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WEST HARTFORD -- With Whole Foods Market the presumed victor in the national corporate granola wars, the health-conscious here find themselves pondering the future of the winner's local spoils: Wild Oats Market on North Main Street.

Whole Foods has yet to determine which, if any, Wild Oats stores it might close in its proposed merger with its smaller rival. But the announcement late Wednesday that the natural food giant would pay $565 million for its main competitor registered as joy, indifference and concern across a region spoiled by franchises of both stores a few miles apart.

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KoKo's pan-Latin menu is at its best when it's all over the map.

A sopao is a thick Puerto Rican stew. I wish I could be more precise, but it's one of those dishes that seems to vary with every recipe: One requires andouille and Parmesan cheese, another peas and smoked ham. I'd say chicken, rice and tomatoes, at least, are a given, but then I'd probably get a half-dozen letters telling me otherwise. Even calling asopao a thick Puerto Rican stew might be too definitive. Sometimes it's described as a soup, sometimes as a gumbo. There are Cuban and Dominican versions, too.

At KoKo asopao is chicken, chorizo, green olives, capers, tomato and saffron served over rice. It's hearty — nearly as thick as gumbo — but the olives and capers give it a welcome salt-and-vinegar kick. Had I not been starving already (owing to a planning oversight that in a minute I'll try to pass off as a stroke of restaurant-reviewer genius), I still would have cleaned my plate.

New website taking Gosling's to the world

It's a common predicament for tourists: They've tasted black rum for the first time in a dark n' stormy or a rum swizzle and they've fallen in love with it, or spiced up their meals with a zesty local sauce and must now have it with everything they eat. But the poor visitor doesn't get a chance to pick up the recipes before they leave.

A new website - goslingsstore.com - aims to put that right.

"There isn't a recipe I know of that isn't improved with the addition of rum," said Edward Bottone (aka the Curious Cook), the creative force and marketing director behind the Gosling's food product line.

An array of cakes, preserves, sauces and, of course, rum are available for purchase on the site.

Mr. Botttone said the foods are authentically Bermudian - the vast majority of the ingredients are either grown or produced in Bermuda.

A famous recipe

CASTROVILLE - Television has discovered tasty eats in Monterey County restaurants and has aired its findings across America.

The highest profile example so far is Phil's Fish Market & Eatery, 7600 Sandholdt Road in Moss Landing, and the homemade cioppino owner Phil DiGirolamo serves.

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Health Ministry Puts Fast Food Under Close Scrutiny

BATU PAHAT, Feb 20 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry will meet non-governmental organisation (NGO) representatives to work on a campaign to educate the public on the pros and cons of fast food. Its Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the meeting will be held immediately after the Chinese New Year holiday as the ministry was concerned with the current lifestyle of Malaysians and their fast food eating habits. He said the ministry welcomed the call made by the NGOs, particularly the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association and the Penang Consumers Association, to stop fast food advertisements in the local media. "A meeting will be held to find the best method to educate the public to avoid fast food consumption at the early age," he told reporters after a Chinese New Year Celebration, organised by Batu Pahat MCA, here last night.

Food distributor leases warehouse in North Sioux

A Kansas City, Mo.-based distributor of production supplies to the food industry has opened a distribution center in North Sioux City.Hantover Inc. recently leased space in a large multi-tenant warehouse at 813 N. Derby Lane.According to its Web site, Hantover represents more than 20,000 customers to some 800 vendors, leveraging its buying volume to ensure that customers "receive the best price for the supply solutions and services they purchase.''Hantover, founded in 1939, has 16 other distribution centers around the country."They were looking for an area in the greater Sioux City region and we were fortunate enough for them to come across the vacant space in the warehouse'' along North Derby Lane, Kory Menken, executive director of the North Sioux City Economic Development Corp. said Monday.The former Gateway Inc.

Degage Gardens succeeding at growing the small farm

A few build a solid, profitable farming venture from scratch. Many people have market gardens, working their "real jobs" during the day, and growing and selling food after hours and on weekends. The farm income helps, but doesn’t support the family.
Then there is Anne Giller. Unemployed after working as an administrative assistant, her latent dream of living off of the land suddenly found the means to blossom. While filing for unemployment, she learned of an entrepreneurship program being offered.
The requirements: submit a business plan, attend business skills courses and learn to build a small business from the ground up.
With the opportunity to participate (she was among a small select group whose business plans were chosen for the program) in the business development courses and, coincidentally, an inspirational bumper crop of peppers from her garden, she found a way to realize her small farm dream.

Concord Reads About China

Saturday, March 3, 7:30 p.m., Concord Reads About China — Chinese Music Concert presented by the Greater Boston Chinese Culture Association Chinese Music Ensembles. Free admission, age 6 and up.