I admit I’m not an avid viewer of the reality show Deadliest Catch, but I’ve seen enough of it to realize the perils those fishermen go through to get Alaskan crab for our plates. It’s flat out one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. That said, I was tickled when I was asked to be part of a media event showcasing Red King … Continue reading Feelin’ King Crabby Lately?
I’d always been curious about spot prawns, the colorful wigglers I’d see from time to time in the live tank at Pier 46 Seafood Market in Templeton. They seemed at once so ethereal, so primitive, so delicate, and so … sharp! Spot prawns, aka Pandalus platyceros, are technically shrimp, and not even prawns at all. That moniker comes from their reign as the largest member … Continue reading Off with Your Heads, Pandalus platyceros!
I’d never heard of a “tiffin” until I saw them several years ago at Luna Red restaurant in San Luis Obispo. Now, I rarely leave home without it! As you can see from the pictures, a tiffin is a round box that clamps shut and is typically used for transporting food. As the wise knower of all things – aka Wikipedia – states: “ ‘Tiffin … Continue reading A Tale of Tiffins: One Person’s Doggie Bag is Another City’s Lunch Box
A few weeks ago, as the promise of much needed rain was teasing the Central Coast, a ripe opportunity arose for the Glean SLO program. John Rourke and Chris Freitas of San Luis Berry Farm had gotten as much of an organic strawberry harvest as they could before the rain would hit, so they invited a couple local groups, including Glean SLO, to pick as much … Continue reading Picking Flowers for the Food Bank?
In the course of writing an article on a local CSA (Talley Farms’ Fresh Harvest, Arroyo Grande, CA), I ended up with a couple bags of freshly picked fava beans. I also ended up with a big dose of appreciation for any chefs and home cooks that serve these delectable broad beans on any sort of regular basis. Fava beans are essentially the vegetable equivalent … Continue reading Favas: A Fav to Eat, But Not to Prepare
Come on, admit it. At some point in your life you’ve exuberantly purchased a six-pack (or two) of zucchini starts in the spring, and six months later your friends and neighbors are fearfully hiding from you because you’re always looking to pawn off zucchini the size of small canoes. Examples of such overabundance exist wherever food is grown – from backyard gardens to large commercial … Continue reading Gleaning the County’s Bounty for the County’s Hungry
Bánh mì! Where had you been all my life? As much of a sandwich lover as I am, it’s surprising that I’d never heard of bánh mì (pronounced bun me) until a few years ago. Though specific ingredients can vary, this Vietnamese sandwich is typically made with grilled meat or tofu, cucumber, jalapeño, cilantro, pickled carrots, daikon radish, and a spread such as aioli or … Continue reading Get Your Bánh Mì On!
There’s a lot of buzz about “sustainability,” but a recent panel discussion on January 23 (the latest event in the lecture series sponsored by Cal Poly’s CAFESCenter for Sustainability) proved that it’s here to stay – not just because it’s better for the planet, but because it can also offer businesses some significant savings to their bottom line. Indeed, one of the three tenets of … Continue reading When Life Gives You Onion Waste … Repurpose it!
For some reason, I haven’t actively participated in a holiday cookie marathon since I’ve been old enough to drink. Those of you who know me know that’s been … well, let’s be gentle and just say “a while.” That said, I was delighted to finally be able to take up an invitation by friend and colleague Brenda Hock to be one of her annual cookie … Continue reading Cookie Decorating Marathon!
In theory, it seems as though cream sauces should be a snap, right? If you heat cream, which is a liquid, and add cheese, which melts with heat, the result should be a happy, easy peasy, yummy swim of delight for your pasta, right? Well, of course, anyone who’s tried cheese sauces knows that it’s just not that simple. There’s that moment when you think … Continue reading How to Stop Cheese Sauces from Breaking Your Heart
