Breakfast at Dream Sea

So my most recent global escape brought me to the jungle where I have been teaching yoga at Dream Sea, a glamping (i.e. glamorous camping) experience for surfers. For somebody who is mostly a city /  museum / coffee shop kinda girl, I slightly questioned myself after accepting the month long position. But I was up for the challenge, and ended up surprising myself and thriving in the jungle. After a few nights, I stopped paying attention to the incessant Howler monkeys that are dead set on partying above my tent between 5-7am and make a noise that reminds me of my stomach growling. With the help of the neighbor's cow and rooster, the dogs in camp, wild turkeys and monkeys, I had no need for an alarm, as it was impossible to ignore this cacophony of sounds.

And thus this night owl became an early bird, waiting cheerily to greet my bleary eyed yoga students for our 7am practice under the mango tree. But wait, this blog is supposed to be about food! So here it is. Here in camp, we eat breakfast and dinner communally. The chef and rotating volunteers prepare the food and we all wait eagerly to hear the rousing call to grab a plate.

Breakfast staples are freshly cut fruits, cereal, yogurt, scrambled or fried eggs, and rice and beans. We are sometimes treated to extras such as fried plantains, roasted marinated potatos or slices of white queso cheese. There is always freshly made coffee (it is Costa Rica!) and a pitcher of freshly blended juice of papaya and lime or pineapple. On occasion there is a batch of warm avena made which is oatmeal blended with cinnamon, cloves, sugar and water. After choretime, everyone heads to the beach where we surf or practice yoga. It's a rough life...

The best coffee...

A love of coffee, ideally organic and with artisanal drinks is something that guides me in much of my explorations. Recently, this led me to Finca Riveroll in Guadalajara, Mexico, and after I had made three visits in three days, I decided it was best to share my “secret” find. My first visit was to share a turkish brew and sample a chile chocolate torte  (amazing) which nicely accompanied a philosophical discussion about life. Second time I stuck to cappuccinos and conversation about photography and public spaces. The third time, I met the owner, and took all of his recommendations until my heart started to race from the caffeine. 

Oscar Riveroll owns a finca (farm) in Veracruz where he grows his beans under a cloud forest in the mountain region of Cofre de Perote. The beans are 100% arabica. While I am a coffee lover, and not necessarily a coffee expert, I have had my share of coffee knowledge classes during my barista training. For example, your beans should not be stored in such a way that they lose their natural oils. When they do, they become bitter. I have found that the coffee I like the best, doesn’t require any sugar, or even any milk. There is nothing to cover up and hide with flavorings. The coffee here is all organic, and prepared in a plethora of different ways. 

When you stop adding all the extras to your coffee, you can really let the beans shine, and slowly sip, enjoying the richness. As I did, when Oscar poured steaming milk over my espresso with such gusto that I laughed out loud from the sheer pleasure of the moment. The shop is such a wonderful place to spend a morning, and I quickly lost track of time. There are portraits done in coffee on the walls, books to borrow, and interesting people to practice Spanish conversation with.

On my next order, I tried a french press in which the beans were combined with cardamom. I was thrilled. What a wonderful combination of flavors. Side note: if you happen to be looking at the money on the counter, and thinking it’s a lot...think again. The exchange rate in Mexico is extremely favorable for the dollar. It’s approximately $25 for $500 pesos and that can go quite far. I probably spend more money on coffee than anything else. 

If you ever find yourself in Guadalajara, or Veracruz for that matter...this is one place to seek out! You will know you have found it, when you see the brightly colored building on the corner with the faces of Frieda Kahlo and Diego Rivera! 

Website: http://fincariveroll.com

Weird Foodie News: James Ostrer’s Food Art

Call it wonderful. Call it weird. But to this foodie, English artist, James Ostrer’s series of junk food portraits called “Wotsit All About” makes some deeply profound and darkly humorous observations about our consumption patterns and health. The anthropological candy colored photographs are a fashion spread of the junk food that is killing us. And instead of ranting at us, instead of shaming us, Ostrer revels in it. His cathartic experience in kicking a life long battle against junk food meant eight hours at a time for models, breathing out of a single nostril, and an $8,000 investment in candy, cold cuts, fast foods. Sugar coated bare breasted models are slathered in a sugary appearing cream cheese plaster and fatty adornments. We are reminded of tribal images of the past, where proud warriors and leaders presenting dramatic headdresses, or elaborate ceremonial masks to a unflinching camera. While these models display a different pride, one of everted consumption. The messages here are hugely relevant in our consumerist culture. Sugar highs and fast food lows are an epidemic, obesity runs rampant and children can’t recognize vegetables, but easily recite the jingles of favorite food commercials, and much like the popular adage, “you are what you eat” has literally come to life. 

Pizza war winner: Sally's Apizza

Anybody from Connecticut, and perhaps New England, is aware of the pizza wars originating in New Haven. Who makes a better pie? Is it Frank Pepe? Or Sally's Apizza? If we were judging by volume, then it might be said that Frank Pepe is the clear winner, and pizza devotees don't need to travel to New Haven to enjoy. They can stop by West Hartford, Manchester, or other locations to enjoy their favorite. But is that the end of it? Recently a friend and I decided to go and find out. Although it was a wednesday night, Sally's Apizza was humming and we were considerably lucky to get the one table that had opened up, close to the tantalizing smell of the ovens, and within sight of the steady line of hungry customers at the front door.

So what is the secret? Well, honestly, I think it's in the pie's simplicity, and in the deeply flavorful sauce. We decided that it made most sense to do a 50/50 split so that we could try both styles. Maybe the secret lies in the fact that the same coal fired oven has been used for over eighty years, and there is some sort of flavor infusion effect happening. While we pondered this, and sipped on our white birch beer sodas, we looked around the place and admired the photos. At the time, we were not sure if the photos were of actual patrons, but a glance at their website says that they are! "Many dignitaries, athletes and stars have dined on Sally's over the years. Pictures and memorabilia from these visits line the walls. Notables include Frank Sinatra, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Kathleen Turner, Don Rickles, Jimmy Durante and Gary Trudeau (look for the Doonesbury tribute to Sally's the next time you are there)." 

We anxiously watched as pie after steaming by came out on rectangular metal sheet pans, to other eagerly waiting patrons. We made a quick mental note to ourselves that we wouldn't arrive at the point of starvation on our next visit. Conversation at this point strayed to references to the Chinese food restaurant episode of Seinfeld, and the eggroll dare.

We were almost to that point when our pie was placed down. Ignoring the fact that it was steaming hot, I quickly folded up a slice (like a New Yorker) and savored the tang of the tomatoe sauce. That sauce. It is like eating fresh tomatoes, with that lingering acidity on the tongue. Fellow diners appeared to be as won over as I was, and "this is the best pizza I have ever tasted" resonated from several booths. The half with the mozzarella cheese was a close second, and soon the pie had disappeared in front of us. I know pizza preference is a personal thing. But for me, Sally's Apizza is the clear winner of the pizza war. I have tried Frank Pepe's on three separate occasions and been under impressed. Every time, the pies lacked in flavor, had a soupy and rather uncooked center, and too much crust. But maybe that's how other people like their pies.

If you are in New Haven, and have time to wait in the line, give Sally's a visit. But be prepared. It is a cash only establishment, no credit cards accepted. Personally, I am ready for another.

237 Wooster Street, New Haven, CT
http://sallysapizza.com/index.html

HOURS:

Monday        CLOSED
Tuesday        CLOSED
Wednesday   4:00 to 9:00
Thursday      4:00 to 9:00
Friday          4:00 to 10:00
Saturday       3:00 to 10:00
Sunday         3:00 to 9:00

Roti, Roti...

If there is one place on this earth that I could call a home-away-from-home, that place would be the Virgin Islands. The effects of an island childhood has irrevocably shaped the kind of woman that I have become. Wherever my life takes me, I walk to a reggae beat, heal myself with local plant wisdom, keep myself open to new cultures, and crave the flavors of the tropics. These flavors are unforgettable. 

On my last trip to the islands, my father had a surprise for me. He had scouted out a local food destination on the way from Charlotte Amalie to the ferry at Red Hook. He pulled our jeep over at “We Never Sleep” food truck which consisted of a refurbished school bus, painted bright red with a eating area created immediately behind it. I was immediately excited because their main dish is roti, something that I have been curious to try. Roti, which is also known as chapati, is an unleavened flat bread. 

It is made from stoneground wholemeal flour and originated in India, but became popular as well in Guyana, Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives, South Africa, Suriname and the Caribbean. Most notably, roti got an upgrade in Trinidad and Tobago. Here the bread, which had been used to accompany meals or sop up soups with, became transformed into a carrier vessel and roti became known as a sandwich! 

Of course the options are endless for filings. We were lucky that day to have been offered saltfish, which wasn’t on the menu. The roti bread is too thick to roll, so it is folded loosely over the abundant filling. Our filling consisted of saltfish with potatoes and garbanzo beans with rich and slightly curried flavors. 

Another pleasing discovery for me was that they sold Moringa tea. Recently I had been studying up on this “miracle tree” which is a virtual powerhouse of nutrients. The leaves contain more than 90 nutrients 46 antioxidants! The list of benefits is almost too long to mention, but it has been used for ages with traditional healing methods, with great success. So naturally, we had a cup. That’s my medicine for the day! 

If you happen to find yourself visiting the Virgin Islands, and specifically St. Thomas, look for We Never Sleep on the way to the ferry. It is very close to the Coki Beach area, on the side of the road. 

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

Foodie News: "To Cut Food Waste, Spain's Solidarity Fridge Supplies Endless Leftovers"

"At a Basque restaurant nestled in the green hills just outside the Spanish city of Bilbao, head cook Itziar Eguileor gestures toward a dumpster out back. "This all used to go into the garbage," she says, lugging a huge pot of leftover boiled artichokes. "But now, these artichokes, we pack them in Tupperware, load them into our old Land Rover and drive them over to Solidarity Fridge.” Deliveries like Eguileor's arrive several times per day at the Solidarity Fridge, a pioneering project in the Basque town of Galdakao, population about 30,000. The goal is to avoid wasting perfectly good food and groceries. In April, the town established Spain's first communal refrigerator. It sits on a city sidewalk, with a tidy little fence around it, so that no one mistakes it for an abandoned appliance. Anyone can deposit food inside or help themselves. This crusade against throwing away leftovers is the brainchild of Alvaro Saiz, who used to run a food bank for the poor in Galdakao.

"The idea for a Solidarity Fridge started with the economic crisis — these images of people searching dumpsters for food— the indignity of it. That's what got me thinking about how much food we waste," Saiz told NPR over Skype from Mongolia, where he's moved onto his next project, living in a yurt and building a hospital for handicapped children. Saiz says he was intrigued by reading about a scheme in Germany in which people can go online and post notices about extra food and others can claim it. But Saiz wanted something more low-tech in his hometown of Galdakao — something accessible to his elderly neighbors who don't use the Internet. So he went to the mayor with his idea for a Solidarity Fridge. "When he came to city hall with this idea, I thought it was both crazy and brilliant! How could I say no?" says Mayor Ibon Uribe. "We approved a small budget of 5,000 euros [about $5,580] right away to pay for the fridge and an initial health safety study, as well as electricity and upkeep. And we granted this fridge a special independent legal status, so that the city can't be sued if someone gets sick.”

There are rules: no raw meat, fish or eggs. Homemade food must be labeled with a date and thrown out after four days. But Javier Goikoetxea, one of the volunteers who cleans out the fridge, says nothing lasts that long."Restaurants drop off their leftover tapas at night — and they're gone by next morning," he says. "We even have grannies who cook especially for this fridge. And after weekend barbecues, you'll find it stocked with ribs and sausage.” When NPR visited on Monday, the fridge was filled with fresh vegetables — tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini — from a local community garden, along with unopened cartons of milk and jars of lentils and baby food. There were also pintos— Basque tapas — wrapped in plastic and labeled with the date, from a local bar. The pintxos were especially appetizing to Issam Massaoudi, an unemployed Moroccan immigrant who stopped by to check out the Solidarity Fridge's offerings."Sincerely, it's wonderful," Massaoudi says, chuffed about the pintxos. "When money is tight, to be able to come here and open this fridge and find really good food — bread, tomatoes, vegetables, meat — it's amazing."

Galdakao Mayor Ibon Uribe (left) and volunteer Javier Goikoetxea pose in front of the Solidarity Fridge, Spain's first communal refrigerator, shared by citizens in Galdakao, a city outside Bilbao.

The Solidarity Fridge may be the legacy of Spain's economic crisis, during which frugality became a necessity. But in Galdakao, the unemployment rate is about 13 percent — nearly half that of the rest of Spain. The Basque region's welfare state is robust, and few residents go hungry. The Basque country has a special relationship with food, says Uribe. The region is famed for its gastronomy, especially in nearby cities like Bilbao and San Sebastian.

"Here, food is sacrosanct — it's something that's venerated. We have one of the highest concentrations of Michelin-starred restaurants per capita in the world," Uribe says. "So we value eating well, and conserving food. It's part of our culture, and the Solidarity Fridge is part of that."

The idea is catching on. Another Solidarity Fridge has opened in Murcia, a town on Spain's Mediterranean coast. And elementary schools have been organizing field trips to the original fridge in Galdakao to teach children how to cut down on food waste, and share.

SOURCE: http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/08/13/431960054/to-cut-food-waste-spains-solidarity-fridge-supplies-endless-leftovers

Baked and beyond..

Today was one of those random mornings. The kind of beautiful morning where I would do just about anything to avoid being indoors. And it was this desire that led my direction. First stop was the Get Baked Bakery.

My friend who had suggested the location is working at the Windsor Arts Center, and the little intersection of buildings, quaintly situated at the Amtrack railroad stop, has an eclectic funky vibe about it, that suggests you have unwittingly stumbled into a space on the brink of a community charged comeback. Get Baked is chock full of charming, organic details, such as chalk signs, mismatched assortments of padded lawn furniture with faux leather armchairs left to age in the sun. Inside the aging structure is the coffee shop/ bakery to the left, contained within the curious, larger room. 

Apparently the owner is using the space to host a successful pop up market, and plans on eventually creating a more permanent indoor marketplace. The bakery is not short on options. The vintage display case is loaded with delicious pastries. A small menu on the right gives drink options. The counter offers another menu with $3.50 frittatas...wait, $3.50? Yep, that might be the best breakfast deal I have ever come across. And everywhere else, there is something to look at. Including the ceiling. 

One lemon ginger tea later, we headed to the other side of the tracks to accompany her as she opened up the Windsor Art Center for business, and to see her work in the current show, Collective Views. She has three pieces in the show. Her most recent pieces have dealt with issues surrounding hoarding. She takes items that have been left in her own house, or that are given to her, and transforms them into “quilts” or tapestries made from these materials, giving them new life, and us something quite uniquely beautiful, and something to consider about consumerism. It was an interesting stretch from edible consumption on one side of the tracks, to physical consumption, on the other side. 

  The afternoon ended in Hartford’s beautiful Riverside Park where the thoughts of consumerism made us long for the comforting green trails along the river. If you have never been there, and don’t know what I am referring to, I highly recommend it. For years, I remember people saying that Hartford either doesn’t have a riverfront, or hasn’t taken advantage of our riverfront. I think Riverside Park refutes that very well. There is a vibrant park with a boat house, trails, boat launch, and a fitness area. The vistas in the park afford for solitary musings along the banks, picnics, or games. No secret to the lovers of cricket, you will often find an active game taking place on the long stretch of field. If you follow the path along the river, you will find some peaceful, beautiful scenes that will make you almost forget you are on the edge of I-91. Ah, Hartford...

Oh, and postscript. I like finding graffiti. 

Get Baked: 25 Central St, Windsor, CT 06095. 860-688-0420 / Web: http://getbakedct.com

Introducing Hartford Flavor Company

Few things are as exciting to me as discovering something new. Especially in my city. This drive to discover new things in Hartford was the reason I started blogging in the first place. I wanted to dispel the preconceived notions, and reveal the truly great things about the city which are hidden in plain site. One of my most exciting recent discoveries, was the introduction to Hartford Flavor Company.  Located in the rear of the imposing industrial address of 30 Arbor Street, is a welcoming patio laced with plants, inviting you inside. 

After a walk through the forthcoming “Diana’s Lair” which is going to be an innovative apothecary style tasting room where visitors can also enjoy a cocktail, I was brought into a sparking white distilling room where I sat down with the company’s owner and creator, Lelaneia Dubay and longtime employee, Ashlie McGrath, to learn more. You know that moment when you realize you have met kindred spirits? Well, this was one of those times. Both women are very focused on local, sustainable, organic, and the power of the plant. Ashlie might actually be joining Hartford Foodie as a guest writer in the future, so keep an eye out for that! We had an interesting talk about Lelaneia’s transformative path from landscape artist to creating natural tinctures for her children, growing her own supply of Echinacea, and her eventual quest to create a liquour that is gluten free, low in sugar, free of chemicals, and as organic and natural as possible. To this end, she began experimenting in her own home and using her friends and their friends as test groups. The winning flavors ended up being; cucumber, rose, lavender (my personal favorite), chai tea, and birch. 

A seasonal cranberry flavor will be coming out for the winter, and there was mention of a pumpkin as well. The actual product is made from a sugar cane base from the Netherlands, and then is infused with the leaves, stems, and flowers of the actual plants. The plants are obtained from sources as local as possible. The lavender is grown by the company in their community garden plot! The recipe and process varies depending on the composition of the plant. Delicate rose petals, for example, can only withstand a few days soaking in the alcohol before burning up. 

As of this month, Wild Moon can officially sell to the public from its production facility. So if you can’t wait for the tasting room to open, head over between 12-3pm, Wed-Saturdays to see the space and purchase a bottle. Limit of 4 bottles per customer. They cost $20 each, and accept cash only. This is a place where magical things are happening. I don’t want to tell you all the details, so go check it out and see for yourself. Be part of the revolution and support a fantastic new Hartford business! 

Directions:
30 Arbor Street, Suites 107-108, Hartford, CT.  Keep the building to your left, follow the signs around to the back, and enter onto the wooden deck at the end. 

Websites: 
http://hartfordflavor.com (sign up for newsletter, check out blog, and stay up to date!)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hartford-Flavor-Company/660352110711238 

The restaurant where you dine as if you were an actual guest at the Fawlty Towers

Sidenote: this is one of my favorite of the British comedies. If you haven’t seen the show, I highly encourage you to try and find an episode. John Cleese and the rest of the cast are truly entertaining. I am just sad there were such a limited amount of shows produced.

"Sometimes, dining out just lacks a bit of drama. Sometimes, you just want to see an almighty showdown spill out from the kitchen (but hopefully not land in your lap) and add a bit of spice –and laughter– to your meal. Well, today I discovered that such a show(down) exists where you can make a reservation for a table in a recreation of The Fawlty Towers dining room and interact as the drama unfold as if you were an actual guest at the Fawlty Towers Hotel. Remember that show?!If you were born after the 80s, probably not– although the late 70s cult British comedy brought to us by the Monty Python man himself, John Cleese, is still being shown on television in the United States on at least two PBS member stations and is even available for streaming on Netflix. 

Voted the best British television series of all time in 2000 by the British Film Institute, the series is set in Fawlty Towers, a fictional hotel in the seaside town of Torquay, on the “English Riviera“. To refresh your memory, the plots centre around tense, rude and put-upon owner Basil Fawlty (John Cleese), his bossy wife Sybil and a hapless Spanish waiter Manuel, showing their attempts to run the hotel and restaurant amidst farcical situations and an array of demanding and eccentric guests.

And now, you can be one of those guests! For those of us that thought Fawlty Towers was lost forever to us on those old VHS tapes we threw out along with Rowan Atkinson’s Mr. Bean, rest assured this spectacle still very much alive and kicking in the form of Fawlty Towers: The Dining Experience. A travelling restaurant as well as having earned a permanent residency in London, the show has set up its dining room in more than 25 countries, from Australia to Thailand to the USA, thanks to the incredible worldwide success of the original series and the rave reviews of its current reincarnation. Depending on the venue, sometimes guests will be seated for their interactive dining experience up on a grand stage. Or sometimes simply down at your local pub. But what’s on the menu? It’s a set menu, always featuring a soup, a main (probably chicken), and a dessert. The production assures it will always be good quality, but you should remember that it’s a prop to the show – not the other way round! But menu and venue aside, you can be sure to find that devilish John Cleese humor. By the way, did you know that Fawlty Towers is based on a real hotel?

In 1971 the Monty Python team stayed at the Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay whilst filming on location. John Cleese became fascinated with the behaviour of the owner, Donald Sinclair, whom Cleese later described as “the rudest man I’ve ever come across in my life.” This behaviour included Sinclair throwing a timetable at a guest who asked when the next bus to town would arrive; and placing a briefcase behind a wall in the garden on the suspicion that it contained a bomb (Sinclair explained his actions by claiming the hotel had ‘staff problems’). He also criticised an American’s table manners for not being “British” (that is, he switched hands with his fork whilst eating). Cleese and his wife who co-wrote and starred in the show with him, stayed on at the hotel after filming, furthering their research of the hotel owner. It may also not come as a surprise that Spain was one of the only countries where the Fawlty Towers television series had trouble winning over its audience.  It was initially a flop in Spain, because of the portrayal of the Spanish waiter Manuel, but it was later successfully resold, with Manuel’s nationality changed to Italian. In the Catalan region of Spain, however, Manuel was Mexican.” 

Full story found here: http://www.messynessychic.com/2014/08/12/the-restaurant-where-you-dine-as-if-you-were-an-actual-guest-at-the-fawlty-towers/

Foodie Job Alert!!!

AVAILABLE POSITION

Assistant Farmers’ Market Manager

CitySeed, New Haven, CT

CitySeed is seeking an Assistant Market Manager to help manage the 2015 neighborhood markets in New Haven, CT. The Assistant Manager will work under the supervision of the Market Managers of Operations and Community Relations and be expected to work in close collaboration with other CitySeed staff, vendors, interns, volunteers, and community members. The Assistant Manager will be responsible for solely and co-managing selected farmers’ markets, supervising and training volunteers at those markets, working with the community, and administering the Double Value Coupon Program (DVCP). DVCP is an incentive program aimed at SNAP/Food Stamp recipients to encourage greater consumption of local fruits and vegetables at our markets.

This position is seasonal (with the potential for full-year), running from April 2015 through November 2015, and would include sharing a rotating schedule for Saturday and Sunday markets as well as responsibility for markets on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays over the course of the season. Expectations of hours range from approximately 15 hours/week in the early and late seasons (April, May and November) to up to approximately 30 hours/week in the heavy season (June-October). Office duties are included in this time and some computer/email work could potentially be done from home. There is potential to combine this position with another of our part-time positions for full-time work.

Desired Qualifications: 

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Experience working in communities of color, neighborhood groups, and/or community events
• Enthusiasm for connecting communities through food
• Experience working with and/or desire to work with farmers
• Experience creating content for social media, newsletters or similar formats
• Basic understanding of the Spanish language
• Flexibility, maturity and a sense of humor
• Ability to work effectively under time constraints and stressful situations
• Ability to prioritize tasks

Required Qualifications: 

• Valid CT driver’s license
• High School Diploma or GED
• Proven communication, conflict resolution and creative problem solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to supervise volunteers and youth
• Computer skills (Word, Excel, Constant Contact, Facebook)
• Ability to lift objects weighing up to 50lbs, work in inclement weather conditions, and drive a vehicle safely with a trailer attached (trailer training will be provided)

Responsibilities of Position:

• Operate selected farmers’ markets, including setup and breakdown of tents and table displays, special events and programming, vendor and customer management, supervision of volunteers and youth workers, bread and merchandise sales, and vendor checkout process.
• Run Debit, Credit, and SNAP (food stamp) transactions on a wireless terminal at the markets.
• Answer questions about CitySeed’s markets and programs, including Food Stamp Double Value Coupon Program (DVCP), at the markets, events, or office.
• Collect and input DVCP and vendor transaction data on reporting sheets and a computer database.
• Communicate and resolve issues with partners, vendors, and customers in a mature and positive manner.
• Supervise and train interns, volunteers, and youth workers at markets.
• Assist the Market Managers in contacting, scheduling, and setting up vendors and events at the markets as needed.
• Order bread, communicate with farmers about products for market, and contribute information to weekly newsletter.
• Ensure market profitability with sales of CitySeed merchandise as well as collection of vendor fees.
• Assist the Market Managers in market promotion through social media and other venues.
• Work and collaborate with partnering neighborhood groups.
• Attend additional events as necessary to represent CitySeed.
• Uphold and communicate CitySeed’s mission

Compensation and Start Date: This position is part-time starting April and pay starts $15/hour. There are no other benefits offered at this time.

To Apply: Candidates must send a cover letter, resume and the names and contact information for two references to Ellen Pendergast at jobs@cityseed.org. Please forward any questions to jobs@cityseed.org. We will reply with a confirmation email that we have received your application. This position will be posted until filled. CitySeed is an Equal Opportunity Employer and especially invites applications from members of underrepresented groups.