Latest news with #SALT
Japan Times
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Japan Times
Waves of umami: Awaji Island's culinary trove
Lifting the lid off a large ceramic pot with a flourish to reveal his aged shoyu, chef Nobuaki Fushiki tells me that with soy sauce, 'taste is born with time.' As the distinctive aroma of umami wafts into the air at Zenbo Seinei — a Zen wellness retreat designed by Shigeru Ban and located in the north of Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture — I'm instructed to place a dash of the rich brown liquid on a small plate. Most of the 20 members of my group, who hail from North America, Europe and Oceania, are joining a soy sauce tasting for the first time, inspired by their introduction to Japanese cuisine onboard the Silver Nova, one of the newest ships from luxury cruise line Silversea Cruises. The Silver Nova, which has a passenger capacity of 728 guests, made its debut voyage in the Asia-Pacific region last September. After sailing from Hokkaido, the ship undertook two voyages in Asia before heading southwards to Australia and New Zealand. It returned to Japan last month. The vessel held its inaugural Sea and Land Taste (SALT) — an immersive culinary program that lets guests experience a destination's cultural identity — in the Asia-Pacific region, which included SALT shore excursions in Japan for the first time. The Silver Nova is one of the newest vessels from Silversea Cruises. | SILVERSEA CRUISES Launched in Greece in 2021, SALT has proved immensely popular among passengers, prompting its expansion from the Mediterranean to voyages that include the Caribbean and South America, before its launch in Japan. Gourmet programs from cruises are, of course, not new. Most international cruises to Japan tend to feature onboard themed dinners featuring regional produce or work with local tour operators to bring passengers for short gourmet jaunts onshore. With the increasing demand globally for more immersive gourmet experiences in travel, a few cruises are now offering culinary tours that take on a more authentic vibe. Princess Cruises, for example, offers a visit to the Yamada miso and soy sauce brewery in Niigata Prefecture. Silversea's SALT program places a heightened emphasis on regional food and its ties to local identity, as well as hands-on experiences for its guests. Its onshore SALT Excursions are designed to offer insights into traditional cooking methods and local ingredients. For example, in Tasmania, passengers had the opportunity to forage local produce with renowned chef Analiese Gregory followed by a lunch with Tasmanian wines. In Napier, New Zealand, guests were taken to the award-winning Craggy Range winery for a private tour, wine-tasting and a five-course meal at the winery's restaurant. On Greece's Mykonos island, turophiles got the opportunity to make Kopanisti at cheese producer Mykonos Farmers. 'The nature of SALT is that it's constantly evolving,' says Adam Sachs, the program's director. 'We're passionate about food and drink and created SALT to share the best of food culture with like-minded guests hungry for truly authentic and memorable culinary experiences.' A staff member at Zenbo Seinei prepares condiments made from soy sauce for lunch. | KATHRYN WORTLEY From Osaka, where the Silver Nova is docked, our shore excursion takes us by bus to Awaji Island, the largest island of the Seto Inland Sea. It includes a fermentation workshop and an eight-course lunch led by Zenbo Seinei's Fushiki, as well as a farm-to-table experience. Bert Hernandez, president of Silversea, says the tour lets guests discover 'the soul of a place through its food and culture.' In this case, the focus is on learning about the building blocks of umami. Umami is a key flavor component in fermented food, which is central to Japanese cooking. For Fushiki, an expert in fermented cuisine, fermented foods not only enhance a meal's flavor and nutritional value but also play an integral role in Japan's culinary identity. At the fermentation workshop, we are introduced to the role of fermentation in a wide range of Japanese condiments, such as soy sauce, miso, mirin and rice vinegar, as well as items like nattō (fermented soybeans) and tsukemono (pickled vegetables). 'Some soy sauces in the supermarket today have been made within months, but my variety has taken me more than six years to brew,' says Fushiki, who uses traditional techniques such as using kōji mold and brine fermentation in the moromi (fermentation mash) to create a soy sauce with depth and complexity. Chef Nobuaki Fushiki of Zenbo Seinei is an expert in fermented cuisine. | KATHRYN WORTLEY Fushiki's six-year-aged soy sauce is served with his Taste of Awaji menu, which takes his team of chefs at Zenbo Seinei a week to prepare. Showcasing the best of the island's produce, from the mountains, sea and farmland, the menu is a fitting introduction to Japanese cuisine as Awaji is recognized in mythology as the birthplace of Japan, he says. According to Japan's earliest written works, the 'Kojiki' ('Records of Ancient Matters') and 'Nihon Shoki' ('The Chronicles of Japan'), the island was the first landmass to be formed during a ceremony carried out by the deities Izanagi and Izanami. Awaji is also known as one of only three miketsukuni (provinces of royal provisions) that supplied food to the imperial court in Kyoto during the Heian Period (794–1185). The island was chosen for its exceptional bounty of agricultural and marine products, which established it as a center for Japanese culinary excellence, a reputation that continues to this day. Fushiki's eight courses reflect this long and rich heritage. The Power of Awaji features Awaji beef fermented with maitake and kōji and finished on a charcoal grill, while 'The History of Japan' comprises Awaji swordfish served on a savory egg custard made with 10 kinds of local vegetables and dashi infused with bonito and kelp. The Ocean of Awaji is a nod to the rich variety of seafood found around the island's rocky and sandy shores. Small parcels of fresh spring green vegetables are wrapped in various kinds of fermented and dried fish alongside green tiger prawn boiled in local sea water. A fine bed of crushed pine nuts, white sesame and shio-kōji (salted kōji) embodies a beach, while an accompaniment of a dashi foam represents ocean waves. Chef Fushiki's The Ocean of Awaji dish is a homage to the rich seafood found around the island. | KATHRYN WORTLEY Great care is also taken to introduce drink pairings with complementary Japanese flavors. The Awaji beef is accompanied with a choice of a Japanese wine made from yamabudō, a wild Japanese grape variety known for its acidity and dark hue, or a mocktail featuring grapes and beetroot, milk-washed or clarified with lemon. The swordfish is served with tea made from herbs and dried shiso (perilla), a popular ingredient in Japanese cuisine, while the ocean course is paired with a tea made from Japanese butterbur, a perennial herb native to East Asia. The alcohol option for both fish dishes is sake, including Regulus, a brew from the award-winning Niigata Prefecture-based Abe Shuzo. After a dessert that includes sweet miso-marinated strawberries with sanshō pepper-infused cream and matcha served with mochi, I visit one of the sources of Zenbo Seinei's fruits and vegetables: Awaji Nature Lab & Resort. Located nearby, the 38,000-square-meter facility grows some 30 crops annually using circular farming, a sustainable practice that minimizes waste by treating byproducts as resources. Farmers make compost using leaf litter, rice bran and manure, changing the composition throughout the seasons to maximize the quality of the fruits and vegetables produced. Such a rare look into a sustainable agricultural practice offers guests a greater appreciation of Awaji's rich bounty. Silver Nova returns to Japan in March 2026, with SALT excursions to Zenbo Seinei and Aomori Prefecture; Silver Moon, another vessel, will arrive in Japan in October 2025, with SALT excursions to Zenbo Seinei and Fukuoka Prefecture.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Griffith likes budget bill, wants 3-judge panel to oversee injunctions
bluefield – U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., admits there is no such thing as a perfect bill. But he believes there is much to like in the so-called 'Big, Beautiful Bill' recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Griffith, who represents Virginia's Ninth Congressional District in the House, spoke on a wide range of issues during a visit to the Daily Telegraph, including the budget bill and the growing debate over whether district court judges have the power to block much of President Donald Trump's agenda. In recent months, district court judges have issued injunctions blocking many of Trump's executive orders. Those injunctions will eventually make their way to the U.S. Supreme Court, according to Griffith. But until then Griffith said legislation already passed by the Republican-controlled House — and awaiting action in the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate — would address the issue of judicial overreach. That bill would establish a three-judge panel that would consider any nationwide injunction. 'We passed it out of the House a month and a half ago,' Griffith said of the proposed legislation. 'It's sitting in the body of the Senate. It's hard to predict what the Senate will do. They may or may not move it forward.' Using Southwest Virginia as an example, Griffith said a district court judge in the Western District of Virginia shouldn't be able to issue a nationwide injunction blocking the actions of the President of the United States. Griffith said the district court should be making local decisions that impact Bluefield, Va., Richlands and Roanoke Va. — three cities that are located in the Western District — but should not be empowered to issue a nationwide injunction blocking a presidential order. Under the proposed legislation, Griffith said a component of the U.S. Supreme Court would select three judges at random that would consider any cases involving a nationwide injunction of a presidential order. 'I think it gets you a better decision,' Griffith said of a three-judge panel. 'You should have more than one judge making that decision.' As it stands now, Griffith said those who are seeking nationwide injunctions also are seeking out district court judges that they think may be more favorable to their viewpoint. By having a component of the Supreme Court to select three judges at random, it helps to ensure there will be no inherent biases in any decisions that are rendered, according to Griffith. Griffith also talked about the federal budget bill recently passed by the U.S. House, and its chances of remaining intact in the U.S. Senate. 'The bill is not perfect,' Griffith said. 'There is things in the bill I don't like, particularly the SALT tax increase.' The debate over the SALT tax surrounds the cap on federal deductions for state and local taxes. The House passed a bill increasing the cap to $40,000. But some conservatives argue the move is essentially a federal subsidy for blue states at the expense of red states. Griffith said the citizens of Southwest Virginia don't support providing a tax break to California or New York. 'In the Senate, there are not senators who represent SALT states,' Griffith said. 'So will the Senate pull SALT out? I think they will pass something similar to what we passed, or nothing at all.' Parts of the budget bill that Griffith said he likes includes taking the tax off tips and taking the tax off hourly wage overtime. The bill also includes a provision to help with the development of coal, natural gas and nuclear facilities. Griffith described it as a 'revolving loan fund' that would provide protection to those developers if a future Democrat-led administration is elected and orders those coal, natural gas and nuclear facilities to be closed. Griffith said Democrats also continue to misrepresent the work requirement for abled-bodied adults in Medicaid and those cuts that are proposed for Medicaid over a 10-year period in the budget bill. According to Griffith, the traditional Medicaid population consists of individuals with disabilities, pregnant mothers, children and seniors. He said the work requirements in the reconciliation budget bill do not apply to this traditional Medicaid population. The work requirement in Medicaid expansion would only apply to able-bodied people aged 19-64 who do not have a young child, a disabled person or an elderly relative in need of care living in the home, according to Griffith. Griffith said the bill requires these able-bodied adults on Medicaid expansion to be engaged in their community for 80 hours a month. With 4.33 weeks in a month, that means an average of 18.47 hours a week. Griffith said those requirements promote community engagement, adding that community engagement can be community service, pursuing educational programs, participating in a rehabilitation program or a job. By working to improve their communities and their own lives, Griffith said some of these individuals will be lifted out of poverty, depression and isolation. 'But if you are able-bodied and sitting at home, you should be trying to get out there and educate yourself, help your community with community service or find a job for a small part of the week,' he said. At the end of the day, Griffith said Republicans had to compromise in order to get the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' passed. It's passage in the Republican-controlled House was by a slim margin of 215-214. Griffith also was asked about the auto-pen investigation by the House, and whether or not former President Joe Biden was fully aware of a number of pardons and executive orders that were signed by the so-called auto-pen. A number of individual who are not charged with any type of crime were pardoned by Biden anyhow in the waning days of his presidency. House Republicans are investigating a number of pardons and executive orders that were signed using the autopen. Griffith said the courts will have to take a 'serious look' at the issue, adding that the question will center around the former president's mental state when those pardons and executive orders were issued. If Biden was unable to act upon those executive orders and pardons on his on, Griffith said the responsibility of those decisions should have then fallen upon former Vice President Kamala Harris. Griffith also was asked about this November's gubernatorial election in Virginia, and a handful of polls that show Democrat Abigail Spanberger with a large lead over Republican Winsome Earle-Sears in the closely-watched governor's race. Incumbent Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin can't seek re-election. In Virginia, a candidate can only serve as governor for a single term. Griffith said the polls will tighten as it gets closer to Election Day. He said voter turnout in Southwest Virginia will be key to Republicans winning the governor's race — just as it was four years ago when voters across Southwest Virginia came out in large numbers to support Youngkin. That large voter turnout across Southwest Virginia tipped the scales in favor of Republicans, Griffith said. 'There is no question that Southwest Virginia put Youngkin over the top,' Griffith said. 'There is no question about it. It was a big turnout. We've got to have the same thing now. If the turnout happens in Southwest Virginia, Winsome Sears who I have known for 20 years can win.' Contact Charles Owens at cowens@
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
AICPA opposes limitations on tax deductions
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has reiterated its stance against the proposed limitations on state and local tax (SALT) deductions for specified service trades or businesses (SSTBs) in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The body sent a second letter to the Senate Finance and House Ways & Means Committees highlighting the need for modifications to the 'troubling' tax proposals. In the letter, the AICPA said: 'We are sensitive to the challenges in drafting a budget reconciliation bill that permanently extends tax provisions, enhances tax administrability, and balances the interests of individual and business taxpayers. 'While we support portions of the legislation, we do have significant concerns regarding several provisions in the bill, including one which threatens to severely limit the deductibility of SALT by certain businesses. This outcome is contrary to the intentions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is to strengthen small businesses and enhance small business relief.' The AICPA called for an allowance for business entities, including SSTBs, to deduct SALT paid or accrued in trade or business activities. This move aligns with the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act's original intent and has been sanctioned by the Internal Revenue Service. The current House version of the bill is criticised for unfairly targeting SSTBs by restricting their SALT deduction capabilities. The AICPA also addressed the risks of contingent fee arrangements in tax preparation, suggesting they could lead to abuse. They recommended removing an amendment that could permanently disallow business losses without offsetting business income. The letter warned against laws that financially harm businesses and discourage professional service-based business formation. The AICPA supported provisions in the bill, such as using section 529 plan funds for credential expenses, tax relief for natural disaster-affected individuals and businesses, and making the qualified business income deduction permanent. They also advocated for the preservation of the cash method of accounting and increasing the Form 1099-K reporting threshold. In addition, the AICPA endorsed permanent extensions of international tax rates and provisions that offer greater certainty and clarity. It also shared a list of endorsed legislation, principles of good tax policy, and a compendium of proposals for simplifying and technically amending the Internal Revenue Code. AICPA Tax Policy & Advocacy vice-president Melanie Lauridsen said: 'While we are grateful to Congress for many provisions in this bill, the unfair targeting of certain types of businesses creates inefficiencies in business decision-making and could result in negative, long-lasting impacts on the economy. 'We hope that Congress will consider our recommendations and make the necessary changes that will create parity between all businesses.' Earlier in May 2025, the AICPA submitted comments to the US Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service on proposed regulations concerning previously taxed earnings and profits and related basis adjustments. "AICPA opposes limitations on tax deductions" was originally created and published by The Accountant, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
5 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
House Bill Targets SALT And PTET Deductions For Traders, Professionals
A Renewed Blow in the SALT Wars and a Wake-Up Call for High-Income Professionals. SALT Cap Workaround Congress is once again targeting high-income professionals in the name of tax reform. On May 22, 2025, the House of Representatives passed 'The One, Big, Beautiful Bill,' which proposes sweeping changes to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). While the headlines focus on extensions of the TCJA's broad tax cuts, buried in the bill are provisions that quietly strike at key benefits for service professionals and investors. The legislation would eliminate the Pass-Through Entity Tax (PTET) deduction for professionals in fields like law, accounting, consulting, financial services, and trading. These are the same 'specified service trades or businesses' (SSTBs) that were already singled out in 2017's TCJA by limiting their qualified business income (QBI) deductions. The PTET workaround has been a crucial tool for many S-Corps and partnerships, allowing them to deduct state and local taxes (SALT) at the entity level and bypass the $10,000 SALT cap. Under the new bill, SSTBs would lose this option. At the same time, the House bill raises the SALT deduction cap to $40,000—but then phases it out for high earners. The phase-out begins at $250,000 of income for single filers and $500,000 for joint filers, and the deduction eventually drops back to $10,000 for the highest earners. The result: high-income professionals, especially in high-tax states, would see little or no SALT relief. Notably, the bill would also make permanent the TCJA's increased exemption amounts for the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), which originally aimed to prevent middle-income taxpayers from getting caught in the AMT net. That may soften the blow slightly, but it doesn't offset the broader loss of deductions. SALT will remain not deductible for AMT and increasing SALT caps might have limited effect if AMT is triggered. As of early 2025, 36 states and New York City have PTET regimes in place, designed specifically to counter the SALT cap. If this bill passes, the effectiveness of those state-level strategies could be gutted for service professionals. Traders, fund managers, and other investment professionals—especially those who qualify for trader tax status (TTS)—should prepare now. These changes could significantly alter 2025 tax planning. If the Senate passes a similar version of the bill, this would mark a major policy shift in how federal tax law treats pass-through income and professional service entities. Darren Neuschwander, CPA contributed to this blog post. See a longer version of this blog post on GreenTraderTax. Robert A. Green, CPA, is CEO of He specializes in tax strategies for traders and investment professionals.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Elon Musk has surprising message on Big Beautiful Bill income tax cuts
It looks like the honeymoon phase between U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk may be ending. Their relationship had a rocky start to say the least. Musk served on three different Trump advisory councils during his first term in office. However, after Trump announced that he was pulling America out of the Paris Climate Accords, Musk resigned in protest. Musk met with Trump for the first time in the Oval Office in early 2020, according to a Politico report from earlier this year, just days before a global pandemic would shut the world down. Related: SALT income tax deduction takes critical step forward Trump had received notice that Musk was planning to build Tesla's next Gigafactory in Mexico instead of Texas and invited Musk to meet with him and his team to discuss his decision. Musk reportedly called Trump "moron" behind his back during the meeting and insulted the decor of the White House. According to a second-hand telling in the Politico story, Musk compared it unfavorably to Chinese presidential palaces, saying, "I was just in China and man, their palaces just make the White House kind of look more like an outhouse." Meanwhile, Trump was even less impressed. As he was gearing up to run for president in 2022, Trump posted a picture of that very Oval Office meeting with an extremely disparaging caption, basically calling Musk someone who wouldn't survive without government then, Elon Musk has undergone an extreme political reawakening. His politics have shifted to the right, leading him to spend an estimated $300 million to help elect a president whose climate policy is entirely antithetical to Musk's belief system just a few short years ago. Musk's efforts during the campaign landed him an unofficial role in the president's cabinet as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency. This department aims to lower the deficit by rooting out government fraud, waste, and abuse. Trump showered DOGE and Musk with vociferous praise during his State of the Union address for the savings he and his team found, and Musk has been a staple at Trump's cabinet meetings. Related: White House adviser claps back after Elon Musk takes shot However, Musk's latest comments about the presidential budget currently making its way through Congress are raising eyebrows. "I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful. But I don't know if it could be both," Musk told CBS News this week. "I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing. I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don't know if it could be both." Trump has called his budgetary proposal the "big beautiful bill." But while he campaigned heavily on balancing the federal budget, his first crack at it does anything but. The bill includes a slate of tax cuts, including increases to the Social Security income tax deduction and breaks for tips and overtime, as well as a revamped State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction. According to the Tax Foundation, the bill would increase the country's 10-year budget deficit by $2.6 trillion while reducing federal tax revenue by $4.1 trillion. In essence, it increases spending while taking in less income than the government already does. While balancing the federal budget is obviously a sticking point for Musk, this isn't the first time this year he has found himself contradicting the administration. Cracks in Musk's relationship with Trump began appearing once again in April while the administration was rolling out its tariff plan. Musk took a shot at Peter Navarro, Trump's trade advisor, on X. This attack came after a somber Musk, a stark departure from the exuberant, childlike energy he displays on the political stage, was seen on video saying that he advised the President against tariffs. More Tesla: Analyst sets eye-popping Tesla stock price targetFund manager has shocking Elon Musk and Tesla predictionLeaked Tesla policy should infuriate Tesla loyalists Navarro responded by telling Musk to keep his nose out of the administration's business. "Elon, when he is in his DOGE lane, is great... Elon sells cars, and he is in Texas assembling cars that have big parts from Mexico, China. The batteries come from Japan or China... and he is simply protecting his own interests, as any businessperson will do. We're [the Trump Administration] more concerned about Detroit building Cadillacs with American engines. Despite this tension, DOGE has undoubtedly been a positive for Musk and his business empire. DOGE's government cuts have largely benefited Elon Musk and his business empire, according to a Congressional report from the minority staff of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn). The report claims Musk's status as a "senior advisor to the President" shields him from the scrutiny that an official cabinet member vetted by Congress would receive. Related: DOGE cuts are already saving Elon Musk billions The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
