This Week's Food and Health News

Granted a brief respite between culturally-obligatory candy consumption holidays, it behooves us to take stock of what's happening in the worlds of food, health, and well-being while we have a breather.

That's right, you don't have to trawl through those divey natural foods websites or those lifeless corporate hubs of Epicurean concerns—because I already have. And I'll let you know what's up, right here, right now, all in the comfort of this blog.

Project PAM

If you want to go backstage, but you're afraid of Brett Michaels's reputation, you're in luck. Founders Brewery, the Jewel of Grand Rapids, wants to take you backstage for about $14.99. The brewery has already played the hits this season, blessing us with the amazing wet-hopped Harvest Ale.Now it's time to get into the deep tracks, the psychedelic jams, and meet the brewers in the shadows of the Backstage Series.

The Founders Backstage Series is an overpriced, hype-heavy series of boutique beers sold in 750 mL bottles. Founders describes the series as a "brewer's playground," but you may want to stay off the monkey bars if you sample the latest Backstage addition, the 10.8% ABV Project PAM. Nothing says "edgy and idiosyncratic" like "PAM," and I assume this bourbon barrel-aged black IPA will be no exception to that rule. Beginning November 20th, you can try Project PAM at the Founders taproom. Soon after, it will be available some of the places that craft beer is sold.

A Metro Airport Pb&J Made the News, Kind Of

Detroit Metro made a list of the nation's best airport eats. Detroit has some fine restaurants, but I'd never thought to check the airport for one. I find it suspect that our home state's contribution to a list of fine-dining and Food Network-branded restaurants is something I could make in the time it takes to write this sentence—a PB&J. That's right, the Detroit culinary scene is finally on the national radar (for a few seconds) for a sandwich sold by Detroit Metro restaurant PB&J. But if you want a taste of the bacon/cinnamon PB&J that put DTW on the map, you might have to venture into the blue beyond to find one—Google lists PB&J as "permanently closed."

Uncle John's E. Coli  

A lot of people in the greater Lansing area go to see their surrogate uncle—John—at his cider mill in the autumn. Unfortunately, some of Uncle John's guests may have been exposed to the e. coli this year. Cider served between Oct. 18 and Oct. 21 at the mill has been found to contain the 'coli. If you have any Uncle John's cider, it's a shame, but you should throw it out.

Algae is in Bloom off the West Coast

Whether it's Climate Change, or just a change in climate, the water off America's west coast has been a "warm blob" for a couple years running. You know who loves that? 1) Surfers 2) Algae. While surfers in large numbers present a minimal hazard to society, algae is more belligerent, infecting marine life in its vicinity. Such is the case of the Dungeness crab. This is terrible news for the fishing industry and people who like eating the crab. The algae involved produces a neurotoxin called domoic acid, and it's not something to trifle with. It's depressing, but experts recommend staying away from fresh sardines, anchovies, from the area until the algae bloom clears up. It's showing signs of slowing down, so you may not have to wait long.

Deaf Drive-Thru at Starbucks

Love or hate it, Starbucks likes to defy expectations. Recent history has seen the coffee giant providing employees with tuition and trying to start conversations about race with customers(!). In a straightforwardly progressive move, one Florida Starbucks has made its drive-thru friendlier for the deaf. Using a video screen and employing someone proficient in American Sign Language, this 'Bucks is leading the charge on an important issue. It will be interesting to see if more drive-thrus follow suit.

Halloween Candy Pranks and Morality

I'm not especially fond of children, so you'd think I would like it when Jimmy Kimmel steals children's candy. Alas, that's not the case. In case you didn't know, JK has a yearly tradition wherein he uses his platform to exhibit videos of parents fooling their kids into thinking their Halloween candy is all gone. Don't get me wrong—I understand why the video is funny. But here's a different take on the ritual, from author Sam Harris.  I'm not the Fun Police. I'm more like the No Fun Police—I love fun, and the people who have it. But ole Sam might make you think differently about this admittedly funny tradition.

That's all for this week. Stay warm, stay dry, run till your lungs burn, start watching for ice, and Be Well.