Suvir

There is hope! The sky's the limit! - Guest Blogpost by Ellen Tarver

I would never have thought that turning off our cable could have changed my life in so many ways. Hey, wait a minute! I thought this was a food blog! Now, don’t get ahead of me—I’m not going to talk about saving money, making better use of my time, getting off the couch and getting into life, all those things you’re thinking of. Or wait…maybe I am…

Book Signing and Sharing of Tastes - Gardenworks, Salem

What’s the reason for opposing this again? Watch:

 

A Masala Farm Thanksgiving with the Thibeaults Part2

Guest Blogger: Tom Thibeault

      It started out like any other morning, with music blaring from the alarm clock and the pitter patter of tiny feet letting me know it was time to rise from my slumber. But this wasn’t just any day—it was Thanksgiving and I had a very important job to do! So like a kid on Christmas morning, I flew down the stairs and into the driveway to light my Fire Magic smoker and preheat my BlueStar Range.  My beautiful wife and my mother had prepped everything the day before—the turkey was brined and everything was perfect for the fantastic meal we were about to create as a family.

Thanksgiving: a day to be grateful, thankful, and conscious

As Tom Thibeault posted the above image on facebook, it had me immediately pondering over how life gives us so much to be so grateful for, and yet how often misery it seems is the best we can hold on too. As Tom cooks for his family in this outdoor kitchen set-up just for Thanksgiving, I hope we can all take a few minutes to be grateful for all that we have, knowing that nothing is a guarantee, and realizing another may not be as blessed.

I am thankful for life, friends and acquaintances, my large extended family, mentors and detractors, having a vocation that inspires, a farm and home that is beyond idyllic, and for food at the table.

A Masala Farm Thanksgiving with the Thibeaults

Guest Blogger: Tom Thibeault

As tradition dictates every year, we gather around with family and friends and share a meal in honor of the things we are thankful for in our lives. Certainly I am thankful for many wonderful people in my life: my beautiful wife Laura; my three-year-old triplets, Aiden, Brenya, and Christian; my parents, Debbie and Terry; my cousin Randy and his girlfriend Sarah; and my amazing staff at Adirondack Appliance, just to name a few.  I am also very grateful for my  friends, both old and new, and especially for my good friends Suvir Saran and Charlie Burd.  I am both honored and humbled that Suvir asked me to contribute to his blog, and I will do my best to both interest and entertain you through my culinary adventures in our home this Thanksgiving. I hope that by sharing with you what I have learned from Suvir, I can inspire you to get into your kitchen and cook, share your passion with friends, and improve the quality of your life.

"Fried" Chicken Rules at the 4th Annual Wine and Food Festival in NYC

 

Elizabeth Karmel, Art Smith, John Currence, Floyd Cardoz and some of my other favorites cooked their own take on fried chicken. Eddie Huang was one of the fans of my "Masala Fried Chicken". Art's fried chicken was delicious, but the pickles were where the magic was. John was worried his crust was limp - but so were the crusts on all the others. That is what happens with cold-fried chicken! Floyd made his with chickpea flour and spices. Ours was served with an avocado and peanut slaw. We could not have had enough no matter how much we brought with us. Magic was in the air.

Joyce Goldstein - An artist, chef, cook, sage thinker, brilliant mind, savvy visionary and fantastic friend

San Francicso has a very special place in my heart. It is a town, a village of the most cosmopolitan energy to me. It is also as beautiful as any city I have ever been to. Then there is the underbelly of SF which is gritty and dark - that adds to the character of the city. It has Joyce Goldstein, the greatest gift of this city. What an honor to be able to call her a dear friend.

Buffet wants to be taxed. Why are we NOT DEMANDING THAT HAPPEN?

Stop Coddling the Super-Rich - Warren Buffet (New York Times, OP-ED, Published August 14, 2011)

OUR leaders have asked for “shared sacrifice.” But when they did the asking, they spared me. I checked with my mega-rich friends to learn what pain they were expecting. They, too, were left untouched.

How will Washington county fair top this one?

Fried food and retail politics at the Iowa State Fair - Toby Harnden

"...........Driving away on a golf cart with her husband Marcus beside her, Mrs Bachmann stopped to buy a foot-long corn dog – a chicken and beef sausage in deep-fried batter. After applying mustard and allowing Mr Bachmann to take the first bite, she chomped into it with gusto."

Friday, August 15, 1947 - Birth of India's Freedom (Nation Wakes to New Life)

 

In this post you shall find the speech by Jawaharlal Nehru delivered to Indians around midnight on the 15th of August in 1947.

"Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.

Hebron, New York & New Delhi, India

As I stayed awake all night in New Delhi, I enjoyed reflecting on my life back home in the US.

Four & twenty blackbirds at Masala Farm

This post is devoted to the summer avian life present in Washington County and specifically at American Masala farm.  My husband Peter & I enjoy birding so decided start a list of all the birds we saw and heard during our visit. 

                        This is the stately prince of Masala Farm.  I cannot remember his name but I think it is an                       indian name that means Prince...Now I can only wonder who really wears the pants at

Masala Farm!  

This bird gets my vote!

Seeing him strut his stuff around the farm...like he owns the place.

and he does.

ABC Kitchen - Reaches high notes and flavors using organic and local ingredients

ABC Kitchen at ABC Carpet and Home is the high temple of organic and local food. Locanda Verde and ABC Kitchen are our two favorite places to eat, when not cooking at home. The food simple, elegant, impossibly tasty and addictive. Chef Dan Kluger, a veteran of many New York kitchens including that of chef Floyd Cardoz formerly of Tabla, is in command in the kitchen and proves that magic does not always need extravagance of the sorts we have become used to. Kabocha Squash and Brussels Sprouts shine vividly and with flair in his hands, pans and recipes. His food dreamy, delicious and decadent - yet honest, humble and haute, all at once, in its memorable manner.

Maria Speck Gives Me Ancient Bittersweet Koliva to Sweeten My Days of Mourning

I am 38, five years older than my father was when his father passed. My father, all of 67, was robbed from our midst on June 1st. A sad passing. But all passings bring in the void of loss and sadness. Loss like what we face, leaves us that are left bereft with a greater urging to life life fully - every breath we take. I am grateful to Ancient Grains for Modern Meals by Maria Speck to have given me some hope for cooking and eating happily upon my return to the US, my adopted home. I may employ a stealth approach to the use of certain grains (like millet) and do what I have done before and luckily Maria does as well. Allow the taste to speak and charm before announcing the ingredient list. Less is more, especially when advertizing a dish. Let it speak for itself. Maria Speck speaks/writes not merely about whole grains, but about a lifestyle that celebrates them and can enrich us in ways we need to be spoiled today.

Tony Kushner at John Jay College - Speaking the truth and inspiring many (I hope he did, if not we are in SERIOUS trouble!)

In India with my family dealing with the tragic loss of my father. He passed away June 1st at the young age of 67. While we mourn and find peace in memories, I also began emailing people back today. Have much to catch up on. One such message was about Marion Nestle's blog post on Tony Kushners speech. I had heard him a few years ago at Vassar where I was attending the graduation of a cousin. Tony Kushner left us crying, laughing and changed. I hope this speech has given many young minds a new reason to speak up and make change happen. His words as always are inspiring and wonderful. Here below, I share them with you. We have the always clever and sage Marion Nestle for them.

El Naranjo mobile - Iliana De La Vega's Mexican Cuisine. Served with Honesty, Authenticity, Integrity, Style and Passion

The flavors Iliana De La Vega shares at her "humble" food truck in Austin, TX, are far from HUMBLE. There is NOTHING Humble or modest about what Iliana does. I say that in a good way. Her food has a personality that SHINES. A taste that SINGS Clearly, with HIGH Notes, deep LOW gut-pleasing tastes and pleasurable middle, side and any and all notes, flavors and sensations that come together bringing forth a culinary discovery, that speaks of a kitchen alchemy that needs to be savored, shared, celebrated and perpetuated. The only thing Humble about the experience Iliana shared with me last night, was perhaps the concept of savoring Haute cuisine around a food truck.

Art Smith - A fraction of the man I knew, but still a big proponent of the right choices

Art Smith was one of the first friends I made in the food business. He was a larger than life figure in my world of food. He gave me much support and helped me in many ways. I met our dear friend Naushab Ahmed through Art, a friendship that has been a blessing in more ways than one. For that alone I owe Art everything I have. Today, Art is a 115 pounds lighter than when I first met him. He is still as bright, vivacious and charming as ever. He does make the correct choices around living and eating. Choices that can make a whole difference in your life, your weight and your health.

An Elimination by the Powers Above

 

 For Suvir Saran, he couldn't have been eliminated at a better point and is leaving very proud.

The Heavenly Rose in her own words - Through Ben Fink's Lens

A Moment With Rose from Ben Fink on Vimeo.

Are you a real baker? If you are, Rose needs no introduction. If you do not know Rose, you have yet to be born as a baker. Follow Rose on her website and your world will change.

Follow Ben Fink by visiting his site. He is photographer and videographer extraordinaire.