Local is Good

Last weekend I attended Boston's first annual Local Food Festival. What a fantastic festival. When 50,000 people turn out for something like this, you know there is a change for the better coming. There was something for everyone, from excellent tofu and seaweed products to BBQ ribs, composting, butter making, farm stands and even a very educational meat butchering demo by Providence Chef Matt Jennings. One thing I liked after tasting all the great food was that I did not have to carry my used disposable fork in my pocket until I found a recycle bin. The festivals mission was zero waste, plenty of compost and recycle bins and volunteers to help you with what goes where. I can't wait until the next one.

I also discovered many amazing local food products that I hope to share with my clients, use on my cook dates and in my recipes.

Speaking of local foods, I have two huge bags of fresh picked apples in my kitchen. This afternoon, my personal local canning festival continues. Canning is fun! 

Personal Party Chef

Last night I catered a great party with a dynamite menu. Chilean sea bass with a miso, sake marinade/sauce, sesame spring noodles, grilled garlic asparagus, melt in your mouth, beef brisket with a smokey horseradish sauce and Israeli turmeric couscous. 

I can't forget about the apps.,an amazing selection of cheeses from Boston cheese cellar, my signature hummus platter, spinach and feta puffed pastry empanadas, cumin lamb meatballs w/a Greek Yogurt sauce and classic stuffed mushrooms.

It was another 50th birthday celebration and the host supplied an excellent selection of wines. I also did a cooking demo. It was fun and I heard lots of yums. 

A Taste of Roslindale

A very special service will be up for auction at the  A Taste of Roslindale event, taking place September 23rd.

http://www.roslindale.net/eat/do-you-have-your-ticket-for-the-taste-yet/

Roslindale Food Tour

Hurricane Earl did not dampen the Saturday Roslindale Food Tour

It was great and everyone enjoyed a 3-hour tour through Roslindale Village’s Farmer’s Market and many ethnic and gourmet shops. For those unfamiliar with the area, Roslindale Square has become a mini food-lover’s destination, with butcher shops, bakeries, ethnic and specialty markets not to mention restaurants (some transplanted from Boston’s South End). This is all within a very easy walk.

The hurricane-that-wasn’t left behind a beautiful, clear day to explore the farmer’s market and 10 local food stores. We talked with farmers, bakers, butchers and other shop owners. The tour participants saw items they have never seen, let alone cooked and served to their families. That’s where I came in as tour guide, explaining what “it” is, how to cook it, eat it or use it. We came across everything from cactus fruit, locally-grown crazy looking heirloom tomatoes, purslane, taro root, fresh rabbit, quail, zaatar seasoning, dried corn husks for tamales, to name just a few. You can read much more about the tour on Margie Kelley’s A Teachable Feast blog.

http://ateachablefeast.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html

As someone who grew up eating a multiethnic variety of foods – and cooks that today for my clients, friends and family, I’m excited to share this knowledge. Margie Kelley is leading an effort to educate people about local, healthy eating – especially for those who did not grow up with a variety of foods.

I also offer the Roslindale Food Tour for other groups. If you have a group of moms, cooks, foodies or friends who would enjoy a delicious, fun and educational tour of gourmet Roslindale Square, send me an email. A monthly schedule of the tour is also planned beginning later this fall.

http://ateachablefeast.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html

Farmer's Market Tour

This Saturday, September 4th, I'll be leading a tour of the Roslindale Farmer's market and other gourmet and ethnic food markets and bakeries in Roslindale Village. I live in Roslindale, where we have one of the most successful farmer’s markets in the city of Boston. The market is held just steps away from a wide variety of other small food shops, bakeries and restaurants. It will be a lot of fun sharing my neighborhood’s hidden food treasures, talking with farmers and store owners about their products, food buying and cooking tips. If there’s interest I’ll be doing this again.
Margie Kelly arranged the tour guest. Check out her blog 


http://ateachablefeast.blogspot.com/2010/08/bread-first-lesson-in-food.html?spref=fb

Quotes from The Boston Globe " Roslindale Village is a food lover's paradise, with ethnic markets, inviting restaurants and a belt straining six bakeries" and "Roslindale:Top spot to live for foodies".