Ketchup package shortage
Takeout usage was higher than ever because of COVID in-house dining restrictions throughout the year. This created a severe shortage of the carryout version of the popular condiment. It got to the point where a thriving market for ketchup packets on eBay existed, with prices going for anywhere between 50¢ to $5; you'd think they were TimBiebs boxes or something. I would have thought investing in a bottle of ketchup would negate any packet shortage, but I guess that would mean going to the grocery store.
Takeout usage was higher than ever because of COVID in-house dining restrictions throughout the year. This created a severe shortage of the carryout version of the popular condiment. It got to the point where a thriving market for ketchup packets on eBay existed, with prices going for anywhere between 50¢ to $5; you'd think they were TimBiebs boxes or something. I would have thought investing in a bottle of ketchup would negate any packet shortage, but I guess that would mean going to the grocery store.
Air fryers
The adult E-Z Bake Oven that is the air fryer is still as popular as ever with it taking up counter space in kitchens across the country. With an air fryer, it is possible to make healthier alternatives to deep-fried foods, but people need to keep in mind that frozen chicken nuggets don't magically become healthier because less oil is used - the nutrition value of the food doesn't change. My old-school deep fryer still works so I'm not in the market to upgrade. Plus, I'd rather get a full-sized convection oven, and I don't have the space for an air fryer because I already have last year's must-have kitchen appliance.
Buttergate
When people fill the large amount of the time on their hands that the pandemic has given them with baking, they start noticing something is wrong with the butter they're using. Early in 2021 people claimed that Canadian butter no longer softened at room temperature. People claimed this "hard" butter was because of an increased use of palmitic acid, a byproduct of palm oil, commonly added to cow feed. Gripes about hard butter took a more serious turn when reports out of British Columbia about non-foaming milk lead to discussions about whether dairy farmers should even be feeding palm fats to cows and the lack of transparency about the process in the daily industry. The Dairy Farmers of Canada says there's no reason to be concerned but they will look into the matter further to reassure consumers and stakeholders. I hadn't noticed anything different about the butter I've used in the past year, but if "Buttergate" leads to better dairy products, it will be worth all the drama around it.
When people fill the large amount of the time on their hands that the pandemic has given them with baking, they start noticing something is wrong with the butter they're using. Early in 2021 people claimed that Canadian butter no longer softened at room temperature. People claimed this "hard" butter was because of an increased use of palmitic acid, a byproduct of palm oil, commonly added to cow feed. Gripes about hard butter took a more serious turn when reports out of British Columbia about non-foaming milk lead to discussions about whether dairy farmers should even be feeding palm fats to cows and the lack of transparency about the process in the daily industry. The Dairy Farmers of Canada says there's no reason to be concerned but they will look into the matter further to reassure consumers and stakeholders. I hadn't noticed anything different about the butter I've used in the past year, but if "Buttergate" leads to better dairy products, it will be worth all the drama around it.
Popcorn salad
Molly Yeh had no idea she would create the year's most controversial dish. On her Food Network show "Girl Meets Farm", Yeh introduced the popcorn salad and promptly broke the internet. This isn't her first daring take on the classic American salad, having created a pizza salad (think a deconstructed pizza in a bowl), and a chocolate bar salad (!) in the past. I'm not much of a salad eater, so I'll assume it's the combination of popcorn and vegetables that have people up in arms. To satisfy your curiosity about popcorn salad, try the recipe below :
Molly Yeh had no idea she would create the year's most controversial dish. On her Food Network show "Girl Meets Farm", Yeh introduced the popcorn salad and promptly broke the internet. This isn't her first daring take on the classic American salad, having created a pizza salad (think a deconstructed pizza in a bowl), and a chocolate bar salad (!) in the past. I'm not much of a salad eater, so I'll assume it's the combination of popcorn and vegetables that have people up in arms. To satisfy your curiosity about popcorn salad, try the recipe below :
Ingredients: Molly Yeh’s Popcorn Salad
1/3 cup popcorn kernels
vegetable oil, as needed for popping
white Cheddar popcorn seasoning
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 shallot, thinly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 cups sugar snap peas, strings removed, cut crosswise into thirds
1 cup shredded carrot
1 cup chopped celery plus 1/2 cup tender inner celery leaves
1 bunch watercress, trimmed and torn into bite-size pieces
- Pop the popcorn in a popcorn maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. While it's still hot, sprinkle with the white cheddar popcorn seasoning to taste. Let cool completely.
- Whisk the mayonnaise, sour cream, cider vinegar, sugar, and Dijon together in a large serving bowl. Stir in the shallot. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add the snap peas, carrot, and chopped celery and toss to coat. Add the popcorn and toss to coat the kernels in the dressing.
- Pile the watercress on top and sprinkle with the celery leaves. Serve immediately.
Plant-based meat never really took off as a lot of people hoped. As close to meat as it was, it still wasn't enough like the real thing for most consumers. But that didn't stop the makers of Just Egg, a mung bean-based product known for its ability to mimic the look and texture of cooked eggs. I think these will go over huge with the fast-food crowd, or at least better than those plant-based sandwiches that silently fell off a lot of menus. And speaking of fast-food sandwiches...
Subway's legal problems
Having barely survived the fallout of having Jared Fogel as a spokesperson, Subway continues to be plagued with accusations of selling fake meat. After winning the right to proceed with a defamation lawsuit against the CBC after a story from the show "Marketplace" in 2017 claimed about half the DNA in Subway chicken was soy, the sandwich makers had to deal with a similar claim about what's really in their tuna sandwiches. With claims that their seafood is not "100% tuna" as advertised, Subway owners must long for the days when the biggest worry they had was complaints about the foot-longs not being 12 inches in length.
Restaurant worker shortage
Not surprisingly, the restaurant industry has encountered unprecedented difficulties over the past two years. With numerous restaurants forced to shut down in 2020 restaurants found it hard to get employees back when they reopened in 2021. Some people blamed CERB payments and a lack of work ethic in today's workers; a lot of people blamed low wages and poor working conditions for the lack of interest in working in the service industry. This may change now that the minimum wage has increased this year, but don't be surprised if your favourite restaurant is closed more often than it used to be.
Subway's legal problems
Having barely survived the fallout of having Jared Fogel as a spokesperson, Subway continues to be plagued with accusations of selling fake meat. After winning the right to proceed with a defamation lawsuit against the CBC after a story from the show "Marketplace" in 2017 claimed about half the DNA in Subway chicken was soy, the sandwich makers had to deal with a similar claim about what's really in their tuna sandwiches. With claims that their seafood is not "100% tuna" as advertised, Subway owners must long for the days when the biggest worry they had was complaints about the foot-longs not being 12 inches in length.
Restaurant worker shortage
Not surprisingly, the restaurant industry has encountered unprecedented difficulties over the past two years. With numerous restaurants forced to shut down in 2020 restaurants found it hard to get employees back when they reopened in 2021. Some people blamed CERB payments and a lack of work ethic in today's workers; a lot of people blamed low wages and poor working conditions for the lack of interest in working in the service industry. This may change now that the minimum wage has increased this year, but don't be surprised if your favourite restaurant is closed more often than it used to be.
Price increases and shortages
If you went to the supermarket at any point last year, you noticed that if what you wanted was in stock, it now costs more than it used to. Supply-chain bottlenecks, labour shortages, product shortages, strong demand - there were lots of reasons why grocery bills were high. Reports of shortages of turkeys and liquor may have been a bit premature, as I saw plenty of both available through the Christmas season. As food gets more expensive, people will adapt their diets according to their budgets. Luckily, this can be done without sacrificing dietary concerns or flavour.
What does 2022 have in store for us? Stay tuned...
If you went to the supermarket at any point last year, you noticed that if what you wanted was in stock, it now costs more than it used to. Supply-chain bottlenecks, labour shortages, product shortages, strong demand - there were lots of reasons why grocery bills were high. Reports of shortages of turkeys and liquor may have been a bit premature, as I saw plenty of both available through the Christmas season. As food gets more expensive, people will adapt their diets according to their budgets. Luckily, this can be done without sacrificing dietary concerns or flavour.
What does 2022 have in store for us? Stay tuned...
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