book review: 'alice waters and chez panisse' by thomas mcnamee

Wow. Just writing the title of this blog shot me right back to 4th grade book reports. Maybe I can make this a bit more exciting than those were. Well, hell, Alice Waters and Chez Panisse! Isn't that exciting enough?

Okay, let's see...if you don't know who Alice Waters is, essentially, she currently a leader in initiating and promoting healthy school lunch programs and school gardens across the country; she's one of the leaders of the Slow Food movement in the U.S. (what she called the 'Delicious Revolution'); she is a mentor to many, including Michael Pollan*, and back in the 70s, when she opened her restaurant Chez Panisse in Berkeley, she lead one of the first major restaurants to focus on organic, local, and seasonal food.

So this book incorporates interviews with her and her friends, family, and colleagues, and offers a pretty thorough glimpse of her life leading up to Chez Panisse, through it's timeline, and up to the present.

Prior to reading this book, I didn't know a ton about Alice Waters, but had heard her mentioned often in other things I've come across in relation to sustainable food, cooking, etc. Oh it was such a fun and easy read, and I loved it especially because I felt like I related to Alice in a lot of ways-- ambition, desire for quality and real products, and interest in children's health and 'real food' education and appreciation for the masses. And there was just so much she said and experienced that really resonated with me.

In the book she says, "I believe that the destiny of humankind in the twenty-first century will depend most of all on how people choose to nourish themselves. And if we can educate the senses, and break down the wall of ignorance between farmers and eaters, I am convinced-- because I have seen it with my own eyes time and again-- people will inevitable choose the sustainable way, which is always the most delicious alternative." Yes!

The book is sprinkled with informal, conversational recipes, photographs, funny and enlightening anecdotes, and just a cool glimpse at the making of an American cultural icon.


*Michael Pollan wrote 'The Omnivore's Dilemma' which is an amazing, amazing book. Please read it. You will be enlightened at every turn of the page. I just started reading 'In Defense of Food' which I am getting the idea is a response to 'Dilemma' and may be a better, quicker read if you need to cut to the chase like that.

guest blog: fish: mercury, pollutants, contaminants, oh my!

This guest blog is part three of a 4-part series about the benefits of dangers of eating fish, and how to consume it responsibly. Janet Watkins is a freelance writer living and blogging from the Midwest at www.insidewords.blogspot.com.
Please contact me if you are interested in writing a topical guest blog.

Sardines and saltine crackers with a can or two of Vienna sausages on the kitchen table could only mean one thing at my house—Dad and Uncle Italy were going night fishing. They would get us kids to dig for night crawlers (brown earthworms) for bait. Tackle box, rods, flashlights, thermoses of water and coffee were loaded into Dad’s 1955 Chevy and then he would drive off into the night in pursuit of male sibling bonding and a good catch of silver bass, catfish, and on less favorable junkets sheep head.

As a child I didn’t like sardines. There was something about seeing those poor little beheaded fish lying in a can of oil that caused my face and nose to turn up in disgust. Yuck. What a contradiction since seeing larger species of fish dressed in cornmeal and frying in hot oil never bother me at all!

Contaminants, Mercury and Pollutants
Sardines were my Dad’s favorite snack. They are one of the least contaminated fish you can eat. According to the Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) and the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP) sardines rank 5th among seafood with very low contaminant levels. Good news as they are some of the most heart healthy “brain” foods you can eat. But other species of fish, particularly the larger more mature varieties can contain high concentrations of PCBs, dioxins and other pollutants. Industrial and municipal discharges, agricultural methods and storm water runoff– including rainfall that rinses contaminants into the land, streams and rivers bioaccumulate in the skin, organs and other fatty tissues of fish. Many pollutants settle on the water’s floor and adversely affect bottom-dwelling fish like- wild striped bass, bluefish, American eel, and sea trout– all ten to be high in PCBs.

Mercury
Mercury occurs naturally, but also comes from smokestacks mining and other industrial processes. As it moves from the air and settles in our waterways it turns into methyl mercury and absorbed by fish. Larger and older fish have a longer time to build up mercury than smaller and younger fish. Predatory fish at the top of the food chain broadly have higher levels of mercury. Without question or debate mercury toxicity poisoning from fish is a health threat. It is threatening to prenatal development and pregnant women are advised to avoid and use extreme caution when eating fish. Young children’s fish consumption should be smaller than adults. It is recommended 1-2 ounces for toddlers and 2-3 ounces for older children. Shrimp and “chunk-light” canned tuna canned are best selections to serve children. They contain lowest mercury levels.

Contaminants Impact on Health
Mercury, PCBs and dioxins build up and concentrate in our bodies over time. Eating contaminated fish may result in effects that are minimal to birth defects and cancer. It takes 5 years or more for women in childbearing years to rid their bodies of PCBs, 12-18 months to significantly free their body burden of mercury. Mothers who consume contaminated fish prior to becoming pregnant may have children who are slower to develop and learn.

To eat, or not to eat fish, that is the question?
It is about now that you may be thinking, “I’ll forego eating fish …”—a logical place to end up in this fish drama. But studies and statistics support the overwhelming benefits that come from eating fish cannot be ignored. Returning to that Harvard School of Public Health study shows a modest amount of fish per week reduces the risk of coronary heart disease by 36%.

Fish is high in protein low in fat and rich in Omega-3 fatty acid. Following the marine food chain, algae make one type of Omega-3 fatty acid. It is consumed by zooplankton and stretched to form two other types of Omega-3 acids. Zooplankton becomes the food for finfish and shellfish, resulting in a high concentration of Omega-3. The benefits show up in cardiovascular health and are important for prenatal and postnatal neurological development. There is also evidence that it may reduce tissue inflammation and alleviate symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Other maladies omega-3 may play a beneficial role include cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), depression and irritable bowel syndrome.

where've i been?

I apologize to all of the voracious Stem+Leaf readers. I have left you hanging with no recipes in forever, it seems, sporadic and sparse blog entries over the past month, no April newsletter, and overall lack of healthy lifestyle goodness.

It's been a rather interesting month of travelling, moving apartments, hunting for said new apartment (in East Williamsburg / Bushwick, Brooklyn!)which is barely four blocks to a library, and catching up on life in general. Not to mention that I've been sneaking as much outside time as possible on the days where it is too nice to be anywhere else. I soon hope that will be every day!

But! I'm back and full of new blog ideas and now that I'm beginning to get settled in my new place, I'm hoping to be cooking regularly and overwhelming you with culinary e-delights.

Additionally, if you haven't noticed I've added a few more things to the sidebar on the right-- links to all of the guest blogs, recipes, and super-current and relevant recommended article links or websites.

And for those of you who actually are voracious readers of this blog, you are awesome! Post a comment and show some love!

happy earth day!

I've had a button since I was a kid that says 'Every Day is Earth Day'. I really believe that. Just like any other celebratory or memorial holiday, it's good to have a day to focus on the Earth, our environments, and the repercussions of our actions, it's also important that every single day is an opportunity to make a difference. And I defy you to tell me that one person can't make a difference.

So as we are often inclined to make New Year's Resolutions, let's take this Earth Day opportunity to make some sort of green or environmental resolution(s) for ourselves. Need some examples?
- Carbon offset your travel, and electrical and gas usage
- Switch to eco-friendly and biodegradable cleaners, soaps, and detergents
- Install your home with CFLs
- Start a compost pile. Plant a garden. Plant a tree.
- Resolve to cut your plastic bag usage in half (at least!)
- Recycle everything and buy recycled goods.

Let me know what you come up with and keep me posted with how it's going.

Hug a tree today and enjoy the springtime!

bicycle parking in union square

While I was walking around Union Square today, I noticed this awesome bicycle parking 'lot' in front of the Barnes and Noble. I don't know if they're putting these up everywhere, when this was erected (I don't wander in front of B+N too often), or if this is just a tester. It doesn't hold a ton of bikes, but it's great that this is up! I also love that it's covered, and has a great big NYC bike map.

Add this to the newly paved and sectioned off bike lane on 9th Avenue, NYC is catching up with some of it's more international bike-friendly city counterparts. We still have a ways to go though...

Here's a cool and informative blog post about expanding bicycle parking in NYC and a New York Times article from earlier this year about a planned bicycle parking lot.

Oh, and NYC Bike Month is coming up in May. This may be the year I finally, finally get a bike. Think less, do more, right?