Kitschy New Invention: ToastaBags!

Yet another reason I love DailyCandy: they have turned me on to a product that might single-handedly change the way we make a classic American staple -- the grilled cheese sandwich.

ToastaBags are truly for the lazy gourmet. This little pocket of love holds your bread slices, cheese in between, and slips them effortlessly into an upright toaster for an un-messy fromage-laden treat. Oh, the possibilities of all the grilled cheese sammies I could make! Havarti, manchego, aged cheddar -- yum yum yum!!

Image from DailyCandy

Foodie Quote of the Day

If junk food is the devil, then a sweet orange is as scripture.  

~Audrey Foris

New Useful Website Alert: RegionalBest.com

Finding good regional produce is difficult in Southern California, certainly much for difficult than in Northern California. I am well aware that this may sound insane, that the Central Valley is just north of us. The thing is, these crops are meant to sustain a good percentage of the food for the entire population of the United States, i.e., much of it is "treated" to keep the apples and cucumbers shiny and whole upon arrival in Wichita. Locavores have a pretty difficult time down here.

Typical grocery stores here in Orange County don't have any higher quality or fresher product than a store in a non-agricultural area. There are a few exceptions, including Farm to Market in San Juan Capistrano, but on the whole, very few people get access to great regional food stuffs. 

RegionalBest.com is a cool new site I've discovered that organized its wares not only by type of product (cheeses, grains, seafood, etc.) but it breaks offerings down by region for good local feast. Happy hunting for good regional items!!

Image from RegionalBest.com