Bocuse d'Or 2015

Think cooking competitions mean middle-aged ladies trying to impress Paul Hollywood with their baps? Or seasoned pros judged by Prue, Oliver and Matthew over the rise of their soufflés? If so, you obviously haven’t come across the grandaddy of global cook-offs - the Bocuse D’Or. Started in 1987 by Lyonnais gastro-legend Paul Bocuse, this Culinary Olympiad brings together the very best from 60 countries in a canapé-and-nibbles battle to the death.

Last time out, Michelin starred Adam Bennett achieved Britain's best ever finish - 4th overall, including best meat dish – so hopes were high that he and the team could go one better and grab a podium spot this time.

Adam was confident going into the competition, having spent more than 300hrs in a purpose-built replica kitchen, but winning the Bocuse requires more than practice alone. Teams have coaches, masseuses and mentors - 3-michelin-starred Thomas Keller for the USA and ready-steady-cook’s Brian Turner for us*. This is proper competition.

This year’s event was like a cross between the superbowl, the FA cup final and the Eurovision song contest. A multi-national crowd of 4,000 noisy fans, drinking and singing football chants - at one stage the French were warned to pipe down. The British boys even had their own brass band to entertain the flag waving travelling support (think of the Barmy Army but with posher packed lunches).

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Rjan Johannessen picked up the overall title, Norway's 5th win in the competition, with Team UK a creditable 10th. 

Adam was philosophical, saying

"I think what we have done this year is better than what we did last time but I had a look around at what the other competitors have done and I think that everybody has raised their game." 

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*just to be clear, Brian Turner is not a masseuse but a very accomplished chef. Sorry Brian.

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Thanks to Orama TV for the pictures.

Valentines - say it with chocolates

Chocolates and roses: enough to get any man out of trouble

St Valentine's Day can be traced back to ancient Rome, where Emperor Claudius was unimpressed with the increasing impact of women on his pillaging.  He believed romantic liaisons were impeding his efforts to recruit and retain the soldiers he needed, so he banned both marriage and engagement.

Finding this a little extreme, a local priest defied the ban and continued to perform marriages in secret.  When his actions were inevitably discovered, Saint Valentine was sentenced to death.  

Whilst on death row, the priest fell in love with his jailor's daughter and, before being clubbed and beheaded on the 14th of February, he left a romantic farewell note signed "from your Valentine". 

...of course, it's also possible that Valentines Day was invented by a greeting card company to increase sales in the quiet post-Christmas season...

Whichever version you believe, why not brush off your cooking skills and impress the person you love with this little Valentine's treat. 

Dr Kenneth Mak: indulgent treats that are actually good for your teeth

If you're trying to be more conscious of what you're eating and the effect of your diet on your teeth and overall health, you may be struggling to find enjoyable snacks that feel satisfying and sinfully delicious.

This is a common problem for many people who wish to have a healthier diet but are struggling to compensate for the lack of sweet treats available to them. We've compiled a list of 5 treats that are surprisingly good for your pearly whites, while also taking care of your sweet tooth.

#1 Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is well-known for containing lower levels of sugar than milk chocolate. Its flavor is somewhat more bitter, but the upside is that it’s also significantly healthier and more filling. Dark chocolate also contains noticeable levels of theobromine, an alkaloid that comes from the cacao plant and provides numerous health benefits.

As well as being good for your heart, brain, and for reducing inflammation levels, theobromine is also fantastic for your bones and teeth. Over 140 times less concentrated than fluoride, it happens to provide twice the amount of protection. Scientists who have witnessed its effects have also said that teeth exposed to theobromine suffer 10% less damage than those using fluoride.

In fact, theobromine happens to be very similar to caffeine in structure, meaning that it provides adequate energy depending on the amount consumed. It's also one of the active ingredients in Yerba Mate, the hot beverage of choice in Argentina.

Another thing worth noting about theobromine in dark chocolate, is that you'll find a significantly larger amount of it in darker chocolate. That is to say, the darker the chocolate, the higher the levels of theobromine. Who says you can't enjoy chocolate while also caring for your teeth?

#2 Sugar-Free Gum

Recent scientific studies have provided surprising results, as well as an interesting conclusion: chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after meals can significantly reduce the damage caused by tooth decay.

The power of chewing sugar-free gum can be traced to the saliva caused by chewing. Saliva is the body's way of naturally fighting off bacteria, and the amount produced from chewing a single stick of gum will keep teeth naturally clean in between brushes.

While sugar-free gum is better for your teeth and gums than the regular type, it still manages to retain its sweetness thanks to xylitol. Xylitol is a product derived from birch bark, which not only tastes good but also prevents excess bacteria from lingering and sticking to your teeth.

In order to encourage good oral hygiene, we'd recommend that you chew sugar-free gum after every large meal when you can’t brush. This will encourage a healthy environment for your teeth and gums that otherwise might be completely absent.

#3 Yogurt

Organic whole-milk yogurt is not only full of healthy nutrients and vitamins, it also happens to be very good for your teeth. One of the many benefits of eating it is that it provides a special kind of bacteria which will help to fortify and protect your teeth and gums.  Beyond that, whole-milk yogurt tends to be gentle on the stomach while still feeling like a treat.

#4 Raisins

Your mother probably tried to coax you into eating fruit during painful moments of your childhood, often using lines like "Fruit is nature's candy."  We all know, however, that fruit pales in comparison to high-sugar candy and treats in terms of satisfying the ol' sweet tooth.

One of the pleasant exceptions to this rule is raisins. They taste good, are affordable year-round, and also contain high levels of fiber. Additionally, one of the active components is oleanolic acid, which has antibacterial properties that protect your teeth from detrimental plaque.

#5 Cheese

For most, eating cheese often feels like an against-the-rules treat. So, if you're someone who loves to partake in sampling dairy's delight every now and again, you'll also be pleased to know that it's actually surprisingly good for teeth.

The dental benefits of cheese can be put down to Casein, which is a protein that both protects the enamel and also wears down the resistance of bacteria in the mouth.

#6 Honorary Mention: Tingz

While they're only currently available in the UK, Tingz are health-focused sweet treats for kids that opt for xylitol rather than sugar (just like the sugar-free gum mentioned above). They’re definitely worth checking out if you're looking for healthier treats for your young ones!

Taking care of your teeth should be a constant consideration, and you should always try to avoid going overboard with sugar-heavy treats. The added benefit of eating foods that are good for your teeth is that you'll also improve your diet and feel healthier overall. Talk about positive results!

About the Author: Dr. Kenneth Mak is a general and cosmetic dentist practicing in Los Angeles with partners Dr. Dennis De Mesa and Dr. Rodney Kleiger at MKD Dentistry.  When he can, Dr. Mak likes to contribute to several health and lifestyle blogs, where he can help readers shape their daily habits around oral health.  To learn more, head to www.MkdDentistry.com.

Dr. Kimberly Dyoco: 4 Surprisingly Terrible Foods for Your Teeth

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If I controlled the world, we’d be able to teleport to our favorite places, read people’s minds and French fries would be as healthy as broccoli.

Unfortunately for all of us, I don’t control the way things work – we still have to endure a long flight to go spend a week in Spain, and French fries are frightfully bad for you.

It’s a sad fact of life that some of our favorite foods are not our bodies’ favorites.  But you can’t give up everything delicious that’s on the unhealthy side of the spectrum. Instead, it’s best to do your darndest to avoid the ones that wreck the most havoc on your health.  Start by trying to steer clear of these 4 foods that are worse for your oral health than you probably think.

1.     Crackers

Crackers seem like such a harmless food, don’t they?  They’re so plain and innocent, how could they be hurting your teeth?  Well, as we often learn the hard way, looks can be deceiving.  Most crackers, like saltines, are a hyper-processed, starchy carbohydrate.  The problem with that is that simple carbs are basically just sugar, which is the favorite food of your mouth-dwelling bacteria. 

Cavities and tooth decay occurs when bacteria multiplies and hangs out in your mouth for an extended period.  Oral bacteria have a field day with stuff like crackers, which also become sort of sticky as you chew, and then get stuck between your teeth. Given that crackers are such a commonly consumed food, it may be tough to give them up.  Instead opt for whole-grain versions, which don’t do as much damage

2.     Dried Fruit

It’s easy to assume that any form of fruit or veggie is healthy for you.  And sure, dried fruit can be a good alternative to processed, corn syrupy sweets.  But, they aren’t risk-free when it comes to your teeth.  They are super sticky and packed with sugar – natural sugar, but still sugar.  As you eat that yummy dried apricot, the sugar feeds the bacteria and the sticky bits get stuck in your teeth.

As far as snacks go, however, dried fruit is pretty healthy.  So, instead of just giving up on the stuff, remember that when you eat it, it’s important to brush soon after.  The point is to not allow the sugar-fed bacteria and remnants to stay in your mouth for very long.  If you don’t have a brush handy, it’s always good to rinse well and chew on some sugar-free gum to help mitigate the damage. 

3.     Pickled Veggies 

In the foodie world, pickling has become pretty en vogue.  But as cool as eating your veggies pickled may be, it’s not such a cool scene in your mouth. In its natural state a cucumber is a friend of teeth, but once it’s been sitting in a vinegar and sugar bath for several weeks, it turns into a foe that’s a far cry from the healthy veggie it once was. 

Now, it’s bursting with acid and sugar and will declare war on your teeth and enamel.  If you do get the occasional (or frequent) craving for something pickled, go for it.  But just make sure that you have a big old glass of water to sip as you eat.  And then, get yourself to a toothbrush as soon afterwards as you can.

4.     Peanut Butter

Most Americans have a positive, childhood-related association with peanut butter.  It’s a comfort food for most of us.  But when you learn the impact that PB has on your teeth, the thought of it might be slightly less comforting.  First off, most of your garden variety peanut butter on the grocer’s shelves is overflowing with sugar.  Second – now get ready for a shock – peanuts are not nuts, but actually legumes.

Legumes are essentially carbohydrates, which, as you know, are broken down into sugars, which are broken down into teeth-damaging acid in your mouth.  So, peanut butter is basically just a carb-sugar overload.  You can lessen damage to your teeth by only eating the natural recipe kinds – when shopping, look for ingredient lists that aren’t lists at all, just one thing: peanuts. 

I told you this wasn’t going to be easy.  You probably groaned a bit as you learned the ways that your go-to eats damage your teeth and I don’t blame you.

The good news is that consistent self-care like brushing and flossing, as well as regular check-ups with your dentist, can help you keep an eye on the state of your teeth and limit damage from the food and drink you absolutely adore.

Dr. Kimberly Dyoco is a top dentist in Chicago, a health writer and the founder of One Mag Smile Dental Practice.  She’s also a frequent contributor to several online publications, in which she shares her expertise about how people can maintain excellent oral health by improving their daily habits.  To learn more, head here and find Kim on Google+.

September tea time treats challenge: Mediterranean Food

As we hold on to the last remnants of the summer weather, Karen at Lavender & Lovage and The Hedgecomber's Janie have settled on a Mediterranean theme for this month's challenge. So ladies, here is my salted cod with spicy gazpacho for consideration. Bon appetite!

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