Have you ever been food poisoned?

A few years back, GP and Drew got so sick on our holiday in California that they couldn’t fly home with the rest of us. It took them a good three days to recover.

We knew exactly what they ate and where they ate… but besides calling the restaurant, there wasn’t anything we could do about it. Twitter has changed all that… at least in Chicago.

Earlier this year, the Chicago Department of Public Health, using the Twitter handle @Foodbornechi began monitoring tweets from Chicago diners with the words “food poisoning.” Volunteers then contact the victims and encourage them to fill out a form and report the incident.

This could help “connect the dots” in the race to trace the source of a specific outbreak or help pinpoint restaurants that may be unknowingly spreading foodborne illness.

Think this is a good idea? Let me know. Critics say while a lot of people scream “food poisoning!” if they get sick after a meal… the last thing eaten isn’t always to blame. Did you know you can get sick from food poisoning up to TWO WEEKS later! (That’s According to the Centers for Disease Control).

Still, I think Twitter is a great idea. May not make your stomach stop hurting… but it might make you feel a little better to vent your anger.

And, who knows…you might just help a fellow diner avoid a potential problem down the road.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead

There’s a small non-profit organization in Chicago that is making a big difference in the lives of many who live in areas where grocery stores are non-existent or are overrun by fast food restaurants… it’s called Top Box Foods.

Top Box Foods primarily helps families who live in low-income neighborhoods buy nutritious meat, fresh fruits and vegetables at much lower prices than what’s offered in grocery stores. This isn’t charity, but a way to get high-quality food to where it is needed the most.

This is how it works: Top Box buys food from distributors and local suppliers and boxes it in several different ways (for example, the Garden Box is loaded with 10 pounds of fresh vegetables and fruit). Then once, a month, the boxes are delivered to participating churches and other groups where they can be purchased. The boxes cost anywhere from $19 to $39 (and Top Box also accepts SNAP cards). Click here to see an average delivery day.

Could you live on $4 a day? That’s the amount food stamp recipients must live on, and there are more than 50 million people in this country who require food stamps to survive. Top Box Foods is directly addressing the issue of hunger and food deserts by offering access to foods many of us take for granted.

Top Box Foods isn’t really trying to change the whole world… just that part of it that goes to bed every night hungry  in America. That’s enough for now, isn’t it?

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There’s a plethora of film festivals out there… Sundance, Telluride, Cannes, Toronto. But none of them are as delicious as the Chicago Food Film Festival.

 Never heard of it? That’s a shame…it’s a one-of-a-kind event (well, sort of, they also hold one in New York City).

The fest celebrates everything about food: the people who grow it, make it, play and create enchantment with it. The fest is based around a simple premise… you watch movies and you eat (hmm…sounds like home.)

But the best part is that you get to sample the foods featured in the short films (often eating during the movie itself!)

We were served a slice of the delicious bread made by Maurizio Negrini, a third-generation Italian baker now living in Boulder, Colorado, while we watched the beautifully poignant film “Artisan Baker”.

We sipped wine from the Naramata Bench winery while watching “10,000 Cases,” a film that squeezes the entire harvest of the British Columbia vineyard into just two minutes.

During the film “Über,” we munched on delicious sandwiches from Florian Phahler’s Hannah’s Bretzel… who built his Chicago restaurant with a simple philosophy: start with great bread and develop a business plan with a conscience.

You get the picture… three days of glorious eating and viewing.

Oh, and the Audience Choice winner? “Sugar Shack,” which explores the business, culture, heritage and food of a Canadian maple farm at the peak of maple season. Sure it’s a tourist trap… but just take a look at the breakfast they serve and you’re going to want to book a trip soon.

And at the end of opening night? Why a food fest, of course (OK, more of a reception) featuring even more delicious eats! All of it Oscar-worthy!

OK…what’s your sporting pleasure this weekend? World Series? Notre Dame football? Pro football in London?

Clearly, there’s too much going on to spend a lot of time in the kitchen getting the eats together. But, never fear… that’s where Mama can help.

These Rueben Dogs are a deliciously easy twist on an old deli favorite. In this case, instead of corned beef, we’re using hot dogs, but keeping the sauerkraut, Thousand Island dressing and Swiss cheese… maybe.

What’s great about this recipe is that you can make it as “healthy” as you like by making these substitutions:

• Low or no-nitrate beef, turkey, chicken or tofu hot dogs instead of pork hot dogs.

• Whole wheat, light or gluten-free buns in place of white buns.

• Yogurt-based Thousand Island dressing or reduced-fat Thousand Island dressing instead of regular Thousand Island dressing.

• Fresh or organic sauerkraut instead of canned sauerkraut.

• Reduced fat Swiss cheese in place of regular Swiss cheese.

But, honestly, I’m kinda with GP on this one. These sports-filled weekends only come around once (okay, maybe twice) a year… so you might as well get the most enjoyment out of what you’re eating. Enjoy the Rueben Dog the way you really want to… and promise yourself that you’ll eat healthier the minute the Chicago Cubs make the World Series!!

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