Customs and Cooking

Last time I heard someone shouting "Order In", I was waiting for my take out order. Over the last several months I have shared many recipes. But let it be known that I also very much enjoy ordering out from some great restaurants. The question is what is better? If someone has the talent to prepare a great meal, why bother ordering from a restaurant? I think the same holds true for Customs Compliance. Does a corporation outsource the compliance portion of their supply chain or is it better to establish a robust internal compliance department that can navigate the unique world of Customs Compliance? So let's look at the pros and cons of both... What are the benefits of cooking at home? 1) Control over the various ingredients used. (Quantities of salt can be monitored. Additives for prolonged flavor and freshness are not usually used.) 2) The timeout factor. Stop the constant hustle and bustle and spend some quality time enjoying the cooking experience and maybe even pair i...

Strict legislative timelines set by the Government and administered by Customs regarding accurate declarations of imports and exports must be adhered to so that monetary penalties can be avoided.  Whether it is to initiate a correction on a live shipment declaration or to adhere to a final audit report, an importer usually has 90 days to implement required post entry corrections.  So from a Customs perspective it is not “Better Late than Never” but it is “Never be Late”.  This brings us to a best practice of customs compliance. Being aware of ones supply chain, key data elements and proper processes do not have a specific day in which to fulfill these obligations. It is a constant monitoring of every aspect of the procurement to payment process day in and day out.  I called my dad today (Sunday, June 20) to wish him a Happy Father’s Day. His first response was, “I am a grandfather, so Happy Father’s Day to you!” But truth be told, to me everyday is Father’s Day from ...

I grew up traveling quite often to visit my grandparents. We lived about 6 hours away and although the drive was quite boring, in this case it was not about the journey but about the destination. Upon arrival we would always be greeted with hugs and smiles (no matter what time of night we arrived) and more often than not, there was a huge bowl of grandma's amazing potato salad waiting to be devoured. Here is the recipe that was handed to down to my mom and now to me... - 6 large potatoes - 4 large carrots - 1 can of peas - 3 hard boiled eggs - 5 pickles - salt and pepper to taste - 4 tablespoons of mayonnaise Peel the potatoes and carrots and put in a pot of water. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and allow potatoes and carrots to continue cooking until soft (about 45 minutes). Once ready, drain pot and leave to cool. Dice potatoes and carrots into small cubes and place into a bowl. Drain water from can of peas and add peas to the bowl. Prepare 3 hardboiled eggs. Dice eggs and add to th...

Many of us have learned that  C ooking I s a T echnical T alent. I am always looking at making a dish better with the various blends of spices, sauces and a whole array of ingredients. One of the key elements in the technical aspects of cooking is to understand how a spice or sauce will affect the taste and texture of the dish being prepared.  Cumin and coriander tend to bring the flavors of India alive in a meal. Zaatar and Tahini can provide a unique taste of the Middle East. Let's not forget about how cinnamon, black pepper and garlic powder can escalate the way various proteins and vegetables taste. Understanding how to mix the sauces and spices and what does or does not go together can elevate ones technical talents in the kitchen. Of course, we have to ask, how does this relate to Customs? Recently, there have been many inquires regarding Customs regulations that I was able to answer because of precedent setting cases heard at the C anadian I nternational T rade T ribuna...

A Mentor is an advisor, coach, guide, teacher, instructor, trainer, confidant, and (if you are lucky) a friend. Most career paths, including those within the realms of cooking and Customs, are aligned with a trusted mentor. In the kitchen, the executive chef gains the compliments, but hopefully passes those on to the entire team preparing the various dishes. (See Blog: https://customsandcooking.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-taste-test.html .) But the Executive Chef also has the ability to mentor each individual within the team to meet and exceed their culinary expertise and expectations. The amount of information surrounding Customs compliance is extensive. Developing and gaining a trusted mentor to be able to navigate all the various details is essential to growing a career within the field of Customs compliance and consulting. One of the opportunities that I have been able to achieve is not to have all the answers but to be able to know someone who does. This past Friday, my mentor within...

  I usually make cheese cake two or three times a year. Using a premade graham cracker crust and cream cheese, our family enjoys a nice dessert. Sometimes I add some chocolate syrup. But last week, I did something new. I prepared for quite a while finding the recipes and determining how I should go about making the new, never attempted before, recipe. Always enjoying a piece of New York Style cheese cake when visiting the Big Apple (it has been a while since I have been there), I thought that why go to New York when I can bring New York to me! I set off to conquer the task at hand. My New York Style Cheesecake Recipe... Step 1 - 10 chocolate cream sandwich cookies and 10 vanilla wafers crushed - 1/4 cup of melted butter - 2 tablespoons of sugar After crushing the cookies and wafers add to a bowl and mix in the melted butter and sugar. Stir. Using a lasagna size deep aluminum pan, cover the bottom with the cookie/wafer mix. Recipe found at: "Second Helpings, Please!" (Norene G...

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear someone cooking yell... OH NO... I FORGOT TO... Some might think it is that "I forgot to add the salt ." Others would believe it to be, "I forgot to mix and stir the ingredients ." I think that the only reason to scream about something in the kitchen is because "I forgot to turn off the stove !" Even though the dish may not have the perfect taste when you add the salt at the end of the cooking process (see blog: https://customsandcooking.blogspot.com/2021/04/sop.html) the dish could still be very tasty. If the ingredients are not thoroughly stirred while the pot is simmering, the dish may be a bit sticky or mushy but not something to scream and yell about. But when you forget to turn off the stove, what happens? The dish could burn, the surroundings could potentially catch on fire (G-D forbid), etc. The ramifications could be quite disastrous.  There are many reasons of why someone could forget to tu...