rancho_gordo

So, how was it? ← Pretty swell. The turn out was big and lots of people brought and traded seeds, which was the real point of the thing. The kids from the local high school did all the food and manned the seed exchange table and they were ADORABLE, really into it. The food was pretty good, too. There were lots of local ag "celebs" and everyone seemed to be having a good time. It seems we really hit a nerve with a lot of people in wanting to expand Napa's ag horizons beyond just wine. I'm just finishing the clean up now. The local radio station reporter was here with her microphone and the Napa Register sent a photographer and reporter and I'm told we're going to be the lead story in tomorrow's food section. I'll post a link if it pans out. We already have plans for next year. Don't worry - I'll kepp you posted!

Jacobs Cattle have a distinct new potato taste and texture and depending where you are from, the preferred bean for baked beans. I'm from California so I don't know, but some baked bean freaks (and I use that term lovingly) insist on Jacobs Cattle. Mayacobas are interesting. They almost taste like they have chicken stock in them. They have a thin skin and dense interior, almost the opposite of most beans. They are from Peru but have a particular "comfort food" quality about them. Come visit me on a Saturday, just outside Cowgirl Creamery and I'll give you a complete tour! By the way, the party is this Sunday and there's a simple website here.

Beans will be sold (but you can come by the warehouse anytime and pick them up or online.) The highlight is going to be the kids from the local high school seed-to-table program serving the food they grew (plus some other local food) and cooked. They are pretty cute. The Family Farm League is a grassroots advocacy group dedicated to getting food grown in the Napa Valley. It is not an anti-wine group, we just want to focus on genetic diversity and avoid a complete monoculture. If it wasn't for wine, I doubt Napa would be an ag preserve at all. Edited to add: One day..... I'll make a trek south. If you have ideas, please PM with store names! It's weird but I'm better represented in New York than in LA!

This is a quick vote for the KA attachment. I used a hand crank for years but this is a breeze and well worth the $$$. I find i have more control than with a hand crank.

The fact that you don't think it's so great doesn't mean that it isn't worth every penny to those of us who swoon at the first whiff of it. Trust me, the situation is that there is something you don't "get" or understand, not that saffron is an "OK" flavor. And more power to you for not thinking it's such a big deal!

I've bought the the last three easily enough in the US. My local bookshop in Napa has 2 copies of Moro right now. Casa Moro has to be one of my favorite books ever. I was very excited to find the first 2 Malouf books online from a store in Florida but it turns out they just get them elsewhere and they're being shipped to me from Australia with an estimated shipping time of 21 days. Poo.

Just a quick note that the flood project isn't finished yet so it's hard to say how much of a success it is or isn't.

Well that does it. I am going to head over tonight once the wheels hit the runway at LGD. ← Have I ever told you how wise you are? I've been meaning to for months now. And for one so young and attractive! it doesn't seem fair somehow.....

...and they serve Rancho Gordo beans! Really.

I'd go for Arabesque ahead of Moorish. I found them both at a bookstore online and thought, Who am I kidding? and bought them both! I like to pretend that I practice restraint. I have Saha on order with Amazon for $14 so it looks like I'm all set. Thanks.

I had a sad old Braun that was hard to clean and low on power. I replaced it with a Kitchen Aid and it's amazing. I'm sure the newer Brauns are fine but I'm actually in love with my KA. 10 speeds, power to spare and the end comes off and can go in the dishwasher if needed.

Thanks! It's only been out a few days and the response has been pretty wild. Luckily we just finished shipping all the Christmas orders (hopefully without mishap) and with luck, now we'll get a whole new wave of interest. Mail order sure beats getting up at 4:30am to do the farmers market!

I have the $14 Saha on order (I'm sure someone is going to get in some hot water over that!) but who knows when that will finally ship. Of the other two books, do you have a preference? Thanks.

I ordered a pork belly to make my own bacon. I was given a 10 pound piece so I made braised "fresh" bacon with 5 pounds of it. The extra liquid ent into the fridge over night and no I must have A year's worth of lard that came floating to the top. It's gorgeous and flavorful.

I've only heard good things about this book and look forward to getting it soon. Congratulations on what I assume is a job well done!

With preserved lemons, the prize is the skin, right? Wouldn't thin-skinned Meyers lemons be less than ideal? Does their sweetness seem odd to someone used to traditional preserved lemons?

Do you have a good shot of your booth? I don't think people understand quite how beautiful your food is. Normally it's like a bee hive and you can't see all the good produce but if you get there early it's pretty breathtaking, and as enjoyable as your blog as been, I don't think it's demonstrated quite what artists you and Andy are! I have no problem tooting your horn if you won't. Mariquita is "heavy hitter" on the local food scene because their product is excellent and they're such great people. ChardieGirl- I copied you and had your broccoli and Fatted Calf products for dinner. I had the crepinettes (sp) and beans as the starch. Oink for joy!

I just got this Portuguese pot. It's not really a bean pot but it's a good all round pot you could happily cook beans in and it's safe for stovetop use. This lid is very heavy. And at $20 it's not too much of a gamble. I got it at Sur le Table, a store I am somewhat on the fence about. Actually, I don't enjoy shopping there but this was a good deal. This one is small but they had bigger sizes as well.

nope, it's not shiso or lambsquarters... good guesses though! ← Stinging nettles?

You can use my micro reviews if you like!!!! I'd especially like to hear why you picked certain books like Julie and Julia and The Silver Spoon that I'd made certain assumptions about or wouldn't have put on my own top 20 list.

I wish they'd make some kind of comment or put the books in context. Even a one sentence description would be nice. A list is almost meaningless and it turns out if you almost made the list, you get more of a write-up in the introduction. I went a little nuts and bought quite a few books this year and I see a few of them on this list: The Perfectionist ("fascinating!"- Rancho Gordo) Tapas ("Really inspiring!" - Rancho Gordo) The Silver Spoon ("A waste of space!" - Rancho Gordo) Molto Italiano ("Everything his first two books should have been!"- Rancho Gordo) Mexican Everyday ("Surprisingly good! An authentic twist on the 30 minute meal fad!" - Rancho Gordo) Maybe I can get on the covers of the paperback versions!

Where are your Mexican pals from? I know you've introduced me to one of your friends from Oaxaca, but what about Maria and Lourdes? I always think of birria as from Jalisco and I'm curious how other Mexicans make it and what the little differences might be once the dish travels. I'd try the goat stomach treat in a heartbeat!

Do the take out, is my suggestion. I had one of my worst dining experiences ever there (and I'm not alone). So bad that I wrote a letter that they never had the courtesy to acknowledge. I think Charles is probably a great cook and a great promoter but I don't think anyone there knows much about running a restaurant.

is it actually good? I really want it but am still a little shell-shocked at the Silver Spoon. So much so that I'm suspect.

Gosh! He looks just like me only fatter!