Blog

Can There Ever Be Humane Foie Gras?

Posted in Farms & Gardens on Sat, 04/24/2010 - 11:22pm by Shari Danielson -

"Fat liver" is the literal translation of the French foie gras, the highly prized (by some) and much maligned (by others) food that is produced by force-feeding confined geese until their livers are 6 to 10 times their normal size. Highly prized because these fattened livers are considered a delicacy in French cuisine; and much maligned because of the animal cruelty associated with it.

But can there be such as thing as humane foie gras? Can a goose consume enough food in natural conditions to yield the "fatty, sweet, silky" taste that is so revered by foie gras aficionados?

Why Animal Lovers Should Eat Meat

Posted in News & Views on Fri, 04/23/2010 - 11:01pm by Angelique Chao -

Alright, I’ll admit that the title of this article is a shameless attempt to capture your attention. There really isn’t a reason, as far as I can tell, why animal lovers should eat meat – that is, no reason why eating meat is ethically superior or preferable to abstaining and going vegetarian.

Making Maple Syrup With The Perennial Plate

Posted in Books & Media, Out & About on Fri, 04/23/2010 - 6:43am by lee -

We're big fans and supporters of Daniel Klein's The Perennial Plate, a weekly video series focused on connecting people with good food and its producers. Daniel's quest to experience a full year of good, local food in Minnesota has already had him killing and carving up his own Thanksgving turkey and visiting a Minnesota greenhouse in the heart of winter. This week's video features Daniel's new tree-tapping friend Chris Ransom, working his maple syrup magic:

Nothing Says "Happy Earth Day" Like a Big Pile of Compost

Posted in Environment, Farms & Gardens on Wed, 04/21/2010 - 10:54pm by Alicia Jabbar -

There are many ways to celebrate the Earth Day: plant a tree, sign a petition, say hello to a polar bear, go fly a kite, buy a bus pass. And I’m going to suggest one more: start a compost pile.

United for a Common Goal at Common Roots

Posted in Out & About on Wed, 04/21/2010 - 7:05am by lee -

Award winner Tracy Singleton from the Birchwood Cafe and Danny Schwartzman from Common RootsLast night's Common Roots event combined many of my favorite things: delicious local, seasonal fare; presentations from some of the Twin Cities most forward thinking food experts; and the chance to connect with old and new friends in our community who share a commitment to good food that comes directly from the farmer.

Food Fear Factor: What Foods Are You Afraid Of?

Posted in Health on Mon, 04/19/2010 - 9:45pm by Jill Grunewald -

No, this is not a discussion about eating worms or bugs or balut or any of the other less-than-savory things they ate on that show that I never watched. I’m talking about the food myths that have become mainstream “knowledge” and have catapulted the sale of some dubious health and diet books, many of which have thankfully faded into near oblivion. Think T-Factor Diet. Or Atkins for Life.

Announcing the Winners of Our School Lunch Challenge

Posted in Family & Home, Health on Mon, 04/19/2010 - 7:41am by lee -

Friends, the time has come. We laughed. We cried. (Okay, mostly we cried.) We shared great stories and strong feelings. We ate lunch with our kids and lived to tell engaging stories about the terrific lunch ladies (and cook managers) in our schools; our country's restrictions, policies, and prices; and how much ranch dressing you can put on a piece of pizza.

Come See Us in Eden Prairie Today - Register for Tickets to Anthony Bourdain on Friday

Posted in Out & About on Sat, 04/17/2010 - 10:15pm by Shari Danielson -

UPDATE: Congratulations to our winner, Marie Pidde! We hope you had fun.

The weather in the Twin Cities today is forecasted to be sunny and warm. Fine. Spend your morning outside doing whatever it is you're compelled to do on a beautiful Sunday in April, but save the afternoon for us: your friends at Simple, Good and Tasty.

We're going to be at the Eden Prairie Community Center for the Eat Local Eden Prairie Fair and we'd love to see you. We'll be doing a coloring contest for the kids, selling Local Food Lover cards to the grown-ups, and extolling the virtues of local food to anyone who stops by. And in case you need an additional incentive to spend an hour or two indoors with us, we're giving away two tickets to see Anthony Bourdain when he comes to the Minneapolis this Friday.