Sounds Good

Eat the rainbow for good health
If you can’t imagine what it means to eat the rainbow, just think about color. Serve yourself a plate full of purple onion, green spinach and red tomato, then finish it off with an orange for dessert.
The American Dietetic Association reports research indicates foods rich in color and flavor have more phytochemicals, which are believed to aid in disease prevention and maintenance of a healthy body. Again, the executive chef of Spigola Ristorante in New Jersey has colorful health tips:
• Red foods are high in the antioxidant lycopene, which helps protect from some cancers, and helps prevent sun damage. Red foods include tomatoes, cherries, red bell pepper, watermelon, strawberries, pomegranates and red potatoes.
• Orange foods are high in vitamin C, provide anti-inflammatory properties, and help prevent cancer. Good sources include carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, cantaloupe and orange bell pepper.
• Yellow foods are high in caratenoids, which help to decrease inflammation in the joints, as well as prevent cancer and aid in good vision. Try yellow bell pepper, corn, pineapple, yellow squash and apricots.
• Green foods offer an abundance of vitamins and antioxidants. Taste avocado, broccoli, asparagus, spinach, zucchini, romaine lettuce, green peas and grapes.
• Blue and purple foods are high in antioxidants and are good for memory and cardiovascular health. Go for eggplant, blueberries, prunes, plums, beets and blackberries.
• White foods can help prevent cancer and heart disease, and include onions, mushrooms, garlic and cauliflower.

Ice balls cool Yamazaki
In my fantasy trips to Japan, I’ve never been sipping single malt whiskey, but Yamazaki has made me a believer. It seems the ultra-pure waters cherished in Japanese tea ceremonies make a fine import, if you’re willing to wait 12 to 18 years of aging time. I am, now that I’ve tasted it.
Yamazaki has educated me on spherical ice balls, now made in molds after the fashion of apprentice bartenders’ hand-carved balls. Not only do they look as cool as all get out, they melt slowly to keep that whiskey pure. I turned my kitchen gadget drawer upside down looking for my tiny flask funnel to top off water in the ice ball mold. It was difficult to fill but easy to release and crazy as a conversation topic. Don’t wait for a fantasy to try these to products together. Ice trays are at www.moma.org.

Jewbiliatoin
Some beer is all cool label and no brew. He’Brew: The Chosen Beer’s “Rejewvenator” is a limited release ale celebrating the year of the date with “delicious shtick.” Jewbilation Bar Mitzvah is their 13th Chosen Beer in 13 years of Shmaltz. It’s brewed with 13 malts and 13 hops for great taste and great fun. I just want to go to a covered dish with the people who came up with this stuff.
The national launch will be at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colo. from Sept. 24-26.

Garlic boss
The Garlic Boss will be a blessing to many because it allows a cook to get a hint of flavor onto food and no scent on the hands. It looks like a stainless steel chess pawn with tiny pricks to spear a clove. You then rub the garlic onto foods to get a little flavor or rub more aggressively to get more.
As a Cajun married to a Mexican American, I can enjoy a whole head of roasted garlic in one setting, but I know there are plenty of people with more delicate digestive systems who would love a Garlic Boss.
ddoiron@panews.com