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. 

Article: How to use fruit peels to filter your water

With more and more eco-conscious people replacing their bottled water intake (and for good reason) with tap water, there is a growing demand for water filtration devices. But you don't need to go out and buy a fancy device to ensure that your tap water is free from pollutants. Researchers with the National University of Singapore have recently discovered a simple do-it-yourself method for filtering water using nothing more than fruit peels and rubbing alcohol, reports Wired. Researcher Ramakrishna Mallampati originally thought up the method as an easy, cheap way for rural communities in the developing world to purify their water. He found that apple and tomato peels -- two of the most widely consumed fruits in the world -- were remarkably efficient at absorbing a wide variety of harmful pollutants, and that they could be transformed into effective water filters with only minor preparation.

To make use of Mallampati's technique yourself, begin by peeling your apples and tomatoes and placing them in a rubbing alcohol solution and letting them soak. Next, remove the peels and let them dry out. Once they're thoroughly desiccated, simply place the peels in a container of water and wait. After a few hours, remove the peels from the water and it's ready to drink. Mallampati found that the apple and tomato peels together were reliable absorbents of toxic heavy metal ions, dissolved organic and inorganic chemicals, various nanoparticles, dyes and pesticides. Note that the method does not remove pathogens from the water, just a wide variety of pollutants, so you shouldn't use it as an all-encompassing water purifier. But if you're worried about any of these other pollutants finding their way into your water supply, the technique should help make your water much cleaner.

Fruit peel filtration ought to be most beneficial to rural communities around the world that lack access to clean potable water. Fruit peels are plentiful, and often discarded as useless biowaste. Re-purposing them for water filtration will offer a cheap and accessible way for communities to hydrate themselves in a safer manner. "We don't want to do any sort of commercialization," said Mallampati, "so we're working with NGOs that can take the technology to the people and explain it.” Mallampati isn't stopping at apple and tomato peels either. Research efforts are already underway to test other kinds of fruit peels, particularly the peels of fruits local to communities that need clean water the most.

SOURCE: http://www.mnn.com/food/beverages/stories/how-to-use-fruit-peels-to-filter-your-water#ixzz3I1FyxiMY

Eye on Brazil

After beginning to introduce meats into my life again after being a lifelong vegetarian, one of the few places that I began frequenting on a regular basis, was Brazil Grill in Hartford. Growing up, my father always tried to entice me with hot dogs, hamburgers, and other grilled meats. Besides the occasional slice of kielbasa on Russian Easter, the rest turned my stomach.

So what was it about churrascaria? First, some background. Brazil is known as a rancher country, so obviously meat is a big deal. Churrasco style is essentially a South American rotisserie style of roasting meat skewers. It originated with the cattle ranching gauchos in the 16th and 17th centuries beginning in the Rio Grande do Sul region of Brazil and spread around the rest of the country after the 1940's. Traditionally, the cooking technique involved coating the meats in coarse salt, resting for 30 minutes and then set atop the fire. A saltwater basting method was used to ensure the meat stayed moist during cooking. The skewers are strategically placed on racks over the flames wherein the items with more fat are placed on top of the other cuts thus infusing them with flavor as the juices drip down. 

Brazil Grill isn't exactly noticeable from the street. On your first visit, you might drive right past the tan building with dark windows which makes it hard to tell if it's actually open, except for the fact that the small parking lot is always chock full of cars which might then cause you to look up and see the detached sign at the edge of the lot. Continuing inside, turn immediately to your left and enter the side room where there is a salad station and cooked food buffet. 

Grab a plate and load up on items from a rotating menu that include items such as fried fish, yucca with pork, and bacalhau (codfish stew). Making sure to leave some space on your plate for the main attraction, head back out and visit the grill where you can pick from a list of skewers. There you can load your plate up with slices of chicken heart, sirloin, lamb, ribs and more. Lastly, your items get weighed at the register, where you pay by the pound ($6.00-$12.99). Personally I have a mild addiction to maracuya "passion fruit", so I usually order a glass of juice at this point, and maybe a custard to accompany my meal. 

More often than not, I have noticed that there has been a soccer game playing on the television in the background. This of course, started me thinking about this years World Cup being held in Brazil. 

As the government is posed to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on security and cleaning up the city in preparation, other issues have arisen. Riots across the country have led to violent protests on the streets of Belo, Rio de Janeiro, San Paulo and other regions. The police, in cooperation with the army started a "pacification" campaign in 2008 which is expected to continue long after the world cup, which is aimed at eradicating drug gangs in the countries many favelas. 

The government also signed a $350M deal with Israel in 2009 to supply drones for the event as well as the 2015 Olympics. The focal point of the protesters stems from residents questioning how this money is being spent, when they would prefer seeing the funds being used to build necessary hospitals and schools. These protests are no small affair, as you can see from this video:


 
More information on opportunities for activism surrounding Brazil and the FIFA World Cup check out this excellent website about the indigenous peoples and struggles: http://www.survivalinternational.org/worldcup

Brazil Grill: http://www.brazilgrillct.com/

The 2014 Dirty Dozen list is out! (Republished from MindBodyGreen)

"Don't want to eat fruits coated with toxins? Neither do we! And neither does the Environmental Working Group, which thankfully tracks what's actually in and on our food. On Tuesday they released their annual Shopper's Guide to Pesticides, which breaks down which fruits and veggies have the most pesticides and which have the fewest. Their goal is to bring some transparency to our food supply and help you decide when it's worth shilling out extra for organic produce. Apples topped the toxic list for the fourth year in a row, which may not come as a surprise in the wake of news that they're often covered with a chemical that's banned in Europe. If it fits in your budget, the EWG recommends buying organic whenever possible. And if it's just not affordable right now, their guide can help you make more informed, healthy choices. The bottom line, says the EWG, is that it's always good to eat more fruits and vegetables, even if you're exposed to pesticides.Now you can be a little smarter about it."

The fruits and veggies with the most pesticides (the "Dirty Dozen Plus") are:

1. Apples
2. Strawberries
3. Grapes
4. Celery
5. Peaches
6. Spinach
7. Sweet bell peppers
8. Nectarines (imported)
9. Cucumbers
10. Cherry tomatoes
11. Snap peas (imported)
12. Potatoes

The "Dirty Dozen Plus" includes:

1. Hot peppers
2. Kale/collard greens

And the fruits and veggies with the least pesticides (the "Clean Fifteen") are:

1. Avocados
2. Sweet corn
3. Pineapples
4. Cabbage
5. Sweet peas (frozen)
6. Onions
7. Asparagus
8. Mangos
9. Papayas
10. Kiwi
11. Eggplant
12. Grapefruit
13. Cantaloupe
14. Cauliflower
15. Sweet potatoes

 http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-13571/12-fruits-veggies-with-the-most-pesticides-2014-dirty-dozen.html

Stop the toxicity. Boost your immune system instead.

Time for some real talk. When I was a child, I watched my grandfather religiously get his flu vaccine, and just as regularly, he developed the a strand of the flu. He, along with millions of others, didn't seem to be able to make the connection that the flu shot is basically as effective as a placebo. When consumed, it causes more harm to the body than good, and rarely protects against the flu. As an adult, each year I see the increased marketing of the flu vaccine and the period of "flu season" getting extended to the point where it currently equals almost 3/4's of the year (as was pointed out to me by a Hartford Hospital employee this week). That's a heck of a season for a cold. So why do so many medical professionals and news sources now advise that it's better to protect your family from the flu vaccine than from actually getting the flu?

Let's look first at what's in this magical vaccine. After doing some investigating, here is what the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) has disclosed. The vaccine contains thimerosal (a mercury-containing antibacterial compound), aluminum, antibiotics, egg protein, aborted human fetal cells, and monosodium glutamate (MSG). Hmmmm, if you didn't raise an eyebrow at the ingredients, let's look at some of the 10 reasons given by "Be Well Buzz".

1.) There is a total lack of real evidence that young children even benefit from flu shots.  A systematic review of 51 studies involving 260,000 children age 6 to 23 months found no evidence that the flu vaccine is any more effective than a placebo. Also the shots are only able to protect against certain strains of the virus, which means that if you come into contact with a different strain of virus you will still get the flu.

2.) Medical journals have published thousands of articles revealing that injecting vaccines can actually lead to serious health problems including harmful immunological responses and a host of other infections. This further increases the body’s susceptibility to the diseases that the vaccine was supposed to protect against.

3.) Ever noticed how vaccinated children within days or few weeks develop runny noses, pneumonia, ear infections and bronchiolitis? The reason is the flu virus introduced in their bodies which creates these symptoms. It also indicates immuno-suppression i.e. lowering of the immunity. The flu vaccines actually do not immunize but sensitize the body against the virus.

4.) Its a known fact that Flu vaccines contain strains of the flu virus along with other ingredients. Now think about the impact such a vaccine can have over someone with a suppressed immune system? If you have a disease that is already lowering your body’s ability to fight a virus, taking the flu shot will put your body in danger of getting the full effects of the flu and make you more susceptible to pneumonia and other contagious diseases.

5.) The Flu vaccines contain mercury, a heavy metal known to be hazardous for human health. The amount of mercury contained in a multi-dose flu shot is much higher than the maximum allowable daily exposure limit. Mercury toxicity can cause memory loss, depression, ADD, oral health problems, digestive imbalances, respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases and many more such serious health ailments. And what about the elderly? Can the flu vaccine help them?

6.) There is mounting evidence that flu shots can cause Alzheimer’s disease.  One report shows that people who received the flu vaccine each year for 3 to 5 years had a 10-fold greater chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease than people who did not have any flu shots.  Also with age the immune system weakens, thus lowering your ability to fight off infections. Introducing the flu virus in the bodies of elderly could have dangerous consequences. Can we trust the authorities who are promoting the wide-spread use of flu vaccines?

7.) The Center for Disease Control appoints a 15-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).  This committee is responsible for deciding who should be vaccinated each year.  Almost all the ACIP have a financial interest in immunizations. It’s all about the money and may have very little to do with your health and well being.  The very people pushing these vaccines stand to make billions of dollars.  This itself creates a doubt on how effective these flu vaccines really are?

8.) Research shows that over-use of the flu-vaccine and drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza can actually alter flu viruses and cause them to mutate into a more deadly strain.  Couple this with drug resistant strains and you have virtually no benefits with much risk.

9.) There is enough evidence that shows that the ingredients present in the flu vaccinations can actually cause serious neurological disorders. In the 1976 swine flu outbreak, many who got the flu shots developed permanent nerve damage. Flu vaccines can contain many harmful materials including detergent, mercury, formaldehyde, and strains of live flu virus. Is this what you want to put in YOUR body?

10.) Trying to guess what strain to vaccinate against each season has proved to be no more effective than a guessing game.  This has been very true in recent years with the H1N1 strain. Moreover getting multi-shots will only prove more dangerous as different strains of viruses and harmful ingredients are introduced into your body. Flu shots are indeed more dangerous than you could think, and it is best to rely on natural ways to protect against the flu rather than getting yourself vaccinated.

More resources found here: http://www.bewellbuzz.com/general/10-reasons-flu-shots-dangerous-flu/

This issue became highly personal to me in recent months as an opportunity arose that required a flu shot. After much internal conflict, I decided against it. This quote stuck in my head and helped me in my decision making process. "If you stand for nothing, you will fall for everything." As employers, and most recently, the city of New York, attempt to force its citizens and employees to submit to these requirements, we will all have one of these moments where we will have to clarify what our convictions are and what we are willing to compromise for.

In my humble opinion, it's better to avoid the vaccine and go towards strengthening your overall immune system. This past year, for the first time, I did not catch a single cold. And that's with working in a stressful environment where everyone around me was suffering from the flu, common colds, and the like, all winter long. So what was my secret? I boosted my consumption of the following: apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, garlic, mega amounts of vitamin C or Camu Camu and raw organic honey. These are simple changes that can affect your overall health and keep you away from injecting a potentially toxic substance into your body.

A real life Sweeney Todd situation?

A news story came to my attention this morning about a restaurant in Nigeria that has been accused of serving human flesh to its customers. Naturally, the first connection that came to my mind was the musical Sweeney Todd, the story of the barber who sold meat pies made from the remains of his victims. Secondly, I started thinking back on tidbits shared with me by some of my friends from Somalia, Ethiopia, Malawi and yes, Nigeria. When I had asked about diet in Africa, I had been told that meat was a rarity and that the majority of the diet was plant and grain based. So is a story like this merely shocking because of it’s reference to human cannibalism? Or is it more shocking because it references a deeper problem of availability of fresh meat? In the story below, a priest is shocked not only that he consumed human meat, but at the price in which he did so. Sometimes the surface story is only a tip off to a larger, more problematic story that we are not always interested in hearing the details of, without the added sensationalism that has been added here. The original story is included below for your consideration. 

"A restaurant in the Nigerian state of Anambra has been shut down after the authorities reportedly found it has been selling dishes made of human meat. The police recovered at least two fresh human heads when they arrested 11 people from the restaurant including the owner, six women and four men, following a tip-off. The blood-soaked heads were found wrapped in cellophane sheets. Officials have also seized two AK-47 rifles, other weapons, dozens of rounds of ammunitions and several mobile phones during the raid.

“Each time I came to market, because the hotel is very close to the market, I always noticed funny movements in and out of the hotel; dirty people with dirty characters always come into the hotel. So, I was not surprised when the police made this discovery in the early hours of yesterday,” a local resident told the Osun Defender. A pastor, who was shocked to know that what he had eaten was human meat, complained to the police.“I went to the hotel early this year, after eating, I was told that a lump of meat was being sold at N700 (£2.5), I was surprised. So I did not know it was human meat that I ate at such expensive price,” the unidentified pastor said. Reports of cannibalism sometimes emerge in Nigeria, but this is the first time a restaurant has been booked for selling human meat dishes."

Source: HTTP://GRAPHIC.COM.GH/INTERNATIONAL/AFRICA/17204-NIGERIA-RESTAURANT-SHUT-DOWN-FOR-SERVING-HUMAN-MEAT.HTML

Weedrobes: Artist creates stunning garments from fruit, weeds, flowers

By Kimberley Mok, TreeHugger

Environmental art doesn't necessarily have to be restricted to a pile of rocks stacked together by Andy Goldsworthy -- it can also take the form of wearable, fashionable, and socially engaged garments too. Made with fruits, weeds, flowers, and leaves, 'Weedrobes' is the delightful series of meticulously detailed, perishable gowns, coats, and suits by Canadian environmental artist Nicole Dextras. Striking a careful balance between style and commentary, the message behind Weedrobes is aimed squarely at the not-always-so-sustainable practices of the fashion industry, while also redefining the perceived immortality of haute couture.

Dextras' garments begin life as plants harvested from a variety of places, ranging from areas affected by invasive species to specimens from Dextras' own garden. After constructing her pieces, Dextras photographs each Weedrobe with a model, and they are sent out to "engage the public" by interacting with passerby. Afterwards, each garment is left to be 'reclaimed' and to decompose naturally. Dextras' extensive array of natural materials is a veritable gardener's delight, including yucca leaves, wild red rose, camellia, willow, hydrangeas, crab apples, kale, rose hips, laurels, and thorns to pierce components together.

She sometimes uses invasive species like Japanese knotweed to call into question our attitudes toward certain species. Though it may seem to be a little too fun to be serious, Weedrobes is not just some off-the-cuff project. Dextras' view on fashion is from the inside, with a deep personal history with fashion beginning from her childhood memories of her mother's clothing store and Dextras' own employment in non-union sweatshop, where she witnessed firsthand the poor working conditions and the chemicals used in the process. Ultimately, the point of these ephemeral robes is to get people to see past the glamorous exterior and at the larger life cycles behind the fashion industry. According to Dextras: The Weedrobes philosophy is based on being a free thinker, creating one's own sense of style while also raising awareness about the impact of industry on our eco-system. Our most effective tool for change is for consumers to demand more equitable products. It may be impractical to wear clothing made with leaves, but our future depends on the creation of garments made from sustainable resources.

Check out her website: http://www.nicoledextras.com/ 

Grow-your-own-rice Bra unveiled in Toyko

While I can certainly appreciate the thought behind this invention, I am doubtful that it has any practical usage at all. But hey, you gotta hand it to the Japanese for coming up with this. So, what the invention consists of, is basically an everyday bra that you can convert into a device for growing your own rice. Very, very strange. But in the end, maybe it will do its part to raise consciousness about farming and the importance of agriculture. Especially as a large proportion of grains that are cultivated in Asia are sent overseas to America to feed livestock. This action has been noted as contributing to hunger and food shortages in those countries. Food for thought.

Dinner and a Movie

The Hartford Courant did a news story this week about the 25th anniversary of The Gilson Cafe and Cinema in Winsted, CT, and that made me start to reflect on how many independent cinemas used to exist within our state and had to close due to lack of business, competition by mega theatre chains, and the poor economy. It seems to me that the resounding success of this theatre comes from it's incorporating a full bar and dinner menu for their patrons, a thrilling idea break from stale popcorn, candy and sodas. 


Any theatre that can offer me "Pate' and Brie~ A presentation of duck liver mousse pate' made with plum wine, a wedge of soft brie cheese accompanied with slices of bread. $5.95" and a bottle of wine with my movie, is the kind of place that I want to be! And if you don't feel like being so upscale, they also offer a smattering of delicious sounding salads, sandwiches, pastas and additional appetizers. I checked out their website today too and saw that they have Mexican food too being offered by "Padres Place" which looks quite tasty, and inexpensive.


1) Movies run $7.50 (a bargain considering I paid close to $10.00 last time I went to a movie). 2) The popcorn has REAL butter on it. 3) Doors open at 6pm. 4) Closed on Mondays. 5) Reservations required for Fridays and Saturdays...so plan ahead! 


Check out their website for more info: http://www.gilsoncafecinema.com/index2.htm

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

What the heck is a foodie anyway??

      "A foodie is someone who has a deep interest in food. In addition to being interested in food itself, foodies are also interested in the back story: the history, production, science, and industry of food. As a general rule, foodies are amateurs, rather than professionals working in some aspect of the food industry, and many of them are self-taught. You may also hear the terms “epicure” and “gourmet” used to describe a foodie. Many people have a personal preference for which term to use, with some people reserving “epicure” for people who are very fastidious, and “gourmet” for food professionals. Others find “foodie” derogatory, believing that it is too flip to describe their interest in food. Foodies love food, obviously, and they are usually interested in exploring a wide range of tastes, flavors, and textures. Many of them try to be as knowledgeable as possible about the foods they eat, sometimes even traveling to an area of food production to see how their food is produced. Many foodies study specific aspects of flavor and eating, like wine and food pairings, or the impact that environment has on flavor, with a focus on eating the best-tasting food possible.

     Many foodies are also interested in the personalities in the food industry, such as food writers and notable chefs. They may also be intrigued by food science, learning more about how food performs in the kitchen and why certain flavors and textures appear when they do. Scientific approaches to food and cooking have led to a slew of cookbooks which explain the science behind various steps in a recipe, rather than just giving cooks a set of directions.

     Foodies are often said to be in search of the best flavor, regardless of origin, and many seek out food experiences which they perceive as “authentic,” refusing to look down their noses at particular ingredients. While “foodie” often means “foodsnob” in the ears of some people, foodies may enjoy familiar foods like pizza and chow mein just as readily as they enjoy multi-course meals at expensive restaurants. A foodie can also be very single-minded in the pursuit of an elusive flavor, recipe, or experience. For people who are not quite as obsessed with food as the foodie  community, foodies can seem a bit peculiar, and tensions in relationships and friendships sometimes arise as a result of conflict over food choices. Foodies, for example, can argue vociferously about a choice of restaurant for an hour or more, while non-foodies may be inclined to order delivery and call it a night."

As defined by www.wisegeek.com

Foodie blast from the past

I just thought it would be interesting to share with you some of the photos of a place that most of you should recognize if you are familiar with driving around Hartford. These photos are of Arthur's Drugstore on Farmington Avenue at the intersection of Sigourney and Farmington Ave (diagonally across from Aetna).

And this is the view of Arthurs Drugstore when it had a lunch counter! Personally I wish we still had some decent retro lunch counters around Hartford where I could go for a BLT or something equally as fitting. Sad loss that none of these places seem to exist anymore. Nice blast from the past though.

If I have peaked your interest and you want to find more such photos, these photos are taken from the Hartford Studies project which is housed at The Hartford Public Library.

Pelkey's Pig Roast

Can you point me to the pig roast?

Having been a vegetarian for most of my life, the last place on earth that I would have thought I would end up was at a pig roast. However, since I decided to start expanding my palate in the past year, I jumped at the invitation extended to me by friend Katherine to attend her father's annual Pig Roast held in Madison, CT. After all, when do you ever get invited to such an event? I figured it was my responsibility my followers to go and report back. Luckily for me, Kathy is a fellow vegetarian, and so I wasn't worried about starving since she informed me that she would be bringing plenty of veggie burgers and there would be tons of side dishes to nosh on, if I wasn't ready to try a slice of the pig who had been nicknamed "Earl", evidenced by the carved apple in it's mouth. I have to admit that while I didn't taste any of the roasted pig, which weighed in at 130 pounds, I can report back that he smelled absolutely delish while cooking!  

Kathy and I

A line quickly formed when Papa Pelkey announced that "Earl" was ready to emerge from the roaster. The eager crowd who had been patiently waiting and increasing their appetite by downing beers quickly stripped the meat off of Earl and loaded up their plates on the long tables which were groaning under all of the side dishes, ranging from baked apples to salads, corn on the cob, coleslaws, potato salads and everything in between. Before you know it, the food had practically been inhaled by the masses. To wash it all down with, Kathy had played the role of mix mistress and had created an

Papa Pelkey carving up "Earl"

intoxicating summer sangria for us. Chock full of summer berries and lemon halves, it was like having desert in a glass and I almost couldn't believe my eyes when I looked up from my glass and saw that the long tables were now magically ladden with brownies, pies and jellos that I wanted to try. Luckily there was a planned activity for the crowd to help us working through our expected lethargy. We all gathered round for a very enthusiastic game called "Cajun Horseshoes" which involved tossing 3 metal washers into a board that had 3 holes in it and represented a points system. The game is a tradition, and many of the players had 12 years of practicing under their belts. There was an officiating judge and it cost a dollar to play. The winner got to take home the winnings.  Unfortunately despite my dedicating an hour to practicing this game, I was taken out in the first round by Papa Pelkey, and didn't have a chance to showcase my new found skills. The evening ended us with roasting marshmallows over the fire pits, and both listening and commenting on some of the conversations that were going on around us. We heard one group talking about a dog who had drowned in a toilet. Another was reminiscing about clothing that was fashionable in the 80's and 90's. Hmm, that's one of the best thing about summer. You never really know what to expect when a bunch of random people get together.

The never ending quest for a real cup of coffee

La Paloma on Capitol Ave.

     After getting irritated with myself for not going to La Paloma Sabanera yet, and being in desperate need of a decent cafe con leche, I headed over. Let me first mention that parking is slightly tricky, but the owner has tried to accomodate for this situation by letting you park in the lot directly behind the building, or you can try for street parking after 9am.
     La Paloma Sabanera makes me feel like I am back in the 90's again. And that's a good thing, cause I miss that decade terribly. The atmosphere is funky and inviting. The chairs are random sizes and styles and are playfully mismatched with tables displaying colorful collages underneath the glass. One of my favorite ones was a circular homage to Freida Kahlo. The owner also told me that they offer free wireless, and it's the kind of place where you can comfortably camp out with your laptop for a few hours and not worry about the staff trying to rush you along or making hints that you purchase more than the coffee you have sitting in front of you.

     Although I have to say, you might want to eat here. The menu is pretty tasty for a coffee shop. Affordable as well. My cafe con leche with a cinnamon twist came to slightly over $3, which I was thrilled about since I had been grumbling about the $7 that I had paid the day before at Tisane for a cafe mocha and a biscotti. And I returned for lunch the same week to check it out and had a really good vegetarian panini with pesto for around $6. My lunch companion was equally pleased with her tuna salad sandwich. The menu is listed online, so you can check it out on their website.
     La Paloma Sabanera also is the home of the Kino Cafe, which is a semi underground movie group in Hartford. They host film viewings which are open to the public and cost $3 a person to attend. Quite a good deal. The films show on Tuesday nights and start up for the fall on September 14th at 7pm. Their schedule is available on La Paloma Sabanera's website as well.

Mural outside of coffeeshop

     All in all, I have decided that I will be spending a great deal of my time at La Paloma Sabanera. It's unpretentious, local, offers free water (since the owner doesn't believe in selling bottled water), has delicious and well made espresso drinks, good lunch options, a funky and artistic atmosphere and a slew of interesting patrons to start conversations with. What more could you ask for?

Address: 405 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860-956-5003
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat 9am-3pm

Website: http://www.lapalomacoffeehouse.com/default.htm

Happy Anniversary to my parents!

The flower symbolic with my parents anniversary

Today is my parents 33rd wedding anniversary, and seeing as there would be no blog and no foodie to write it without them, I would like to take a quick second to wish them a very happy anniversary. My parents are the reasons that I am probably so obsessed with eating, food, health, local dining and exploring of the places that I call home. I fluxuate between cravings for sauerkraut and horseradish and loads of almond paste because of my background. My father is Russian, and my mom is English and Dutch and because of them, I have spent my life thus far in the Virgin Islands (where they eloped), Washington, DC (where I was born) and Connecticut (where I grew up). All very diverse places with a great smashing of cultures, flavors and inspirations. I would like to thank them for teaching me to appreciate different cultures and viewpoints, to learn to love to cook, to always try to see the good and worth in people and situations, to be open minded, to always have manners, respect other people's foods and traditions, the importance of ettiquete, to constantly improve myself, and to always try new things. Now the real challenge, is where to take them out to dinner to celebrate!

Quotes from one foodie to another, part II

"We think fast food is equivalent to pornography, nutritionally speaking" ~Steve Elbert
"Sex is good, but not as good as fresh, sweet corn." ~Garrison Keillor
"Do vegetarians eat animal crackers?" ~Author Unknown
"Shipping is a terrible thing to do to vegetables. They probably get jet-lagged, just like people". ~Elizabeth Berry
"After all the trouble you go to, you get about as much actual "food" out of eating an artichoke as you would from licking 30 or 40 postage stamps." ~Miss Piggy
"The poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese." ~G.K. Chesterton
"A bagel is a doughnut with the sin removed." ~George Rosenbaum
"In Mexico we have a word for sushi: bait." ~José Simons
"A nickel will get you on the subway, but garlic will get you a seat." ~Old New York Proverb

"It's bizarre that the produce manager is more important to my children's health than the pediatrician." ~Meryl Streep 
"A gourmet who thinks of calories is like a tart who looks at her watch." ~James Beard
"I will not eat oysters. I want my food dead - not sick, not wounded - dead." ~Woody Allen
"Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside." ~Mark Twain
"Did you ever stop to taste a carrot? Not just eat it, but taste it? You can't taste the beauty and energy of the earth in a Twinkie." ~Astrid Alauda
"The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found." ~Calvin Trillin
"He who eats alone chokes alone." ~Proverb
"Tell me what you eat, I'll tell you who you are." ~Anthelme Brillat-Savarin
"As for butter versus margarine, I trust cows more than chemists." ~Joan Gussow
"And, of course, the funniest food of all, kumquats." ~George Carlin

Genetically Modified Fish anyone???

"An AquaBounty salmon rests in a tank behind a standard salmon that is the same age."

     Apparently, AquaBounty (a fish research company near Boston) has been working on creating these salmon that have been injected with a quick growing gene for quite a few years and if you check out the picture above, you can see what one of their creations looks like compared with a salmon that has not been tampered with. The company has been working on this product for 20 years and has been waiting for the FDA to approve it. They believe that they will recieve the approval they are looking for and be able to start entering this product for sale into the us market. Next on their list to mess with are Tilapia and Trout.
     My favorite quote in the article written by Andrew Schneider is: "It would take a worldwide famine to get people with more than a grade school education to willingly eat any animal or fish concocted in a laboratory. They would have to be starving," said the woman who worked on the United Nation's hunger program. I honestly believe that this is true. There isn't anyone that I have spoken with in the US who likes the idea of eating GMO's. What do you think? For me, I am going to stop eating seafood all together if the FDA decides to approve this "blue" technology.

Check out the full article here: http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/genetically-engineered-fish-are-here-will-we-eat-them/19580562?sms_ss=email

Fresh, Local and 5 days a Week!

I could not be more thrilled to see the emergence of all of these glorious farmers markets showing up in Hartford this summer. Having been a long time resident of Hartford, I grew up going to Cheese & Stuff to buy my groceries and produce. When it closed and West Enders were forced to go elsewhere, it was devestating because there really wasn't anywhere else that stepped up to take it's place. And this problem of locating good produce and healthy foods wasn't just in the West End, it was all over Hartford. So, this initiative between the Hartford Farmers Markets, Councilman Jim Boucher and City Hall Representatives marks a turning point in raising awareness about the need for healthy food sources in the inner city. Pretty exciting since in 2005, Hartford had ranked #166 out of a total #169 towns that were surveyed for their food source being insecure. A sign of Hartford's commitment to making the farmer's markets a success in the inner city neighborhoods is also their desicion to allow the residents to make purchases with WIC Farmers Market checks and EBT. This initiative also shows support to CT's farmers since many farms have been getting sold to developers interested in creating new homes and communities in the suburbs on orchards or other rural lands. Stay tuned for information on more farmers markets that are popping up all over the state. In the meantime, check out these Hartford markets, 5 DAYS A WEEK!

West End http://www.westend.org/farmersmarket/
Billings Forge http://www.hartfordfarmersmarket.org/
North End http://www.hartfordfood.org/n/programs/ne-market-n.html
Old State House http://www.ctosh.org/docs/oshfm/farmersmkt.pdf
First Prebysterian Church http://www.farmfresh.org/food/farmersmarkets_details.php?market=261

http://www.hartfordfood.org/farmersmarkets/

Fun Food Facts

~ The word "salary" comes from salt

~ In France, people eat approximately 500,000,000 snails per year

~ Potato crisps were invented by a North American Indian called George Crum

~ Lemons contain more sugar than strawberries

~ The onion is named after a Latin word meaning large pearl

~ Cream is lighter than milk

~ Over 1,000 litres of beer are drunk in the House of Commons each week

~ Instant coffee has been in existence since the middle of the eighteenth century

~ Temperature can affect your appetite, you are more likely to be hungry if you are cold!

~ A portion of the water you drink has already been drunk by someone else, maybe several times over

~ Bakers used to be fined if their loaves were under weight, so they used to add an extra loaf to every dozen, just in case....hence the expression " baker's dozen".

~ It takes 3500 calories to make a pound of fat

~ Peanuts are used in the manufacture of dynamite

~ It has been traditional to serve fish with a slice of lemon since the Middle Ages, when people believed that the fruit's juices would dissolve any bones accidentally swallowed.

Underground Dining Revolution, part I

Underground restaurants or supper clubs have been around in the U.S. since the prohibition era and they are hugely popular not only here but also in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Guests find out about these parties through word of mouth, email lists or now as they are becoming more popular, lists like the one published on www.saltshaker.net. It has been a way for chefs who want to experiment or show off their skills to host a party outside of the confines of a restaurant. They can be held in locations that range from garages, office buildings, apartments, farms or basements and hidden back rooms. Sometimes there are passwords, scavenger hunts used to find the location to shake off authorities, dazzling cuisine, tons of liquor, and a fascinating band of renegade diners to share the experience with. Although this is becoming more and more popular, and less clandestine, it is largely a hidden concept to most of the world, thank god. Let's just hope it stays that way and doesn't become commercialized and trendy.

To start your dining revolution juices flowing, You MUST check out this video. I think these kids have the right idea and are truely taking the concept of underground dining to a guerilla level. While I am not sure that I would EVER want to do this on the NYC subway, I applaude them for their creativity.