Suvir

Cooperative Extension - Un-Cooperative Local Leadership - Mindless Budget Cuts Threaten This Community Minded Organization

CCE Washington County That is how we refer to Cornell University, Cooperative Extension for Washington County. These extension offices help people improve their lives through the collective experience and knowledge of their community. It is a wonderful resource for newbies to come to, to learn about the soil, water, agricultural heritage and most any local issues involving farming, living and community.  They also help keep the local 4H program active, informative and meaningful (above you can see the 4H milkshake and ice cream stand at the county fair).

Tax relief assistance for those without the ability, soil study, water study, ag-tourism building (cheese tour, yarn tour, etc), small business development, agricultural resources for our ag-rich community, youth programs including 4H, partnerships with Head Start and WIC and other community programs - are only some of the many things this organization does.

The power of community gardens, local businesses, and peanuts...

Our community is wonderful. Salem, Hebron, Cambridge, Granville, Greenwich, Rupert (VT) and West Pawlet (VT) are some of the towns that co-mingle and coexist. We all have one thing in common, our agrarian lives, our wealth of great farm land. And our rollings hills, beautiful valleys and honest simple people.

It is the community that made the magic of our community garden and other community projects happen. I will mention some names and businesses, but there are countless others for each name or business mentioned, that gave as much and as significantly. And to those unmentioned, I give just as much personal gratitude. You know who you are, others know you too, and we all thank you.

Edible Poetry... and even those two words, do the food or experience no justice

There is a certain austerity to the above photo, at least in my eye. As rich and golden as the colors are, they also speak of a simplicity, a very modest kind of flourish, that can either be noticed - by those savvy and sophisticated, or be lost to most. Such is the brilliance of Hiroko Shimbo's food, and her world.

Bubbly is the occasion! Today, now, and whenever you want it to be...

Ever since coming back from Beirut, I have been dreaming of pomegranates. To be honest, dreaming of the pomegranates of Kandahar. And wondering how it is doing during these times. But that does not lead to restful living. And certainly does not make for happy entertaining.

My night in New Haven...... and I felt at home

Kimberley Taherian, a website designer, also has a life outside of the net. She is wife to an Iranian man, with a personality larger than life. Why do I say this? Since I am  the exactly similar Indian man with the larger than life personality, and have Charlie, who like Kimberley, has to endure such energy. Here, Kimberley is setting the table as Rafi Taherian cooks for us in their Guilford home, a suburb of New Haven.

Baklava, Baqlawa, Baklaawa, and the spelling and taste variations continue.....

Finding one spelling for a word from Arabic, Turkish, Hindu or another such language, is quite a chore. There seem to be sounds in these languages, and subtle nuances, that cannot be captured into Latin characters in any standardized way. Hence the variables in spelling.

Japanese food I crave - a new craving for me - strange, but so true

August in North Country (Upstate NY and Southern VT) was not the same. Nor were the months prior.
The Battenkill Kitchen, the Salem based educational facility for growing food businesses, was hosting three divas that we knew would change our lives and world, at least of those that were lucky enough to be part of their classes, dinners and books singnings.

Kaak - Lebanese Street Bread

The haves of Lebanon are uber chic, they could give stiff competition to the haves of anywhere else. And the haves and have-nots, each have the very chic street bread, Kaak to savor, as a communion if you will. At least when enjoying this wonderfully light bread, their worlds collide, come together, even if briefly, and for brief moments, savor the same thing - enjoy a similar ecstasy, and in humble settings. I wish for Lebanon, India and all parts of the world, where there is this shocking and stark divide, that perhaps the bites savored in the common places of merriment, can be bites that reduce that abhorrent gap between rich and poor. But alas, that is only my dream. And the power to change the world, the economies of countries, I do not have. I am a mere mortal.

There is certain fun and celebration that come with the indulgence of Kaak. You get to choose if you want it plain, filled or even hot, if you go to the bakery.

Farmers market at Souk el Tayeb in Saifi Village - Beirut, Lebanon

What are these furry creatures? They look chic - very chick, just as parts of Beirut that were spared (hardly) or have been rebuilt/restored and or blessed with the vision of civic minded populace, or the commitment to rebuild by SOLIDERE, a world renowned real estate superhouse.

But what you see above, are chestnuts, one of many familiar and not-so-familiar discoveries we made, barely awake, still settling in from our flights from NYC, the night before, as we met Richard, a friend we made the night before, and who very graciously invited us to meet him at the Saturday morning farmers market at Saifi Village. As tired as we were, I am glad we did not say no.

Bad iPhotos only capture the moment, but as you can see, they need hardly any embellishment. There is a brilliance to this market, Beirut and Lebanon as a whole, that comes out shining even when documented without great fanfare. That is the true grit, gift and genius of the Lebanese. It is their tireless spirt, every hopeful souls, and richer than currency hearts.

Continue along, as my iPhone camera captures the marvels of the vital even if small farmers market, and you will see faces, foods, vegetables and fruits, also pickles and preserve - that nourish the bodies, warm the hearts certainly traumatized and crushed by wars and bombs, and the preserves and pickles that preserve what are undoubtedly some of the most generous and full of life spirits and people one can ever hope to meet.

Ubuntu - Even iPhone photos make you want to dine at Jeremy Fox's almost vegetarian paradise

The Carta de Musica brought to Charlie the essence of Ubuntu in one dish. As beautiful as it looks, as deceptive as its personality is, it is delicious in  taste. Do not let the floral arrangement or potted flowers with dirt fool you.

Jeremy Fox's food brings to the plates at Ubuntu a Michel Bras sensibility, but without the diner ever having to leave our shores.

What a shame that my photos were taken on my iPhone, but even bad photos, look decent, because of the mastery that Fox and his kitchen have over plate design.

This post is a collection of photos, and I am being daring and adding nothing more.

When in Napa, make the effort to go visit Ubuntu. You will enjoy the creations of chef Jeremy Fox and his wife, pastry chef Deanie Fox.

Ubuntu, 1140 Main Street, Napa