Grade Pending

I recently have switched from a Blackberry to an iPhone for my personal phone.  I do, however, still prefer Blackberry for corporate use.  Since my introduction to iPhone, I have been paying a lot more attention to mobile apps and how they can help us get through our every day life.

Several years ago NYC decided to grade restaurants based on sanitation.  My ex-coworker has come up with an iPhone app that allows you to figure out the grade of a restaurant even if the sign says "grade pending".  This is yet another example of a useful piece of technology.

Download Dan's app here.

The database that this app runs off of from the NYC Department of Sanitation might be a good database for FoodNOW to start with?

Livehoods

I came across this article about a Carnegie Mellon Mobile Research Project called Livehoods.  Livehoods is a new way to understand what "local" means using social media.  This is a fascinating way to understand the world in which we live.  Read about livehoods at livehoods.org.

Foodspotting

In early 2011, Dave M informed me about this food website, foodspotting.com in doing some research for my foodNOW idea.  What makes this foodie website unique is that it focuses on dishes and not reviews of specific restaurants.  "Foodspotting is the easiest way to find and share the foods you love: Instead of reviewing restaurants, you can recommend your favorite dishes and see what others have recommended wherever you go."  I recently came across them again when reading Inc. magazine's 30 under 30 piece where the company was profiled.  What has caught my eye is that this year they want "[to] become as smart-as-Pandora recommendation engine for nearby food."  Another thumbs up for the original idea owner, me!

Art meets Tech at the bar...

I came across an article in the WSJ that talked about smart innovative companies that are using every inch of their product label to promote their brands!  I would expect to see more vanity-barcodes to crop up as companies try to differentiate themselves in a highly competitive market place.  This is of course, is dependent on figuring out how to ensure their scanning reliability.

Design Barcodes Inc. (man, skyline); Vanity Barcodes LLC (3)

Vanity Barcodes designs one label for $375 a pop.  There is some concern that vanity-barcodes may not work with all scanners.  However, by the looks of the Garden Barcode pictured below, I would believe that it is possible to design some artistic barcodes that should always scan.

 

With the advent of smart phones, the QR code (otherwise known as a matrix barcode) has gained popularity.  Will we also see these matrix barcodes morph into artistic expression?  Apparently this has already been done by Duncan Roberston who embedded the letters BBC into a QR code.

 

Let's call this the "bARTcode" phenomenon!

My Bedroom

This is one of my earlier paintings done in high school.  It was inspired by my childhood room and what I had wished it looked like!

Oven "Fried" Chicken

Have you ever wondered how Korean fried chicken can be made in a healthier way? Well, I've perfected Michelle's slightly healthier version of Asian fried chicken so please enjoy!

Ingredients

• 2 pounds chicken wings (I just use the wing part if I want the chicken to be extra crispy, but I also like the Trader Joe's Organic wings pictured here)
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup of flour
• non-stick cooking oil spray

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Pat dry chicken and place in a medium sized mixing bowl.
3. Drizzle olive oil on wings and toss.
4. Season with salt, pepper and cayenne pepper.
5. Dredge chicken in flour making sure all sides are covered evenly.
6. Place on foil lined baking sheet skin-side up.  
7. Cover floured chicken with non-stick cooking oil spray
8. Bake for about 50 minutes or until golden brown AND don't forget to turn them over half way through!
9. Put wings in a medium sized bowl and toss with spicy garlic ginger glaze for oven "fried" chicken.

Spicy Garlic Ginger Glaze for Oven "Fried" Chicken

Ingredients

***this glaze is for two pounds (about 20 wings) of oven fried chicken wings***

• 1 tablespoon chopped/minced garlic (I use chopped garlic out of a jar when I’m lazy, but fresh always tastes better)
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• 1 teaspoon Sriracha chili sauce
• 1/4 cup sushi rice seasoning
• 3 tablespoons organic sugar (white or brown)
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon honey

Directions

1. Finely chop 2 fresh garlic gloves.
2. Finely grate ginger.
3. Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan.
4. Bring to a boil, simmer (till semi-sticky consistency), stir and let cool.
5. Pour over oven "fried" chicken wings.