Food & Beverage
Arab Spring of organic cuisine
This past Spring, I was great fortune of visiting Beirut, Lebanon. I was on a 2-week USAID-funded volunteer assignment, to evaluate the emerging organic food and farming sector, and to develop a communications strategy to help take them to the next level. I met with the country’s pioneers of organic agriculture, dined with forward-thinking restauranteurs … Continue reading
Why vote “YES” on Prop 37
How many of you look at labels on packaged foods — Ingredients? Nutritional content? Calories? When it comes to genetically modified foods (GMOs), I don’t trust the health and safety claims of the industry, and I want to be able to choose whether or not to eat them. But, unlike in dozens of other countries, … Continue reading
Tea time in Tel Aviv
On my recent trip to Israel, I stopped by the offices of Wissotzky Tea, interviewing Shalom Seidler – the 5th generation family member to run this 150+ year old company – for a business article in World Tea News magazine. Although I occasionally enjoy a spot of tea, the Wissotzky offices were located next to one … Continue reading
Bay Area Only: Petite Sirah Friends & Family Sale
If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area AND like wine, why are you wasting time reading my post? Oh, yeah, cuz I got some delicious news for you … Click over to my friend’s Shoe Shine Wine, and buy yourself a bottle (or more) of Eric’s hand-crafted wines. 15% off on all orders … Continue reading
A picture is worth …
Who are these famous people? Prince Albert? Vivian Leigh? Well, almost. Please meet two of my siblings, Albert (Prince of organic ice cream and other related dairy products) and Vivien (with roles in films as varied Peggy Sue Got Married, 13 Days and Freddy’s Nightmares). I’d never seen this photo – taken on a family … Continue reading
Old Man Marshall
I’m in Bali, Indonesia but, this morning, I’ve got my home town of Marshall, California on my mind. Marshall, nestled on the shores of Tomales Bay, was founded by Irish immigrant Hugh Marshall, who sailed from Ireland around Cape Horn to California in 1852. The next year, Marshall and his four brothers drove milking shorthorn cattle … Continue reading
For goodness saké (日本酒)
If you drink saké (Japanese rice wine), you’ve gotta check out my buddy Henry’s new video series. I met Henry in 1996, when he introduced Ciao Bella Gelato to the West Coast, opening their SoMa production facility. If I recall correctly, that was sandwiched between his successful launches of Brooklyn Brewery in New York, and Belvedere Vodka across the world. At the time, … Continue reading
The Chair in the Middle of the Road
Despite repeated visits to the chiropractor, hot packs, cold packs and a random assortment of medications, nothing seemed to help Nigel’s back. Quite the opposite, in fact, and the pain continued to worsen. Then, on December 24, while cruising home to Dixon on Interstate 80 from the SF Ferry Plaza farmers market, a wooden chair … Continue reading
Farm Spotlight: Pie Ranch
Every now and then I like to brag … about my friends, and Jered and Nancy at Pie Ranch have the dubious distinction of being today’s victims. I met Jered back in 1999 at the Eco-Farm Conference, where he was mesmerizing an audience with his photographs of sustainable agriculture in Asia (his adventurous spirit was … Continue reading
Blessed are the cheese makers
Velveeta, Rondele and Laughing Cow. That’s what ‘cheese’ meant to me in the 1970s. Somewhat ironic, given that I grew up on a dairy farm that since has become emblematic of the sustainable, local and organic food movements. Once, I was embarrassed to admit to my city friends that I grew up shoveling shit. Today, farmers … Continue reading
