Organic food

Organic Farming Takes Root In China

Like many Americans, a small but growing number of Chinese are worried about what's in their food and how it's grown. The farm of a stockbroker-turned-organic-farmer is an example of how some people are taking the problem into their own hands.

'Rizla Rosie' Boycott: Boris's food champion

You know when you get the munchies, man, like you totally gotta eat? At that level, I suppose the appointment of the woman once nicknamed ‘Rizla Rosie’ as London’s ‘food champion’ makes a certain amount of intuitive sense. And given that Ms Boycott’s new gig at the Greater London Authority is unpaid, it would be nit-picking to cavil. If she sees her latest mission in life as being to ensure that capital dwellers devour their locally-produced greens, fair enough. I won’t even ask ex...

Scenes from the Wickerman

Down on the misty Solway coast of Scotland lies a music festival called The Wickerman. It's named after the 1973 cult movie - many scenes were filmed in the area. The highlight of the festival is the burning of the big fella on Saturday night, except there's no Edward Woodward-type trapped inside. This is the 2006 model. Such tardy blogging. Music festivals can bring out my most pathetic insecurities. I don't really drink or partake in wacky substances (got enough problems with sugar and saturat...

Top Ten Food Related Things I Look Forward to Enjoying in Sussex

1) Manx kippers. I'm hoping to buy a lot more food locally once we are living in rural England but as a treat (and it is a fantastic treat) we will occasionally be ordering a box of smoked fish from the Isle of Man. 2) Local beer. 3) Local organic meat and vegetables. 4) Pubs. Gastropubs. Independently-owned-pubs-with-local-ales. Pubs with outdoor play areas where you can keep an eye on the kids while you enjoy a warm, flat beer. (Okay, the latter is going to take some getting used to - I might...

Top Ten Food Related Things I Will Miss About Paris

In no particular order: 1) M. Allart's amazing sunflower honey. 2) The Batignolles organic market. 3) 365 cheeses and the wonderful, knowledgeable people who sell them to me. 4) Fellow food bloggers in Paris. 5) Moules frites. 6) Raclette (what will I do with my old battered machine now that I have no access to the right cheese?) 7) Baguettes. 8) Our favourite restaurants. 9) The best fries in Paris. (Note to anyone else who would like to experience them: the Mozart has sadly changed owners this...

Slow Food San Diego's Stagecoach Days Dinner

Our colleagues at Slow Food San Diego have asked us to share an announcement with Slow Food Los Angeles members and friends for the upcoming Stagecoach Days Dinner, a candlelight dinner celebrating the food cultures of early San Diego: Slow Food San Diego invites you to the Fifth Annual Taste of Slow Food, a "Stagecoach Days Dinner": When: Saturday, August 23, 2008 from 5:00pm until 9:00pm Where: Plaza of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park (located across Congress Street from the Old Town Tr...

The Slow Food Nation Victory Garden Takes Root

In the first event of Slow Food Nation, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Alice Waters, and Anya Fernald, executive director of Slow Food Nation, officially opened the Slow Food Nation Victory Garden at the San Francisco Civic Center on July 12. Coordinators and more than 250 volunteers worked to transform the heart of the Civic Center into an ornamental edible garden. Naomi Starkman's description of the day can be found on the Slow Food Nation blog. Planted on the same site as a World War II-er...

Eat less and save...fuel, that is

Can this be converted to energy savings? Courtesy size8jeansEager to help the environment? Want to reduce fuel consumption? Well, according to a new study published in the journal Human Ecology, you can do your part by not stuffing so many calories into your face. On average we Americans just eat too much. We consume about 1200-1500 more calories per day than is recommended. Not only that but most of the 3700 calories we do take in each day comes from junk and processed foods, and animal product...

I Gave You a Quarter. Did You Give me Change?

30 steps to a more sustainable you! 7-22-2008. A quarter of a year has gone by since I posted my Earth Day blog offering 22 suggestions to change your lifestyle Have you made any changes in the last 3 months? I’ll trust that you have, and in case you’ve done so well that you’ve incorporated ALL 22 suggestions into your daily routine, I have added 8 more in this post (following the original 22) to make it an even 30. After going through the list please use the comments section to add to my...

Misconceptions in Food Safety...

Sometimes I’m guilty of mishandling my food, like eating vegetables without rinsing them, but apparently that doesn’t get rid of all the bacteria anyway. That’sFit passes this along and other misconceptions about food safety: That bacteria can be washed off. That local always means food is safe. That cooking can eliminate all bacteria. That food-borne illnesses are rare. That you don't need a food thermometer. That cooked food is safe sitting out. Via Forbes. Although, when I see creepy-c...