Comments on: Roasted Royalty Purple Podded Beans with Tomatoes and Brie

By: Becky

Becky — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 02:04:36 +0000

yeah, i noticed that about those photos too. honest, they looked like beans in real life. and i’m no good with photoshop so i threw in lots of photos of seed saver’s farm, to distract.

By: claudia (cook eat FRET)

claudia (cook eat FRET) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:03:23 +0000

when i first saw the pic i thought the bean was a sardine and i got very excited!!!

silly me…

another incredibly lovely post – as i’ve come to expect from you…

By: Becky

Becky — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:56:59 +0000

We are Never Full (love that!),

I was thinking more about that last night. I don’t think I have any desire to ever go completely local. I mean… olive oil? Kalamatas? Avocados??? Parmesan Reggiano? Also, if I were committed to only Missouri wine I might become a teetotaler. It’s not all bad but I have a thing for Spanish and Chilean wines… (NOW I sound elitist, perhaps, but … without olive oil I don’t think I’d know what to do with a skillet. Or a salad : )

By: We Are Never Full

We Are Never Full — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:44:29 +0000

great post. i too want to try to eat more local food (and I live in Brooklyn!) and I do not think it is elitist (although I think that maybe the NY Times is looking at the way New Yorkers try and eat locally and, sadly, there is a bit of eliteness and snobbery associated with it in SOME places, not all – but it’s NYC, what can you do?). In fact, in my small plot of land outside my apartment, I grow alot of stuff – peppers, tomatoes, herbs, beans, cucumbers, squash – but there are many things I would miss if I went to a local-only menu. that’s why i liked that you admitted your meal was 87% local. it’s good to try, but sometimes you can’t do 100%!

By: Kelly

Kelly — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:16:18 +0000

For reasonably priced local food in St. Louis, check out Sappington Farmer’s Market on Watson. They have a new ownership structure that is committed to buying a LOT from local farmers (some now and even more to come later). They are a full service grocer that has also been known for keeping prices low and, as far as I understand, that commitment remains.

By: Becky

Becky — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:54:24 +0000

JST, I think the reason it’s more costly right now is that most of our food is produced on a massive scale, whereas most of the folks bringing us our local food are small farmers with limited resources. Also, many of them are working hard to do things organically and sustainably, and in an infrastructure built around using chemicals, it sometimes costs more in time and resources to do it sustainably. My suspicion though is that as fuel costs rise with no end in sight, the cost of importing food will be greater than the cost of producing and distributing it locally. It feels like we’re at a turning point right now (but then, i guess every generation feels that it lives through a historical turning point or two) and things could go in any of many interesting directions.

By: JST

JST — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:49:59 +0000

It doesn’t make sense to me but local food is so much more expensive than stuff that gets trucked or flown in. I wish I could eat more local but right now it’s out of my price range. I guess that’s where the elitist label comes from, sort of like preaching to the choir. I want to see lcoal food become available not only because it’s good for the environment but also its healthier food, if it can stay on the vine until it’s ready.

By: Debi

Debi — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:16:38 +0000

What an adventure!
How dazzled were you to speak with Ms. Madison? She’s such a guru!

By: Becky

Becky — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:16:28 +0000

Hey Claire, yes, it was a good trip in so many ways, crutches and walking boot (that I’m not allowed to walk in) not withstanding. Now, don’t mention the barefoot dash to Dr. K….!

By: Claire

Claire — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:12:37 +0000

It sounds like you had a wonderful time! I knew you were really looking forward to it, so I’m really glad for you!