in the hood

9:30p, Let the searching process begin. we are now full force into exploration and navigation of ingredients listings. This a.m. with Shamim at the Blue Moon Cafe I took an order of homemade white toast (HFCS FREE) it arrived pre-buttered but with jam jam on the side. I would no have been suspicious had it not been for my investication into the bottle of 'House Recipe' (a sysco brand) of katchup. It had HFCS. So whent he toast arrived with a small little paper cup of jam ... i was suspicious. I asked. Together with the owner we looked into the ingredients. voila. HFCS. On my way back Shamim suspected that I was looking into the jam beacuse it was so good and i wanted to find the source. Then realizing at the same time I had told her of my resolution. Her look immediately morphed into understanding. After perhaps suspecting herself that I was devistated, she offerred the jam she brough home from JC's mom in Normandy France. I accepted. I presume that all sysco products on the cheap will contain HFCS, wonder if they have an organic label (they must if they want to keep up with the Jonses). A true test will be if restaurants proudly display the jam jars or desguise it in paper cups.

At the GU (Grand Union) I did a little recon tonight into hot dogs. We were there to get late night Chocolate icecream (most just contained regular ol corn syrup. We chose Bryers all natural because it was well ... all natural. I quickly jetted back to the hot dog section and found no HFCS but did find that our local hot dog manufacturer (of red dogs) Glaziers had nothing of the sort of sweetners. Ball Park and Hebrew National were also HFCS free and all others contained at least CS or Corn Syrup. On the way to the check out, deciding that whip cream was a must, foins that Hood contained HFCS, Reddi Whip contained CS and the store brand, Nada. We bought the store brand 'Best' but was unsatisfactory in sweetness. Go Figure. One final check by Hilary into Little Debbie found corn syrup present but no HFCS ... I think I will let those go and for the most part (the CS's).

On the way home from the GU I asked the question "Will we keep the items with HFCS in the house?", Hilary said depends (i.e. no need to waste pita but the new 52 oz Heniz Ketchup ... out). I will use her as the sounding board for what she deems keepable before I throw it out.

The best conversation happend today on email with Kathy Ford (who is preparing the food for our opening on Saturday at teh 7444 Gallery). She disclosed that in lieu of me getting hold of her when I was supposed to, to confirm savory or sweet, that she preparred Kahula brownies. I told her of my resolution and seemingly without a beat she loggged on to the kahula web site and found nothing so she took the liberty of emailing the contact page. I'm very impressed. In her reply she gave her main ingredients of King Arthur Flower from VT, Local eggs, and all natural ingredients. I think she is on the same page. There are now four inquiries out and no responces. Patience could be forever.