I didn’t grow up making tamales. In fact, I’ve made them only once, but that was enough for me to gain an immense appreciation for them. There was no bustling bevy of abuelas, tias, and hermanas. There were just two of us. Just two gringas facing the mountain of masa, the pots of fillings, the packages of corn husks. I thought my tamale making day … Continue reading Appreciating Tamales
Since we’re hopefully at a point where we finally care about what names mean, and the effect they have on people, it seemed a good time to bring this post back from the 2014 archives. Not only do I talk about a certain type of lime, but I also noted – six years ago! – that it was time to change the name of my … Continue reading From the Archives … No More K-Word Limes!
Think about what kind of system you’re supporting if you keep choosing Big Meat. We’ve gotten to the point where the lowest amount we fork over at the cash register is our criteria, and we are indeed paying the price for that. Continue reading Pulling the Curtain Back on Big Meat
As per a friend’s suggestion, I’ve compiled a list of SLO County food producers with links to their websites. I have also indicated other places they might be available, such as farmers markets and retail locations. When – not if – you think of someone I’ve missed, or you have questions, email me at katy@casafestiva.com. Hoping to update the list frequently, especially in these bizarre … Continue reading Buy Local!
A scene that just a couple weeks ago would have been one of vibrant, bustling community is now one of hushed tones and palpable concern. But it is still a community. It is a farmers market. As of now, the markets in our California county are open, and rightly so. At a time when restaurants – facing their own crisis — are drastically reducing their … Continue reading Market in the Time of Corona
Eating local is nothing new. It’s been the thrumming mantra of “foodies” in this century, and – as such — has arguably lost a bit of its luster and cachet. However, despite its simplicity, its passé patina, and its challenges, there are ever increasing reasons why supporting local food has become more important. One is that by supporting local food producers and purveyors directly, you’re … Continue reading Forks in the Road: #eatlocalontheroad
In light of the new California state law allowing customers to bring their own takeout containers for leftovers, I thought I’d reach into the archives for this post I did about tiffins in 2014. Seems I’ve been a renegade doggy-bag scofflaw for several years! I’d never heard of a “tiffin” until I saw them several years ago at Luna Red restaurant in San Luis Obispo. … Continue reading From the Archives … A Tale of Tiffins: One Person’s Doggie Bag is Another City’s Lunch Box
In the midst of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the amazing Apollo 11 mission, I realized some of my earliest food passions orbited around the idea of going to the moon. And no, it’s not because of the old wives’ tale about it being made of cheese. That would have been tastier. I’m talking about Tang, Space Food Sticks, and Quisp. I was in grade … Continue reading Foods I Mooned Over as a Kid
That was a question I had for several years. I’d written about a lot of CSA programs for my newspaper column, but never took the plunge until recently. Here’s a bit of information about CSAs to help you determine whether they’re right for you. What is a CSA? The acronym stands for Community Supported Agriculture. At its essence, a CSA program is a subscription service … Continue reading To CSA or not to CSA?
A Sonoran hot dog – aka Sonora dog – wasn’t on my culinary radar until I started researching a trip to Tucson, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. It didn’t take long to realize, “Who am I to argue with the James Beard Foundation and an award-winning food writer?” Certainly I’d have to try a Sonoran hot dog, but I’ll admit to being less than thrilled … Continue reading Foodie Bites Sonoran Hot Dog
