Category Archives: Going Green and Sustainable

Eats & Treats, Part II

It sure looks like caviar -- but it's not.
It sure looks like caviar — but it’s not.

Caviart

They are tiny and black, boast a briny taste, and look for all the world like caviar.

But these are not sturgeon roe by any means. In fact, they are vegan and made from seaweed.

Caviart was developed by Danish Chef Jens Moller, who sources sustainable seaweed in France to make these plant-based pearls in Denmark that are free of gluten, soy, cholesterol, and fat. They have no calories, either.

I had a chance to try a sample. The pearls glisten and are more minuscule than typical caviar. They don’t necessarily have the initial crunchy pop of real caviar, but they have a delicious sea taste that’s a little earthy and a lot savory. There’s also a depth of flavor, thanks to the additions of turmeric, cayenne, leek, dill, tarragon, and laurel. So, it’s not solely salinity that you taste.

Use it any way you would the real deal.
Use it any way you would the real deal.

The mock caviar is a perfect way to dress up the holiday table because it makes any dish more festive. It’s ideal for vegetarians and vegans, and tasty enough to pass muster with gourmet carnivores.

Read more

Discover Misfits Market — And the Winner of the Food Gal Contest

My Misfits Market order included butternut squash and sweet potatoes billed as "unconventional in size.''
My Misfits Market order included butternut squash and sweet potatoes billed as “unconventional in size.”

It may be named Misfits Market, but it has nothing to do with forlorn, forgotten toys.

Instead, get to know this online subscription marketplace that aims to deliver mostly organic and non-GMO produce and other foodstuffs to your door at affordable prices — and in the process reach a wider audience and cut down on food waste.

Unlike most CSAs, you can choose what’s in your delivery box, too. Shipping is a flat rate that varies by zip code but starts at $5.99.

The company was founded in Philadelphia in 2018 by Abhi Ramesh, a graduate of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, who was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021 by Ernst & Young.

A grocery delivery service whose goal is to cut down on food waste.
A grocery delivery service whose goal is to cut down on food waste.

The company sources from farmers and producers across the country, as well as some items such as citrus and avocados from outside the United States.

Read more

A Gold Star For Gold Ridge Organic Farms Apple Vinegars

Gold Ridge Apple Cider Balsamic is so wonderful, you will even want to drink it -- in a shrub or cocktail.
Gold Ridge Apple Cider Balsamic is so wonderful, you will even want to drink it — in a shrub or cocktail.

Sebastopol’s Gold Ridge Organic Farms grows impeccable apples — more than 75 varieties, with many of them heirloom ones — available at its farm shop and area markets such as Whole Foods.

So, it’s no surprise that any products made from such primo apples are also stellar.

Recently, I had a chance to sample two new releases: Apple Cider Balsamic and Apple Cider Vinegar.

One taste of the Gold Ridge Apple Cider Balsamic will instantly make you go “Wow!”

Read more

World Central Kitchen’s First Cookbook

Chef Brooke Williamson's nourishing farro salad made with carrots and carrot juice.
Chef Brooke Williamson’s nourishing farro salad made with carrots and carrot juice.

It’s a good bet that following any disaster around the world no matter how far-flung, those jumping into action immediately after first responders are the chefs and volunteers of World Central Kitchen.

This global nonprofit was founded in 2010 by renowned Chef Jose Andres, who has a roster of restaurants around the United States.

After jumping into action to cook in Haiti after a devastating earthquake, he got the idea to create the organization. Since then, WCK has mobilized to serve more than 300 million meals worldwide.

Andres never expected that people would want recipes for the food served under those circumstances, he writes. But plenty did.

That’s what prompted “The World Central Kitchen Cookbook” (Clarkson Potter), of which I received a review copy. It was written by Andres and World Central Kitchen; with Sam Chapple-Sokol, editorial director of the Jose Andres Group.

All proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to WCK’s emergency efforts.

Read more

A Visit To The Newly Refurbished Sea Ranch Lodge

Petrale sole in broth at the restaurant at Sea Ranch Lodge.
Petrale sole in broth at the restaurant at Sea Ranch Lodge.

Sea Ranch, CA — For those in the Bay Area longing for a serene staycation, look no further than the newly refurbished Sea Ranch Lodge.

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean on the Sonoma Coast just 100 miles north of San Francisco, this 53-acre property is the perfect place to unplug, unwind, unravel and thoroughly revel in the beauty of nature.

That’s just what I experienced when I was invited as a guest overnight recently.

The look of the property is all Scandinavian chic, punctuated by clean lines and exteriors the calming color of driftwood.

Pomo Native Americans once gathered kelp and shells from the shores. Early settlers established sheep ranching in the 1800s, which is reflected in the eye-catching ram logo of the property.

In 1964, a master plan was forged for the community that would preserve its natural beauty while allowing for the construction of 2,200 homes. Walk the trail above the beach and you’ll spot markers with more information about the community, including how the homes were built around a central meadow so that each one is afforded an unobstructed view. Some of the houses still sport the original Scandinavian-inspired sod roofs, too, with native grasses sprouting from them.

The newly refurbished Sea Ranch Lodge main building.
The newly refurbished Sea Ranch Lodge main building.
The lodge features 17 rooms.
The lodge features 17 rooms.
A fire pit steps from the accommodations.
A fire pit steps from the accommodations.

Sea Ranch Lodge, built in 1968, is one of the oldest buildings, which originally served as a community hub with post office, general store, and later a hotel.

Read more
« Older Entries