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The History of Spring Rolls

November 2, 2015 | Categories: Asian Food Industry | Tags: spring rolls

Spring rolls are one of the most popular Oriental foods, and come in numerous varieties that differs from one country to the next. The history of spring rolls is actually quite simple, even though this food has evolved greatly over the years. Here is a look at the history of spring rolls from their early beginnings until today.

What are Spring Rolls?

A spring roll is a type of snack that is made with very thin dough, and then filled with vegetables, meat, or noodles. They may be either fried to create a somewhat crunchy texture, or steamed to make them much softer. After being cooked, the outer wrapper of spring rolls are nearly translucent, which is largely what distinguishes them from egg rolls. Spring rolls can be served either hot or cold, and are typically much smaller in circumference than an egg roll.

Early Beginnings

When you look at the history of spring rolls, it is easy to see how this dish got its name. They are thought to have originated during the Eastern Jin Dynasty in China, which lasted from 265 to 420 A.D. During that time, people would make very thin cakes that were loaded with vegetables on the first day of spring. It was customary for people to eat these cakes in order to celebrate the arrival of spring, which is why they were originally referred to as “spring dish.” The custom of welcoming the season in this manner was even noted in some early poems.

Tang Dynasty

Spring rolls began changing significantly during the Tang Dynasty, which took place from 618 to 907 A.D. This is when people began making spring cakes hotter and spicier, adding ingredients such as onion and garlic to them. In fact, many Chinese citizens stopped referring to them as “spring dish”, and instead started calling them “five spice dish” instead. It is important to note that while many people created spicier spring cakes, ones that were less spicy continued to be popular.

Biting Spring

The tradition of celebrating spring by enjoying “spring dish” or “five spice dish” changed a great deal during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. This is when many people began the tradition of “biting spring” instead. This involved eating spring cakes in an effort to ward off evil spirits. It was thought that by enjoying spring cakes in this manner, it would be possible to prevent disasters from occurring. At about the same time, spring cakes began to evolve into the thin, tiny rolls we are familiar with today. Their change from cakes to rolled pastries also led to them being known as spring rolls.

Today, spring rolls are enjoyed by people from across the globe, and are often served with a number of dipping sauces. They are a very filling treat that can be enjoyed as an appetizer, main course, or snack. Since they are ideal for a number of occasions, spring rolls continue to be popular among people from all walks of life.

Asian Food Trucks Making a Huge Impact in Urban Centers

October 23, 2015 | Categories: Asian Food Industry

According to the National Restaurant Association, food trucks continue to increase in popularity, with over half of all Americans claiming they would visit one. When it comes to the type of cuisine people are seeking from their food trucks, it’s clear that Asian food is becoming highly sought after, particularly in a number of highly-populated urban areas.

Food Truck Trends

The Daily Meal is a website that keeps up with trends in cuisine, particularly when it comes to restaurants and food trucks. They recently reported that the number of food trucks across the country is actually holding steady in many places, but increasing faster-than-average in other cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. They recently provided readers with a public survey, asking them to name some of their favorite trucks. They also compiled data from Yelp and other review sites, in addition to looking at Twitter followings. The Daily Meal determined that Korean fusion was one of the top cuisines offered at food trucks nationwide, based upon the data collected.

Health Benefits

Asian Nation suggests that one reason why Asian food trucks are taking urban areas by storm is because more and more people are wishing to eat healthy. Obesity, heart disease, and diabetes are at an all-time high, and are health conditions that are virtually unheard of in Asian countries. One reason for this is that people in Asian countries consume far less fat and calories in their diets than most Americans do. Until food trucks became common, it was difficult to grab healthy food on the run in many larger cities. Now that people have healthy food more readily available to them, they are foregoing fast food restaurants and visiting food trucks that offer Asian foods instead.

More Variety

One of the things that draws people to food trucks is that many of them offer a variety of dishes. Some will even blend different types of cuisine together to come up with unique creations that then become their signature dish. For example, many Asian food trucks are blending Mexican, Italian, and even American food with Korean or Vietnamese dishes. As a result, people who are picky eaters are more willing to try Asian food than they would have been before.

Asian Immigrants

It’s impossible to ignore the fact that an increase in Asian immigrants could also lead to the popularity of food trucks that serve authentic Chinese, Thai, or Japanese cuisine. In fact, many Asian food trucks operate in cities such as San Francisco or New York City that already have a high number of Asian immigrants in them. A good number are even operated by immigrants who find their skill at creating authentic Asian dishes are highly sought after. Many business experts agree that food trucks in America’s larger cities are here to stay. While the type of food these trucks offer may vary, Asian cuisine is likely to continue being a popular choice in many urban areas for years to come.

Why is the U.S. Slow to Adopt a No-GMO Mindset?

October 15, 2015 | Categories: Non GMO | Tags: gmo

More than 64 countries around the world require GMO foods to be labeled accordingly; however, the United States is not one of them. Why is the United States lagging behind other countries on this issue? Here are a few reasons why the U.S. has become much slower to act than other nations.

Advocacy against Labeling

In the United States, groups such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) advocate against labeling GMO foods. In 2012, this group’s executive board released an official statement claiming that requiring GMO foods to be labeled would “mislead and falsely alarm consumers.” This statement was released in response to Proposition 37 a proposed ballot measure in California that would have required GMO foods to be labeled as such.

Major Organizations Involved

The AAAS was not the only organization advocating against the labeling of GMO foods. In their official statement, this group also claimed that the World Health Organization, U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the American Medical Association, and the British Royal Society had all performed studies on the health effects of GMO foods. AAAS stated that the research performed by these organizations claimed that eating genetically modified foods was no risker than eating ones modified by “plant improvement techniques.”

Money Spent to Oppose

What may really be at stake is money. When Proposition 37 was initiated back in 2012, some of California’s largest food industry corporations collectively donated more than $40 million toward defeating it. As a result, this measure was rejected by the state’s voters during the election that was held on November 6, 2012. If it had passed, California would have been the first in the nation to require such labeling on food products.

USDA Takeover

Nation of Change reports that Monsanto, a leading provider of genetically-modified seeds, has largely “taken over” the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This group reports that the USDA systematically approves every application Monsanto submits for new GMO crops, and has never denied one of their requests even once. They also report that growth hormones from cows were also approved after a former employee oversaw a report on their safety. This employee, Margaret Miller, then took a job at the FDA, where she was able to approve the very report she oversaw.

Monsanto Activism

Monsanto’s activism stretches far beyond their involvement with the USDA. They have provided lobbyists who were successful at getting the Monsanto Protection Act signed into law. This law prohibits federal judges from halting the sale or planting of genetically-engineered crops whenever legal appeals are ongoing. Monsanto has also had board members who worked for the Environmental Protection Agency and served on President Obama’s Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. When you look at the efforts to prevent GMO labeling, it’s clear to see that big corporations stand to lose a great deal of profit if laws were enacted. So long as these corporations continue to lobby against change, Americans are unlikely to see changes in how their food is labeled.

5 Asian Party Foods That Will Make Your Guests Smile

October 6, 2015 | Categories: Asian Food Industry | Tags: asian food, asian party food

When hosting guests for a party or just a casual get together, Asian party food is an extremely popular cuisine option to use. Although choosing the right foods can sometimes be quite a challenge, it does not have to be – especially when products like those mentioned below are used.

Vegetarian and Vegan Spring Rolls

Our spring rolls are an extremely popular form of frozen Asian food, simply because they can be popped into the oven, heated and enjoyed by many party guests. These rolls have a shell that is light and crispy and the filling in them comprises of onions, cabbage, green peas and carrots that have been combined with bean thread and non-GMO tofu. The secret seasoning ensures that party guests will be more than willing to come back for seconds.

Fresh Frozen Potato Stix

These are not only a great option as far as Asian party food is concerned; they are extremely tasty and healthy as well. The Potato Stix consists of the same yummy crispy shell found on the spring rolls; however, each shell has been filled with soft, baked potato and organic farm fresh vegetables. The Potato Stix are available in 3 yummy flavors, namely original, curry and jalapeno, and they only require minimal heating or baking before serving.

Fresh Frozen Pot Stickers with Sauce

As with the other frozen Asian food listed here, the pot stickers are also an absolutely delicious option for any occasion. Non-GMO ingredients are also used in the making of these Asian party food snacks, ensuring that they are always full of flavor. They require 90 seconds of heating to be enjoyed and they can either be purchased with traditional sauce or a delectable sweet and sour sauce option.

Raw and Healthy Seoul Kim Chi

This Asian delicacy is usually served with every Korean meal. Made from seasonings and fermented cabbage, the kim chi in this range contains absolutely no artificial ingredients and it is gluten-free as well. Not only is this a delicious accompaniment to any form of frozen Asian food; it is also extremely healthy because it contains a lot of fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, iron, calcium and a few of the B vitamins as well.

Gluten-Free Fresh Frozen Spring Rolls

Although these spring rolls are gluten-free, this does not mean that there is any compromise on taste or on the ingredients used in them. As with the regular rolls, the gluten-free options also have an organic vegetable filling. These delicious spring rolls also have a lovely crispy shell and they are available in 3 different flavor options, which are original, kale with cranberries and Thai style.

If you are looking for Asian party foods that are not only better than delicious, but that are GMO-free as well, these 5 options are sure to be ideal. This will ensure that your guests are well-fed with some of the healthiest and tastiest Asian party foods around.

What is Going On with Asian Food in 2015?

September 28, 2015 | Categories: Asian Food Industry | Tags: asian food, asian food 2015

With more than 300 Michelin-starred restaurants and many more food stalls, markets and side street cafes to choose from in the Hong Kong and Tokyo areas alone, it’s no wonder that Asian food has become so popular all over the world in the past few years. As a result, CNN literally took to the streets in these regions to find out what the most popular Asian food trends are at present

Tea

Strange as it may sound, tea is one of the most versatile ingredients that can be used when preparing sweet and savory dishes. Toyo Koda, head chef at the Le Passage Mokhan Shan Hotel in China, said, “A big 2015 culinary trend in China continues to be the focus on locally grown tea as an ingredient in cuisine. It’s incredibly versatile and can be used across savory and sweet dishes. I use it to smoke a free range duck, while a subtle tea can even accompany foie gras in the form of a jelly.”

Oysters

Although not often associated with Asian food trends, oysters have become an extremely popular food choice as well. Christopher Mark from the Black Sheep Restaurants in Hong Kong has the following to say when interviewed on the topic, “Keep an eye out for oysters, which are starting to transcend the raw bar into a wider variety of cuisines and recipes.” Some popular ways of serving these include heating them and cooking and serving them with dressing, croutons, lettuce and parmesan.

Local Produce

A chef at Logan Brown, an informal fine dining restaurant in New Zealand, Steve Logan, has noted that while more veggies and grains are being incorporated into a lot of dishes, a lot more of it is being sourced locally these days. He has also noted that he is now using more pies and wild venison in his meals and he has said that his presentation leans more towards wholesome instead of “pretty,” ensuring that none of his customers can ever complain that they leave his restaurant still hungry.

Relaxed Fine Dining

In Melbourne, Australia, restaurant patrons would be extremely hard-pressed to find crisp white table linen, snooty waiters or other fancy accompaniments when eating out. However, the food that is being served speaks volumes. At present, some of the most popular eateries in this region include Narkojee, Tom’s Cap, Oakridge and Nautica – all of which emphasize the fact that the quality of the food and casual setting of the environment are far more important than a starched table cloth.

It has become evident that, thanks to their unique combinations and menu offerings, Asian chefs are now leading the way when it comes to setting the latest food trends. However, Rob Pengson, a well-known chef at a few different restaurants, has said that he is expecting more and more other chefs to follow suit as well. All of this can only mean one thing for those who eat out a lot – they can expect to see many new creations on the menus from now on.

Why Eating GMO Free Food is so Important

September 23, 2015 | Categories: Non GMO | Tags: non gmo, why non gmo

Over the past few years, there has been much debate regarding the fact that GMO free or organic food is better than non-organic or conventionally-farmed food. However, there are a few good reasons why it is recommended that everyone incorporates as much GMO free food as possible into their daily diets.

Avoid Exposure to Pesticides and Chemicals

More and more research results are coming to light that clearly show the risks involved with consuming pesticides and other harmful chemicals on a regular basis. Although many people think that these can simply be washed off of produce before eating it, this is not the case – these substances are absorbed by the plant’s roots and become a part of it each time the plant is watered. Exposure to agricultural pesticides can result in people suffering from allergies such as asthma and eczema, and in some cases, they can cause damage to the nervous system as well. It has even been suggested that exposure to pesticides can cause various forms of cancer.

Enjoy Better Quality Nutrition

Most GMO foods tend to be grown in soil which has been depleted of its natural goodness and nutrients, which means that it will have little to no nutritional value by the time it is harvested and consumed. GMO free foods can contain as much as 30% more nutritional value than foods that have been grown conventionally. In the case of organic meat products, these are usually a lot less fatty than their conventionally raised counterparts. Research has shown that the fat found on organically raised animals is a lot healthier for humans to consume as well – provided that it is not consumed in excessive quantities.

Prepare Tastier Meals

When comparing conventional foods to those that are GMO free, one of the main differences that consumers notice is that organic foods taste far better than those grown by conventional methods. As a result, people tend to eat a lot more of them. In many cases, parents are even able to get kids to enjoy organic produce because of the fact that it actually has a pleasant taste – unlike conventionally grown GMO food, which often has absolutely no taste or flavor whatsoever.

Enjoy a Wider Variety of Produce

Many people have become so used to seeing just a few different fruits and vegetables on store shelves. However, if they are willing to take the trouble to visit a local farmer’s market, they will be pleasantly surprised to see that there is indeed a far wider variety of produce available – most of which will be organic. This is the ideal option for anyone who has become tired of preparing the same selection of produce for their families week after week – most farmers’ markets are sure to have something different on a regular basis. After incorporating more GMO free foods into your family’s diet, you will begin to notice that everyone will feel better overall. Your conscience will also feel a lot better, knowing that you are doing your bit by supporting local farmers instead of larger corporations.

We’re Now Selling Seoul Kimchi in California at Ralphs Stores

September 14, 2015 | Categories: Lucky Foods

Kimchi is Korean’s national dish made from fermented cabbage and various seasoning. Traditionally served at every meal and with gaining international interested Kimchi has become a popular fusion item all over the globe. Over the past few years, healthy Kimchi products have been in high demand throughout the US as well. With famous celebrity Chef’s such as Bobby Flay, Rachael Ray, Anthony Bourdain, Eddie Huang and many more have enjoyed and created their own recipes. The increasing exposure to global flavors has helped grow the popularity and interested in Korea’s must famous and healthy dish. As a result our Seoul Kimchi brand has proven to bring authentic taste of Seoul Kimchi into your home available now at Ralphs’ stores and other grocery stores around the country. As well as online delivered to your door on Amazon.

An All-Natural Super Food

Healthy Kimchi can be classified as that which does not contain any artificial ingredients whatsoever, and the Kimchi being sold by Lucky Foods fits this bill perfectly. It is not only an all-natural fermented food product; this particular range of Kimchi products is high in fiber content, contains very few calories and is extremely rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Thiamine (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), iron and even calcium. It is so nutrient-dense that it is able to provide as much as 50% of the recommended daily allowance of some of these vitamins.

Health Benefits of Kimchi

Eating Kimchi regularly will not only provide a person with high amounts of essential vitamins and nutrients; it will also help aid the digestion process, rendering you less susceptible to feeling overfull or bloated after meals. Research has shown that anyone who consumes this delicacy regularly can also look forward to their cholesterol reading being healthier than ever before, while also helping to lower blood glucose levels. The high concentrations of vitamins in Kimchi allow this super food to help build the immune system and provide protection against the free radicals that are responsible for causing a person to look older than they really are.

Although there may be many other brands of Kimchi on store shelves, none of them can come close to being as delicious and wholesome as this. Another advantage of Seoul Kimchi is the fact that we test to verify our Kimchi is GMO free, meaning that customers can safely consume this Kimchi, knowing that they will not be consuming any genetically modified ingredients in the process.