I can’t believe it’s already been 15 years since Oldways, a widely-respected non-profit “food issues think tank” successfully introduced the consumer-friendly health-promoting Mediterranean Diet Pyramid. I remember we all had fantastic time eating, drinking and learning from the pros about incorporating more Mediterranean foods into your diet. (Keep in mind that back then, olive oil was considered a special occasion item and the same bottle usually sat in your pantry for a year, and balsamic vinegars, hummus, oil-cured olives and sun-dried tomatoes were exotic items- and not the Trader Joe staples of today)

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This last Friday, American’s living in Argentina celebrated the Fourth of July in a variety of ways.The Democrats Abroad celebrated by meeting for drinks, hot dogs, and voter registration at La Merval, a bar in the city center.The turn out for the event was estimated at somewhere between 70 and 200 people.  According to YanquiMike, the event even got noticed by the Clarín, one of the two major city news papers in Buenos Aires. This coming Wednesday is the independence day of Argentina, and they won’t be celebrating with hotdogs! On Independence Day here, Argentines drink hot chocolate for breakfast and eat locro, a traditional stew, for lunch.

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Your taste buds will really get down and party at this special event, the New Frontiers of Taste,celebrating the 100th year anniversary of Dr. Kikunae Ikeda’s discovery of *Umami, the 5th taste. This major event is timed to coincide with the International Symposium on Olfaction and Taste (ISOT), and will draw a variety of attendees that includes chefs, culinary students, food and wine experts, scientists, journalists, and plain old food lovers.

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Happy belated International Women’s Day and Hinamatsuri, Girls’ Day in Japan! What is it about March, spring, rebirth, and women and girls?

International Women’s Day is on March 8, and Hinamatsuri is on the third day of the third month every year. It’s one of the things that made me fall in love with Japan when I was living there. Hina means doll (some of you may know that I am an avid doll collector), and suddenly, Tokyo was overflowing with exquisite doll displays. My favorites were at department stores like Takashimaya–level after level of courtly splendor as the emperor, empress and their minions, furniture, flowers and favorite symbolic fruit are displayed on a red carpet.

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