Ramblings

Readers are hereby warned. This is a sampling of thoughts today. Nothing in-depth.

Yesterday, I went to Beer Under Glass, which is a beer fest at Garfield Park Conservatory here in Chicago. I believe it’s also a fundraiser for the conservatory, but I’m not totally positive. I hope so; it’s a pretty cool place. And, frankly, the best of it’s kind I’ve attended. The space to spread out makes it decidedly more comfortable, and the venue was gorgeous and educational. Just my kind of thing.

I have two draft posts ready to go, almost. They’ve been ready to go for well over a week. Unfortunately, one needs FILM photos, of all things, scanned in and the other just needs Bill and I to discuss it and we’ve not made time.… Continue reading →

Stock and Wasted Food

One of the more interesting panels at Edible Institute this year was all about recent non-fiction food books. Three authors, Barry Estabrook, Terry McMillan and Jonathan Bloom were all there to talk about their experiences.

Estabrook, who wrote Tomatoland (affiliate link) and maintains the blog Politics of the Plate mostly asked questions of McMillan and Bloom, but did put in a few words of his own.

McMillan wrote The American Way of Eating (affiliate link) and does not appear to maintain a blog. ETA, 3 April 2012: It turns out she does, but the way I looked for it didn’t turn it up. Anyway, she blogs here.

Bloom wrote Wasted Food (affiliate link) and maintains a blog of the same name.

I’ve read Tomatoland, and it was fascinating and educational.… Continue reading →

I’m very impatient.

Cover of Grow Great Grub by Gayla Trail

The other day, because he is fabulous and knows me very well, Bill pointed out a book to me that he had found and I had not. He knew when he pointed it out that we’d be buying it. He knew this because we had two reasons for desperately wanting a balcony or outdoor space of some sort in our last apartment search. We (he) wanted a grill and we (I) wanted to grow food.

I’ve had a container garden before, when I lived in Virginia, and it did surprisingly well. However, it was much more of an expensive hobby than anything else. I didn’t manage to save any tomatoes from the squirrels, though they left my bell peppers alone. I appreciate that, since it means I got to eat the whopping two that plant produced.… Continue reading →