Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life

Not since Fast Food Nation has a book affected me as much as this one. I know, I must be a glutton for punishment reading a book about local food and farming when I live in the Mojave Desert which is barely fit for human habituation. But, a girl can dream. If you care about big issues, the way food relates to politics, homeland security, global warming, the environment, corporate greed, and living simply.....just read this. It is powerful.

There are tons of resources out there that say it better than I can, but here are 10 Reasons to Eat Local and the “Locovore Pledge”, which I like because it allows for options:
If not LOCALLY PRODUCED, then Organic.
If not ORGANIC, then Family farm.
If not FAMILY FARM, then Local business.
If not a LOCAL BUSINESS, then Fair Trade.
If all else fails, at least don’t eat at McDonald’s!

Local can also be defined differently based on regions, so here in the desert 250 miles from home is “local” compared to say 100 in the Bay Area or 20 miles in parts of the American South. The Eat Local Movement is also closely aligned with the Slow Food Movement, which seeks to encourage and nurture diverse food cultures (think Tuscany, the Mediterranean, and parts of Vermont).

I have a tendency to get a little obsessed with things, and I’ve moved on to reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma and Coming Home to Eat. But, I like food, I like cooking, and I like the simple pleasures of spending time with people over a meal (as opposed to going out and spending lots of money) so this stuff hits home with me. Enjoy!

Adventures in Food: Where Have You Been?

I saw this list on a librarian blog and since I love food and consider myself moderately adventurous, I thought it would be fun to see how many of these things I've eaten. I still consider myself not vegetarian, or carnivore but another more appropriate term that we used on our long-distance hikes. Most dirty, starving hikers (and probably most college students) are proud to self-identify as Oppotunivores. If it was free we'd eat it. The original blog post about the list seems to come from this site: Very Good Taste.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison: Can't say I really love or hate it...
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros: Probably the best dish on the face of the earth. I like it with flour tortillas, New Mexico green chile, and eggs over easy.
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue: Oh yeah. I can't get enough cheese. Cheese + wine + Swiss kissing games = even more fun.
8. Carp:
9. Borscht: Yum. Beets rock.
10. Baba ghanoush: Eggplant rocks, too. Especially homemade on the grill with lots of garlic.
11. Calamari: Bar food of choice
12. Pho: Too bad our local UNLV place closed down. I miss it.
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi: Indian food is probably my favorite ethnic cuisine.
15. Hot dog from a street cart: I don't know if bratwurst or polish sausage counts, but I don't eat hot dogs. Period.
16. Epoisses: had to look this one up.
17. Black truffle: I think I had this in an olive oil, so I can't say it's really a regular thing
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes: Plum wine is good
19. Steamed pork buns: Thanks to dim sum
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes: I even grew my own Amish Paste
22. Fresh wild berries: Blueberries, blackberries, huckleberries, etc. Along the PCT up north.
23. Foie gras:
24. Rice and beans: For about 4 years I lived on this dish
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters: I love oysters, especially oyster po-boys in Louisiana
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda: had to look this one up
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl: Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut: Essential for the Milwaukee side of the family
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O: I am assuming this is the classic Jello shot? I like lime.
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat:
42. Whole insects: Not really intentionally though, so it probably doesn't count
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more: I think there was a night in NYC...but unfortunately I don't remember it.
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel: I could eat unagi all day and night
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin: Ditto for uni
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal: I wouldn't eat it now, but I have had it at least once.
56. Spaetzle: I love homemade spaetzle with goulash
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine:I had a modified version referred to as Disco Fries, but it contains the same thing.
60. Carob chips: We had a hippie neighbor that scarred me for life with carob.
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian: NOT YET, But I can't wait to try it
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe: Now that was one bad night of imbibing
74. Gjetost, or brunost: A Swedish favorite
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong: I'm not super fond of smoky teas, but I've had it.
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum: Awesome. Love it.
82. Eggs Benedict: Second to huevos rancheros as my favorite brunch item. Good with avocado.
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant. NOT YET....
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers: ISo squash blossoms count?
89. Horse: Aw, no way!
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam Not bad if you grill it!
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster I went to a wedding in Cancun where the resort had an all lobster menu. Too over-the-top for me, but I do like lobster.
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

What is missing from this list? In my opinion

Pierogies, Chicken Feet, Sauerbraten, Bone Marrow, Tofu, Zubrowka, Buffalo Steak, Pasties, and Menudo.

I’m sure there are others, but that’s what jumps off the top of my head.

So there you have it. Now here’s the rules:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

Yellowstone Trip 2008 Part II

The third day of the trip we GOT TO YELLOWSTONE, which is something that you really can't imagine, unless you go and experience it yourself. First of all, there is a ton to see and at any moment you can spot bears, moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, bison, elk, deer, antelope, bald eagles, or wolves right from the comfort of your car. It is surreal and amazing.

In addition to the geysers, mudpots, waterfalls, boiling hot springs, and towering peaks there are about a million of your fellow Americans to observe if the wildlife get too boring. The drive into the park allowed us to take in a couple scenic stops including a view of Yellowstone Lake and several waterfalls. We arrived at our campground (Madison), learned all the rules about bear country, and then set up camp complete with our hammock. Throughout the trip the excitement had been building to GET to Yellowstone and yet we promptly LEFT Yellowstone to go to town and buy some supplies (bourbon). We also took our first trip to a local fly shop.

Like a Crested Butte ski shop, Moab bike shop, Oahu surf shop or any other snotty, tourist-exploiting outfitter the staff at this fly shop had attitude and the tourists tended to put up with it; maybe because they are stunned by natural beauty and seek an authentic experience (of which sarcastic outdoor staff have become an integral part). I bought an handful of flies and some flotant, but was generally underwhelmed by the Madison River fly shop. Don't go there unless you are single and want to hook up with an attractive young fly guide and don't mind spending lots of money in the process. Later in the week we re-located all of our fly purchases to Jacklin's Fly Shop which was a million times better. To get it out of the way here is a rundown of the various places we ate in West Yellowstone:

• The Gusher (Pizza)- excellent pizza and a nice local vibe
• Beartooth Barbeque (BBQ)- good sandwiches as long as you can handle meat
• Old Time Cafe (Diner) Polish waitress, try the chicken fried steak, family-run
• tried to go to the microbrewery but it closes absurdly early

On an additional eating note, I have to say that everyone that goes to Yellowstone should at least visit the Old Faithful Lodge. It has a special place in my heart because my Mom worked there as a college student for two summers and it always reminds me of her and our family trips. But, even to those less nostalgic, the building is an architectural wonder and the dining room has an amazing fireplace. Just go there and think about the time in this country when the Civilian Conservation Corps were building our park's grand lodges. Not to mention the view out the back...oh yeah, that would be THE Old Faithful. The one that has rows and rows of seating and erupts just about every 50 minutes.

We went early in the morning of our fourth day and as the sun was rising over the steaming Firehole River we pulled into the vast, empty parking lot literally right before the impressive eruption. Killer timing as the sun came up. After a walk through the geyser basin (Old Faithful is but one of many geysers) we hit the breakfast buffet in the lodge. Notably, it comes with the "good coffee" (organic fair trade and most importantly- strong). You won't be so lucky elsewhere. The food is typical, with nicer than average service and top notch atmosphere. You get the feeling that if you could tune out all the families and tourists that Teddy Roosevelt might be around the corner smoking cigars and telling stories.

In the next installment I promise to get to the important stuff...the fishing.

An Exercise in Futility?

In my never-ending quest to find hope in the city of Las Vegas I have recently tried to humor the good folks putting on the Las Vegas Farmers Market. No, it has not been lost on me that we live in the Mojave desert and nothing grows here. But, hey, I am trying. These are nice folks that drive from California and presumably the produce is fresh and farm-raised.

But tonight I lost a round. After we went and picked out some fruit and a nice loaf of bread there was a huge commotion. My friends, the people of Las Vegas have once again shown their character. Someone, right in front of everyone, in broad daylight, robbed the cashbox at the Farmer's Market and ran to a getaway car. You just can't make this stuff up.

Yellowstone Trip 2008 Part I

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Originally uploaded by zenhikers

At the beginning of August, we headed out of town to spend some time in Yellowstone National Park, near the part of the country we visited last year on the Backpacker CDT Project. This year, rather than meeting up with a cranky trip leader, we met up with our friend Fine Dining (Andrew) from the Bay Area. We're old friends from our PCT hike in 2002, so travel together was anticipated to be a fun reunion. After a quick stop in Salt Lake City to retrieve Andrew, we hit the road for Idaho and beyond. I don't really recommend stopping at the Tasty Treet in Pocatello, but if you want to encounter a completely enigmatic menu you can order a burger (or something) make a guess at the unique combination of condiments you may receive and sit outside in a nice yard on the main drag. After a few more miles on the road and the integration of our various iPods, satellite radio channel preferences, and CDs, we made it to Idaho Falls and the warm welcome of Tom Bodett. There was a lot of anticipation to GET TO YELLOWSTONE, but because we hadn't set up a campsite reservation until Saturday we decided to drive into the park through Grand Teton and camp out one night a lake there.

The drive out of Idaho Falls involved a search for suitable caffiene, a drive through rural Idaho (beautiful) and some yuppie-viewing in Jackson Hole. We also made our first stop to clean the bugs off the windshield...this would be a point of contention during our travels, since some people literally can't see the road for the bugs, and some fail to let a few arthropod carcasses get in the way of their driving. Others were just plain compulsive and did a great job cleaning the thing. Hey! Pocky appreciates that kind of effort.

Almost immediately after leaving Idaho Falls we starting seeing wildlife, and the bison (a most impressive animal) really woke us up as we entered Grand Teton. We got to Lizard Lake campground in the early afternoon and had a relaxing time setting up camp, chatting and cooking a meal on the Cobb Cooker. Most of the time in camp (and this is a theme through the whole trip) I spent practicing the myriad of knots involved in fly-fishing. I started practicing at home with some alpine cord, but using real fishing line and leader was a whole different ball game. Frustration ensued. I took breaks to go see the awesome campfire programs that the National Parks put on for bored campers, families, and nature nerds like me. At Lizard Lake the program was on the pronghorn antelope and I learned a lot about this very funny looking animal. We went to bed pretty early because we were REALLY EXCITED to GET TO YELLOWSTONE in the morning.