Foodie News: Going to Japan? Consider a Ramen-Themed Outing for the Whole Family

Love Ramen? Probably not as much as these people. 

It’s no surprise ramen has grown into something of a craze (because it's unspeakably delicious), but the people of Hakone, Japan have taken their love of country’s most popular dish to a new level: bathing in it.

Yunessan Spa House offers noodle baths—tubs of pork broth that clients soak in to reap the benefits of the soup—a fun (and delicious!) treatment option.

Along the same lines as those who sip broth, people that plunge into noodle baths say it boosts collagen and increases metabolism (though we’re not sure the noodles are completely necessary).

Source: http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/ramen-bath-japan?xid=soc_socialflow_facebook_tl&adbid=10153495249249073&adbpl=fb&adbpr=25440929072 

The Angry Tofu- A Korean Adventure

On one not so lovely New England winter day, I was feeling rather glum. To cheer me up, my mother suggested we go to lunch at a place that I had been eyeing, and have ourselves a foodie adventure. And this is how we ended up at Angry Tofu, looking over the extensive menu with a combination of apprehension and excitement. Before stepping foot into the unassuming restaurant, with the clever logo, I hadn’t been overly curious about the cuisine because when I thought of Korean food, my mind clung to the phrase Korean BBQ and stopped there. Natural inclinations leaning towards a mainly vegetarian diet, this phrase alone was enough to kill my curiosity. But today was different. 

The lure of something with tofu had gotten my attention. Now there was one problem. Tofu was everywhere on the menu, but alongside some sort of meat. I decided on the Kimchi soup with soft tofu. If there is anything that Korean is known for outside of its isolationism, and Kim Jong-Un would be Kimchi! This delicious fermented vegetable mixture has been praised for fighting aging, improving cardiovascular and digestive health, boosting immune system and fighting cholesterol. It’s chock full of antioxidants, flavonoids and probiotics. Sounded like the perfect choice for my lunch. My mother went with a classic Bibimbap, which is mixed rice, lean meat, seaweed and vegetables, topped with an egg. 

Very shortly after we ordered, the waiter brought over a selection of fermented and pickled dishes. I could have very happily called this my meal. Each one was delicious!!! Especially liked the fish balls (or at least what I think they were), and the kimchi cucumbers. Next came out the entrees. I was a bit surprised when I started poking around the inside of my bowl. What I had thought would be a vegetarian dish, seemed to have some interesting strips of meat inside. I think they were pork, but I am no expert. 

After they had been fished out, and designated to one of the empty side dishes, I have to say, I fell in love with the flavor of my soup. It was warming, a little spicy, and all around comforting. The straw mushrooms and tofu were perfectly complimentary. My mother’s dish was also beautiful. 

All the ingredients were organic and it was a pleasure knowing that we could order something healthy with that assurance. We finished our meal with a chilled glass of cinnamon tea that had two pine nuts floating in it. It was definitely a foodie adventure! I will be planning a return trip, to do some more tasting, and looking for that perfect vegetarian friendly item on the menu! I know its hiding there somewhere! 

Location: The Angry Tofu, 1030 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield, CT 

Phone: 860-513-1004

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Angry-Tofu-Korean-Cuisine-710177472446403/info/?tab=overview (you can see the menu here ahead of time!!)

Foodie Event: Cacao Ceremony, Sound Journey & Live Music (January 2nd)

 
Join us for a sweet evening combining the heart-opening medicine of ceremonial grade cacao with an interactive musical experience & sound journey. Heartblood Cacao will share the wisdom of this sacred plant, serve cacao (similar to hot cocoa), share its uses, and lead a meditation to tune into the plant and its energy.

Explore the realms of sound and silence with the light-hearted practice of kirtan featuring Andrew Biagiarelli. Andrew will offer sacred songs to trance to, dance to and sing along with. Kelli Joy, Vibrational Visionary will take us deep into our heartspace with a sacred sound journey with Singing Bowls and Gongs.

Before the invention of chocolate as we know it, cacao had been used for centuries by Mayan, Aztec and other indigenous people as traditional plant medicine. It is served in community for the purpose of healing and connecting with each other and higher consciousness.
Eat lightly prior to attending to allow for fuller absorption of the cacao. Bring blankets, cushions, or pillows to make yourself comfortable. 


More info on Cacao @ HeartbloodCacao.com
Pre-registration requested
Cost: $30 pre-registered $35 day of (If there is space, this event tends to sell out) 
Pre-register at VibrationalVisionary.com
Time: 6-8:45pm
Location: Toivo, 399 Franklin Ave, Hartford, CT  

"Students revive extinct squash with 800-year-old seeds"

Gardens may be popping up in schools everywhere, but one school garden in Winnipeg, Canada is making news after growing a squash thought to be extinct for hundreds of years.

It all started with an archaeological dig on First Nations land that unearthed a small clay vessel estimated to be about 800 years old. Inside the vessel, the archaeologists found preserved seeds of an ancient squash.

Students at Canadian Mennonite University successfully grew one large squash from the seeds, but they aren't stopping there. The plan is to save the seeds from that first revived squash and then grow even more squash from those. The goal is to never let this squash go extinct again, according to APTN National News.

Brian Etkin, Coordinator of the Garden of Learning in Winnipeg, sees this revived squash as much more than a vegetable.

"This squash is representative of a tribe of a large community and everybody in that community having a place and food being a right on citizenship," said Etkin.

When the seeds were first put into that clay vessel all those years ago, they were likely meant to be used much sooner than now, but the discovery of them is a reminder that saving seeds is the best way to ensure plant varietals survive. The fruits and vegetables seen in the grocery store and even at the farmers markets are just a fraction of the varieties that exist.

Over the past 100 years or so, we've decreased the variety of produce grown and instead focused our efforts in cultivating species that produce a high yield or are able to travel long distances. But, we're discovering we're close to losing so many varieties, and seed savers are working to bring back varieties that most people have forgotten.

Thanks to the ancient indigenous person who put those seeds in a clay vessel hundreds of years ago, this squash varietal won't be lost to history. And thanks to more modern seed savers, we're reviving and preserving other fruits and vegetables — like this exquisite-looking Glass Gem corn:

SOURCE: http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/blogs/students-revive-extinct-squash-800-year-old-seeds