Wednesday, January 31, 2007 

Food Section Wednesdays

Half the fun of reading the papers during the week is their "Food Sections." Most, for some reason, I'm sure it's a good one, appear on Wednesday...many are beginning to show up on Thursdays.

Let's take a peek, shall we?

The San Francisco Chronicle has a very interesting article on The City's numeric "rating" of restaurants by cleanliness...somewhat like Los Angeles' "alphabet rating." (Note - you might not want to eat at a sushi restaurant with a "C" rating!) Fair warning...you might not have an appetitite for awhile after reading this.

Kitchen (not so) Confidential
Two years after San Francisco restaurant inspectors began doling out scores of one to 100 for food safety, and posting them on the Internet, it's hard to judge if the new system is affecting the bottom line anywhere in the city's most precious industry.

What it is doing is improving food safety, at least according to inspectors who get up close and personal with rats and cockroaches, sacrifice their shoes to sewage backups, and sniff out rotting rutabagas in murky refrigerators, all so you don't wake up sweating and heaving, or worse, after dining out. - SFGate

The Chicago Tribune seems to think that Bear's fans will be hanging around in front of the TV's this Sunday, and even thinks that there might be parties for football fans, too. Go figure. Remember, "It's not Cheez Whiz with Hormel chili in the microwave any more."
How to Feed Ravenous Bears (Fans)
Actually, because our favorite team happens to be part of the action this weekend, there's no such thing as too much hype. We have waited 21 years for this and we will soak up all the hype we can get. We also think Super Bowl Sunday menus deserve a bit more attention, and not just because we're foodie football fans. This annual event is purported to be the second highest day of food consumption in the United States after Thanksgiving. - Chicago Tribune
The Baltimore Sun is proud of their local baker gone good, "Duff", who has a challenge infront of him.
Before kickoff, a 5-foot-tall cake
Baltimore cake maker and Food Network star Duff Goldman is heading to Miami to build his biggest cake ever: a 5-foot-tall, 300-pound football-field cake topped with benches, players, coaches, reporters and photographers, referees, helmets bearing team logos and a Lombardi Trophy.

The Super Bowl cake will be served to some 4,000 guests at the National Football League's party in Miami the night before the big game. The making of the cake also will be fodder for the final, hour-long episode of the Food Network's hit show Ace of Cakes, which features the local chef and his team at his Remington bakery, Charm City Cakes.- The Baltimore Sun
(Yeah...I'm showing my age. The Colts belong to only one City...sorry Indianapolis, it isn't you.)

The St. Louis Dispatch is celebrating some sort of event happening in Florida this weekend by highlighting some "party" food with a Cuban flavor.
Tackling Miami: Score big with a tropical touch to your Super Bowl party
Miami's cuisine benefits from a fabulous range of tropical influences, and the recipes we've collected are aimed at making it easy for you to re-create a Latin-inspired feast to enjoy as you cheer on your chosen cold-climate team.

The Cuban sandwich is a Miami classic. St. Louis Dispatch

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Tuesday, January 30, 2007 

A delicious mix....

King Arthur Flour and "Mr. Chocolate", Jacques Torres.

(have you seen him on the FoodNetwork?)

I am so bummed out. I'm missing King Arthur's National Baking Classes out here in California....If you get a chance, check them out in YOUR neck of the woods.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY NATIONAL BAKING CLASS TOUR

Pasadena, California - January 31, 2007

Location:

PASADENA CONFERENCE CENTER

300 East Green Street

Pasadena, California

626.793.2122 (for directions only)

Date/Time:

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

12:00 pm to 2:00 pm - Yeast Breads: Sweet & Whole-Grain
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Crusty Artisan Breads

Cost: FREE

Ventura, California - February 1, 2007

Location:

THE POINSETTIA PAVILION
3451 Foothill Road
Ventura, California

805.648.1143 (for directions only)

Date/Time: Thursday, February 1, 2007
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm - Yeast Breads: Sweet & Whole-Grain
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Crusty Artisan Breads
Cost: FREE

Ontario, California - February 2, 2007

Location:

AYRES HOTEL & SUITES ONTARIO CONFERENCE CTR.
1945 E. Holt Boulevard
Ontario, California

909.390.7778 (for directions only)

Date/Time: Friday, February 2, 2007
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm - Yeast Breads: Sweet & Whole-Grain
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Crusty Artisan Breads
Cost: FREE

Irvine, California - February 3, 2007

Location:

DOUBLETREE HOTEL IRVINE-SPECTRUM
90 Pacifica Avenue
Irvine, California

949.471.8888 (for directions only)

Date/Time: Saturday, February 3, 2007
11:00 am to 1:00 pm - Yeast Breads: Sweet & Whole-Grain
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm - Crusty Artisan Breads
Cost: FREE

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The New White House Pastry Chef

William Yosses, co-authored a book.














tip o'the cookie spatula to thinkprogress.

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Sunday, January 28, 2007 

Gun Toting Granny Don't Want No Do-Si-Doh's

Apparently, some folks don't like this time of year....Girl Scout Cookie season.
Terry Tedder looked forward to helping his 8-year-old daughter sell Girl Scout cookies in their St. Louis neighborhood Tuesday night. He'll never forget their second stop.

Tedder said when he knocked on the door, a man started yelling profanities and told him to go away.

"I said, 'Hey I got my daughter with me,' said Tedder. "I said, 'We're just selling Girl Scout cookies.'"

Tedder said he started walking away when the door opened, revealing an unwelcome surprise.

"It was his mother and she was pointing a double-barreled shotgun at me and she's like, 'I'm going to shoot you so I took off running,'" said Teddler. - WCSH6.com
I'm ordering up some from my local Girl Scout Troop here in Santa Barbara, Tres Condados...and, Girl Scout cookies aren't just for little snacks anymore!

Caramel deLite Girl Scout Cheesecake
by Executive Chef Patrick Becquet of Citronelle for Girl Scouts Tres Condados


Cookie dough for cheesecake:

1 lb butter
10 oz brown sugar
2 eggs
1 box Caramel deLite Girl Scout Cookies
5 oz Almonds, ground
3 oz Hazelnuts, ground
3 oz Pistachios, ground

Cream butter and sugar until light. Add eggs one at a time mixing well after each addition. Add 1 box cookie crumbs and nuts, and mix until just incorporated. Pipe dough into plastic wrap. Roll dough in wrap and hold both ends of wrap and twist each end closed. Freeze dough until ready to use. Bake at 325 degrees for 8 minutes.

Cheesecake:

1 cup coconut milk
1 lbs cream cheese
2 oz lemon juice
1 cup heavy cream
2 sheets gelatine
6 oz sugar
1 box Caramel deLite cookies (for the top)

Mix cream cheese, coconut milk and sugar together until smooth scraping sides frequently. Soften gelatin in cold water. Add cream cheese with lemon juice and mix until well combined.

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Losing the Organic Label

because of a foods' gigantic carbon footprint.
Food imported to the UK by air may be denied the lucrative "organic" label under proposals being put forward today by the Soil Association.

The UK's main organic certification body is concerned about the "food miles" involved in importing goods by air, which, environmentalists argue, contribute to global warming.

...In the past, most food labelled organic in UK shops was more likely to have been sourced relatively locally, typically from smaller farms. However, with the boom in popularity of organic food, bigger firms have become involved and the use of air transportation has grown, allowing some firms to sell food that is out of season locally. - The Guardian


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Lester Ferdinand Borchardt (1907 - 2007)

You might not know his name..nor face, but you, and millions of kids, know his "invention". Cheerios. Certain atheletes owe a debt of gratitude to him as well, for he was involved in creating Wheaties, too. Lester Borchadt passed away last week at the age of 99.
Cheerios, originally called Cheerioats, were invented by Lester Borchardt back in 1941, but Cheerios almost didn't happen.

Les and his team were working on the machine to puff cereal, like Cheerios, but his boss wanted them to stop the project. Les insisted they go on, and two months later, Cheerios was born.

"Some people referred to him as a genius, and I do think he was," said Les' Daughter-in-Law Mary Borchardt.

Years ago Les' granddaughter drank a bottle of furniture polish. Cheerios may have helped save her life.

"So we took her to the emergency and had her stomach pumped. The doctor came out and said if she hadn't had such a good breakfast of Cheerios and milk, she would have not made it," said Mary Borchardt.

Les' family said he was humble and didn't talk about all his inventions and patents. He had 11 of them and he also helped come up with the process to fortify milk with vitamin D.

He worked at General Mills for more than 35 years and his daughter said he ate Cheerios just about every morning of his life. - WCCO

...In a brief autobiography he wrote after retiring, Borchardt said he took pride in bucking his corporate bosses when he felt it was necessary. He discussed one research team's work on a piece of equipment used in the production of breakfast cereals like Cheerios.

A worker came up with an idea for increasing the machine's output, so Borchardt decided it was worth pursuing to see whether it would work.

"Two years and $150,000 later my superior passed on to me the word that his superior felt that the time had come to terminate the projects," Borchardt wrote. But Borchardt said his staff thought they were close to a breakthrough, so he stood his ground.

Two months later, the project was a success. At the time he retired, Borchardt said, the company estimated the process was saving it $1 million a year. - St. Paul Press

Have a big bowl of Cheerios for Les sometime this week. What a terrific way to pay tribute.

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Saturday, January 27, 2007 

Say "Hello" to....

some terrific, tasty blogs to check out.
Slowly rebuilding my delicious linkies since blogger had a "snack attack" on my template and ate everything.

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Friday, January 26, 2007 

Williams Sonoma to be sold?

The Los Angeles Times and the Gourmet Retailer are reporting:
Williams-Sonoma Inc., the owner of kitchenware stores and the Pottery Barn home decor retail chain, has hired Goldman Sachs to explore strategic options, which could include the sale of the company, people familiar with the matter said Tuesday. Goldman declined to comment. San Francisco-based Williams-Sonoma didn't return several calls seeking comment. Williams-Sonoma's contact with Goldman is seen to be in its early stages, and sources were not aware of any buyers at the doorstep. But sources said the company was expected to attract the interest of private equity firms drawn to its popular brand, cash flow and prime real estate.
I worked for Williams Sonoma for 4 years. The management was horrendous. Some of the managers were stealing, attacking sales associates, hoarding sale items until the lowest possible price for themselves and their friends, one even worked people over night without paying them. I reported these incidents to "corporate", and who got in trouble? Me for daring to question the managers. At least the worst of the lot was fired. Walked out of the store infront of everyone, to the relief of the employees.

The store used to have some great, original items, but now it just offers the same things that a hundred other stores offer up at lower prices. Many customers were returning items they purchased elsewhere and bringing it into WS for a refund/credit. Nice racket at the expense of the company.
The quality of the goods has decreased. Their customer base has decreased. (Sur la Table has been really been in hot pursuit and has been picking off customers little by little.)

We'll see what is in store for Williams Sonoma....the dream of one "foodie" named Chuck.

(photo by dougelwell)

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Wednesday, January 24, 2007 

SFGate is recovering from the Fancy Food Show, too...

Fancy Food Show: Around the world in 1,100 booths

The panel truck parked outside Moscone Center Sunday morning bore the message "Snaccident Prevention."

Fat chance. With 1,100 companies from 35 countries displaying their wares inside the center's cavernous halls to tempt 16,000 expected specialty food buyers, snacking -- on everything from glorified H2O to cheeses, cereals, rice mixes and a zillion sweets -- was the order of the day.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 

I'm delightful!

As Seen on DelightfulBlogs.com

 

Oh..my..what a weekend!

Well...I can safely say that the major trend evident at the Fancy Food Trade Show was Tea. It was everywhere. Green Tea especially...but the one thing that companies were flaunting...the blooming teas; the little buds that flower in your tea pot. There were TONS being showcased at the Trade Show. Not alot of coffee except in food itself.

The other seemingly overflowing item...flavored infused and fortified bubbly water. Lite. Refreshing. Packed with herbs and vitamins for everything that supposedly ails you. These companies have their sights on soda pop and they're going for broke.

Another big thing...Licorice. Go figure. Not the the American type of plastic/anise flavored stuff...this was the chewy, salty European/Scandanavian type of licorice. And, wow...is it flavorful and terrific!

Olive Oil was in abundance. Everyone had their own blends/brands of olive oil. Nuts were in abundance, too. Saw our local Pistachio company there...stopped and said "howdee."

Lots of spices. In everything...even chocolate. One of my favorite "bites" was from a company called "Pretty Mean Snacks". It is geared toward women...hence they are marketing themselves as the PMS brand...and it has some terrific and unusual flavor blending. Chocolate and Basil? It was tasty!

Lots of salts! From all over the globe...even Utah.

I had the honor to meet and chat with Ina Garten and Paula Deen. Terrific women. Inspirational. (And, keep your eyes out....Paula's got a book coming out later this year and some tasty new products marketed via The Peanut Shop!) Tom Douglas was there with his terrific rubs for seafood and meat. No sign of Paul P...but plenty of his rubs. Bobby Flay was reportedly there, but I didn't care to try to hunt him down.

Just a brief glimpse into the show. The big "buzz" of the show, though, seems to be the move of next year's Winter Fancy Food Trade Show to San Diego. The Show has been in San Francisco for years and years. It almost seems sacreligious to not have it at the Moscone. What sort of taxbreaks did the "City Shamu Built" offer the Show folks? Gavin...how could you let this happen?

One word to some up the show other than "Wow!"...Varietal. Think varietal.

Metromint Lemonmint and Metromint Orangemint
Metromint

Exotic Flowering Tea Line
Numi Organic Tea

Vitamin Fiber Water
Sugar Bowl Bakery

Vignette Wine Country Soda
Savor California


More later. I'm still digesting the samples.

Friday, January 19, 2007 

I'm off to the Tasty Dog & Pony Show







up in San Francisco. I'll leave Friday evening..sleep all the way up..wake up at the Ferry Building Saturday morning and then, off to register officially, throw my things into the postage stamp size room and then...who knows. The Bridge? Golden Gate Park? The Palace of Fine Arts? Sunday...it's all about the Trade Show.


You know, of course, I've already done my OpenTable.com trolling.

I'll leave you with this "hot off the food presses" piece of news to savor.
Spice company McCormick teamed up with some of the nation's hottest chefs, television cooking personalities and cookbook authors to create the McCormick Flavor Forecast — their top 10 list of flavors for 2007. McCormick predicts these trendy flavor pairings — spanning sweet, hot, tangy, bitter, sour and everything in between — will be influencing the foods eaten this year and in the future.

...
The following is their top 10 list of flavors:
  • Clove and Green Apple
  • Thyme and Tangerine
  • Tellicherry Black Pepper and Berry
  • Sea Salt and Smoked Tea
  • Lavender and Honey
  • Crystallized Ginger and Salted Pistachio
  • Cumin and Apricot
  • Toasted Mustard and Fennel Seeds
  • Wasabi and Maple
  • Caramelized Garlic and Riesling Vinegar
y'all agree? Talk amongst yourselves.
I'll see if I can stop in and do a post right after the show to share anything mindboggling or palate popping. San Francisco....HERE I COME! (right back where I started from)


Wednesday, January 17, 2007 

Holy Guacamole!

get ready to pay an arm and a leg for these little green gobs of good.

"Areas of San Luis Obispo are 60 to 80 percent damaged. areas of Santa Barbara County are 30 to 40 percent damaged. areas of Ventura County are 50 to 60 percent damaged and those are the big avocado counties in the State." - abc news

 

San Francisco Dreaming

I've had this long "Love Affair" with the Golden Gate Bridge. It seems to have a life all it's own, as does the fog.

 

I'm going to the Big Show!

WooooHooooo! It's going to be quite a haul to get up to the City, but I got a great rate to register, I got a great rate on Amtrak, I got a great great rate on a hotel right near the Moscone Center.

I'm sooooooooo excited! Now...where to make my dinner reservations during "Dine About Town"....WooooHoooo!

Monday, January 15, 2007 

Since Blogger ate my template...and my links...

Now's the time to adventure out and find some new "delicious" blogs or spots.
What site do YOU recommend? What's on YOUR cyber reading dish?

 

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day


Nothing in all the world is more dangerous
than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.


Martin Luther King Jr.
Strength to Love, 1963


Sunday, January 14, 2007 

Who knew that Cookies could be so...well...

"dangerous!" and..wait...I thought that the "Bid Dog" wasn't supposed to be snacking on the luscious dy-no-mite tasting nuggets o'dough!

U.S. Postal workers in New Castle, N.Y., were relieved when a suspicious package for former U.S. President Bill Clinton turned out to be a box of cookies.

Alarmed because the DHL shipping label had the wrong address for the Clinton's house, the post office summoned Secret Service agents, police officers and the Westchester County, N.Y., bomb squad thursday, the White Plains (N.Y.) Journal-News reported saturday.

The post office was closed until a portable x-ray revealed no bomb inside the box, which turned out to be packed with cookies, authorities said.

The treats were turned over to the Secret Service.

It was not known whether the cookies ever made it to the Clintons' Chappaqua, N.Y., home. - upi
Guess my shipment better get the address correct.

 

Think You're a Top Chef Ingredient?

BLOGGING TOP CHEF says that you may have an opportunity to "plate your stuff"
MIAMI OPEN CALL: Sunday January 21st / 12pm to 4pm Johnson & Wales University - Florida Campus 1701 NE 127th Street North Miami, FL. 33181 University Center Building

NEW YORK OPEN CALL: Sunday January 28th / 12pm to 4pm The French Culinary Institute 462 Broadway at the corner of Grand Street New York, NY 10013. The International Culinary Theater 2nd floor


LOS ANGELES OPEN CALL: Sunday, February 11th / 12pm to 4pm Les Deux 1638 N. Las Palmas Hollywood, Ca 90028
More info? Go to Bravo Casting

I'm looking forward to seeing a local restaurant in the "mix". Epiphany! January 17th, baby. "Seduction in Santa Barbara." Got the TiVo and the Pinot at the ready.

Saturday, January 13, 2007 

Sometimes you don't want to change recipes

You will definately hear about it from the customers if they aren't happy! One of my favorite places to "hang" in the City is finding that out with their famous...now infamous...Irish Coffee!

A San Francisco bar that claims it brought Irish coffee to America in 1952 is changing the whiskey it uses in its brew. The Buena Vista Café says it maintains the gold standard of Irish coffee, but some customers are complaining about the new recipe. - NPR

Friday, January 12, 2007 

Since Blogger Ate My Template

And all my delicious linkies...looks like I will have to rebuild my links one serving at a time. Perhaps I should start with this one...Blog Wields Power in Restaurant World.
Ben Leventhal and Lockhart Steele are a pair of bloggers fighting a guerrilla war against the city's publicists. Nearly every day, the two provide restaurant information on their popular Web site, Eater.com., posting tidbits that publicists aren't ready to release and traditional journalists haven't managed to print.

Thanks to an army of hungry tipsters, Leventhal and Steele are irking restaurateurs, chefs and reporters alike with their timely scoops. They have broken stories about restaurant closings and the comings-and-goings of chefs, and their success has led to a new venture in Los Angeles.

There is also talk of stalking San Francisco's eateries and possibly delving into one or two other major cities.

 

My template went "kaput"

Guess you get what you pay for, eh?

Well...guess I'm going to have to "shop around" for another cool looking template.

I lost all my delicious linkies....OK...forget spilled milk. I'm crying over my template catastrophe.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007 

A drinking game should be developed

to accompany watching Top Chef. Everytime you see a planted "commercial" in the filming, take a drink of wine, tequila, or whatever adult libation you may have on hand. Come on...how many times must they mention "brand names" in one scene! Kraft. Kraft. Kraft. Kraft. Rav-4. Rav-4. Sears Kenmore Pro. Westfield shopping centers. Wild Oats. Wild Oats......yawn.

OK...get your glasses ready...."speaking of Kraft", I really do enjoy their
food & family magazine. It truly is inventive coming up with things to make with their products...and they do it well. (Just as Sam did)




 

THANK YOU!

Sycamore Mineral Springs for advertising with us!

If you need a little getaway, I highly recommend a little jaunt up San Luis Obispo to "The Springs."

Tuesday, January 09, 2007 

More Whine about Wine

When will the insane over the freaking board marketing stop? Make it stop!
The bar, called Tastes of the Valleys, a SIDEWAYS wine bar, is slated to open later this month in Santa Barbara County. In addition to wines featured in the movie, patrons can check out the map to see where the Sideways characters actually spent their time in town.
...
The group behind the Santa Barbara bar hopes that this location will be successful enough to lend itself to additional SIDEWAYS wine bars.
Tip o' the ol' corkscrew to VinoGal.

Instead of reaching for my beloved, now overhyped, Pinot Noir, I'm in need of some good tequila to wash the bad taste in my mouth over this news.

Hate to tell some folks....SIDEWAYS WAS ONLY A FREAKING MOVIE...NOT A LIFESTYLE CHOICE. Living a life or vacation through the glasses of a fictional movie is like drinking out of a spit bucket. Can you say "regurgitation?". There is such a thing as a "real life" out there...and real experiences of your own. Forget Miles'. Crush and spit out your own "grapes of wrath."

Now, I hope these "sheeple" will find a "new wine of the moment" so I can actually afford Pinot again.

Monday, January 08, 2007 

Looking for a good winery?

You might end up "Sideways" in an "urban" setting.

No one has gathered statistics on the growth of urban wineries, but "it's really gotten big here in Santa Barbara," said Craig Addis, marketing director of the Santa Barbara Winery, a downtown winery in California that inspired Daneri and his software-consultant wife, Emily Williams.

Santa Barbara Winery is one of the oldest of the modern urban wineries. It opened in 1962, crushing grapes from vineyards 100 miles away.

In the past few years, four other urban wineries have opened in downtown Santa Barbara, Addis said. Others have popped up elsewhere in California and Oregon.

"There are a lot of wineries that are just in old factory buildings," said Cyril Penn, editor of the California-based trade journal Wine Business Monthly. To make good wine, "you need good grapes and not to screw them up," Penn said. - Asbury Park Press and The Portsmouth Herald

 

Who knew January could be so...delicious!

  • January 1: Bloody Mary Day
  • January 1: Apple Gifting Day
  • January 2: National Cream Puff Day
  • January 3: Chocolate-Filled Cherry Day
  • January 4: National Spaghetti Day
  • January 5: National Whipped Cream Day
  • January 6: Bean Day
  • January 6: National Shortbread Day
  • January 7: National Tempura Day
  • January 8: English Toffee Day
  • January 9: National Apricot Day
  • January 10: Bittersweet Chocolate Day
  • January 11: Milk Day
  • January 20: National Granola Bar Day
  • January 21: New England Clam Chowder Day
  • January 22: National Blonde Brownie Day
  • January 23: National Rhubarb Pie Day
  • January 24: National Peanut Butter Day
  • January 25: National Irish Coffee Day
  • January 26: National Pistachio Day
  • January 27: Chocolate Cake Day
  • January 28: National Blueberry Pancake Day
  • January 29: National Corn Chip Day
  • January 30: National Croissant Day
  • January 31: Brandy Alexander Day
  • Bread Machine Baking Month
  • National Candy Month
  • National Egg Month
  • National Hot Tea Month
  • National Meat Month
  • National Oatmeal Month
  • National Soup Month
  • National Wheat Bread Month
  • Prune Breakfast Month

Sunday, January 07, 2007 

Whole Foods in Santa Barbara is coming...

but when, exactly?

I give them great credit for doing some serious homework on how to integrate themselves within the community. Even GREATER credit for creating "mixed usage" in it's plan...and involving affordable housing, which is literally non-existant in this town of $1.2 million dollar median priced homes.

  • This project includes Creekside restoration and landscape plans which are designed to create a beautiful balance of landscaping and native habitat throughout both creek corridors.

  • The creek buffer/setback area will consist of re-vegetated natural areas and pervious surfaces. The amount of impervious surfaces along the creek corridors will be reduced by over 70%.

  • All storm water runoff from the developed portions of the site will be collected and treated in a state of the art Continuous Deflective System to remove pollutants.

  • In addition to mechanical filtration, the expanded creek setbacks will allow for increased bio- and geo-filtration which will enhance wildlife habitat, improve water quality, and reduce the damaging effects of flooding.

  • The loading for Whole Foods Market and Circuit City will be in the subterranean parking area underneath Whole Foods Market and Circuit City, which will significantly reduce impacts to the creek as well as noise.

  • A pedestrian path around the rear of the property will allow the community to enjoy the beauty of the creek.

  • A 30 foot wide public parkway will be provided along State Street.

  • A proposed easement dedication to the City of Santa Barbara for a future pedestrian bridge which will link to Hope Street as well as pedestrian pathways will encourage pedestrian access.

  • The center will provide 42 bike parking spaces distributed throughout the property to encourage cyclists to enjoy the proposed development.

  • The project will include 2 affordable housing units and 13 market rate housing units.

  • Reduction of traffic intensive uses: A fast food restaurant will be demolished and a bank will be downsized.

They are also parnering with Van Atta Associates...which is always a really good thing!

 

The best raisins in the world....

Peacock Family Farms! No trip to the Farmer's Market is complete without getting some! Can't make it there...well, they can ship!

The Golden Flames are my favorite!


Thursday, January 04, 2007 

Thank you....

Rancho Burbank.com

Hope you win your battle with the "neigh"bors.

 

The Goodfella

is producing Good Food! Who knew! Just don't fuhgehtahboutit.

Actor Paul Sorvino launches his new food company,
Paul Sorvino Foods, Inc., Greenville, Del., with two initial product lines--Italian sausage and seafood products. Full Release


I'm just hoping if you buy the seafood products, you won't end up "sleeping with the fishes."

Wednesday, January 03, 2007 

Food Section Wednesday

I'll just hop around the various newspapers and see what's cooking today.

Amy Scattergood at the "Latte Times" has an interesting write-up on a scattered smattering of blogs she found interesting. (How perfect is her last name for this particular article!)
..."The appetite for this information seems to be endless," says LA.com editor Lonny Pugh. "And the more the better. If you look at one, you look at them all. There doesn't seem to be a saturation point."

Too busy cooking to read.

NOT everyone is convinced that the food world's appetites are best served by the exponentially expanding blogosphere. In an informal poll of L.A. chefs, Water Grill's David LeFevre said he thinks that food blogs are a "distraction" for himself and his staff, while Lucques' and A.O.C.'s Suzanne Goin admits to being "totally clueless" about them. On the other hand, Dakota Weiss of the Tower Bar and the Terrace says in an e-mail, "I'm on the Internet often reading them. I use them to see what's going on with other chefs and to keep up with trends."

And for those of us who are as plugged into the Web as we are to our KitchenAids, all those blogging food lovers are difficult to ignore.

acme instant food / food porn l.a. / chubby panda / la foodblogging / yougoingtoeatthat (aka professor salt) / potatomato / the great taco hunt
"The Edgy Veggie" over at the Miami Herald, talks about the "Year of Living Dangerously"

It has been, alas, a tough year for produce. Outbreaks of E. coli turned spinach and scallions into the enemy, bringing to mind a quip by Monty Python's Michael Palin: ``All I ask of food is that it does not harm me.''

He was half joking. I'm totally serious. If we can't take safe-to-eat produce for granted, it's time to re-examine the way we grow and process our food.

The Bangor Daily News lets us know that National Pie Day is January 23 and that the Rockland Inns are going to be celebrating it throughout the month of January.

The Anchorage Press
informs us that it is "Colon Cleansing Season." (ah...thanks for that info...)

The Charleston Post & Courier
reminds us how nutricious (and tasty) a sweet potato can be and shares with us a recipe for Sweet Potato Salad.

Sweet Potato Salad

Start to finish: 15 minutes

Serves 8

4 precooked, refrigerated, medium sweet potatoes (about 6 to 8 ounces each), recipe follows
4 green onions (for about 2/3 cup sliced)
2 ribs celery (for about 3/4 cup diced)
1/4 cup olive oil
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Juice of 1/2 orange, or 3 tablespoons breakfast-style orange juice
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon seasoning salt, such as Lawry's
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Cook's note: This salad tastes even better a day after it's made.

Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into bite-size pieces. Place the pieces in a large bowl. Thinly slice the green onions, including enough of the tender green tops to make about 2/3 cup. Add them to the bowl. Rinse and dice the celery, and add it to the bowl. Set aside.

Mix the oil, lemon juice, orange juice, soy sauce, garlic powder, chili powder, seasoning salt and pepper in a measuring cup. Whisk well. Pour over the potato mixture and stir gently to coat, but avoid breaking up the potatoes. Serve at once, or refrigerate, covered, until ready to serve. Leftovers keep, refrigerated, for up to 3 days.



Tuesday, January 02, 2007 

The Youngest Grocer in America

Look what an enterprising 17 year old can do! His next goal...to try to find his town a Pharmacist and to graduate from High School!

Monday, January 01, 2007 

The most gorgeous Rose Bowl Parade


Lizards - Frog 2
Originally uploaded by Tasmin Brown.

I have ever seen.

Several years ago, I worked on a float for La Canada Flintridge...volunteering my time to churn up "skintone" for the "humans" on the float. Rice. Cinnamon. Wheat. Nutmeg. A Dash o' Coconut. Into the blender...then...Voila!

Thank you Home and Garden TV for presenting it Commercial free!

MY INGREDIENTS

  • I'm SantaBarbarian
  • From Santa Barbara, California, United States
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