Be a Good Bee Guardian

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

Pull Up a Tray to The February 2023 Buffet

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

Forks in the Road: To Bend and Beyond!

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!

From the Archives: Shishito vs. Mothra (well, sort of)

As I plucked the third very large hornworm off my peppers (not shishitos this time), I was reminded of this post from the archives. Darn hornworms grown into lovely moths, but they can go reach maturity on someone else’s peppers this year! By Katy Budge A few years ago, I noticed that shishito peppers started showing up on a lot of Asian appetizer menus, especially … Continue reading From the Archives: Shishito vs. Mothra (well, sort of)

Forks in the Road: A Quick Spring Jaunt to Northern California

By Katy Budge Well, I’ll start with a disclaimer. This trip through Northern California also included a stop in Ashland, Oregon, but the point of that was to visit family, so I didn’t do due diligence with documenting my every morsel. Guess I’ll have to go back and rectify that at a later date! I’m not always in the mood for a swap meet situation, … Continue reading Forks in the Road: A Quick Spring Jaunt to Northern California

Forks in the Road: Celebrating in Santa Cruz

It had been a minute since the last camping trip in Santa Cruz, so when a hard-to-come-by spot opened up at New Brighton State Beach – off we went! This timing occurred during the date of another trip ‘round the sun, and I got to celebrate with an old friend in Santa Cruz I hadn’t seen in a while, and a surprise visit from other … Continue reading Forks in the Road: Celebrating in Santa Cruz

The gnarled "fingers" of Buddha's Hands resemble that of ... Buddha's hands.

Make Things Zesty with a Buddha’s Hand

By Katy Budge With citrus season in full swing, keep your eyes peeled for Buddha’s Hands! They’re pretty easy to spot. Just look for something with knobby, bright yellow “fingers” that indeed resemble a Buddha’s hand. Or something that seems more at home in a Guillermo Del Toro film or Hieronymus Bosch painting than at your local farmers’ market. Like other citrons, these members of … Continue reading Make Things Zesty with a Buddha’s Hand

Forks in the Road: San Francisco, Spring 2021

By Katy Budge It’s bittersweet to begin writing this post. I’m determined that it’s going to be a happy tale about being able to return to a city that I love, and to enjoy all of its moveable feasts. I did get to do that – to go to San Francisco in the spring of 2021. I and my friends were vaccinated. We wore masks … Continue reading Forks in the Road: San Francisco, Spring 2021

Grant Provided Win-Win for Local Fishing Industry and Food Insecure

By Katy Budge A version of this article originally appeared on the Edible San Luis Obispo website. (Photo courtesy of Slow Money SLO) When the global pandemic sent waves through the economy, among the hard hit sectors was the local fishing industry. As restaurants shuttered and supply chains shuddered, market demand collapsed. Another impact of COVID was the rising demand on food banks and similar … Continue reading Grant Provided Win-Win for Local Fishing Industry and Food Insecure