So here we are, a day late and a dollar short. It’s been a hectic week that got thrown off-track by a job interview yesterday afternoon, and my timing is suffering this week. My apologies ahead of time for getting this Friday roundup out on Saturday morning.
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Attention, Columbus bloggers: some started a Columbus Bloggers Yahoo group. Stop by the link and sign up if you get a chance.
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My husband and I took a trip out tonight to check out the Sunflower Market that just opened up in the Olentangy Plaza on the northwest side of town. To be honest, I’m really not impressed. Too expensive (more expensive than Whole Foods, as if that were possible!), not enough local products (the only local product I saw in the whole store was eggs from 105 miles away), everything else was factory farm organic that I could get at Walmart Supercenter for a lot less cost. No prepared foods section, no fresh butcher or fishmonger, and not really anything at all that would make me go back. I know others have talked about how they love the place, but I’m just not feeling it.
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Speaking of organics, over at Slashfood they’re discussing whether or not organics are on their way out. I say, if they are — great. Maybe then the focus will be more on the local sourcing of said products (I tend to prefer to buy organic meat, poultry, dairy, produce, etc, but not so much the convenience foods). I’d much rather have access to a co-op that has ALL local and artisan products than a Walmart or Whole Foods that carries row upon row of organic produce grown on factory farms half a world away. When a way of eating becomes faddish, bad things happen because everyone who can make a buck will try to. You want to eat organic? Support your local farmers. Buy a turkey from one this Thanksgiving. Make all your side dishes with local produce that will still be in season in most places. Don’t expect fresh strawberries in December.
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la.foodblogging posted about Aunt Kizzy’s Back Porch this past week. This was one of the places I wanted to check out when I went to Los Angeles a couple of years back, but unfortunately I didn’t get a chance. Anyone know if there’s any good soul food in Columbus?
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Dispatch readers voted Columbus Fish Market as the best tuna steak in Columbus. While I’ve been to a couple of the restaurants in the Cameron Mitchell food empire, this is one I haven’t visited yet. If Cap City and Cameron’s are any indication of the quality of the food you’ll find there though, I’ll have to put CFM at the top of my list. This week, they’d like you to tell them who has the best lasanga in town. Put in your vote before Monday to enter to win a $25 gift certificate.
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Lots of recipes to print out and keep for future reference from this week, like Slow Cooker Risotto with Swiss Chard from the Columbus Dispatch, Pistachio Tart with Fresh Figs and Honey Glaze from Blog Appetit, Linguine with Ham, Peas and Swiss Cheese from Cookin’ with Cyndi, Ricotta Fritters from Cook (almost) Anything at Least Once, Mini Chocolate Mocha Bundt Cakes from Cookie Madness, Cheesecake with Apples and a Brulee Top from Cream Puffs in Venice, Bittersweet Chocolate Citrus Tart from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody, Slow Cooker Fajitas from Eating for One, Smokey Bones Baked Apples from WhiteTrashBBQ, Butternut Squash Soup from What Did You Eat?, Chicken Tikka Masala from Taste Everything Once, Friday Pasta from Lisa the Restaurant Widow, Creamy Potato Soup with Pancetta Croutons from Pork Cracklins, Sweet Potato Leek Risotto from My Husband Cooks, Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake with Salted Caramel Sauce from La Mia Cucina, Beef Stew with Chilis and Green Peppers from kayaksoup, and Delicata Squash & Sweet Potato Soup with Hazelnuts & Sage from Je Mange la Ville
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And if you’ve got some extra time on your hands, and want to learn a few new skills, Kate the Accidental Hedonist gives us some butter tips and hints, Robert of the Daily Olive clues us in on 5 Quick Tips to Shooting Great Food Photographs, Cooking Debauchery shows us how to make quick cooking easier, tomsaaristo’s Xanga gives us a list of ingredient substitutes, tommy:eats tells us how to cure hiccups, Rebecca at Potlikker shows us seasonal eating charts, Bea from La tartine gourmande shows us how to make croissants, step by step, and Venessa from The Kitchen - Apartment Therapy shows us the technique of oven-drying tomatoes.
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If you’re concerned about getting the best organic bang for your buck, this handy guide posted by The Fanatic Cook tells us which foods are usually contanimated by pesticides and should be bought organically.
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Until next week, folks…
