step further with food photography classes on a weekly basis. Specialized plates are being utilized that allow even the most amateur photographer to produce high quality images. With all of this focus on photography, expect your dishes to be dressed up a little fancier than usual. Extra garnish, elegant presentations, all of the bells and whistles to make them camera-ready. Some restaurants are tring to encourage thi...