Ravioli in itself is already delicious, but deep-fried ravioli, better known as toasted ravioli in the state of Missouri has taken the Italian stuffed pasta to the next level making it a foundational appetizer in the Show-Me State. The toasted ravioli craze can be traced back to two St. Louis-based restaurants, Mama Campisi's and Charlie Gitto's, both eateries located in the Italian St. Louis neighborhood known as 'The Hill.' While both establishments might be feuding over who created the savory treat, they both can claim that they started a movement that has now spread not only throughout Missouri but the entire country.
A golden-brown, fried ravioli square stuffed with seasoned meat, spinach, and cheese, topped with dashes of garlic, herbs, and parmesan originano served with a marinara dipping sauce is the traditional way it is served in Missouri. But an upscale, barbecue joint by the name of Salt + Smoke in St. Louis has upped the ante but stuffing their ravioli with burnt ends, fried them to a crisp, and serve them with a side of rich white barbecue sauce.
Over the years, weve seen so many food trends come and go, such as ramen burgers, matcha, and spiked ice-cream. Nowadays, were seeing another trend making waves in the food industry. How many times today have you seen an Instagram photo of a scoop of black ice cream, or a cup of black yogurt, or hamburgers with black buns? Indeed, the charcoal trend has taken the world by storm.
So, what gives your latte that deep black shade? Activated charcoal, or coconut ash, is produced by heating coconut shells to insanely high temperatures until theyre burnt to a crisp. The ashes are then increased in size by steaming at high temperatures. Through this process, the ashes become a strong detoxifier, mostly because they become extra absorbent. This product may be purchased in pill form, and promises to alleviate hangovers, minimize the effects of food poisoning, and fight the visible signs of aging.
Activated charcoal is said to boost ones energy as a result of decreasing toxins in the body. However, no evidence proves that detoxifying can lead to increased energy. Also, while it can help cure a hangover, it doesnt necessarily remove alcohol from your blood. It is also said to aid in debloating your stomach because it cleanses your colon but again, this all anecdotal and isnt supported by scientific evidence as of yet. All we can say for sure is that it is a proven detoxifier.