All in Good Taste...

Inspiration from a coffee cup. How appropriate. I'm sure many have been struck with inspiration to write Pulitzer Prize novels and generate solutions to worldly problems after downing a cup of coffee, but Starbucks means it literally. Starbucks uses this marketing technique as one of its ways to keep its java-junkies coming back for more. Perhaps it seems a bit cliche to be seeking inspiration from a coffee cup, but one of the "The Way I See It" quotes printed on a 16 ounce paper cup got me thinking. My sister emailed me a the following quote she thought I'd like.

"Taste is subjective. Taste is democratic. Taste is powerful. Taste - the combination of texture, aroma, temperature, aesthetic and environment - is also a window into someone else's life or culture. Be confident in your taste, but remain curious and expose yourself to new tastes. Allow your taste to constantly evolve and grow - while keeping and cherishing the memories that taste creates." ~ Marcus Samuelsson, Chef, co-owner of Restaurant Aquavit and author of The Soul of a New Cuisine

These words sum up the way we should be interpreting our sensory experiences and encounters with food. In our fast paced, fast food world, our sense of taste has been cheated. How often do we see thyme, cumin, or bay leaves as an ingredient in something that comes in a box? How often do we sit at the table, close our eyes, and attempt to define the textures and temperatures we feel in our mouth or the aromas we smell with our noses? How often do we relish in the sounds of garlic and onions sauteeing, or the bubbling of a vegetable soup? Most often, we don't. Usually, we are absentmindedly chewing, swallowing, gulping, and then looking to complete the next task at hand. It's time we slow down, savor our food, and enjoy the overpowering influence it can have on our senses. Only in this way, can we truly celebrate and honor the ways that food can fill us and fulfill us.

Happy tasting,

Jess

A CS whAt?

With all of the awful weather we've been having here in Massachusetts (snow, ice, snow, COLD, some more snow, ice, ice, ice), I feel the yearning for a warm, juicy, homegrown Brandywine tomato. This thought promptly reminded me of my "to-do" list item of "joining a CSA". It's been on the list since November, but after the pile of snow that Mother Nature dropped on us, my lust for garden-fresh fruits and vegetables was growing. So, I officially joined a CSA. For those unfamiliar, CSA is an abbreviation for community-supported agriculture. CSAs are meant to provide a way for consumers and producers to connect with each other in the least laborious way possible. They are usually based off of farms (or farmers bring their weekly CSA boxes to a common site) and community members buy into this program for a season (or year, depending). Each member receives their portion of the farm's produce, which is picked up weekly. In the end, both producer and consumer are happy.

I was tantalized with the website's promises of strawberries in June, pumpkins in October, and all sorts of greens, yellow, and purples in between. After sending off a pretty penny to the farm, I felt like I did my good local food deed for the day; however, I did feel like the price was a bit high. Most CSAs run between $300-$700/season, depending on what size box you get, how long you will be receiving it for, and if you get any other CSA accessories (i.e. a flower CSA, a meat CSA, etc). But, when I broke it down to a weekly cost, it was comparable to spending $10 on produce. When it's viewed this way, the deal is a bargain! The CSA is only 7 miles from my house (talk about local!) and the website touts that its food is "conscientiously grown". This brings up another topic that I'll be sure to cover in the future, and that is the issue of organic. What does organic mean? What does it take for a farm to get the organic label? For now, though, we'll be receiving conscientiously grown, very local fruits and vegetables to start in June. So, I'll be spending the next 4 1/2 months and probably a handful more snowstorms relishing in the thoughts of delicious produce. In the meantime, check out www.stillmansfarm.com if you live in central Massachusetts and are looking for a CSA without a waiting list. They are sure to please.

Happy CSA-ing,
Jess

Health, Wealth and Whole Foods

On the way to a concert on Monday night, my foodster partner-in-crime (to be further referred to as "TC") stopped at Whole Foods on Fresh Pond parkway in Cambridge for a quick and healthy bite to eat. Let me emphasize QUICK and HEALTHY, but not CHEAP. Even though I have a slight hesitation for anything with the word "buffet-style" involved in it, the spread at WF is delectable. Everything from BBQ wings to ginger tofu is available for the hungry tummy. We both happily filled our reusable dishes and compostable to-go containers with vegan burgers, salad fixings, and tofu bites, only to find out it cost us almost $50! We cringed slightly, handed over our hard-earned dollars, and headed to the seating area. Even though we paid a high price, the food was delicious. My favorite items was the quinoa, cranberry, and cashew salad. It was cold, refreshing, and had just the right amount of spice to prompt me to quickly forget the dollar sign attached to it. I also had enough left over to have lunch on Tuesday (a lunch that fellow co-workers definitely eyed with food jealousy!) Overall, it was a meal worth the cash. On our way out, I bought WF's freshly ground, honey-roasted peanut butter, which, in itself, is worth the drive and $2.99.

Happy eating,
Jess

You're Invited...

You've officially been invited to join "A Fete for Food"! Don your party dress, because this fete in honor of food is bound to be one of the best. I'll be reviewing and commenting on the latest and greatest topics related to:

• making and eating food
• my favorite eats as a local "foodster" in Mass
• tasty travels
• food politics and hot media topics
• Miscellaneous, related to or a cousin of finding, eating and enjoying good food

I may also throw in my two cents about the latest exercise trends, races, events and other topics that those interested in physical activity may find most appealing.

Enjoy!