Just say no to chocolate slavery this holiday season!

Some food for thought, literally, as we approach the holiday season. Whether you give a box of nicely wrapped truffles to coworkers, use it as an ingredient in your favorite cookie recipes, or use it as a stocking stuffer, chocolate is everywhere during the holidays. So, since it is something that we have such a love affair with, why not double check this year that you are buying chocolate that is organic and fair trade to ensure that you are not contributing to the mounting problem of chocolate that comes from farms that use child slavery to harvest the cocoa?

72% of the world's cacao is grown in West Africa, in the country of Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Part of the problem, understandably is the extreme poverty faced by the farmers, and the price of cacao dropping because buyers keep demanding cheaper beans. To be able to support their families, afford fertilizer and make a small profit, the growers cannot afford to pay their workers, and thus come to rely on child labor as a cheap, reliable way to keep their farms running and survive.

The largest offenders in purchasing chocolate from farms that use child slave labor are: Nestle, M&M, Hershey. Companies that have started to take steps in the right direction and to protect the rights of chocolate farmers, but still have a long way to go are: Godiva, Starbucks, Ghiradelli/ Lindt, Dagoba and Endangered Species Chocolate. The best bet are these companies who are committed to sustainability, and improving the lives of chocolate farmers globally. They are: Sweet Earth Chocolates, Divine Chocolate, and Equal Exchange. This list was provided by the International Labor Rights Forum in Washington, DC.

 While there are always some people who are more dedicated to bringing about positive change in the world than others, I would like to suggest the personal activism of Teun van de Keuken, a chocolate lover in Amsterdam. Upon discovery of this issue, he decided to eat 19 chocolate bars and then turned himself over to the police for knowingly purchasing a product made with slave labor, which he says under the Dutch legal system is a criminal act. "At first, I just called the police and said I did a terrible thing. They said, 'Don't worry, we all eat chocolate, good-bye.' Then I hired a lawyer." And that didn't stop him. He has produced a film, called Tony and the Slave Free Chocolate Factory (which you can check out on youtube) and is on a mission to bring about awareness of this problem. This issue is extremely complex to be sure, with poverty being a huge contributing factor. 


However instead of boycotting chocolate, the first steps in doing something to bring about positive change would be to 1) buy fair trade chocolate, 2) buy organic chocolate- since they have higher standards than regular products, many experts say that those farms are unlikely to be using forced labor, 3) write to many of the large chocolatiers and complain about their lack of compliance with international policy. 4) read up more on the issue.

Resources:

http://dosmallthings.com/tag/chocolate-slavery/

http://vision.ucsd.edu/~kbranson/stopchocolateslavery/takeaction.html

http://www.laborrights.org/sites/default/files/publications-and-resources/ChocolateScorecard09.pdf

FSA photographs...great gift for foodies

My professor of Intro to American Studies, recently tipped me off to this great resource, and place to get potential gifts for people who enjoy photography. However, this can be taken a step further to include foodies. The resource is the Library of Congress's digital collection of photographs. The ones that I am thinking of are the FSA (Farm Security Administration) photographs that were taken during the Great Depression throughout rural America. 

 There are many wonderful photographs, including the famous "Migrant Mother" by Dorothea Lange available on the site. The coolest part of the site, after you have spent considerable hours getting lost in thought while sorting through the amazing images, is that they are all available for purchase! Yep, you can buy a copy of any of the images that 

you find, on archival paper for under $25.

This is a terrific gift documenting a fantastic project undertaken by some amazingly talented photographers showcasing the resourcefulness, pride, and history of rural American farmers. For anyone who doesn't know about the FSA photographers....it was a government department that sought to document and prove to congress and the public alike the problems experienced by rural farmers and the success that the New Deal programs were having.

During it's existance, the department, run by Roy Stryker, produced a collection of 80,000 photographs. He hired many talented photographers such as Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Arthur Rothstein, John Vachon, Russell Lee, Marion Post Wolcott and John Collier, Jr.

Certainly, Styker's overarching goal was to create a visual encyclopedia of America, but he concentrated the focus of the photographers on rural worker, many of them migrant farm workers, to show how central agriculture was to the economy.  

To check out the extensive collection of photographs and for ordering info, here is the link to the website: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/

And still more gifts for the foodie in your life...

I just thought that I would check out holiday gift buys at one of my favorite stores, Fishseddy which now happens to have a fabulous websites for online shopping. Much easier than my usual trek to NYC to rumage through the stacks of dishes, glasses and flatware scattered casually about the funky store. Here are some of their handpicked selections for gifts under $25 that I thought you might enjoy.



"Steep Up to the Plate Teabag Rest" $5.95



"Artist Palate Cheese Tray $24.95"




"New Yorker" Mugs $10.95 (many other designs)



"Floorplan" coasters $3.95 (many other kinds)

Check out their website for more great finds:  http://www.fishseddy.com/

The Sweet Spot, part I

Recently, I was asked by a classmate about a good bakery that was near Trinity College, so I decided that I should start reviewing bakeries in Hartford. Since Hartford is a truly multicultural city, there are many, many delicious pastry shops to chose from. The South End is still considered "Little Italy" despite the influx of new cultures such as Puerto Rican, Albanian, Mexican, Peruvian, and Bosnians. One of the very well known Italian bakeries is Mozzicato, which opened in 1978 at 329 Franklin Ave. The bakery is chock full of decadent desserts, wedding cakes, cookies and Italian bread. But if you head to the door on the left side of the building (unmarked from the outside) you will enter the charming caffe.

The caffe is one of those places that is just perfect to spend a lazy Sunday with your book and a cappuccino, or to bring a date in the evening. Besides having delicious pastries, including fresh cannollis, you can also having gelatos, and granitas. If your tastes are not for desserts, then you can try some of their housemade pizza, arancini, or calzones. The calzones, by the way, are ENORMOUS, and it's a good idea to split one with somebody. Just remember to ask the server to bring you a side of sauce to accompany it.

They also have a full bar including many appertifs, which makes it quite appealing a destination in the evening. In addition, the staff encourage unofficial Italian and French language nights, where patrons can gather and practice their conversation skills with one another.

Website:  http://www.mozzicatobakery.com/cafe.asp

Nyotaimori and late night sushi

Recently, I came across an article that while it made think about feminism, food, Japanese culture, and the culture of consuming, it also made me hungry for sushi. So this post is both about the dead or dying practice of Nyotaimori and the lovely deal that Feng Asian Bistro in downtown Hartford is offering. 

Nyotaimori is an underground practice of using a naked woman's body as a display platter for sushi. From all accounts that I have read, it is largely a dead practice, and one that used to take place in houses of ill repute in Japan for special events. However, in places outside of Asia, there has been coverage by news organizations of restaurants or other venues from Florida to London opening to offer this type of "Japanese food culture". In 2008, there was an article written about Temple restaurant in Minneapolis who was posed to begin offering naked sushi nights on models of both sexes...ah gotta love America. Some followers of the film, Sex and the City might also recognize the familiarity of the image as Samantha's attempts to cover her body in sushi for her boyfriend on Valentine's Day. The fact that the media has publicized this practice as something typical in Japanese culture, instead of an underground creation has caused considerable resentment. 

Naturally, resentment doesn't stand alone on this one. The practice of eating atop a female body is not exclusive to Nyotaimori, it has also been seen in Eastern European restaurants where a naked woman posed underneath glass, creating the effect of a human table. The live, submissive, unresponsive woman acts as a conduit for consumption of not just the food laden atop her, but she also presents herself as a commodity to be consumed.

Feeling intellectually charged with these ideas, my friend and I headed out to Feng's late night happy hour menu to continue our conversation. It only seemed fitting to have sushi as it was central to the discussion of the evening. We were very happy to see how far our money stretched for the late night menu. The menu is strikingly similar to the regular, early happy hour menu, in a good way. I did find it dissapointing that there were NO late night drink specials (which I had to point out to management), I mean what's a happy hour without drink specials? It was still exceptionally nice to be able to go somewhere in downtown Hartford and enjoy high quality sushi, after 10pm for two people and pay under $30. Especially favorites of mine were the duck spring rolls, and the sweet potato tempura rolls. 

Late night happy hour runs from:
Mon-Thursday 10-12pm
Friday and Saturday 11pm-1am
Sunday 10-11pm
Website: http://www.fengrestaurant.com/

Culinary tour of downtown New Haven - NEXT WEEKEND!

Yep, you read right...the culinary tour led by Stephen Fries is back! Stephen is a food writer known around the greater New Haven area who leads a four hour culinary tour to nine destinations where you can sip and sample your way through the city. The concept behind the tour is to introduce people to the city and to new cuisines that they wouldn't usually have tried otherwize. The majority of the tour is a surprise to guests, as the itinerary is kept a secret, which is just part of the fun! But what has been revealed is that the tour will explore a range of places from upscale venues to ethnic food finds. Fries says "New Haven is considered to be the restaurant capital of Connecticut, few realize it was the original home of the Culinary Institute of America. Food brings people together. Everyone has a different story about what food was like when they were growing up. It brings back such memories. It gives you goosebumps." If you are interested in going, make your reservation early. The tour is on Saturday, Dec 11th and meets at 10:45am at the top of the Omni Hotel and tickets cost $69.00. Reservations can be obtained from (203) 777-8550.

Return of the Midweek Hangover- Thanksgiving Style...

So I have been busy listening out for anybody buzzing on the streets about interesting happy hours or drink specials to celebrate upcoming Thanksgiving day. Here is the list thus far and I will try to keep adding to it.

Tuesday, November 23rd
1) The Russell Restaurant on Trumbull Street in Hartford has a weekly event that I have been meaning to check out and tonight seems like a good reason to go, because it's $2 Tuesdays. That means that from 6pm to close, you can enjoy $2 cocktails and martinis as well as one of my favorites, $2 glasses of Moscato. Yum!

Wednesday, November 24th
1) Salute Restaurant on Trumbull Street in Hartford is having an all night happy hour from 3:30pm to close at their bar. They will have $3 drafts, $4 house wines, $5 martinis and half prices appetizers.

2) La Fonda Restaurant on Wethersfield Ave in Hartford is hosting all all night happy hour with $2.00 drinks all night. That night is also their night for Karoke and I have been told that it gets to be a rather wild night with live music and dancing as well.

Everyday is a good day for Ackee



Rastafarian Flag

"Lion's Den Vegetarian" is a Jamaican Rastafarian restaurant located on Main Street in the North Meadows section of Hartford, close to the townline of Windsor. The easiest way to reach the restaurant is to take I-91 and exit in Wilson, turn left onto Main Street and you will see the restaurant on the right hand side, right after the old Fuller Brush factory (which is now the CT Labor Department). Now that you have located where it is...here is what I love about it, and why it's worth you checking out. The menu is all vegetarian with the exception of some seafood options. I usually head over there on Saturday mornings to get their freshly cooked Ackee. In case you don't know what Ackee is, it's a fruit that originates from Africa, and it is a staple in Jamaica cusine.

Ackee w/ saltfish & food

When cooked it resembles scrambled eggs because of its color and consistency. If you choose to order Ackee, you can get it with or without Saltfish/ Codfish. You also have the choice of having it atop rice or "food". In Jamaican cuisine, if you ask for "food" to accompany your meal choice, that means asking for some boiled green banana, a whole wheat boiled dumpling and a variety of other root vegetables. Trust me when I say that after eating this kind of food for breakfast, I very much doubt that you will be hungry for the remainder of your day. If you decide to check out Lions Den for

lunch or dinner, I suggest trying out their curry chunks

which is most comparable to seitan. Also, I highly suggest getting a bottle of carrot juice, Irish Moss, Ginger Beer, Ting or Tru Juice to try. They are all delicious and will add to your overall experience.  

Words of advice in ordering food at a Jamaican place.

1) Check out the menu online first and get an idea of what you would like to try before you get there, as there may not be a menu around to view at the store. You can view Lion Den's Menu at Menu Pix Website: http://www.menupix.com/menudirectory/menu.php?id=720072

2. Don't be shy. Service at a Jamaican restaurant is different than at other establishments, and sometimes you have to speak up so that they know you are waiting to order.

3. Parking at Lions Den is relatively easy compared with others, and if you don't see any parking in the front of the restaurant, there is a small lot behind the building that you can use as well.

4. Bring cash and make sure that you have small bills to pay for your food.

Hours: Mon-Thurs 8am-9pm / Sat & Sun 7am until...

Address: 3347 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06120

More gift ideas for the foodies in your life.

Todays first item is because I felt that I left meat eaters out in the cold with my last list. I think this is really nifty. Actually you could probably imprint veggie burgers as well if you really wanted to. As you can tell from the picture, it is for the person who loves to grill. You can brand your burgers or other meats with how they are cooked, ie well, medium, rare, etc. I can see this coming in handy for summer barbaques, or when you just don't want to be bothered with everyone asking you how cooked something is. Just point to the meat! This branding iron will run you $17.95 and is for sale on the website called Find Gift, but here is the link directly to the item so that you don't have to go fumbling around the web. It is: http://www.findgift.com/gift-ideas/pid-244547/.

A Manhattan Culinary Tour is really an innovative gift that is going to thrill a foodie in your life. While some of the ones that I looked at were over $200 bucks a pop, this one has a very nice price point of $65. Yup, this Culinary Tour is of Chinatown in Manhattan. The three hour tour gets you a lovely walking tour through the culinary culture of the neighborhood, checking out historic landmarks, visiting local markets, sitting down at 2 notable Asian restaurants to dine, observe traditional ettiquette, and making additional pop in visits to specialty food stores for tastings. If you are interested in getting one of these tours for somebody, the name of the tour company is: Xperience Days and the link to their website is: http://www.xperiencedays.com/prodview.asp?idproduct=8419&af=XperienceDays&CK=80.

My mother used to tell me about her trip to Europe and her ensuing love of something called Battenberg cake. It was a cake that was checkerboard with yellow and pink squares of cake covered in marzipan. The origin of the name is not clear, but one theory claims that the cake was created in honour of the marriage in 1884 of Queen Victoria's granddaughter to Prince Louis of Battenberg, with the four squares representing the four Battenberg princes: Louis, Alexander, Henry and Francis Joseph. I have always thought that this sounded like the most fantastical cake in the world. And now I have found a mold that looks like it would make it a cinch to bake! The Checkerboard Loaf Cake Pan costs $14.95 and is for sale at KitchenKrafts.com. The website is:
http://www.kitchenkrafts.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_BP1108_A_c2p_E_hp

This product is something that I wish that I had invented! When I was a kid chopping onions for my mom, I used to cry so badly from it that I would have to leave the room, or put my head in the freezer. I often wore my sunglasses to help. Later in life, I tried to follow Martha Stewarts advice of burning a candle in the kitchen while chopping which was of some success. But now...none of that compares to the new Onion Goggles! Yep, with these shades you will no longer be crying uncontrollably in the kitchen. They cost $19.95, but hey the person who recieves them as a gift will be forever indebted to you. Website is: http://www.kitchenkrafts.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_FP8327_A_c2p_E_hp

Upcoming November (and a few in December) Foodie Events

Tastefully New England, a Moveable Feast – Pomfret
November 19, 2010
Featuring food from 85 Main, Bella's Bistro, Central Coffee Company, The Courthouse Bar & Grille, G Seven Catering Co., The Golden Lamb Buttery, The Harvest, The Inn at Woodstock Hill, J.D. Cooper's Restaurant & Pub, The Mansion at Bald Hill, Sweet Peas Fine Foods & Farm Market, The Vanilla Bean Café, and Zip's Diner. Time: 7 p.m. Cost: $45 per person. Information and reservations: 860-774-8001

The Not-So-Snooty Beer, Wine, & Cheese Tasting Adventure -- Windsor Locks, CT
November 19, 2010
Guests will enjoy locally produced beverages and delicacies from the region’s best artisan brewers, vintners, and cheese makers. An array of delicious hors d’oeuvres, coffee, and dessert accompanied by the swinging sounds of Pratt & Whitney’s own Screamin’ Eagles jazz band combo. A great lineup of gifts and giveaways will be raffled off, including JetBlue round-trip airline tickets. It all takes place amid the historic airplanes of yesteryear on display at the New England Air Museum. Location: Bradley International Airport, 36 Perimeter Road. Time: 6 - 8:30 p.m. Cost: $50 in advance; $60 at the door. Information: 860-466-9382.

Asia Market Tour and Dumpling Workshop -- West Hartford, CT
December 5, 2010
Join Ming Hua He, well-known Chinese culture and travel expert, for this fun, unique culinary and cultural experience. Begin the guided tour from A Dong Asian Supermarket then drive to Yin Yang Tai Chi Academy for dumpling cooking class. Location: Yin Yang Tai Chi Academy, 22E Andover Drive. Time: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Cost: $39. Information: 860-953-3388 or visit yinyangtaichi.com.

AND A FEW OUTSIDE OF CT:

Candy Cane Making -- Stowe, VT
November 17, 2010 to December 22, 2010
Watch Chocolatiers boil, pull, turn, roll, and twist these special Candy Canes into works of art. Reservations recommended. Location: Laughing Moon Chocolates, 78 South Main Street. Time: 11 a.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 11 a.m. Cost: $6. Information: 802-253-9591 or visit http://www.laughingmoonchocolates.com/.
 
Champagne & Chocolate -- Concord, NH
December 9, 2010
Get ready for the holidays and join the Concord Co-op for a celebration of delicious chocolate and champagne with some of your favorite local and international chocolatiers, champagne, and sparkling wine vendors. Dance the night away while listening to our live band. Chefs from our award-winning Celery Stick Café will serve up some of their favorite gourmet chocolate-inspired dishes and desserts including chicken mole and smoked tofu with a coffee chocolate rub. Location: 24 South Main Street. Time: 6 p.m. Cost: $20. Information: 603-225-6840 or visit http://www.concordfoodcoop.coop/.
 
Open Hearth Cooking Class -- A Thanksgiving Menu – Deerfield, MA
November 20, 2010
Come learn how to prepare traditional Thanksgiving dishes using hearth cooking methods. Learn a little bit about the history of harvest celebrations and the evolution of the American Thanksgiving holiday. Class participants will learn how to stuff and roast a small turkey in a tin kitchen, make a chicken pie, mash squash and turnips, fix cornbread, and make a pumpkin pie. Participants will sit down to enjoy the meal with a cup of apple cider. Location: Hall Tavern kitchen, Historic Deerfield, 80 Old Main Street. Time: 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Admission: Adults, $12; youth age 6 to 17, $5. Information: 413- 775-7214 or visit www.historic-deerfield.org/
 
Last but not least, if you want to do something different for Thanksgiving and let somebody else do the cooking, head to Old Sturbridge Village!
 
Thanksgiving Day at Old Sturbridge Village -- Sturbridge, MA
November 25, 2010
To mark one of just a handful of holidays on the early New England calendar, Old Strubridge Village re-creates various activities from an early New England Thanksgiving Day, including cooking at the hearth, demonstrations of 19th-century table manners, a Thanksgiving sermon, and after-dinner entertainment. Gather your family for a visit to the Village, a holiday dinner, or both. Location: 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road. Time: 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Cost: adults, $20; children, $7. Information: 508-347-3362 or visit www.osv.org.

Take time to nourish at Alchemy

 

Alchemy Juice bar is the kind of place that you are going to wish that you knew about earlier. You might have even driven past it already and seen it's distinguishable sign with the gigantic carrot on it and wondered what that was about, but not ventured inside yet.

Well, Alchemy is one of those places that is hard to label, and that's one of the great things about it. I really don't like labeling things, places or people because it limits their chance for change and growth. Alchemy just flat out refuses to be static. Since I first started visiting the cafe, they have gone through countless transformations from the atmosphere, to the menu to the events and organizations that they are involved with. But it is precisely this energy that continues to evolve that keeps me and the other patrons coming back for more. The owner, Imani seems to have an unending supply of new ideas.

From the carrot symbol mentioned earlier, you might have already figured out that this is a vegetarian restaurant. They are fairly well known for their signature Alchemist Wrap. It contains "yamps baked to perfection, spread on a sprouted ezekial wrap and served with roasted red peppers, avocado, kalamatta olives and toasted sesame seeds." But one of my favorite things is to head over for lunch and grab one of the ever changing Veggie Bowl with Steamed Greens. I mean, where else can you get a $6 lunch option with whole grains in the Hartford area? For you raw foodies, Imani has opened a raw food bar in the back of the cafe where you can order the daily creations, and also come in to take cooking classes. 

In addition to the many events (too many for this blog posting, but please check out their website for all the info), they also have an Eco Boutique where they sell things like vintage bikes that have been repaired, and things for your home. They host Monday night movies on various topics. They run a food co-op and have a garden on a nearby street where they get youth involved in learning to grow and live sustainably. This really is just a taste of everything happening there. Trust me, there is a lot going on at Alchemy. Stop by for lunch or dinner and you will be glad that you did. The vibe is relaxed, the food will nourish you, and you will leave the stress behind you and step into a calmer, healthier state of being.


Address: 201 New Britain Ave, Hartford, CT. 
Ph. (860) 246-5700
Website: www.alchemyjuicebar.com
Open: Thursday-Sunday 

Here's the top ten best books in Food Literature according to Amazon!

1. Twain's Feast: Searching for America's Lost Foods in the Footsteps of Samuel Clemens
by Andrew Beahrs
In his first book, Beahrs uses the palate of America's great humorist and satirist to celebrate and explore native foodstuffs and even make the case for him as a passionate locavore. The book intersperses Beahrs's firsthand experiences, such as observing Illinois prairie chickens in mating season and attending an Arkansas raccoon supper, with Twain's gastronomical record. The sheer breadth of Twain's travels and jobs permit discussion of such 21st-century topics as the far west's Great Basin water reclamation and cranberry bog expansion with historical developments like the invention of modern farm machinery and its impact.


 2. Punch: The Delights (and Dangers) of the Flowing Bowl
by David Wondrich
Acclaimed cocktail expert and historian David Wondrich takes readers on a raucous guided tour of all things punch-a tour that starts with some very lonely British sailors and swells to include a cast of lords and ladies, admirals, kings, presidents, poets, pirates, novelists, spies, and other inimitable characters. 

3. Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook by Anthony Bourdain
No one really expected Bourdain to top his wildly popular Kitchen Confidential, even Bourdain himself: several critics wrote that he seems alternately awed and appalled by his own celebrity. Those parts of Medium Raw--more of a collection of essays than a streamlined narrative--that seemed to grow out of that celebrity, such as Bourdain's feuds with food critics and celebrity chefs, impressed reviewers the least.


4. 97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement
by Jane Ziegelman
In this compelling foray into forensic gastronomy, Ziegelman pulls the facade off the titular 97 Orchard Street tenement.The result is a living dollhouse that invites us to gaze in from the sidewalk.With minds open and mouths agape, we witness the comings and goings of the building's inhabitants in the years surrounding the turn of the twentieth century. By focusing on the culinary lives of individuals from a variety of ethnic groups, Ziegelman pieces together a thorough sketch of Manhattan's Lower East Side at a time when these immigrants were at the forefront of a rapidly changing urban life. 


5. Chasing the White Dog: An Amateur Outlaw's Adventures in Moonshine
by Max Watman
Although most of us associate moonshine with Prohibition and the cross-border gin runners of the 1920s, the first moonshiners actually were outlaws who protested the new tax on whiskey; this was in the 1790s, and it was such a serious rebellion that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton sent 13,000 troops into Pennsylvania to quash it. Moonshine is, in parts of the U.S., still a booming business and an important part of the economy of the South. 

6. As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto
by Joan Reardon

Culinary historian Reardon's collection of the correspondence between Child and her pen pal, Avis DeVoto (portrayed in the film Julie & Julia by Deborah Rush), bubbles over with intimate insights into their friendship. In 1952, Child was living in Paris when she wrote to Cambridge, Mass., historian Bernard DeVoto after reading his Harper's article about knives. Her letter was answered by his wife, Avis, who soon became her confidante, sounding board, and enthusiastic fellow cook. The two met finally met in person two years later. As a part of the publishing community, Avis (who died in 1989) was responsible for securing the publication of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, steering the book first to Houghton Mifflin and then to its eventual home at Knopf. 


7. Reading between the Wines
by Terry Theise
Acclaimed importer and wine guru Terry Theise, long known for his top-notch portfolio and his illustrious writing, now offers this opinionated, idiosyncratic, and beautifully written testament to wine. What constitutes beauty in wine, and how do we appreciate it? What role does wine play in a soulful, sensual life? Can wines of place survive in a world of globalized styles and 100-point scoring systems? In his highly approachable style, Theise describes how wine can be a portal to aesthetic, emotional, even mystical experience.


8. Cooking for Geeks: Real Science, Great Hacks, and Good Food
by Jeff Potter

Are you the innovative type, the cook who marches to a different drummer -- used to expressing your creativity instead of just following recipes? Are you interested in the science behind what happens to food while it's cooking? Do you want to learn what makes a recipe work so you can improvise and create your own unique dish? More than just a cookbook, Cooking for Geeks applies your curiosity to discovery, inspiration, and invention in the kitchen. Why is medium-rare steak so popular? Why do we bake some things at 350 F/175 C and others at 375 F/190 C? And how quickly does a pizza cook if we overclock an oven to 1,000 F/540 C? 

9. Ideas in Food: Great Recipes and Why They Work
by Aki Kamozawa
Alex Talbot and Aki Kamozawa, husband-and-wife chefs and the forces behind the popular blog Ideas in Food, have made a living out of being inquisitive in the kitchen. Their book shares the knowledge they have gleaned from numerous cooking adventures, from why tapioca flour makes a silkier chocolate pudding than the traditional cornstarch or flour to how to cold smoke just about any ingredient you can think of to impart a new savory dimension to everyday dishes. Perfect for anyone who loves food, Ideas in Food is the ideal handbook for unleashing creativity, intensifying flavors, and pushing one’s cooking to new heights.


10. Cakewalk: A Memoir
by Kate Moses
Novelist Moses recounts her life’s journey, planting its mileposts by the foods that have figured in her personal history. As emphasis, she provides a relevant recipe with each chapter. The foods that have meant most to her fall into the category of American comfort foods, her tastes leaning toward the decidedly simple. Traversing the country from California to Pennsylvania as a schoolgirl, she relished what was for her the novelty of McDonald’s but she at the same time was developing a taste for more exotic fare such as fried clams.

Gifts to get a foodie

So, while I am completely shocked at how quickly October flew by, it made me grudgingly wake up to the fact that the holidays are literally right around the corner. This was made even more obvious to me when I stopped by the mall before Halloween and saw that several stores were already decorated for Christmas! This was certainly not appreciated by me. But it did make me think that some of you may be more organized than myself when it comes to getting your holiday shopping done and out of the way early. No black friday madness for you. This year, I may try to turn over a new leaf and do that as well. I thought that I might get this ball rolling with some fun ideas about what to buy for a friend or relative that is a foodie, or to drop hints about what you might want for yourself. By the way, this collection of ideas is just a few of my favorites from the online store called "Uncommon Goods". I will probably be posting some subsequent lists from other places.

I thought that I would start with a useful keychain bottle openers. I like these alot because they are dual purpose. I am not at all adept in using a lighter to open bottles as some of my friends, so I can certainly see a use for a keychain that would be there to lend a hand when called upon. These are made from old street signs (so you are recycling too, yay!) and they cost $16.oo bucks a pop.  

Next, I discovered some awesomely shaped Udon Noodle bowls. They are designed to be part mug, part bowl and to fit nicely into the curve of your palm. Every review that I read about them said that people had so much fun holding them that they were trying to think of more meals that could be enjoyed out of them. They are kind of pricey at $26.oo a piece, but I think that I need one for myself at the very least.

On the not so pricey side, there are the very fun looking wine and food books. They are priced at a lovely $5.oo at the moment. Personally I have a great deal of trouble remembering all the wines that I have tried and liked over the years, so this book looks like a great place to capture that information. Plus the one for the restaurants has a very cool cover of a waiter's order tablet. Nice touch.

The pizza cutter is really a dazzling piece of equipment. It would never pass through airport security though, so plan on having it shipped directly to somebody's house. It is hammered from recycled steel using traditional blacksmithing techniques. It is handmade and is supposed to last a lifetime. I surely would hope so, because this is something worthy of hanging on the wall and admiring when you are not using it. The price runs you $36.oo.


I am not exactly sure how this item works, but I am dying to try it. Supposedly if you have been chopping onions, garlic or anything else that leaves an odor on your hands this is the solution. It's a stainless steel shaped bar of soap. Yup you heard me right. All you do is rub it in your hands under running cold water and voila, the smell will dissappear! This nifty item costs $14.oo and it will never run out, so you shouldn't ever need another one.

 
The Herb Keeper is really a fabulous idea. The basic premise is that herbs that are kept in a bag or even loose in your fridge wilt and die quickly, as we all know. So, why not put them in a glass jar where they can stand upright in water on the door of your refridgerator? For $20.oo, I love it! 

The last gift idea is a slate cheese board. It is made out of reclaimed pieces of slate chalkboards from Franklin Elementary School in Quincy, IL. It has reclaimed wine corks as feet so that it doesn't slip away from you, and it is divided into 4 squares and comes with a piece of chalk so that you can start labeling your cheese at your holiday parties. Delicious idea! This costs $48.oo.

Stay tuned for more holiday foodie gift ideas....

Free Technique Classes at William Sonoma

If you are feeling a bit skiddish about your skills in the kitchen, and the pressure is on to impress all of your family and friends with the kind of Thanksgiving dinner that would make you look like a prodigy of Martha Stewart, then maybe these classes are just what's needed. If you are worried that you can't afford to splurge on cooking lessons for yourself, then I have even better news for you...they are all FREE! Just call your local Williams Sonoma store and register. So... ready, set cook!!

Back to Basics – A Classic Thanksgiving
October 31st and November 1st
Join us as we show you how to host a memorable Thanksgiving feast – and enjoy a stress-free celebration. You'll learn all the basics: how to roast a juicy turkey, make creamy mashed potatoes with rich homemade gravy, and prepare classic side dishes. These traditional recipes will bring the spirit of the season to your holiday table.

A Contemporary Thanksgiving
November 7th and 8th
Dazzle your friends and family with this delicious – and non-traditional – Thanksgiving feast. We're putting a contemporary spin on the holiday meal, featuring everything from a new approach to turkey to fantastic new sides. No one will miss the classic Thanksgiving dishes!

Small Crowd Big Flavor – An Intimate Thanksgiving
November 14th and 15th
If you're entertaining a small group this Thanksgiving, it's easy to prepare an impressive feast that won't leave you with too many leftovers. Our scaled-down menu is filled with big flavors, including a delicious turkey breast to stuffed acorn squash and more!

A Time-Saving Thanksgiving
November 21st and 22nd
Short on time this Thanksgiving season? This is the class for you, filled with tips and techniques for creating an easy yet impressive feast. You'll learn how to make a whole turkey in less than 90 minutes, along with easy-to-prepare side dishes—leaving you plenty of time to spend with family and friends.

Food Not Bombs ---> this Sunday

Go and get involved at The Buttonwood Tree in Middletown this Sunday, October 24th where the local chapter of "Food Not Bombs" will show up to cook a community meal in the name of peace and for social justice. The event is taking place at the First Church of Christ at 190 Court Street in Middletown, CT. The cooking starts at 11:30 and you are welcome to join in and help prepare the (FREE) healthy vegetarian meal.

A little background on the movement....

"Food Not Bombs is one of the fastest growing revolutionary movements and is gaining momentum throughout the world. Food Not Bombs is not a charity. This energetic grassroots movement is active throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Food Not Bombs is organizing for peace and an end to the occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine. For nearly 30 years the movement has worked to end hunger and has supported actions to stop the globalization of the economy, restrictions to the movements of people, end exploitation and the destruction of the earth. The first group was formed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1980 by anti-nuclear activists. Food Not Bombs is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to nonviolent social change. Food Not Bombs has no formal leaders and strives to include everyone in its decision making process. Each group recovers food that would otherwise be thrown out and makes fresh hot vegan and vegetarian meals that are served in outside in public spaces to anyone without restriction. Food Not Bombs activists are currently making plans to celebrate our 30th year of cooking for peace. Food is a right, not a privilege." (incomplete article)

And for my readers that are not in CT, you can get involved with local chapters around the country, and around the world. Check out their website for info on the latest events and news of this powerful and unique community movement. Get involved!

Food Not Bombs website: http://www.foodnotbombs.net/

New Haven's Restaurant Week is Back!

     Yep, you read right, one of my favorite events in New Haven is back in full swing for November. I have an interesting factoid that you might want to pull out and impress your dining companions with...New Haven and Hartford both used to be the capital cities of Connecticut, but then as we all know, Hartford won out in the end. Hmmm.
     Anyway, Restaurant Week kicks off November 7th and ends on November 12th. There are going to be 24 restaurants participating this go around, and they are going to offer three course prix fixe meals for lunch and dinner.  The menus are not listed yet, but you can check their facebook page or this website for updates: http://www.specialsinnewhaven.com/new-haven-restaurant-week-fall-2010/. The pricing is going to be $16.38 for lunch, and $29.00 for dinner. Considering the standard prices at some of the participating restaurants, this is a really spectacular deal.
     Some of the restaurants that stand out on the list that I would recommend going to check out are:

BASTA: http://bastatrattoria.com/ (the menu is already up)
ZINC: http://www.zincfood.com/
HEIRLOOM: http://www.studyhotels.com/

Anywhere that you pick on the list of 24 restaurants should be a great experience though. I know that these three are definately on my list. And of course, I'd love to hear all about your experiences at any of the restaurants as well.

Hello to Spaghetti Sponges!!!

I am all over this new product called Spaghetti Sponges! They were created in Japan and you can purchase them for around $8 which I know is a steep price for a sponge, but here's why they are worth the investment.

1) They last for MONTHS!
2) They do not require you to use any liquid soap!
3) They don't rust or have any gross odors because they dry really quickly after use.
4) No bacteria & mold on them, unlike regular sponges.
5) Save money and the environment.
6) They are super cool- made of peach pits and corn!
7) You can use them to peel skin of vegetables! (The Coarse sponge- made of corn)

To save you the time, I have scouted out a few places to purchase these cool spaghetti sponges. They seem to come 2 in a pak, which mades them about $4.50 a sponge. You can go with the original spaghetti sponge made of corn, or go with the gentler spaghetti sponge which is made of peach pits. Personally, I am really excited to try peeling my vegetables with one of them, cause that peeler is a kitchen hazard and I always end up with scraped fingers.

Original Spaghetti Scrub - Coarse Made with Corn Cobs
Use for - General cleaning, removing stains from metal cookware, kettles, sinks, grills, and peeling the skin off of vegetables
Materials -Corn core powder, cotton, polyester

Original Spaghetti Scrub - Gentle Made with Peach Pits
Use for - General cleaning, removing stains from glass, wood, plastic, high quality nonstick pans, & any other surface prone to dull or scratch
Materials - Peach pit powder, cotton, polyester

$8.95 for a pack of two sponges, either type: VAT19
http://www.vat19.com/dvds/the-original-spaghetti-scrubs.cfm

$8.50 for a pack of two sponges, either type:
Uncommon Goods:
http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/spaghetti-scrubbers

And on top of being environmentally responsible, they are just so cool looking! Sorry old sponge, but your replacement is here!