moosnsqrl

Good for them and thanks for posting this, Katie. These farmers were on the KCCUA tour last year and those I met were really nice, humble folks who grow great stuff and seem non-plussed that anyone wants to give them kudos for doing it. I'm happy to see them get this ongoing exposure. Wish I were going to be around

Just went for a stroll and stopped by nara. There wasn't anyone there who appeared to be related to the restaurant, rather construction types, running loud power tools, so I didn't bother them. I was able to see entryway (street level) as well as upstairs and down. Still not evident if they'll be in the up- or downstairs but whichever I'd guess they're at least another month out, barring 24/7 work shifts.

OK, not to belabor the point or 'dis' our fellow Heartlanders, but I just read that Milwaukee is the next new market for TJ's. And St. Louis now has 3, count 'em 3, stores. I am starting to take it personally.

I didn't really talk to Dan yesterday -- I was there early and he and his helper were running late. They dropped a jar of fish emulsion (the value-added product they were selling yesterday) and were trying to clean it up and get set up and nothing was priced, Denise wasn't there...typical first day stuff. He was scheduled to speak after Todd Wickstrom but I couldn't stay that long. I wish someone would get something going to fill the gap that the closing of Local Harvest left. I didn't realize how spoiled I had become by the year-round availability until it wasn't there this winter. And Heather was doing some prepared foods (soups, pasta sauces and the like) made with local products that she prepared at [then] Full Circle Farm now KCCUA. Thanks for the heads-up, though. I'll send an email and see if we can get more info. They're always so crazed on market/expo days it's difficult to carry on a conversation without feeling like I'm negatively affecting their income.

Did I say that? Sorry, didn't mean to put words in your mouth. I hope you are right about it not being official, a done deal, over, irreversible. The scare tactic/marketing ploy speculation came from my natural distrust of Madison Avenue.

I attended the Farm Expo yesterday and (surprise!) thoroughly enjoyed it. I think it's my favorite day of the year, buying the first fresh local foods we've enjoyed since October. The omelets we had this morning reminded me that farm fresh eggs are an entirely different food from the ones we typically settle for during the winter (Campo Lindo excepted, when we can find them). A few fresh herbs and voila! In addition to the fresh produce, we were treated to an inspirational (if somewhat disturbing) presentation by Todd Wickstrom, co-founder of Heritage Foods USA. They're the ones who have worked with Frank Reese (from our great state, famous for 'saving' the heritage turkeys) and other small producers to bring their heritage breeds of animals to market. While their efforts have succeeded beyond expectations, Todd has decided that it's time to move on to another project. The rather unitentional result of Heritage was that chefs and gourmets on both coasts are buying and serving these "designer" products and, while that's not necessarily bad, it does nothing to move us back to a simpler, local based diet. He shared with us some very disturbing statistics about Detroit, its population, welfare state and health issues. While Todd hails from our metro area, he has called southeastern Michigan home for most of his adult life, so he has determined to try to reverse the insanity of vacant lots, malnutrition, and industrial farming at a very grass roots level in Wayne County. It sounds like a great challenge and I wish him the best. A comment from the audience pointed out that we have two generations of people in our country who think that food comes from styrofoam trays and haven't the slightest notion of how to turn raw ingredients into healthful meals. This is not going to be an overnight project. I'm sure, as this new project progresses, there will be more information forthcoming and I will endeavor to offer updates (unless Tammy or someone in the AA/Detroit Metro area would like to). Their model, taken to the nth degree, could help other states take steps to reduce our dependence on too few corporations, too few species of plants and animals, and how it all fits in with our nation's health and welfare challenges.

I hope Jesskidden is right and it's just a scare tactic or marketing ploy. It's nearly impossible to find here, too, but I hate to think I can't go to NYC or Miami and find one. I think the best insurance policy is to get my hands on some and, instead of swilling them, use them to try and break-down the formula so I can replicate with my trusty juicer.

KC Media Digest for week of March 30-April 6, 2006 In the Kansas City Star Food Section Gail Borelli offers a nice look at what some area chefs consider their "go to" ingredients in Adding Oomph. If you're watching your waistline and craving pizza, Jill Silva suggests its portion-controlled cousin, the Calzone. In The Star Preview Section Lauren Chapin visits Ten Cup, where you can eat well and do good. And Spotlights Pangea (see The Pitch for a more detailed review). In The Pitch The intrepid Charles Ferruzza braves yet-another industrial strength eatery in Zona Rosa and likes much of what he finds at Granite City Food & Brewery. If you're in the mood for some continental food, drift over to the newest 39th street addition, Pangea. <><><><><> Media Digest Notes... Updates from some area media outlets, which do not 'go to press' before we do, will be edited into each week's post as they become available. Please do not reply on this thread. For discussion of any stories which are linked here, please feel free to start a new thread or contact the forum host or digester who will be happy to do it for you. <><><><><>

In my online personals ad, I describe the potential Mrs. Fresser thusly: She has the brains of Marie Curie and the body of Jane Russell. Maybe even the sarcastic wit of Elaine Boozler? Oddly, I made no mention of her culinary tastes. I just hope she likes garlic... ← Too bad polygamy is illegal; I think your chances for happiness would be greatly improved if you weren't trying to cobble together.

I can just see it now...adults everywhere, sucking their thumbs. And dogs chasing you, too.

"Your eyes look like two tomatoes in a glass of buttermilk." From an old Asleep at the Wheel song "Don't roll those bloodshot eyes at me"

I think we all have a bad case of spring fever. And we didn't even really have winter this year! I can see the need for a comprehensive (well, I'll try) list of area markets, their opening dates, hours of operation, etc. There are some online resources but they don't have all of the info () so I will endeavor this weekend to put together a list with dates, hours, address and contact info for the area, including Lawrence. Ronnie Suburban generally "pins" a market thread so we can ask him to do that for us once the markets have ramped-up (pun intended ) and keep everyone informed about what's happening where. To answer your immediate qustion, the Parkville market opens the Saturday before Mother's Day which, acorrding to my calendar, is May 13. I LOVE that market. It's small but mighty.

Say it ain't so! First the Second Avenue Deli, now this . It's an averah! Sign me up for the minyan. Oy.

I was planning to post a reminder about the upcoming Farm Expos and other related events but I just received this email from KCCUA and I couldn't have said it better myself, so from Dan and Katherine: The Growing Season has begun! We'll be selling fresh vegetables and transplants for your home gardens beginning this Saturday, April 1. We've got the Farmers' Exhibition this Saturday, the Shawnee Mission Earth Fair the next Saturday, and then we are into the Brookside market and we'll be there every Saturday from now until the fall. The greens are tender, the root vegetables are coming along, even the herbs are springing out of the soil in our herb beds! After a long winter of eating grocery store vegetables, you'll be amazed at how alive these veggies taste! We'll also be selling transplants for your own gardens- more than 50 varieties of tomatoes, both heirlooms and hybrids, sweet peppers, lettuces, herbs, broccoli, cabbage and more! Our transplants are certified organically grown and they are just beautiful. Saturday, April 1, 9:00-3:00 Farmers' Exhibition 2006 Shawnee Civic Center 13817 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS Saturday, April 8, 10:00-3:00 Shawnee Mission Earth Fair Shawnee Mission East High School 7500 Mission Road Saturdays, April 15-October 21, 8:00-1:00 Farmers' Community Market at Brookside Border Star Montessori School 63rd & Wornall Kansas City, MO We look forward to seeing you again, the spring is just a miraculous time and we love sharing it with you!

In spite of the vibe-alert, we did venture to Wilshire on a [relatively] recent Saturday night. If, as the LA Times article RJW alludes to up-thread holds forth, the owners are trying to curb the bar scene, I’m afraid they are losing the battle. We arrived promptly for our 8pm res and it was hopping, to say the least. Fortunately our table was ready so we didn’t have time to concern ourselves with the scene or the ‘seen’. We had a lovely table in the patio area which was at-capacity but not at all oppressive. The weather was uncharacteristically cool and there was some concern about rain earlier in the day, but it had cleared-off by our appointed hour and the ubiquitous patio heaters kept the temp pleasant. We brought wine and it was promptly retrieved, our water order taken and the server had returned with both, to pour and ask if we had questions, while we were still in the early stages of negotiating the menu . The only question we had was how the appetites of our eyes, stomachs and wallets could be reconciled. As is generally the case, we threw caution to the wind and figured we would atone for our gluttony and extravagance some other time. I never met a beet I didn’t like (outside of a school cafeteria) and we had just been rhapsodizing about roasted beets over cocktails before dinner so when we eyed a 3-beet salad on the menu, it was a must-have. This version had no problem living up to our expectations, with golden, chioggia and a ‘strawberry’ variety (with which I was not familiar); simply and lightly dressed with a honey vinaigrette and some roasted hazelnut ‘sprinkle’ for texture. Very straight-forward and delicious. The crispy poached egg with local bacon, lentils and tiny purple artichokes was an epiphany. Really. How can such simple, simple stuff be so breath-takingly flavorful? Makes me wonder why I ever eat anything fussy or complicated at all. Lobster served on a ‘shingle’ of brioche, with just a hint of cinnamon followed. We were both fairly swooning at this point, not from volume but sheer pleasure. Next a lovely piece of fresh halibut (which apparently just started running the week of my visit) came almost directly from the boat to our table, stopping only briefly in the kitchen where it was napped with some buttery-rich cannelinis. Again, simple but stunning. And last but not least, an Australian Kobe* ribeye with chanterelles, potato puree and jus. [*I’ve taken to calling that style of beef from outside of its home province “Wagyu” but it is listed on the menu as Australian Kobe so please address your letters to the restaurant.] Call it what you will, it was a treat. I have resumed omnivorism fairly recently and this was a personal “bon courage” reaffirmation from the food gods. I still have internal conflicts about it all but I would have hated being a mere spectator for this dish. I’m afraid we were too far gone for dessert at this point, so those curious about such things will have to do their own research (and exercise more moderation on the earlier courses than we were able to muster). I wasn’t surprised to read (after I returned) that the manager here, Harvey Friend, was at Water Grill when we visited there some time ago. Everything just clicked – we never wanted for anything but neither did we feel like we were hovered-over. And everyone we encountered seemed to genuinely like what they were doing; a nice change from the all-too-frequent “I’m just waiting tables until I’m discovered” coolness in upscale LA-area restaurants. Chef Christopher Blobaum and partners seem to have a very good thing going here. I am glad I braved the beau monde vibe and gave it a try. With food this good, we saw no reason to concern ourselves with what was going on anywhere but on our palates and that’s what will keep Wilshire going long after the glam seekers have moved on to their ‘next big thing’.

If it will save another victim from the "deer in the headlights" syndrome, the menu for Spin! is available here. I suffer from the paralysis of analysis over menus, myself (after all, one never knows when a meal might be the last, eh?) so I kind of appreciate being forced to just blurt something out.

Is this recipe for the sauce available to share? I'm on the hunt for a great bbq/barbeque sauce recipe... thanks ← I found one posted here but, as it's not directly related to MS or OG, caveat emptor.

KC Media Digest for week of March 23-30, 2006 In the Kansas City Star Food Section Jill Silva files an interesting report on renowned food editor Clementine Paddleford. In The Star Preview Section Lauren Chapin is on the trail of cheap tacos. Shopping for a new lunch spot? Try Cafe Nordstrom. In The Pitch Charles Ferruzza is once again forced to order at a counter (why do bad things happen to good people?) when he goes for a Spin at JoCo's new-ish pizzeria. In My Big Fat Mouth, Charles and a friend try to figure out why the parking lot is always full at this west 75th steak chain. I think it's the rumor of Elvis sightings. <><><><><> Media Digest Notes... Updates from some area media outlets, which do not 'go to press' before we do, will be edited into each week's post as they become available. Please do not reply on this thread. For discussion of any stories which are linked here, please feel free to start a new thread or contact the forum host or digester who will be happy to do it for you. <><><><><>

When for-profit corporations publicize their funding of charitable ventures, it improves their corporate image and they hope it will thereby improve their bottom line or/and the political environment in which they operate (in regard to taxes, government contracts, private bills, etc.). I don't mean to imply that executives can't be really great people who are genuinely concerned about others and motivated by that concern -- I believe some are. But if corporations were really motivated only by altruism, they would donate to all these ventures anonymously. (I don't contest your implication that perhaps some do, but that's not what I was talking about earlier.) And the greater the degree to which advertising is involved, the less I can be convinced that altruism is the primary motive. Case in point, ADM gets to put its underwriting statement of "Supermarket to the World" at the beginning of the News Hour on PBS, with no equal time for a reminder that they were convicted of price-fixing and fined hundreds of millions of dollars. Do you think that ADM's underwriting of the News Hour is mostly because they're big fans of Jim Lehrer, or because they get that advertisement? Now, compare the arguably misleading promotion by Whole Foods. Isn't that small potatoes? ← Perfect example; I noticed not long after their little price-fixing scheme was exposed they became huge supporters of NPR as well. I literally heard a story about the whole thing during a half-hour that was underwritten by them. Now that is some in-your-face PR/marketing/advertising.

OK, did you write the error messages? Or online help? Or put "shut down" in the Start menu? (After the party in a pail, I mean). Edited to fix my bumbling emoticons

Man, this is probably another thread (of course it is) but amen on the habañeros - mass-produced, store-bought jalapeños have NO kick these days. Oh, and yeah, PM me some of that coq au vin when you get a chance.

OMG, can you just imagine the list of forbidden items at Fresser's place of business? And, everytime they think it's finally comprehensive, some new item or combination is discovered and they have to add it and cross reference it with other unstable compounds and hazardous materials on the MSDH docs. There is one facilities manager who deserves a raise, I'm thinking.

And there are the anti-popcorn crusaders. That's a battle which flares up periodically.

Exactly.

Guilty as charged on all counts! And I am not alone. Here is a thread started by jgm, wherein many of our society members confess to the lengths to which we will go to keep body and soul together while toiling in our soulless cubicles. I can't wait to read the full article this evening, Melissa. Thanks for sharing.