Sunday, July 11, 2010

Local cuisine

I don't think I've stated it on this blog before, but I have a complicated relationship with food. Namely, I think about where it comes from and how it was grown/raised. I also love it and am a total food snob in a lot of annoying ways. Lots of reading and discussing has led me to a place where my "food rules" are as follows:

-I only eat meat (includes poultry and four legged creatures) if I can confirm it was raised in a humane way, i.e. running around in the grass and killed in a so-called humane slaughterhouse. (I've done a significant amount of time as a vegetarian and 1 year as a vegan, so I've played the spectrum.)
-I eat fish. I don't eat the "bad" fish if I can help it. I consult these people to get an idea of what is okay and what is not. However: if I'm on call and starving for a protein source, I'm flexible.
-I buy free range/no antibiotics eggs, preferably from the farmer's market looking the farmer in the eye. At work, I eat any egg. I believe that this compromise makes me a happier resident (see also: well fed).
-I'm doing my best to decrease high fructose corn syrup. I don't think it's evil, per se, but the more I read, the more I'm convinced that it isn't doing anyone any favors.

Tonight for dinner, I made rice, Rancho Gordo heirloom beans, Ledge Ends CSA swiss chard with tomatoes, topped with farmer's market eggs. I'm pleased. And well fed. And also becoming more and more like my mother everyday (I'm pleased with that too).

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Like a Prayer

Me: I have Madonna in my head right now.

B:...Yeah, I tend to assume that's the case. You know...at baseline.


Later, Brandon presents his dinner, complete with cooking show style commentary. Imagine Top Chef/Iron Chef voices. Imagine Brandon performing all of the roles.

B: Tonight we have a trio of frozen veggie burgers, reheated and served with a trio of red sauces. I call this one "American ketchup." This, to add some flare, is sriracha chili sauce. And lastly, Johnny's hot sauce, made popular by the "barbecue chicken wing."
I appreciate the way his sauces bring out the different flavors of the veggie patties. Still, I would have liked to see a different shade of red. These reds are just so....red. And isn't the patty a little overdone? This beef is too...beefy. But it isn't beef!

Yup. It's possible the heat has gone to our heads.