Read It and Eat

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As you might guess, when we finish our long day in the office here at ES headquarters, we spend our evenings holed up at home reading what others have to say about food. And even though we aren’t huge fans of dead tree media, we’re very proud of our ability to get through entire books, so we wanted to make sure you are all up-to-date on our favorite celebrated food authors, folks like Michael Pollan, Ruth Reichl, and yes, even Padma Lakshmi.

So take a look at our new Book Club page for a gander at the tomes that have been burning holes in our stomachs lately. And if you’ve got other suggestions, be sure to shout ’em out.

(Photo: Carly & Art)

If You Can’t Joke About Spousal Abuse…

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Yes, that is a direct quote from my dear boyfriend, 80P. His sense of humor gets the best of him sometimes. Now, this actually did start with something food related.  Let me relay this ES email chain:

from: Brittania
to: BS, gansie, 80P
subject: this is amazing!

Man allegedly attacks girlfriend over macaroni [Boston.com]

from: BS
to: Brittania, gansie, 80P
subject: RE: this is amazing!

I wish they said what he wanted. i hope it was hazelnut-ricotta ravioli.

from: 80P
to: Brittania, gansie, BS
subject: RE: this is amazing!

rumor has it he then beat some eggs

from: BS
to: Brittania, gansie, 80P
subject: RE: this is amazing!

oh man. that is a rough pun even for us, 80P

from: 80P
to: RE: Brittania, gansie, BS
subject: this is amazing!

you’re just pissed you didn’t beat me to it

— — —

Now, everyone, check out this completely sexist vintage Heinz ad.  Um, I hope this asshole didn’t get any inspiration from the fucked up ad copy.  And I knew there was a reason I didn’t like ketchup.

Obvs, the email chain was a joke.  Donate here to help women in need.

Photo: flickr user jpellgen

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*****

Fuck All That Fancy Shit

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Like I said before, I went to visit my little sister this past weekend.  Before I went up there she kept bracing me for this small, mountain town that I was sure to find terribly boring.  I could go to the bar in sweatpants, I would meet *townies* wearing flannel, I could see the whole town in 2 minutes…  She was nervous that me, the big city, snobby food girl couldn’t survive in the middle of crazed college kids and gun-totting Repubs.

I assured her that beyond my love for salt-crusted whole red snapper, eggplant and mizuna salad and mini frittatas, that I was really a fried-food-eating scum-bag at heart.  And, um, yes – sign me up for more opportunities to wear sweatpants in public.  I, of course, had a kickass weekend.  I learned what a beer ball was, played more drinking games than I have in YEARS and watched a public access hunting show while eating one of the best mozzarella and spinach Strombolis of my life.  (And the seasoned waffle fries were pretty great too.)  Fuck all that fancy shit.

I’m Addicted to Hope (And Wine)

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If your last two years have been anything like mine, your emotions today are probably a mix of unbelievable excitement,  paired with a gaping hole full of questions like, what am I gonna do now with all that time I spent watching CNN, and, where am I gonna donate all my money now that David Plouffe doesn’t email me five times a day?

Never fear, ES is always on the lookout for opportunities to fill your bellies, fill your schedules, and empty your wallets. So here’s one great foodie/feel good event ya’ll can check out next week.

Advocacy Lab is an awesome nonprofit that works with New York City high school students to empower them to become advocates for human rights. If you are against things like child soldiers, malaria, and torture, and pro- things such as education and freedom, you will probably be down with AdLab.

Next Wednesday, November 12, Advocacy Lab is holding a wine tasting/fundraiser at Moore Brothers Wine Company, a really awesome Manhattan wine shop with tons of organic (and reasonably priced) selections. You should really check out Moore Bros. sometime even if you can’t make the event – and you can donate to AdLab online here.

Full disclosure – my girlfriend helped start this nonprofit. And yes, gansie, I made her write up a recipe in exchange for pimping her event, so hold your breath for an awesome baking post.

When: November 12, 2008,  6:00–8:30pm
Where: Moore Brothers Wine Shop,  33 East 20th Street at Broadway
Donation: $30 includes wine tasting and talk by the Moore Brothers, and light refreshments. (Cash and check only at door. To use  your credit card, you can go to www.advocacylab.org/donate. )
Auction Items Include: Dahon folding bike, dance classes, dinner at a top New York restaurant, Chelsea Piers passes, Moore Brothers Wine Tasting for 100+ people, and more.

Photo: NickWebb

Purple Cauliflower Majesty

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Okay, don’t freak out.  But I’m starting to fall in the Liza camp.

It’s so simple and healthy to whip up something containing only veggies and a grain (or an egg), especially in the summer/fall when I can hit up the farmers’ market every weekend.  Meat is, well, kind of a pain in the ass and is one more thing to deal with (and one more thing to buy.) Plus, I feel like I am more creative when I find ways to insert a vegetable as the star of the show.  Yea, 80P bitches about this latest endeavor, but he’s secretly getting into it as well.

I’m not as hard core as Liza, but unknowingly, I probably eat meat only 2 times a week and it’s mostly when I go out or eat with friends.  Seeing a bloody cut of steak absolutely turns me on still.  Don’t worry.

Oh, and I blame Michael Pollan.  Omnivore’s Dilemma seriously fucked me up.  I have a hard time eating meat that was processed in those hell hole slaughter factories. Shit, I’m so brainwashed I don’t even want to buy produce at the Giant up the street.  Which brings me to something I’ve been fretting over recently…what will I do when the farmers’ market closes for the winter?  I can’t even remember how I survived last frost.

But, I’ll end the meat bashing for this week; we don’t want to turn our bacon contingency away.  But there will surely be more on the Pollan phenom, as I’m still figuring out how to process all of this information.

Purple recipe post jump

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