Viannos Municipality - Crete

For my first post, I want to introduce my self by showing you where I was living my last 2 years of my life! Crete...

After spending almost 21 months of my life in Viannos (sorry but the site is in greek), it has a special place in my heart. Although, I don't come from a typical Greek village, my experience in living in the countryside was lovely. Viannos is a municipality in the Heraklion Prefecture Crete, which southern boarder is the Libyan sea and is close to Ierapetra municipality. Its a historical municipality, as it is established by the Greek constitution, like Kalavrita municipality. Viannos is characterized by its seaside villages, like Psari Forada, Arvi, and Keratokampos, its mountain villages like Kato Symi, Pefkos, Amira, etc., and the capital, Viannos.

As all other places in Crete, Viannos keeps the typical Cretan Cuisine, which for me is one of the best cousins in the world! I can't forget the amazing bread coming out of the handmade oven, with olives and traditional handmade cheese served with a shot of raki (traditional Cretan alcohol drink). Unforgettable!

Some tropical fruits and their nutrients

Tropical fruits slide show: http://www.medicinenet.com/tropical_fruit_pictures_slideshow/article.htm

In the link above, click the “next” sign under the text to the right side of the page to see the explanations and to change image to the next fruit.

Some of these fruits are not found in the supermarkets here, but it is still nice to learn what they are.

The star fruits that I find occasionally at the mega AB Vasilopoulos supermarket are often too ripe, looked yellowish and soft instead of greenish and crunchy (the way it should look before consumption). They should be consumed before turning yellowish. I guess people don’t know the fruit and are not so eager to try new things, so it usually becomes a “decoration” item in the supermarket’s fruit shelf and turns yellow. A pure loss for the retailers who try to introduce the fruit. Watch out for the caution that said people with kidney stone problem should stay away from this fruit.

When I was little, I was living in a company-owned house with a mango tree (among many other fruit trees we had, like banana and grapefruit trees etc.), I remember our mango tree is quite tall about 2 floors high. The mango variety I used to eat in Taiwan looks slimmer, smaller, and with green colored skin, but tastier than the ones I find here. It is not yet so popular for the Greeks to eat mangos, so the supermarkets don’t buy them in large quantities. Nevertheless, it is more well-known than the star fruit.

The mangos here are either imported from Africa or South America but never from Taiwan (although TW has mangos too! and more than just mangos…with fruit names and the TW Ag Exporter info you may need).

The mangos available in supermarket here are often nice looking on the surface, but the fruit fiber and the “meat” inside have already turned partially black. I really don’t know why it is so, maybe there is preservative?

Aside from the above slide show to learn the tropic fruit names and nutrients, I always wonder why the bananas sold here are so expensive!?

1.40 Euro to 1.99 Euro per Kg! (experts in marketing & int’l trade are welcome to leave their comments, is it the transportation cost? the middle men? or the tariff?)

When I was little my backyard was full of banana trees, and people used to come to collect them before the typhoon would hit us. I would eat my bananas only if I would get some favor afterwards. Now I have to buy them expensive and from only this choice or that (although once in a while I find local bananas but they are kind of small).

This is my dream: one day I am going to try growing my own banana again and be self-sufficient and sell the rest really really cheap to my little community.

I miss my own banana tree! And I miss my childhood home. I’d like to visit it again, but only when Taiwan stays as Taiwan.

Other interesting links:

The encyclopedia of spices http://www.theepicentre.com/index.html

How to make sticky rice (Zong-zi) step by step with the Travels with Sandy (was discovered accidentally):

http://travelswithsandy.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/recipe-how-to-make-zongzi-part-1/

http://travelswithsandy.wordpress.com/2008/06/06/recipe-how-to-make-zongzi-part-2/

Lexicon for Sea Animals 海產詞典

This past Monday was Clean Monday celebrated by the Eastern Orthodox Church. It marks the beginning of an approximately 40 days of fasting that leads up to the Easter Day. Although it is a religious holiday, it is also a designated national holiday in Greece (but not in Romania I was told). On Clean Monday, people of the Greek Orthodox religion eat sea food (without blood), or vegetables, or grains, but not meat, nor dairy product, nor eggs, nor olive oil in their attempt to start cleaning-up their body systems, so the strict religious followers will start fasting for about 40 days from the Clean Monday until the Easter Day.

Another activity the Greeks do on Clean Monday is that they fly kites, so people flock to the mountains or seashores to fly kites. It is a day of outing for the whole family. I don’t know why they fly kites on Clean Monday, it needs some research to answer this question.

I just thought about collecting a lexicon for sea animals in 3 languages (English, Greek, Chinese), and I hope the readers can help me to make it more complete.

A lexicon for sea animals 海產詞典 (updated with abundant links)

Sea Invertebrate (without a backbone / spinal column)

English Greek Chinese

abalone το αυτί της θάλασσας 鮑魚

clam (variety: giant clam geoduck) η αχιβάδα 蛤

cockle το κυδώνι 蜊

crab ο κάβουρας 螃蟹

cuttlefish η σουπιά 墨魚

jellyfish η μέδουσα / η τσούχτρα 海蜇 / 水母

lobster ο αστακός 龍蝦

mussel το μύδι 蚌

octopus το χταπόδι 八爪魚

oyster το στρείδι 蚵/ 牡蠣

scallop το χτένι 扇貝

scampi η καραβίδα 大蝦

shrimp, prawn (click the link which explains how the two differ) η γαρίδα 小蝦

snail το σαλιγκάρι 蝸牛或螺

squid (variety: Colossal squid) το καλαμάρι 魷魚或烏賊

whelk το βούκινο 螺

Economic development should not be at the expense of our environment

The carrots and other produce from the farms in Thebes revealed exceptionally high concentrations of chromium on 17-Feb-09 by the Kathimerini’s report, the concern was also raised by earlier report of 06-Dec-07 by Deborah Kyvrikosaios , http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/45783/story.htm, and by the article of the Oinofyta Junior High School’s student through the Young Reportets for the Environment program, plus by another earlier article on 25-Aug-07 by Erin Brockovich.

For a map of the area mentioned above, go to google map, and search by typing in “Voiotia, Greece”.

Another big problem in this country’s public sector, and health care system:

Bribery is on the rise although 80% of the people in Greece condemn it, but they do it just to get the job done.

I saw a lot of biological produce from the local supermarkets are imported from other countries such as Italy, and they are quite expensive. The poor people cannot afford to buy these biological produce, so if they eat the polluted local produce and become ill, they also have no money to bribe the doctors to get preferred treatment, is this justice?

Pollution has to be brought under control without exception (possible bribery involved?) in Greece and soon.

The World's Healthiest Foods 世界最健康食品

So you don’t complain that I blog only on human rights and politics…
A very interesting organization to me and to your health indeed, The World’s Healthiest Foods, http://whfoods.org/
How to use this site, a quick overview, http://whfoods.org/getstarted.php
How to process food, quick demo by http://whfoods.org/cookdemo.php
For example, how to cook a tasty and nutritious broccoli, http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=preptip&dbid=142
Olive oil is best for cold temperature use such as for salad, it is not for high temperature frying. If you like to use olive oil, you should cook your food first and just add olive oil before you eat, for example quick boil the veggies, and add olive oil just in your plate. Greek mothers like to cook some soups or beans during days of fastings, they can cook all the ingredients first, and just add olive oil at the end. High temperature cooking destroys the olive oil.
About organic food, http://whfoods.org/organics.php
local link Hellenic Organization for Standardization http://www.elot.gr/quality/docs.html
Got to go to cook now…

More Transparency Needed on Melamine Testing Procedures

Update: Health Canada is adopting this new TDI recommended by the WHO expert consultation, and will be taking the additional measure of lowering its allowable level for melamine in infant formula from 1 ppm to 0.5 ppm in order to ensure that exposures remain below this new TDI. The new 0.5 ppm standard for melamine will apply to all infant formula products. But Taiwan's remains unchanged?

From pet food to baby formula, from pig and poultry feed to biscuits and chocolates we consume, the scare continues… the developing stories of Melamine (C3H6N6).

Refer to http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_home.htm then use “melamine” under search topic and go. Also refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melamine.

Background information:

Following reports of sickness and death of pet animals (cats and dogs) in the United States beginning February 2007, US Authorities began an investigation to trace the source of these animal health problems. In mid-March 2007 it was found that wheat gluten imported from China and used for the production of pet food was the origin of these problems. As a result, a recall of pet food containing the wheat gluten began. Further investigations revealed that melamine, an industrial chemical high in nitrogen, that is used in such materials as plastics, had most likely been fraudulently added to wheat gluten and other protein sources to enhance the apparent protein content of these feed stuffs. While there is no evidence that contaminated wheat gluten originating from China has been imported into the EU, Member States have been asked by the European Commission to control consignments of wheat gluten originating from third countries and in particular China. On May 16 2007, EFSA received a request from the European Commission to provide scientific advice on the presence of melamine and structurally related compounds in protein sources to be used for feed and food.

Additional background information:

Thanks to Eric Chang (whom I don’t know and just saw him on video clip), had inspired me to investigate the topic of melamine, and had stated in his blog http://www.taiwan-dream-foundation.blogspot.com/, (just scroll down to read Saturday, September 27, 2008) Made in China, Stay in China.

Excerpt from Eric's writing:

...So what has been the reaction from the KMT government in Taiwan? It can be described as slow, laughable, and worst of all, deadly for Taiwanese citizens. The KMT’s Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday night, in a move that defies all sense and reason, actually loosened the food safety standard for melamine from 0 parts per million (ppm) to 2.5 ppm, meaning that imported Chinese food products to Taiwan can contain up to 2.5 ppm of deadly melamine. Even in China, pig feed must have below 2.0 ppm of melamine...

Comparing the melamine testing standards:

I have visited many health-related sites to gather info for myself, and here is my discovery.

The Department of Health in Taiwan has actually set the acceptable level for melamine for all food products including baby formula at 2.5ppm, (see Note 1 below), which is not good enough for the health of Taiwan’s youngest citizens. They have determined so by referring to their “sister” Hong Kong of China.

In Canada, the tolerance level is currently set at 1ppm (a combined concentration of melamine and cyanuric acid, see Note 2 below) for infant formula as well as milk replacement products (food designed to replace the consumption of milk, I suppose it’s the type of food for vegetarians).

For other food (such as chocolates or biscuits which contain only a percentage of milk in their ingredients, the tolerance is set at 2.5ppm (but not melamine alone, again a combined melamine and cyanuric acid concentration cannot exceed 2.5ppm). The logical assumption I suppose is that since milk is only a small portion in the ingredient on this type of food, the higher level of melamine and cynuric acid combined at 2.5ppm is fine for the time being until their scientists prove otherwise in future, in which case, the tolerance level may be dropped further.

What I am also concerned about is the timing of the discovery of Melamine related death, was it discovered by the Chinese officials before the Olympic Games? If so, why did Chinese officials delay the disclosure just like their previous cover-up of the SARS, resulting in more victims with no knowledge of preventing further intake of Melamine poisoned food products earlier?

Information on Protein powder, read http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2008/10/29/2003427214

Chinese protein powder contains melamine: DOH

By Shelley Huang STAFF REPORTER Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008, Page 1

The Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday that protein powder imported from China was found to contain 1.90 parts per million (ppm) to 5.03ppm of melamine.Health authorities randomly tested 13 batches of protein powder, six of which were contaminated with melamine.

(Blog editor’s comments: a scary nearly half (6 out of 13) of randomly selected protein powder contains melamine.)

The tainted powder was produced by two companies in China — Jilin Jinyi Egg Products Co Ltd (吉林金翼蛋品有限公司) and Dalian Green Snow Egg Product Co, Ltd (大連綠雪蛋品發展有限公司).Of the 393 tonnes of protein powder imported from China this year, 261 tonnes imported from Jilin Jinyi and Dalian Green Snow were found to be contaminated with melamine, deputy health minister Cheng Shou-hsia (鄭守夏) said at a press conference yesterday.

(Blog editor’s comments: a scary 66.41% of imported protein powder contains melamine.)

Protein powder is used in the food industry as a legal food additive.It is commonly used to produce foam and add cohesiveness. The department’s Bureau of Food and Drug Safety on Sunday randomly tested 40 samples of ham, vegetarian ham, fish paste and cakes, which are all products commonly made with protein powder. No melamine was detected in these finished products, Cheng said.

(Blog editor’s comments: They won’t tell you how they concluded “no melamine”, but judging from the high percentage of imported protein powder with melamine contamination, and the lenient melamine detection level, I am not surprised with their conclusion.)

Note 1:

Blog editor’s comments: It was not easy to find this regulation document, in other words I think the DOH needs to make improvement on its website design to make it more user-friendly.
Here it is,
http://www.doh.gov.tw/EN2006/DM/DM2_p01.aspx?class_no=387&now_fod_list_no=9073&level_no=1&doc_no=68977

DOH: Experts deliberate and determine testing standards for melamine in Taiwan

With reference to the ISO standards methods and standards legislated recently in Hong Kong, and after deliberation by the Bureau of Food and Drug Analysis with experts from the Food Industry Research and Development Institute, the DOH has decided that the appropriate standard of melamine in Taiwan is 2.5ppm.

Note 2:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/chem-chim/melamine-eng.php

Health Canada has set the following interim standards for melamine in products containing milk and milk-derived ingredients:

Infant formula and sole source nutrition products, including meal replacement products
Maximum of 1.0 part per million (ppm*)

Other food products containing milk and milk-derived ingredients
Maximum of 2.5 ppm*

It remains Health Canada's policy that levels of potential contaminants in infant foods should be kept as low as reasonably achievable.

Health Canada's interim standards for melamine in products containing milk and milk-derived ingredients are set to ensure that all age groups and segments of the population are protected and were developed using a consistent approach adopted by other food regulatory agencies in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Should new scientific evidence become available, Health Canada's risk assessment will be reviewed and the interim standards will be re-examined.

*These levels will apply to a combined concentration of melamine and cyanuric acid (a chemical generally found together with melamine).

The Art of Wine Serving & Tasting 葡萄酒的飲食藝術

Serving & Decanting 葡萄酒怎麼飲用最完美
http://www.fostersgroup.com/enjoy/wine/5C37F40CF96642F1B07F369D7029E4A6.htm
Matching wine with food 什麼酒配合那種食物最恰當
http://www.fostersgroup.com/enjoy/wine/food_and_wine.htm
Wine glossary 酒的詞彙表
http://www.fostersgroup.com/enjoy/wine/wine_glossary.htm
Greek wine shop site 希臘葡萄酒店網
http://www.wineshop.gr/site/homepage.php

European Masters Degree in Food Studies 有興趣到歐洲學食物相關科學碩士嗎？走！到荷蘭、法國、愛爾蘭、瑞典深造去 http://www.eurmscfood.nl/index.htm

Greek Food 希臘菜

Time for cooking traditional Greek dishes ? 想作傳統希臘菜嗎?
請看http://greekfood.gr/index.php有的有照片,有的没有,只怕找不到材料.

Greek food dictionary 希臘菜字典
旅遊到比較鄉下,如遇到没英文菜單時請看http://greekfood.gr/static/greek/food-dictionary/z.html從A到Z任你點,例如豬排pork chop就點上方綠box的 p, http://greekfood.gr/static/greek/food-dictionary/p.html 然後找到且click “pork chop”, 給waiter看under the"Greek"column 的字 Χοιρινή μπριζόλα 就對了, 或對waiter說under the “syllables”的聲音hi-ri-NI bri-ZO-la,大寫的地方是重音.

Basis knowledge about Greek food 基本希臘菜嘗試Oh , no! I mean 常識
旅遊點什麼希臘菜好,請參考http://www.greecefoods.com/