Author: Li

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Dubai chocolate: the new kid on the block

As Valentine’s Day approaches, chocolates are always a go-to treat or gift. For those who want to try something different from the classic chocolates, Dubai chocolate is a a newcomer to the scene.

Dubai chocolate is a chocolate bar filled with filo pastry and a pistachio-tahini cream. For those not familiar, tahini is a ground sesame seed cream popular in the Middle Eastern region. The cream provides Dubai chocolate filling with yellow and green coloring.

This creation was a recent invention, credited to Sara Hamouda, who was a British-Egyptian engineer living in Dubai in 2021. While pregnant, she had cravings for chocolate, pistachio, tahini, and knafeh (a Middle Eastern pastry dessert). Thus, the idea of Dubai chocolate was created.

Dubai, a trade-hub, was already a hub for gourmet chocolate, as part of its luxury branding efforts. Hamouda was able to find and collaborate with a Filipino pastry chef, Nouel Catis Omamalin, who helped to perfect the new style of chocolate bar. Omamalin felt that knafeh would provide the chocolate bar with a satisfying crunch, like many successful chocolate bars that came before it, and he was right.

Initially made by hand, producing 25 bars a day, Dubai chocolate sold for $19.72 in 2023. With viral marketing online, it quickly gained popularity by 2024. In 2025, a U.K. supermarket chain had to impose a limit of two per customer for its Dubai chocolate bar. Recently, a Dubai chocolate cookie has gained popularity in South Korea. Made viral by a K-pop band, the new cookie started to take off last fall, and it saw supply falling short to demand.

The popularity of this new style of chocolate bar quickly drew the attention of major manufacturers. Lindt, the Swiss chocolate maker, created its own version. This caused legal controversy, as it was not produced in Dubai. Since then, Dubai-style chocolate creations have become more common than the original ones made by Hamouda and Omamalin’s Fix Dessert Chocolatier.

Traditionally made with dark chocolate, you can now find them in other styles, like milk chocolate. Given the popularity, many chocolatiers created new Dubai-style variants. New chocolates were mixed with other sweets, like dates, cotton candy, or dusted with gold. Pairings that go well with Dubai chocolate, like high-quality coffee or tea, have been introduced as gift packs.

All this demand for Dubai-style chocolate is putting strains on one of the key ingredients—pistachios. Already an addictive snack across the world, the extra demand is causing a shortage of pistachios worldwide.

This year, it shouldn’t be difficult to find Dubai-style chocolate. The local Costco carries a variant that is made by Bouchard in Belgium (not Dubai). You will also find many online purveyors selling Dubai chocolate, calling to its marketing roots with online influencers. Prices will vary, depending on the quality of the ingredients, or if it’s handmade. The typical handmade bar by a chocolatier will cost around $25 a bar.

So this Valentine’s Day, if you have one of these chocolate bars from your favorite chocolatier, give thanks to Hamouda and her pregnancy cravings, for creating a new addition to the chocolate confection family.

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The ancient story of Valentine’s Day

In a world of conspiracy theories and cynicism, it’s hard not to believe that Valentine’s Day was created by Hallmark to sell more cards in the winter. So it may shock some readers that the story of Valentine’s Day spanned millennia.

The symbol of Valentine’s Day, Cupid, was personified in Roman and Greek mythology before the Saint Valentine and formal establishment of Valentine’s Day.

Cupid is the Roman counterpart of Eros, in Greek mythology. The son of Venus (the goddess of love) and Mars (the god of war), Cupid plays a significant role in countless myths regarding the hearts of mortals and gods alike.

The myth of Cupid we remember the most is that his arrows—one gold-tipped set to inspire irresistible love, the other lead-tipped for hatred and immediate aversion—are used to affect the hearts of his targets. The Roman Cupid is often depicted as a playful, often blindfolded child, representing the mischievous, unpredictable, and irrational nature of love.

With the coming of Christianity to the Roman Empire, so came the official Valentine’s Day. Historians debate on the origin of Saint Valentine—some believe it was a combination of two, possibly three men—but they all share a similar story about the saint martyred by a Roman emperor on Feb. 14, so it could just be the fog of history clouding the origin story of the saint.

One popular legend is that a priest, Saint Valentine of Rome, decried the injustice of a Roman emperor, Claudius II, who favored a policy of outlawing marriage for young men, as he believed that single young men made better soldiers. As a local priest, Saint Valentine continued to perform secret marriages for young lovers, defying the imperial decree, until his arrest.

In one account, while under arrest, Saint Valentine is said to have healed the daughter of the local judge, Asterius, who had asked the priest what he could do. The legend speaks of the priest praying for the daughter, and her eyesight was restored, resulting in the conversion of Asterius.

The saint was later arrested again by the prefect of Rome and Emperor Claudius II. After failing to be persuaded by Saint Valentine, and refusing to embrace Christianity, Claudius ordered the death of the priest. He was martyred in Rome on Feb. 21, 269, according to official Catholic hagiographical sources. Pope Gelasius I in 496 declared Feb. 14 to be a feast date to remember his martyrdom for the cause of love and faith.

Before his execution, Saint Valentine wrote to Asterius’s daughter and signed “From your Valentine,” which has since inspired many romantic missives.

The Romans historically celebrated a festival dedicated to the god of agriculture on Feb. 13–15, where matchmaking was often practiced, and it continued into the celebration of Valentine’s Day after the 5th century.

By the time of the Middle Ages, Saint Valentine’s day appeared in many works of literature. Geoffrey Chaucer, the English poet from the 14th century, is credited for poems celebrating Valentine’s Day as a day for lovebirds. One poem attributed to him honors the engagement of King Richard II and Anne of Bohemia. In the poem, it references the idea of lovebirds:

For this was on Saint Valentine’s Day

When every fowl comes there to choose his match

Of every kind that men may think of …

The French also wrote Valentine’s messages around that time. One recorded message was from Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife, while he was held prisoner in the Tower of London by the English after the Battle of Agincourt. The letter referred to his wife, “Ma tres doulce Valentinée,” or in English, “My very sweet Valentine.”

Shakespeare also mentioned Saint Valentine in the play “Hamlet”:

To-morrow is Saint Valentine’s day,

All in the morning betime,

And I a maid at your window,

To be your Valentine.

Then up he rose, and donn’d his clothes,

And dupp’d the chamber-door;

Let in the maid, that out a maid

Never departed more.

By the 1700s, books like “The Young Man’s Valentine Writer” were offering suggested verses for not-so-romantic young men, to help compose their version of love poems. Soon, with the wider availability of printers, preprinted cards started to appear, with verses or sketches for sending paper valentines.

Many of the cards featured the winged Cupid, which is still used today as a symbol of Valentine’s Day. It was popular to mail these premade cards by the early 1800s, even though postage was expensive then. By 1850, it was stated that “Saint Valentine’s Day … is becoming … a national holiday.”

Chocolate maker Cadbury first sold its decorated box of chocolates in 1968 to help young lovebirds exchange as gifts, and by the 20th century, the practice extended to all manners of gifts, like jewelry.

The celebration of the day of love extends beyond the traditional Christian nations. Valentine’s Day is celebrated worldwide, with the Chinese and South Koreans spending the most on Valentine’s gifts in Asia. In South Korea, tradition states that women give men chocolates on Feb. 14, and men give non-chocolate candy to women on March 14. Those who did not receive any Valentine’s candy would eat black noodles, lamenting their “single life.”

For those who are suspicious of the commercial nature of Valentine’s Day, it may be refreshing to learn that Valentine’s Day—and Cupid—was not born out of a corporate boardroom as some may suggest. It is a living remembrance of a man who died believing in love, and ancient mythology celebrating the unpredictable nature of love. Like the blind Cupid, it may be a mystery as to why we love someone, but we all walk the long journey of those before us, who have loved unconditionally; and for one day, we celebrate that and exchange gifts to show that affection.

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Thinking of adopting a pet for the holidays?

Many families consider adopting a pet companion during the holiday season. Pets can fill our lives with love, but they also come with many additional responsibilities.

Ensure Your Pet’s Needs Match Your Lifestyle

Each pet has its own unique needs, so research its needs before adoption. A labrador will require more attention than a hamster, and kittens love to get into every corner of your house and knock things over. So before you take the steps to adopt a new family member, consider your daily routine and how much time you can dedicate to feeding, grooming, exercising, and playing with your pet.

If you are considering adopting a pet before the holidays, be mindful of your plan during those holidays, whether it’s travel, hosting guests, or attending events. The first few days after a new pet’s arrival often require more attention.

It’s a Long-Term Commitment

Adopting a pet can span a decade or more. A dog or cat may live 10–15 years or more, and a parrot or turtle can live more than 50 years. Beyond the initial adoption fee, you should plan for food, bedding or shelter, toys, grooming, and potentially training classes. 

To ensure that you have a happy and healthy pet, you should budget for regular veterinary expenses, spaying/neutering, and vaccinations.

It’s a Family

Accepting a new pet into your home is a family affair. Your home may need to be pet-proofed to prevent accidents. Small objects, toxic plants, and exposed wires can all be hazardous and need to be secured.  

Your family members should be consulted before adopting. Does a family member have an allergy? Will they be okay with cleaning up after the new pet? Who will handle the additional chores? These considerations should all be discussed, to help ensure that the pet is integrated into and loved by the whole family. Last thing: New pets often get abandoned after the holidays. So if you can wait until after the holidays to adopt, you may help a loving animal find its forever home

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The comeback of Florida’s spirit animal

As South Florida celebrates another Stanley Cup championship by the local Florida Panthers hockey team, let us not forget the continual struggles of their namesake, Florida’s state animal, the Florida panther. Luckily for the local big cats, through the efforts of conservationists, they are on the path to recovery.

Florida panthers are the North American cougar that has adapted to the Florida climate. The panthers have found a home among the tropical forests and swamps, and it is the only population of cougars in the eastern United States.

The panthers have had a challenge as Florida developed. Hunting throughout the history of Florida, and losing their natural habitat range to new developments, caused their population to shrink. By the 1970s, only about 20 Florida panthers were still alive in the wild.

Since 1981, as mandated by the Endangered Species Act, the Florida Panther Recovery Plan has been in place, run by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). This program’s efforts have rebuilt the population to around 200 panthers.

The recovery had to overcome many challenges. The population by the start of the program was so small, the panthers’ genetic pool was already severely depleted. Studies showed that the low genetic diversity increased the likelihood of inbreeding among the remaining population. This was confirmed by studies on newborn panthers, and documenting their congenital issues.

A genetic rescue mission was initiated. Pumas from Texas were brought to Florida. They were  given time to adapt to the local environment. After they were deemed ready, they were released to the wild and helped to reduce inbreeding among the local Florida panthers. These newcomers were successful, and the local population showed increases after their introduction.

A new rehabilitation center was also created to help injured panthers at White Oak Conservation. Injured cats, along with orphaned kittens, were cared for at the facility. The organization, partnering with FWC, has rehabilitated and released 19 sick or injured Florida panthers as of 2020.

Why are we spending so much effort to protect the panthers? Florida panthers are at the top of the food chain in South Florida, and a keystone species in the ecosystem. They are essential in maintaining a balance in the ecosystem, and they help regulate the populations of native wildlife and manage nuisance animals.

Nuisance animals like wild hogs and pythons have grown significantly in population in Florida. The wild hog population is highest around Lake Okeechobee in forested areas, right in the history range of the Florida panthers. These wild hogs cause extensive destruction and damage to both agricultural and native plant life in South Florida. A recovery of the panthers should help in our fight to keep their population in control.

Scientists have also seen evidence of large cats predating on Burmese pythons. The invasive pythons have been attacked by Florida panthers, and smaller bobcats, especially during the colder months when pythons are naturally less active.

The recovery of Florida panthers is still ongoing, so they are not out of the woods yet. They are no longer considered critically endangered, but they are still endangered. As their population recovers, another threat is becoming more common—vehicle collisions are increasing. To avoid hitting a panther, please take care driving in rural areas of South Florida, and support efforts to create wildlife corridors, which allow the panthers to avoid crossing major roads.

The Florida Department of Transportation also runs the Florida Panther Conservation Plan, which, together with federal forestry service, sets up binding agreements between private landowners and the government to minimize and mitigate the impact of land development in critical areas, in exchange for marketable credits.

With all these continuing programs, the future of Florida panthers is hopeful, and with the efforts by local organizations, along with state and federal programs, we hope to see Florida panthers thrive as the state animal.

Native tribes believe that panthers represent courage, power, and stealth. The Seminole tribe considers it a protector, and a guardian spirit animal, while the Miccosukee tribe see panthers as a symbol of change of adaptability. It is that adaptability that may see the panthers thrive in the new ecosystem, and doing their part as the apex predator to keep the balance in the wild.

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Watermelons Delicious fruit of the summer, or a vegetable?

Few fruits remind us of the summer like the watermelon does. There is an active debate in the gardening community on whether this delicious treat is a fruit or a vegetable. Botanically speaking, it is definitely a fruit, developed from the fruiting body after flowering. But if you are from Oklahoma, where the watermelon is the official state vegetable, you would argue it’s a vegetable. In case you are wondering, Oklahoma has a state fruit, the strawberry, which botanically is not a berry, and botanists consider it a “false fruit.”

Why is watermelon a vegetable to the Sooner State? Because it hails from the same botanical family of cucumbers and gourds, which are classified as vegetables. In fact, the whole melon can be eaten, like a cucumber—even the rind. There are many cultures that pickle the rind, and once you try it, you will appreciate how similar it is to its cucumber cousins.

Originating from Africa, the watermelon plant loves the heat. Due to the warm weather, Florida’s watermelon season kicks off in late spring, around May, and extends through the summer months. You will often find local watermelons in area markets, and sometimes on the side of the road.

Florida leads the U.S. in terms of watermelons harvested. In a study by the University of Florida, between 2010 and 2021, an average of 22,616 acres of watermelon were harvested in Florida per year. Texas and Georgia follow as second and third, respectively.

Ancient civilizations in Africa and the Middle East were the first to appreciate the watermelon for both its high water content and its nutritional value. The melon is over 90% water, 6% sugar, and a good source of lycopene, the same strong antioxidant found in tomatoes, another botanical fruit that can be considered a vegetable.

The seeds of the watermelon were found in the Levant and North Africa over 5,000 years ago, before spreading to Asia. Evidence of watermelon cultivations was found in India by the 7th century, and in China by the 10th century. Initially only found in southern Europe, cultivars that adapted to the cooler weathers of northern Europe became common by the 1600s.

Nowadays, with more than 1,200 cultivars, you will find watermelons of all sizes, from 2-pounders to world-record 351-pound monsters (Carolina Cross cultivar). You will find flesh of all colors—red, pink, orange, yellow, even white.

There are many ways to enjoy watermelon this summer. It’s a must-have at picnics, pool parties, and barbecues. The most common way is to just open up the melon and devour its delicious, juicy flesh in slices, or cubes. Here are some other ways to enjoy watermelon.

Add Some Spice

Have you tried watermelon with some spice mixes? If not, you may want to give a try with a little lemon juice on the melon first. If you like that tangy-sweet combination, you might want to further venture into adding chili powder or cayenne. Maybe Tajin power, or a Dukkah blend of spices.

Watermelon Salads

Many cultures make a salad with watermelon and something salty. The simplest is adding salt to watermelon. Along the Mediterranean, you will often find watermelon paired with salty cheeses like feta.

In the southern U.S., you will also find watermelon being paired with salty country ham. Martha Stewart even recommends prosciutto-wrapped watermelon as an appetizer.

Juice It

Given that watermelon is 90% water, it’s simple to juice it at home. You don’t need any special juicer—just a blender will work. You may choose to strain the juice, or drink it as it is.

You can also blend the juice into your cocktails and mocktails. Fresh basil and mint can be muddled with the juice to add extra elements to the drink.

If you blend the juice with vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, and a spoon of Dijon mustard, you will find it a sweet, refreshing dressing for your summer salads.

Cook It

Another popular trend is to grill the watermelon’s flesh. You can cut up the flesh into cubes, and barbecue it on a stick. Or you can pan-fry a slice of flesh in butter, and you will find it transformed. The grill will impart a smokey flavor, whereas the mixture of sugar and butter provides the pan-fried watermelon with sweet flesh that takes on a caramel taste.

Freeze It

You can also freeze watermelon. The frozen watermelon can be used later for juices or purees. Or if you have juiced the melon, you can make a fruity popsicle for cooling down in the hot Florida summer.

Don’t Forget the Rind

Most of us often just discard the rind. But remember, watermelon is also a vegetable in the gourd family. Take away its sweetness, and it’s not too different from a zucchini or a cucumber. So if you’d like, you can try to prepare the rind. One common use is pickling the rind. You remove the green outer layer with a vegetable peeler, then slice it up, and pickle it just like a cucumber.

You can also stir-fry the rind. The white inner part of the rind can be stir-fried with other ingredients in your favorite stir-fry. You will find that the rind easily absorbs the other flavors in the dish.

There are so many ways to enjoy this melon as a fruit or as a vegetable this summer. I will leave you with a cocktail idea from Martha Stewart.

〇 〇 〇

Watermelon Margaritas

(By Martha Stewart)

  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • Peeled zest of 2 limes, plus ⅓ cup fresh lime juice, plus lime wedges for making salt rim, plus thinly sliced rounds for serving (optional)
  • ½ small, seedless yellow watermelon (about 2½ pounds), peeled and cut into cubes (about 6 cups)
  • 6 ounces tequila blanco
  • 1 ounce elderflower liqueur, such as St. Germain
  • Coarse salt or Himalayan pink salt, for glasses

Bring sugar, ⅓ cup water, and lime peels to a boil, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat; let cool completely. Strain into a pitcher with lime juice.

Working in batches, purée watermelon in a food processor or blender; strain through a coarse-mesh sieve (you should have 3 cups). Add melon purée, tequila, and elderflower liqueur to the pitcher with lime syrup, and stir. Chill, covered, at least 2 hours and for up to 2 days.

When ready to serve, run a lime wedge around the rim of each glass, and dip the glasses in coarse salt. Fill the glasses with ice and 1 or 2 thin lime rounds. To make each drink, add more ice and ½ cup tequila mixture to a cocktail shaker. Shake for 15 seconds; strain into a glass. Repeat for the remaining drinks, and serve immediately.

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Renaissance fun Local festivalgoers march into the past

The annual Florida Renaissance Festival in Quiet Waters Park kicked off on Feb. 1, and it’s scheduled to conclude on March 23. It is a great opportunity to enjoy a glimpse of what life might have been back in the 16th century.

Renaissance festivals have become more and more popular since first coming onto the U.S. scene 50 years ago. These events went from a small niche in New York and California, growing through the decades, to extravagant festivals in recent years. The festivals typically feature a setting during the English Renaissance period.

These events also serve as an educational tool for many. It inspires a deeper passion for history and the arts, and it showcases fashion and music from a different era. For some, the shows spark a deeper interest to learn more about the 16th century, and how the Renaissance period impacted the world.

The modern Renaissance festival was started in California in 1963 by Phyllis Patterson, a schoolteacher. It was initially created as a fundraiser for a radio station, with the vision of blending historical reenactment with performative art. For Patterson, there was a local talent pool of performers that she was able to draw upon in the Hollywood Hills community.

Since then, these cultural events have spread across the country. You typically will find both entertainers and attendees in full costume from that time period, along with music and theatrical performance acts of that era. The outfits you see can be simple, or extravagant. Many attendees and performers go out of their way to reenact every element of the outfit to be as realistic as possible.

You also will find vendors selling outfits at the festival, if you want to check them out in person. The Florida Renaissance Festival boasts more than 100 vendors to supply you with provisions. They will also provide you with a wide range of food and beverage—from turkey legs to desserts, and from cold ale to mead.

Nowadays, you will also find a large online community to help with preparing your outfit. A quick search on online store Etsy.com shows many options for historical dresses, gadgets, and accessories, including full sets of plate armor and weapons.

Typically, the festivals will have a theme, and the Florida Renaissance Festival has a theme each weekend. This year the festival is introducing a new concept—the weekend of March 8 and 9 features “Gears and Gadgets–The Lost Inventions of DaVinci,” which celebrates the retro-futuristic subgenre of science fiction. So, expect to see many creations and outfits featuring gears and spectacles if you visit that weekend.

According to one person who attends these festivals, attendees “enjoy the fact it’s historically inspired, and might require a lot of research, and build on year after year.” It’s not like when you are dressing as a character from a book or movie, such as for Comic-Con; for Renaissance festivals, it’s a character you’ve created. This person cherishes the festivals as “a creation of an agreed-upon environment.”

So if you have a weekend free this month, don’t miss out on the final days of the annual Florida Renaissance Festival. It’s on every weekend at Quiet Waters Park. But be warned, expect long lines—the park often reaches capacity by the afternoon—so get there early if you want to partake in the festivities.

 

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Death of chocolate?

Chocolates are a favorite romantic gift for Valentine’s Day—everything from a rich chocolate truffle to chocolate-covered strawberries. Beyond the happy smiles of chocolate enjoyers everywhere this Valentine’s Day, there are changes lurking in the industry. The future of chocolate is murkier than ever before.

If you have ever seen a chocolate plant, you will find the fruit quite different from the smooth, creamy chocolate in your favorite confectionary. The cocoa fruit pod is the size of a melon, and it’s grown in hot, rainy, tropical areas around the equator. Each melon-sized pod yields around 30 to 40 cocoa beans, which are dried and fermented before the next steps in the production process.

The dried beans are further roasted, and shelled into pieces before being ground into a paste, commonly referred to as chocolate liquor. The chocolate liquor is often processed to separate out the cocoa power from the cocoa butter (commonly referred to as grinding in the industry). Traditionally, chocolate is often made by adding more cocoa butter and sugar into the chocolate liquor.

It takes about 10 of the pods to yield enough dried beans to make one pound of chocolate. At a recent peak in 2022,  the world produced just under six million tons of these dried cocoa beans in 2022, mostly in Africa.

Recently, the supply of this delicious treat has been under threat. The cocoa commodity index has jumped 500% since 2022, after decades where the prices have been stable. The total cocoa supply in 2024 has fallen to around 4.4 billion tons (25% reduction since 2022), and the lowest in 45 years.

The increase in cocoa prices has impacted consumers with price increases, and it has reduced product sizes. Some manufacturers have resorted to substitutions, and some companies are offering non-chocolate products, or completely removing cocoa from their products. One potential alternative that some producers are working with is carob, from the tree of the same name grown in the Mediterranean region.

For craft chocolate makers targeting high-end chocolate enjoyers for key holidays like Valentine’s Day, they do not have that luxury. Some craft makers have increased their prices by 10% to 20% in the past few months—all due to the shortage in cocoa production.

How did the grinch steal our beloved chocolate? There are several long-term factors impacting the shortage.

Cocoa trees become increasingly prone to disease as they age. So old farms are abandoned, with new ones established in fresh forest. But this is becoming increasingly difficult due to a lack of new land to farm, and competition with mining interests in the growing area. Farmland is often sold to miners, exacerbating the production challenges.

Recent weather patterns in western Africa, often associated with the recent El Nino cycle, have been reducing production from the cocoa tree farms. The same weather phenomenon that has suppressed hurricanes in the past couple years has caused drier weather in West Africa, contributing to increased plant disease that devastated the trees in that region. The weather impacts not just total production, but also the quality of the beans produced, further stressing the craft makers who rely on top-grade beans.

Meanwhile, chocolate demand is continuing to grow at around 4% annually. So the mismatch between supply and demand is likely to be further strained. Because most manufacturers tend to hedge their long-term supply agreement pricing, according to a senior analyst at RaboResearch, the recent steepest price increases are likely to trickle to consumers in 2025.

Long term, farms worldwide may grow more cocoa trees as a result of this steep increase in price, but it will take three to four years to begin producing beans. And across many of the traditional growing regions, new farms in West Africa and South America will still face the same challenge of disease and weather patterns that has weakened production.

Carob, the alternative you can already buy, has been thriving since the 1970s as a natural sweetener and thickening agent. It is low in fat, and rich in fiber, calcium, and antioxidants, a potentially healthier alternative. But it has a distinct flavor and texture, and a more nutty and sweeter taste profile for consumers to adapt to.

Other startups have been looking at newer alternatives in trying to create a more perfect substitute for the diminishing chocolate supply aimed at a taste-conscious chocolate lover. One promising process uses fava beans. Most of the plants being looked at as alternatives have less demanding agriculture needs than the cocoa tree, mitigating the ecology impact to the chocolate supply chain.

Even further out, some other companies are looking at options of growing cocoa plant cells in a bioreactor, to produce chocolate without relying on the trees. The development is in early stages, but it uses the same technology advancements in the pharmaceutical industry for cancer drugs and nutrient supplements.

As the price of chocolate stays at all-time highs, these alternatives will likely gain more traction in the industry, especially for the price-sensitive segment of the chocolate industry. Short term as the supply drops, and the price increases, the industry is already seeing consumers pulling back on satisfying their sweet tooth. Data from a Jan. 16, 2025, report show North American chocolate grinding falling 1.2% in 2024 year-over-year, following similar trends in Europe, where its grindings dropped 5.3% in quarter 4, and fallen for two years in a row.

So expect 2025 to be a year in which you’ll likely see both a shortage of high-quality chocolate as well as increased prices. And on the horizon, if the chocolate alternative startups gain traction, we may see more and more chocolate using less and less cocoa, and the use of more alternatives to cocoa. It will be hard to conceive a world without chocolate, but we may be entering a period where consumers will be seeing hybrid offerings of both original and newer alternative chocolate.

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Taking a digital detox

How often do you use your phone in a week?

According to a 2024 study by the American Optometric Association (AOA), the average person spends just over seven hours a day looking at a digital screen. For the purpose of the AOA study, excessive screen time was defined as over seven hours, which means about half of the U.S. population exceeds that.

Once upon a time, parents often told their kids to turn off the TV and run outside. Now all age groups appear equally guilty of excessive screen time. Were our parents right to ask us to limit our screen use?

The AOA study found that the cost of our excessive screen time is costing the U.S. around $73 billion a year, in vision and other related symptoms. These include blurred and double vision, eye pain, headache, migraine, back pain, and neck pain. They impact both direct medical costs and, more importantly, lost productivity and well-being.

Beyond physical symptoms, according to Cleveland Clinic, excessive screen time is stressing many out, and a digital detox may help to provide relief.

Dr. Kia-Rai Prewitt of Cleveland Clinic explains, “Social media connects us with others in many beneficial ways. But at the same time, it can also have an unhealthy effect on people.” Anxiety and depression can accompany negative social media experiences, and it affects self-esteem.

Dopamine is triggered by our brain’s search and explore functions. We are wired to release dopamine when we make human connections. Stanford psychiatrist Dr. Ann Lembke explains in her book, “Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence,” how social media apps can cause the release of large amounts of dopamine to our brain’s reward pathways. With every scroll or swipe, the action provides a hit of dopamine to our brain, similar to an addictive drug.

In a study published in the journal Psychology Science, researchers found that our brain reward centers were more activated by social media than by images of food or money.

When you sign off, this source of dopamine is removed, and your brain will go into a dopamine-deficit state. This is why social media feels good when you are using it, but you may not feel as good when you stop.

The long-term dopamine exposure is still being studied to see if it will lead to desensitization, as with illicit drugs.

A digital detox allows you to see if technology is affecting your productivity as well as your well-being, both physical and mental. It allows your brain to withdraw from the additive effects of excess dopamine. According to a Standard Medicine Scope article, one month is the minimum duration typically required to reset the dopamine reward pathways, and it may decrease the anxiety and depression that social media can induce. Upon returning from detox, the article recommends prioritizing app usage toward connecting with real people and consolidating its use to specific times of the day.

So if you are looking for ideas to improve your overall well-being, look into digital detox this January, and have a healthy and happy 2025!

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Curiously hungry: Cooking cheese with wine

The classic pairing of wine and cheese is taken to another level by the Swiss. The Alpine country, with its many pasturelands, is home to many famous cheeses. Surrounded by great wine regions of France, Germany, and Italy, it’s no wonder someone came up with the idea of cooking cheese with wine in the 17th century.

“Fondue,” as we now call it, is made by melting cheese in wine, and it’s usually served with bread to be dipped in it. It is the national dish of Switzerland, and it’s the most recognized dish. The blend of flavors and aroma from great cheese and wine is a wonderful foundation for anything you dip into it. It is something that should be experienced if you ever travel to Switzerland.

Meanwhile at home, you can find this classic Alpine creation in the heart of Coral Springs. The Melting Pot, located near the corner of Sample Road and Coral Springs Drive, serves up this simmering concoction to local residents.

Their classic fondue is made with Gruyère, a hard cheese named after a town in Fribourg in Switzerland. The cheese is sweet, and it’s creamy and nutty when young. Along with a white wine, the fondue provides a fruity base for more than just bread. At the Melting Pot, they provide you with apple slices that go extremely well with this fondue.

Emmentaler cheese, with its characteristic “eye formation” common in many Swiss cheeses, is part of other Melting Pot fondue offerings. Its mild and savory flavor pairs well with Wisconsin aged cheddar and Sam Adams lager. This fondue provides a stronger flavor base, which goes well with the soft pretzels and vegetables offered.

At the Melting Pot, they also serve great salads, with delicious dressings. They offer a great refresher for your taste buds before you embark on the restaurant’s entree course. For the entree, a selection of proteins is offered, which can be cooked at the table either with a grill or in a hot pot.

The grill options work great with many cuts of meat and fish that are on the menu, or you can try their Coq au Vin stock, which is prepared with burgundy wine, mushrooms, scallions, and garlic. The Melting Pot also serves entrees with a combination of dips, which adds extra flavor dimension for the diner.

The meal is not complete without enjoying a new modern American fondue creation. The chocolate fondue was first served in a restaurant in New York in the 1960s. The Melting Pot’s chocolate fondues offer several chocolate options, including dark, milk, and white chocolate. Served with a combination of fruits and desserts, it will satisfy any sweet tooth. For those who love chocolate, there is nothing more decadent than dipping a brownie into dark chocolate. And who doesn’t love a strawberry or banana dipped in chocolate?

So as the next cold front comes to Florida, and you want to enjoy a classic Swiss creation, give fondue a try. The Melting Pot has long served its version of this method of cooking in Coral Springs. They offer an authentic experience that you will enjoy.

The Melting Pot is located at 10374 W. Sample Road, Coral Springs; www.meltingpot.com/coral-springs-fl.

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Banned in Florida: ‘It tastes like chicken’

There is nothing like a banned food that makes us more curious about it. Sometimes it makes it more attractive to attain.

Some bans are due to the endangered nature of the ingredients, like endangered sea turtles, beluga caviar, and queen conch. Or it’s due to potential risks to human consumption, like the puffer fish, raw ackee fruit, and Kinder surprise eggs (with a toy inside). Or there’s a disease risk, like haggis, due to risks of scrapies from sheep lung in the classic Robert Burns Night dish. Other bans are due to concerns of animal cruelty, like with horse meat or shark fins.

There’s an addition to that list this year, as “cultivated” meat, or lab-grown meat—which is grown from animal stem cells—got the ban hammer in Florida. Other states, such as Alabama, Arizona, and Tennessee, have similar bans on cooking.

The ban doesn’t impact manufactured meat substitutes derived from plants, like tofu-based meat substitutes or Impossible burgers.

Recently, Upside Foods, a start-up working to commercialize cultivated meat, sued to block the ban. So, what is lab-grown meat?

Scientists from the University of Maastricht in Netherlands were the first to create a lab-grown meat designed for human consumption. A hamburger costing more than $300,000 was presented in 2013; the cost was later reduced to around $11 in a few years. The FDA first approved it for U.S. sales in 2023. Also in 2023, the Orthodox Union certified a strain of lab-grown poultry meat as kosher Mehadrin meat, a first in the world.

The cultured meat is grown from animal stem cells. The cells are submerged in a stainless-steel vat of nutrient-rich broth for them to grow and divide. After a few weeks, there is enough protein to harvest. Currently, the food scientists mix the meat and press it into nugget or culet shapes for sale.

For now, lab-grown meat can only be found in a few limited locations, like Bar Crenn, a Michelin-starred eatery in San Francisco, and a Jose Andres restaurant in Washington, DC. It’s not yet widely available.

The objective of the cultivated meat industry is to reduce the environmental impact of meat production, and to be a more sustainable option for the industry. That is a promise not yet proven. The presumption is that when mass-production scale is achieved, it will reduce the land and water use compared to traditional ranching methods.

For those concerned with animal welfare, lab-grown meat introduces a new dimension. A recent poll suggests that half of vegetarians would still prefer to avoid it. Among the total population, the poll suggests about two-thirds will give lab-grown meat a try.

As society and government try to process the emergence of lab-grown meat, the fledgling industry proclaims the meat as the “safest, best protein on the planet,” as the growing methods avoid contamination due to the pathogens and antibiotics that are common in current methods.

It is also conceivable, in the future, that meat from endangered animals, such as bluefin tuna, can be grown in the lab and reduce the stress on wild populations.

For now, growing and selling cultivated meat is a crime in Florida, except for NASA and the space industry, which have been studying cultivated meat for long-term space missions.

Dean Black, a cattle rancher and Florida representative who supported the bill’s passage, stated concerns of national security, as concentrated protein production may lead to attack. And with the ban, the state hopes to protect “the integrity of American agriculture,” according to Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. Gov. Ron DeSantis, in his statement, raised concern about the “global elite’s plan to force the world to eat meat grown in a petri dish.”

Others in the legislature were against the bill, such as our local state representative, Rep. Christine Hunschofsky. She called it a “food fight” and said that it “sends a bad message” to both researchers and businesses who are trying to grow a nascent industry.

Even though the FDA approved the lab-grown meats as safe, it doesn’t mean that they’re healthy. We’ve learned this from studies showing that ultra-processed foods have negative health implications. Even if the ingredients that go into ultra-processed foods are all safe, it’s better to eat minimally processed options. The new industry is still working to show that the micronutrients you find in your grocery store meat are present in the lab-grown variety.

So the jury is still out on the new culinary frontier, but early reviewers who have tried the cultured meat have given it good reviews. An Associated Press reviewer, who tried a cultured chicken, commented that it “tastes like chicken.”

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Peacock fever

You are not seeing things, that’s a peacock on the road.

Like occasional gator sightings, or seeing a turtle cross the street, seeing a peacock on a Parkland side street is another reminder of how close we live to nature.

Peacock sightings are also a legacy of the fact that the Parkland and Coral Springs area used to be farm and ranch land. In the past few decades, new developments were added, but small farms are still thriving in our area.

These large pheasants are not native to Florida, or even the Americas. The most memorable peacock with blue and green plumage comes from the Indian subcontinent. They first arrived as pets or for specialty farms, and over time they were released or escaped into the wild. They are omnivorous, and will eat plants, flowers, seeds, insects, even reptiles, and amphibians. So South Florida is paradise for them.

Technically, peacocks are the male peafowls, whereas the peahens are the females. But the brilliant display exhibited by the males during mating season makes them a more iconic image for the species.

Throughout scientific history, there is much speculation about why peacocks have such a vibrant display. Darwin speculated that the peahens, through a long line of descent, must have “appreciated this superiority.” But scientists are not sure if the large tail plumage, or the train, is due to natural selection as Darwin postulated.

A multiyear study in Japan concluded that peahens did not show a preference for large trains. In fact, peacocks with more symmetrical, or elaborate train (more eyespots) affect the peahen’s choice of mate.

The eyespots, or ocelli, do seem to affect peahens. The angle at which they are displayed seems important to holding the peahen’s attention. The dance and rattling of the tail seem to be an attention-grabbing aspect of their ritual. For most human observers, it’s the eyespots that are most mesmerizing.

The eyespots are composed of intermeshed features held together by microhooks. The eyespot’s structure keeps the spots stable when the peacock vibrates his tail to attract the peahens. The vibration usually has a frequency of 25.6Hz, which is audible for the peahens, and able to keep the attention of most observers looking at it.

While scientists continue their research into this area, we can all enjoy these displays when we find them on the street or at a local farm. However, some in the neighborhood with a peafowl population may be more concerned about their noise. The typical peacock sound has been described as a cross between a bird call and a baby crying out.

Before you consider harming these gorgeous birds, keep in mind that even though peacocks are not native, they are protected under a Florida statute, which may result in a fine of $5,000 and/or up to a year in prison if you are found guilty of shooting a peacock. The penalty is even more if one tortures or intentionally harms a peacock—up to 10 years in prison.

You may see them mostly wobble or hop around. Peafowls can fly around a mile in a single flight, so with an abundance of food locally, they can quickly become wild and adapt to our southern Florida climate.

So you may find yourself face to face with a peafowl, even if you are not next door to a farm or do not park where these birds reside.

You may also find leucistic variants, which is a natural loss of pigmentation, similar to white lions and tigers you have seen. These are prized by some, and bred locally for pets.

This spring, hopefully you will be lucky enough to see them in person. If not, enjoy the pictures we have collected of local peacocks!

 

 

 

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Are you zombie scrolling too much? Try to cut down

It’s 2024. Will your average screen time go down this year?

In 2023, the average time that people spent staring at a screen was just under 7 hours, slightly higher than the worldwide average of 6.5 hours a day, according to DataReportal. Some of it is on your computer, which accounts for half of the screen time. The other half is on your mobile device. Effectively, half of our waking hours is spent looking at a screen.

Is this healthy? Probably not. Health experts recommend less than 2 hours in front of a screen daily (excluding school or work), according to the National Institute of Health (NIH).

It’s not surprising. Data from Harmony (www.harmonyhit.com), a healthcare information technology company, shows that 40% of Americans are trying to cut down on their screen time this year, and another 36% feel like they should. Like all new year’s resolutions, this may not be easy.

The top application we are using when on the phone is messages. This is followed by all the social media sites—YouTube at #2 and Facebook at #3. TikTok, the latest fashionable app, is #6, just behind Instagram.

According to the study, half of Americans feel they are addicted to their devices. The younger you are, the more you tend to feel that way. The top reason is that our entertainment is more and more coming through our phones now. People often reach for their phone when bored.

In our search for the next viral video that keeps us entertained, we end up constantly checking our phones. Researchers call the behavior of scrolling for new content without a specific purpose “zombie scrolling.” Often, even if the news is bad or depressing, we still constantly look out for it; Merriam-Webster has termed this “doom scrolling.”

According to Harmony’s December 2023 study, 48% of Americans zombie scroll; they are scrolling without a specific purpose. More alarmingly, 27% of us text while at the stoplight. This might contribute to why we are hearing more honking and road rage than in the past. Also, if you ever wondered if others share the habit of using their phone on the toilet, you will find that you are among the supermajority—3 in 5 admit to doing it.

A University of Rochester Medical Center study in 2023 listed some of the signs of addiction to our smart devices:

  • Losing large amounts of time mindlessly checking apps or browsing the internet on your phone
  • Feeling anxious or restless when you cannot access your phone
  • Use of your phone has interfered with your productivity at work or at home
  • Using your phone in dangerous or inappropriate situations, such as when driving or crossing the street
  • Struggling to wait to check your phone when you receive an alert

It is hard to imagine that, just a few decades ago, baby boomer parents would have frowned upon hours and hours of TV watching. Now, every age group is spending much more time in front of the screen. Many parents nowadays still try to limit their children’s screen time. NIH reports the following among those 8 to 18 years old:

  • 28% said that their parents set TV-watching rules
  • 30% said that their parents set rules about video-game use
  • 36% said that their parents set rules about computer use

A NIH-sponsored study showed that, when parents set media rules, children’s media use dropped by 3 hours per day!

Recently, TikTok started implementing a screen limit of 60 minutes for kids under age 18. The limit can be disabled or extended via entering a passcode.

Even among adults, the Harmony survey showed that 55% feel that they waste time on their phones. And previous studies showed that excessive phone usage is linked to anxiety among younger adults.

Smartphones are a power tool for us to stay connected with our loved ones, and like all tools, we need to use it to benefit ourselves. So if you feel like you are zombie scrolling too much, or when the next world event upsets you and you feel like doom scrolling, try these suggestions from Harmony to cut down on screen time:

  • Doing activities that don’t require a phone
  • Putting the phone away while around others
  • Using the “Do not disturb” feature

Early studies are showing that even a small reduction has shown benefits in respondents’ mental health. So for 2024, try some of these suggestions, and maybe you will end up less anxious in a turbulent world.

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