Zack Cobb

5 Reasons to Start Eating Chocolate-Covered Bugs

For many centuries, farmers were united against one merciless enemy: the insect. Tiny beasts that, when left unchecked, could completely undermine seasons of hard farm work and send families into starvation. It’s no wonder, then, why many modern-day Americans are opposed to eating insects. As the mortal enemy of our agrarian ancestors, insects instill in us an abject fear and disgust that we simply have not been able to shake. However, Americans and Europeans are in the minority when compared to the rest of the world.

French Cheese Month at the Cheese Shop

This month in the Cheese Shop, we’re masquerading as Francophiles and celebrating the beautiful cheeses of France! We’ll be highlighting everything from soft-ripened Bûcheron, the amazing, melty Comté, and, of course, Brie! France may not be the birthplace of cheese, but it is where cheese grew up and became a sophisticated food. Nowadays, French cheeses are some of the most in-demand cheeses in the world.

Cheesemaking really took shape in France in the monasteries in the Middle Ages.

Beer Department: Ever Heard of a Golden Stout?

Until a year or so ago, I hadn’t either. Like you might be doing right now, I too spent some time scratching my head as the gears between my ears slowly turned. Initially, the mere knowledge that such a seemingly contradictory style could exist begged more questions than it answered. “Is it actually a stout?” “Does it taste good?” “What voodoo are these brewers trying to pull off here?” “Is this a gimmick?” Since the concept of golden stouts seems to have gained some traction and won’t be consigned to the dustbin of history in the immediate future,

Alpine Cheese Month with Adopt an Alp

Beer Department: What the Heck is Dry Hop Creep

Okay everyone, in an effort raise awareness on a serious brewing issue that’s becoming more and more widespread, we’re going to have to head down the rabbit hole of beer geekiness. To those who are unprepared for such nerdy travels, you might want to turn back now. But for the rest of you, those of you seeking far more knowledge about beer that will ever be useful in any practical sense, please join me on this beer-soaked journey.

Discoveries at the Jungle: Maple

What can we say about maple syrup? Without it, pancakes would be inedible, children’s’ hands wouldn’t be mysteriously sticky, and the world would be a much less interesting place. We wouldn’t have those delightfully molded maple candies, bacon would be slightly less magnificent, and baked bean brands around the nation would suffer. All in all, maple syrup is the bee’s knees (or, rather, the tree’s squeeze), which is why our Discoveries at the Jungle feature for November is Maple!

Your Guide to Apple Season at Jungle Jim’s

Autumn is here and with it comes a wealth of seasonal fruits and vegetables. The most popular fruit now in season is, of course, the apple! Many people look forward to October because it’s a great month for picking apples, baking apple pies, or making fresh apple cider, all of which are treasured fall traditions shared by many. However, with the wide array of apple variants and relatively little explanation as to their differences, shopping for apples can be stupefying!

5 Unique Ways To Eat Apples This October

Fall is finally here, bringing with it a wealth of fun seasonal activities. Among our favorites are cooking, eating (of course!), and apple picking! That’s why we’ve chosen Apple as our Discoveries at the Jungle theme for this October. A quintessential fall flavor, apples are a standard fall treat, mostly eaten raw or used for apple pies, apple cider, or caramel apples. You know, all the normal stuff. There’s just one problem… at Jungle Jim’s,

American Cheese Month at the Cheese Shop

In the United States, we take pride in many beloved traditions that originated in other countries. Pizza came from Italy. Fancy cars come from Germany, where the highway was invented. Even democracy, and its ideals that we hold so dearly, originated in Athens and is fundamentally rooted in Ancient Grecian philosophies. Nowadays, we call many of these things American. We have Chicago-style pizza, Ford trucks, and American democracy. All of these things are now regarded as quintessentially American and are evidence of our tendency,

Beer Department: 5 Things You Might Not Know About Beer

I must admit, I’m usually averse to these sorts of lists that tend to dominate the virtual realm of the almighty Internet. I typically prefer more in-depth articles. Since I’m about to head on vacation, however, I find myself in the mood for some lighter writing (and reading) and I’m hoping you find yourself in a similar mood. Read on for 5 fun facts about beer that will make you sound way smarter at your next party.