Happy New Recipes

Postcard RU-4476824 from Russia shows a chef in Santa suit with a new dish in his hand. It is true that there are always new food offerings in Las Vegas. Eater Las Vegas has recently put out a list of the 21 hottest restaurants in Las Vegas right now in May 2016. Try some of them out if you are in town.

Cassava Harvest

Postcard US-3957035 to Belgium shows a watercolor painting Cassava Harvest by Dorothy B. Hayes.

Cassava is a perennial woody shrub with an edible root, originated from tropical America and was first introduced into Africa in the Congo basin by the Portuguese around 1558.

Because Cassava is rich in carbohydrates, calcium, vitamins B and C, and essential minerals, and grows well in poor soils with limited labor requirements, it becomes the main nutrition source for 500 million people in Africa. It also provides food security during conflicts when the invader cannot easily destroy or remove the crop, since it conveniently grows underground. Roots can be harvested between six months and three years after planting. Africa accounted for 63% of Nineteen million hectares of cassava planted worldwide in 2007.

Although Cassava requires only 21% labor in terms of working days, compared to other staple crops such as maize, yam and rice, it does require intensive post-harvest processing as the roots are highly perishable and need to be processed for storage soon after harvest.

The postcard was produced by IITA-UNICEF Program on Household Food Security and Nutrition, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria.

IITA and partners just announced Cassava Innovation Challenge in which the Rockefeller Foundation would provide up to 1 million US dollars in grants for global innovations to enhance cassava shelf life,

Temple Fair

Postcard TW-1496908 from Taiwan shows scenes from a typical Temple Fair (廟會 in traditional Chinese or 庙会 in Simplified Chinese) in Taiwan. Temple Fair, originated from China, is a cultural gathering traditionally held near temples. In modern times, Temple Fairs are usually held in many regions throughout Asia during the time of the Spring Festival. Activities usually include worshiping Chinese deities, martial art demonstrations, folk art performances, and craft and food shopping.

Today in its 21st year, the Chinese American Chamber of Commerce and the Chinatown Plaza in Las Vegas are jointly hosting the annual Chinese New Year Celebration and Asian Food Festival, similar to a traditional Temple Fair in all aspects except for being on a city plaza rather than a temple ground. The program features many traditional food and craft vendors, with dragon and lion dance, martial art, acrobats, Kung Fu, Hip Hop dance, and folk dance performances from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Dragon dance at Chinatown Plaza in Las Vegas on February 22, 2015

Christmas Market in Fellbach, Germany

Postcard DE-3731053 from Germany shows the Christmas Market around the town hall in Fellbach, Germany. It opens from December 4 to December 21 in 2014, and it has an open-air ice rink next to the Lutheran Church through January 6, 2015.

The food court opens daily from noon on weekdays, from 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. on Sunday; and closes late on 8:00 p.m. (although it's early in Las Vegas standard.) Many groups from kindergartens, schools, music and chorus clubs perform daily at the City Hall courtyard.

Formula One U.S. Grand Prix Austin, Texas

Postcard US-2886187 to Spain shows the major attractions around the Formula One United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. Austin, the Texas capital with a population of 885,000 in a 2013 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, is hosting the race this weekend for the third time and offering spectators with great food and live music.

The race is on at 2 p.m. on Sunday November 2, 2014 at the Circuit of the Americas, the first purpose-built Formula One track in the United States. It held the First Grand Prix in 2012. With the number of laps at 56, circuit length at 5.513 kilometers and race distance at 308.405 kilometers, the lap record of 1:39.347 was set by S Vettel in 2012. The practice sessions in 2014 were held on Friday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., with qualifying on Saturday afternoon from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

On a side note, there are recent discussions in bringing a Formula One street race back to Las Vegas, Nevada.

World Food Day

Today is the 68th anniversary of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 1945. Many organizations such as the World Food Program have observed October 16 as the World Food Day since 1981. The World Food Day theme is "Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition" in 2013.

Postcard PL-496296 from Poland shows a variety of traditional food in Poland. It reminds us the food security and agricultural development is a global concern. Collaborative actions are needed in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty.

For more information, visit World Food Day USA.

A Collage of Texas Icons

I received this postcard today as a private swap from Texas, showing a collage of Texas icons. There are a lot of chili peppers, Tex-Mex food, cowboy hat and boots, Texas map and flag, and a rattle snake! The author is Mark Miselnicky, a local Dallas artist.

For more Texas icons, check out Ways to be Texan.