Friday Favorites this week are from Jess Daniel!

A shoutout to Oktoberfest 2009: When I was sixteen, I spent a summer in a tiny town in Bavaria, just South of Munich. It was a summer of many firsts: first kiss, first schnitzel, first glimpse of H&M, and perhaps most importantly, my introduction to the joy of German beer. Ever since, I’ve had a special place in my heart for a heavy Stein, a lusty Fraulein, and long nights of loud singing and jumping on tables. For those of us who can’t hop a flight to Munich in the next 48 hours, consider checking out this guy’s reviews of Oktoberfest style beers.

My new dream job is to work as a coordinator for Outstanding in the Field. This traveling team sets up its table in all sorts of unexpected places, often in farms or gardens, and hosts magical dinner parties that feature local farmers and food artisans at the center of the dining experience. From what I hear, the food is exquisite and the feeling in keeping with the purpose of the event: there’s often a tour of the farm or ranch where the event is hosted, each person brings her own plate, everyone eats “family style.” My thoughts of graduate school fly out the window as I imagine traveling from place to place opening a magic bag of food joy wherever I land.

Trouble choosing when you’re out for dinner? Imagine the added pressure if you knew someone was watching carefully to record whether you chose the green beans or gratin. At the Restaurant of the Future at Wageningen University in Holland, not only do they keep track of what you choose, but they also weigh you at the register, register your facial expressions while you’re eating, check out who you eat with, and how much you leave on your plate. All in the name of food science! [click to continue…]

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