(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
By Katy Budge (a version of this article originally appeared in the Winter 2023 issue of Edible San Luis Obispo) Success in the restaurant business has never been easy. Monetary concerns such as food costs, rents, and razor-slim profit margins were always tough. Post-pandemic, those issues have worsened. However, it’s the human element of the business that’s proving particularly tough to stitch back together. Fielding … Continue reading The Face (and Hands) of the Workforce
By Katy Budge Venice is a magical city … in more ways than one. Designated a UNESCO heritage site, its very existence defies logic and logistics. The population of Venice began to amass in the 5th century largely because some people were fleeing invasions, and found refuge on some easy-to-defend islands in a lagoon. A rather inauspicious start to one of the world’s great cities. … Continue reading Forks in the Road: Impressions of Magical Venice
Over the past few years, I’ve become a big fan of pomegranates. The quirky red orbs signal the start of fall, cooler weather, and more reasons to craft festive cocktails using their vividly-colored juice. Native to Iran and northern India, pomegranates feature prominently in Mediterranean cuisine, including pomegranate molasses. If you see a bottle of this on your market shelves, pick it up and give … Continue reading The Poms Are Here! The Poms Are Here!
I reposted this in 2019 after the then-new California state law allowing customers to bring their own takeout containers for restaurant leftovers, which I’d been doing this for years thanks to my tiffins! In light of all the discussion about food waste and keeping things out of landfills, it seemed a good time to reach into the archives again. I’ve updated the purchase information below, so … Continue reading From the Archives … A Tale of Tiffins: One Person’s Doggie Bag is Another City’s Lunch Box
By Katy Budge I sang that song a lot as a kid, but it wasn’t until this year that I’d ever tasted a mulberry! (Of course, I’ve never seen a monkey with socks on chasing a weasel, but that’s neither here nor there.) Due to their very short shelf life of only a few days, mulberries aren’t a common sight on most grocery shelves. I … Continue reading Have You Ever Mulled Over Mulberries?
By Katy Budge (Ed. note: I previously featured La Cocina’s cookbook in my “Ex Libris” series in March 2021, and their marketplace in a “Forks in the Road” piece later that year. I’ve been a longtime admirer of this San Francisco non-profit and its efforts to bring equity to the food and restaurant industry. I urge you to do the same.) There was probably an … Continue reading What’s Next for La Cocina?
By Katy Budge It was only natural that, in researching a piece about a beekeeper, I’d become interested in the company they keep. And really, everyone should “bee” intrigued with these amazing little creatures. While the most obvious product of bees is their delicious honey, it’s their industrious pollination work that keeps life on this planet buzzing. There are several thousand types of bee species, … Continue reading Be a Good Bee Guardian
Yup, this cartoon pretty much sums up how I feel about kale! In other news … here’s what I’ve been following and thinking about in the world of food during February 2023! Just click on the links to explore for yourself. 1. We’ve championed the heirloom tomato, now let’s champion the humans. 2. Are high egg prices due to inflation? To avian flu? Mainly just … Continue reading Pull Up a Tray to The February 2023 Buffet
By Katy Budge Beer, Beer, Beer To say that Bend is a beer-centric town is an understatement! Most are concentrated in the downtown area (such as Bend Brewing and the original location of Deschutes), but it seems that every neighborhood has its own lineup of taps. Among our favs on the Eastside were Sunriver Brewing, 10 Barrel Brewing, and the tiny Van Henion tucked off … Continue reading Forks in the Road: To Bend and Beyond!
