cookiesinheaven

...The nation’s great bee die-off has provoked a furious debate: What has caused a third of all commercial honeybee colonies to perish each year since 2006? Although widespread bee deaths have occurred before, the current sharp decline is different. This time some bees have simply vanished, abandoning their hives. The phenomenon, known as colony collapse disorder (CCD), has been attributed in part to the same viral and bacterial infections, pesticide poisonings, and mite infestations that devastated bees in the past.

Whatever the proximate cause, it increasingly appears that the bees are succumbing to a long-ignored underlying condition—inbreeding. Decades of agricultural and breeding practices meant to maximize pollinating efficiency have limited honeybees’ genetic diversity at a time when they need it the most. - Discover Magazine

Labels: bees, Colony Collapse Disorder, Honey, Science

Click here to Vote for “Best Of Santa Barbara” in the following categories:

• Farm/Farmer
• Chef/Restaurant
• Food Artisan
• Beverage Artisan
• Non-profit Organization

Labels: Chef, Edible Communities, farmers, local, locavore, magazines, Santa Barbara, voting

She and husband Seal recently were delighted with an arrival of a new baby, Lou Sulola Samuel. I guess they decided to take a little getaway and were apparently having a nice family stroll along State Street this afternoon. I waited, along with the Seal-Klum family and their entourage, for the light to change on the corner of State and Canon Perdido. Too afraid to really get a good gander...and too shy to lean over and tell Heidi I love Project Runway.

The big pink pram and the bodyguards were a giveaway that celebrities were amongst us common folks, although, both Heidi and Seal were very calm, cool and seemingly unpretentious. Their kids acting, well, just like kids.

Too bad I didn't have my camera...so a Flickr photo will have to do. I'll, as Tim would say, "make it work."

Labels: Flickr, Project Runway, Santa Barbara

Labels: Books, Michael Pollan, pbs, TV, YouTube

Labels: beer, soda, YouTube

Labels: local, meal, Restaurant, Santa Barbara

Labels: conferences, Pollan

Labels: healthcare, nose

cuz it's freakin' POURING.

Labels: fire, Santa Barbara, weather

but why are they selling Chilean Sea Bass?

But Gerald Leape, the vice president for marine conservation at the National Environmental Trust in Washington, the nonprofit group that started the “take a pass on Chilean sea bass” campaign in 2001 among chefs, restaurants and markets nationwide, said he was concerned that the return of the fish to Whole Foods could be misread by consumers.

“They may think that all Chilean sea bass are O.K. now, and that’s not true,” he said. “The certified fishery accounts for only 10 percent of the total catch. Chilean sea bass are still overfished and depleted.”

Peter Hoffman, the chef and owner of Savoy in SoHo, who does not serve Chilean sea bass, said Whole Foods was sending a confusing message. “It boils down to oversimplification,” he said. “Sustainability is hard to understand, and now the consumer might think it applies to all Chilean sea bass. Other markets might put up similar signs, even though their fish does not come from that fishery. How many places that said they sold wild salmon actually turned out to be selling farmed once the fish were tested?” - NYTimes

Labels: Chile, fish, Seafood Watch, Whole Foods

This was sent by Linda Phillips, President of the SB LWV.

Dear LWVSB members,

Recently Santa Barbara voters received in the mail a so-called "Official Non-partisan Voter Guide" which prominently displayed the League of Women Voters logo. It appeared as though the information was provided by LWV. This is blatantly false.

And despite the fine-print disclaimer, our unauthorized inclusion in the mailer gave the impression that we support its slate of candidates. LWV never endorses nor opposes candidates for any office.

For general information about the League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara, our correct website is www.LWVSantaBarbara.org . For impartial election information, go to www.SmartVoter.org/ca/sba/ .

Please feel free to forward this message.

Linda Phillips

Labels: politics, Santa Barbara

Labels: rain, Santa Barbara, weather

Pumpkin pie lovers be warned: You may not find your favorite can of pie filling at the supermarket.

There's a national shortage of canned pumpkin and pie filling, a result of poor weather that reduced last year's crop.

Shoppers report finding bare shelves, and the supermarkets say they have been put on an "allocation," or quota, system by Libby's, a division of food giant Nestle that controls more than 80% of the canned pumpkin market.

Libby's typically uses surpluses from the previous year to stock store shelves during September and October, when the annual pumpkin harvest gets underway.

Wet conditions during last year's growing season left canners without a surplus this year, said Roz O'Hearn, a Libby's spokeswoman.

...Shoppers could confront a similar shortage next year. - Latte Times

Labels: Libby's, pie, pumpkin, shortages

La Arcada is just lifeless without the hub-bub of tourists and happy hour goers enjoying a margarita...or two...or three. A wannabe highend nightclub serving up bad, greasy foo-foo food just didn't cut it. It just didn't match the comfortable surroundings with their perceived arrogance.

Isn't there someone out there who would be willing (and financially able) to put in an affordable, comfortable and accessible restaurant...hopefully not a chain...but, heck, something?

Labels: La Arcada, restaurants, Santa Barbara

An L.A. law firm has announced via this press release that they have filed a class action lawsuit against the chain and "on behalf of all purchasers of a certain so-called 'frozen yogurt' product made and/or marketed by Yogurtland International, LLC ("Yogurtland")" - OCWeekly

Yogurtland has been slapped with a class-action lawsuit which alleges that they are being a bit shady when it comes to how they name, make, and serve their "frozen yogurt." - LAist

Labels: bloggers, FauxYo, Lawsuit, unsanitary, yogurt

Important Voter Alert from Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum

Dear Santa Barbara Voter,

This is an alert about a potential problem with the vote by mail ballots.

Some voters may not have received their ballot in the mail for the Santa Barbara City election. There are reports that ballots intended for complexes or apartment buildings may have been stacked with the junk or marketing mail rather than inserted into mailboxes.

This raises serious concerns that Santa Barbara apartment residents may not have fair access to their ballots.

Every registered voter in Santa Barbara should have received their mail-in ballot this week-- in their mailbox. Remember, this year’s election is an all-vote-by-mail election, so the ballot you were mailed is the only method of voting this year.

If you are a registered voter in Santa Barbara, you have the right to vote. If you did not receive your ballot please call the Santa Barbara City Clerk’s office immediately at 805-564-5309. They will send you a replacement ballot allowing you to vote.

If you sent in your ballot and want to make sure it was received, call the same number, 805-564-5309, and City Hall staff will check their data to make sure they got your ballot.

Finally, if you are aware of official city ballots that were not placed into the appropriate mailboxes, please call Democratic Party Headquarters and let us know: 805-965-8030.

For further information on the vote by mail election, you can visit the city’s voter information webpage at http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/Resident/SB_City_Vote/

Make sure your vote counts! Santa Barbara, 'send it in.'

Labels: ballots, Santa Barbara, voting

Labels: internets, NASA, TV

Labels: Beef, Cal Poly, California, Food, Food Events, lecture, Pollan, san luis obispo

October 29, 2009
Start Time: 6:00PM End Time: 8:30PM

Location: Hotel Mar Monte, 1111 E. Cabrillo Blvd.

Information: 805.879.1317

Website: hotelmarmonte.com

Admission: $35 per person, advance purchase required, seating is limited.

An entertaining and informative culinary demonstration with Bravo TV's Top Chef Season 3, Miami finalist, Brian Malarkey. Wine and cheese reception begins at 6pm. Demonstrations begins at 7pm. Chef Malarkey will be on hand throughout the evening to meet and greet. Co-sponsored by Jordano's. Purchase tickets by calling Stephanie at 879.1335 or Cindy at 879.1317.

Labels: Bravo TV, Hotels, Santa Barbara, Top Chef

NEW YORK - October 5, 2009 - Today, Bravo announced that the Emmy and James Beard Award-winning "Top Chef," the No. 1 rated food show on cable, will be returning for a seventh season. Open calls for chefs interested in competing in the high-stakes culinary competition series will be held in cities across the country starting on October 18.

...For additional casting information and to download an application, visit www.BravoTV.com/casting. "Top Chef" season seven casting calls are as follows:

SAN FRANCISCO
Sunday, October 18, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
The Parlor
www.theparlorsf.com

MIAMI
Sunday, October 25, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Club 50 at Viceroy Miami
www.viceroymiami.com

CHICAGO
Monday, October 26, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Wells on Wells
www.wellsonwells.com

WASHINGTON D.C.
Wednesday, November 4, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Occidental Grill & Seafood at Willard InterContinental Hotel
www.occidentaldc.com

NEW YORK
Sunday, November 8, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
CraftSteak
www.craftrestaurant.com/craftsteak_newyork.html

DALLAS
Wednesday, November 11, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Abacus
www.kentrathbun.com

LOS ANGELES
Sunday, November 15, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Craft Restaurant
www.craftrestaurant.com/craft_losangeles_style.html

Labels: Food TV, Top Chef, TV

Labels: closings, Food, magazines

and I spent a couple hours wandering around, partaking of the goodness of the green.

One thing I noticed, Cold Stone Creamery was dishing out the avocado ice cream and not McConnell's. I have to say, I liked McConnell's better.

what a great BDay present to myself.

And good news....He's getting his own reality show on Bravo!

Labels: Fabio, Fabio Viviani, Flickr, Top Chef