"Forks in the Road", Canada, Restaurants

From the Archives – “Forks in the Road”: From Vancouver with love to Poutine and Saumon Fume

Since I’m in the midst of World Cup fever, this archive dive seemed appropriate. It’s a post I wrote after visiting Vancouver in 2012 to watch the US Women’s team qualify for the Olympics. This is one of the “Forks in the Road” pieces about my traveling culinary finds. If you’re planning an upcoming trip, check that page to see if I’ve covered anywhere you … Continue reading From the Archives – “Forks in the Road”: From Vancouver with love to Poutine and Saumon Fume

katycasafestivaJune 30, 2019Leave a comment

Community Supported Agriculture, Farms, Food, Healthy Eating

To CSA or not to CSA?

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?

katycasafestivaMay 31, 2019Leave a comment

"Forks in the Road", Food, Tucson

Foodie Bites Sonoran Hot Dog

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

katycasafestivaApril 26, 2019May 2, 2019Leave a comment

Citrus, Fermented Food, Food, Preserving, Probiotics

In Praise of Preserved Lemons!

They’ve been around for almost a century, yet are unknown to many cooks and chefs. They’re used in Moroccan dishes such as tagine and mechouia, and in a Cambodian soup known as ngam nguv. Mention them in Turkey, Iran, and Israel and you’ll definitely get enthusiastic nods of recognition. If all that makes you think preserved lemons are just an exotic ingredient, think again! These … Continue reading In Praise of Preserved Lemons!

katycasafestivaMarch 27, 2019March 26, 2019Leave a comment

"Forks in the Road", Food, India Pale Ale

Forks in the Road: “395 and Coasting”

Last fall, the 2017 Pod Squad (two two-leggeds, two four-leggeds, and one sweet little R-Pod trailer) set out for an adventure dubbed “395 and Coasting.” As always, the route took us to a lot of tasty spots that included breweries, bakeries, and burgers. Farmers markets are a regular favorite too – not only for fresh seasonal produce, but also for local delights such as Oregon … Continue reading Forks in the Road: “395 and Coasting”

katycasafestivaJune 26, 2018June 26, 20184 Comments

"Forks in the Road", Food, Restaurants

Forks in the Road: Calistoga & St. Helena

Text and Photos By Katy Budge Heading to the Calistoga/St. Helena area? Here’s a quick look at what I discovered on a recent trip. (It was a pleasant surprise to find out that the immediate area had been spared fire damage, by the way. However, north of town towards Santa Rosa was described as an absolute disaster area, and we chose not to make the … Continue reading Forks in the Road: Calistoga & St. Helena

katycasafestivaMay 16, 2018May 22, 2018Leave a comment

Food

Oh Yelp, Are You Burden or Help?

(Ed. Note: a version of this article originally appeared in the Spring 2018 edition of Edible San Luis Obispo.) In the 13 years since its founding, Yelp has become one of the go-to sites for crowd-sourced opinions about everything from house painters, to hair salons, to restaurants … especially restaurants. Sigh. Disclaimer: I’ve been a food writer for many years, so you might think I … Continue reading Oh Yelp, Are You Burden or Help?

katycasafestivaApril 16, 2018May 16, 2018Leave a comment

Easter, Eggs, Food

From the Archives: Going All Natural with Easter Eggs

(Ed. Note: With Easter soon upon us, I thought I’d crack into my CasaFestiva.com archives and serve up this post from April, 2012. Only minor edits have been made to reflect some updated web links, etc.) Well, Easter is just about to hop in, so I thought some bunny better discuss colored eggs! If you’ve ever wondered how bunnies and eggs got yolked together for … Continue reading From the Archives: Going All Natural with Easter Eggs

katycasafestivaMarch 29, 2018March 30, 2018Leave a comment

Food, Healthy Eating

Dear Kale,

It’s not you. It’s me. Yes, I know you have a long history dating back about 24 centuries, and during all that time you’ve been recognized and lauded as a healthy food. Bravo for you. You’re a cruciferous vegetable, a superfood, a bulked-up antioxidant warrior against cancer. Your lutein is good for my eyes, your detoxification properties good for my liver. You can help lower … Continue reading Dear Kale,

katycasafestivaMarch 21, 2018March 22, 20182 Comments

Casa Festiva

"Exploring the Culture of Cuisine!" especially in regards to sustainability and local food systems

Author: katycasafestiva