Texas Food Writers and Bloggers

Hey, all. I'm trying to cast a wide net here, hoping to learn more about Texas food writers and food bloggers. If you have a minute, could you let me know who some of your favorites are? Or even retweet this tweet via Twitter? I really appreciate the help!

Salt & Time "Ben Runkle"

We're so lucky to have people like this changing the face of the food industry here in Austin. You can find Salt & Time products at HOPE Market every Sunday and at Barton Creek Square Market on Saturdays.

Also, check out artntrade.com.

Fresh the Movie Screening in New Braunfels

So I saw in Edible Austin's April Newsletter that they're doing another screening of Fresh the Movie, this time in New Braunfels.

I attended a screening of Fresh in Dripping Springs last June, and it was a great experience, not just for the film itself but for the opportunity to meet and get to know more about the Edible Austin family.

Here are the details on the New Braunfels screening on April 14th, but if you can't make it, do try to watch Fresh at Netflix. It's available now to Watch Instantly, and it's an important addition to the Food Movement canon. Apparently, tickets are available at the door.

Seekatz Opera House 
Community Screening of Fresh the Movie
Saturday, April 14

Edible Austin and New Braunfels Farm to Market present Fresh the Movie hosted at the historic Seekatz Opera House in New Braunfels, sponsored by Chipotle Mexican Grill on Saturday, April 14. 

Enjoy a visit to the New Braunfels Farm to Market farmers market (9 a.m.–1 p.m.), then at 1 p.m. Seekatz Opera House will host a reception including local food and beverage tastings from 2Tarts Bakery, Huisache Grill, Buttermilk Café, Riverhouse Tea Room, Sweet Dreams Bakery, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Gourmage and New Braunfels Brewing Company.

Musical Entertainment: Saltillo Creek performing 1 – 1:45 pm.

The movie screening will start at 2 p.m. followed by a panel discussion with local farmers moderated by Edible Austin publisher Marla Camp.

Tickets are available at the door for a $10 suggested donation. Donations benefit S.O.S. (Spirit of Sharing) Inc. Food Bank.

FRESH the Movie celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system.

Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.
Among several main characters, FRESH features urban farmer and activist, Will Allen, sustainable farmer and entrepreneur, Joel Salatin, and supermarket owner, David Ball, challenging our Wal-Mart dominated economy. 

Some of my favorite local food bloggers lately . . .

The Chickpea Chickadee 

Steph has quickly become a great source of inspiration to me. A recent post, A Tuscan Tasting, particularly made me want to lick my computer screen. Rosemary-infused olive oil is one of my favorite things in this world.

franish nonspeaker 

You know those people who have such mad skills that it's comforting, because you know that even if you're not a great baker, then at least there are great bakers out there making up for what you lack? Yeah? Then you'll enjoy this blog.

Luvs 2 Eat 

I've only just discovered Luvs 2 Eat, and I like what I see so far. This Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork recipe has got me all fired up to make my own pulled pork recipe, the one I made so often in New York while lamenting the lack of all things barbecue.

poco-cocoa 

I love Crystal's aesthetic, how she takes photos with an almost European eye. There is something so personal about her photography, it's as if you can feel her standing there behind the camera, adding her aura to every shot. Just lovely.

Isn't this great? I especially love the last line.

New York Times Junk Food vs. Fresh: The Cost Factor

Regarding Mark Bittman's article Is Junk Food Really Cheaper?

Letter To the Editor:

My husband and I, both retired, spend between $500 and $600 a month on groceries to feed the two of us. This seems to me to be an enormous amount. But we do eat well. I love to cook and can afford to buy local and organic. So we spend about $20 a day for six meals, feeding both of us breakfast, lunch and dinner — just over $3 a meal, per person.

In June, we spent 18 days driving across the country. During that time, we ate out at fine restaurants no more than four times. All other meals were consumed at whatever was available at Interstate exits or near our motels — Taco Bell, Friendly’s, Subway, Chili’s, Pizza Hut, Friday’s — all the usual spots. In those 18 days, it cost us more than $1,000 to feed ourselves — and not well. That works out to about $55 a day, or about $9 a meal, per person.

In short, it cost us roughly three times as much to eat fast food as it does for us to eat at home.

As Mr. Bittman pointed out, people don’t eat fast food because it’s cheap; they eat it because they’re exhausted, and we’ve been indoctrinated to think that cooking is work. It’s not. It’s what we lucky ones can give to those we love.

When we put on the apron, we are nurturing. This is not work; it’s love.

CAROL NICKLAUS
Danbury, Conn., Sept. 25, 2011

What I'm Reading

Here are some of the things I'm reading right now. What are your favorite food magazines, books, and blogs?

Why Heirlooms Matter

Here is an excellent post by Lauren Welker over at the in.gredients blog on why heirloom seeds matter. Backyard gardeners, be sure to read the section on Where to find Heirloom Seeds. You can make a difference one seed at a time.

Don't have a garden? Make a point of buying heirloom fruits and vegetables at your local farmers' market.

Special thanks to in.gredients for keeping us informed and inspired. We can't wait for your East Austin opening!

READ THE POST.

Can you eat yourself happy?

Here is an interesting article from The Guardian, examining whether what we eat affects our moods. Not surprisingly, the relationship between food and mood is complicated. And, as with all such studies, it's probably wise to take any advice therein with a grain of salt. For example, it's true that eating carbohydrates might improve my mood in the short term, but in the long term I find that eating carbs weighs me down both physically and emotionally. Similarly, as the article recommends, I do employ intermittent fasting as a mood enhancer, but if I'm not careful, my mood quickly plummets, and woe be it to anyone unfortunate enough to be around me when my blood sugar gets too low.

Regardless of how accurate they are, these are interesting ideas. And I imagine that what works or doesn't would vary widely from person to person. For myself, I stick with the motto: All things in moderation. I've also found that eating a diet low in gluten improves my mood immeasurably. It also gives me more energy, which allows me to exercise more, which improves my mood even more. It's the opposite of a vicious cycle. Is there a word for that?

To me, the most fascinating finding is that what we believe about food affects our mood even more than the food itself. The older I get, the more I learn that perception holds sway over more in our lives than we realize. It's a good argument for maintaining a sunny disposition.

(via The Guardian, and Eater Austin)