Bridgeport Banner June 4th

[victoria marie eastus]

The Passionate Journey of the Food we Love
By
Victoria Marie Eastus


Food is many things. It is a cultural and socio-economic snapshot of the day. It is a historical timeline from which much can be learned and understood. Food is the aqueduct to the soul, no matter how you interpret it, that is what it is. What does it for you? Are you chocolate soufflé or fried chicken, blini with caviar or Captain Crunch, Cheetos of Gougeres? Whatever it is you should embrace, love it and respect it. For me, I am all about the passion of food. There is, I find, a legendary mystique that qualifies it as an everyday necessity yet at the same time a blank canvas on which to create, from the minute to the magnificent it is a powerful tool and something equivalent to the last or possibly greatest frontier.
Please do not think that I am advocating the live to eat mentality, I am not. What I would like to see is a greater enjoyment and pleasure taken in the foods we eat and the striving to make special moments out of what otherwise may be considered mundane. For me, the utter joy I find in sharing a new combination of utterly plain and otherwise dull ingredients proves nothing but sheer bliss.
Food is necessary; it is the epitome of life and growth; it is substance. Furthermore, and not to be degraded it is a pleasure, a smile, a warming sensation and a memory. The simplest of ingredients can in fact be made decadent by taking risks with notoriously poor and obscure objects and turning them in to lighting filled morsels of desire. Eating utilizes all the senses to a degree not found in many other things.
The current economic environment we are facing is tumultuous at best, but with the increase in local farmers markets and specialty stores it is easily attainable to create fresh and delicious meals while protecting your budget. Take advantage of seasonal ingredients and try something new; make out about diversity, keep it interesting and share the joy of life with the goodness of food. Make it count!

The following is a classic Salsa Verde, easy, quick and fresh.

Salsa Verde

8-12 medium sized tomatillos, husks removed, and halved
1 large jalapeno, rib removed and halved
5 clv. Garlic
1 large red onion
1 bu cilantro
Juice and zest of 1 lime

Place tomatillos and jalapenos face down on a cookie sheet. Broil on hi @ 5 minutes to char slightly. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and puree to desired consistency. I like to retain some chunkiness. Refrigerate overnight for the flavors to marry. Great with everything, but I particularly enjoy with grilled skirt steak or swordfish.

For more recipes or a weekly email contact me at [e-mail] or check out Carrot Top Country Kitchen On FB

[Patrick]

Good article but I must dispute the increase in farmer's markets and specialty stores (at least in this area). There may be some farmers markets around but the selection is thin.....most if not all produce can be had from ones own garden (if one has a garden) and their prices are in line with Fairfield county...EXPENSIVE. This ares is not a farming region and goods must be trucked in a good distance and that transportation raises the costs.

As far as specialty stores, all I see are "boutiques". What we don't have are good butcher shops, produce stands, bakeries, cheese shops and ethnic stores.

I am a jaded person when it comes to Connecticut, at least Fairfield County. I am caught it a different time and place but you are able to gleen a positive attitude in this society. My hat off to you.

[victoria marie eastus]

you are very right. i will say though hat there are some great etnic store in bport that i enjoy. being from los angeles i was very spoiled but i try to remain optimistic despite many things that steer me the other way.

[John Barrows]

Portland (Oregon) has a thriving farmers' market organization. The difference is the food culture here - and the people who have taken it upon themselves to organize and promote the concept of locally grown food. If the markets exist, then suppliers (i.e. farmers will have an incentive to produce goods to sell at them - and people will have an incentive to become farmers). Farmers (and other food products producers like oyster farmers, artisan cheese makers, and fishermen etc.) come from as far away as 3 - 4 hour drives each week to be open at 8:00 a.m. - and starting in early Spring and lasting almost until Winter, farmers' markets here are open in various neighborhoods several days of the week. No, these markets don't supply a huge percentage of the food sold in the region, but there's enough of a niche to justify the markets and reward the farmers for supplying them. At some point, somebody here decided to take up the challenge of organizing this phenomenon. So, it can potentially happen anywhere, if there are people willing to make it happen. A caveat to this is that Portland is somewhat unique (at least different from Fairfield) in that it is a large metro area in terms of population (the 23rd largest in the country) but is condensed in area because of strict real estate development regulations. There are many neighborhoods, each with their own 'town center" of shops and small businesses. This is where the farmers' markets are set up, and most people don't live very far from them, and many can even just walk to them. The other caveat is that land is less expensive here than in the NE, so having small farm that sells its produce locally is economically viable. Still, I know that in parts of NE, over at least the last 2 - 3 decades many young families in MA, VT, etc. have started small farms - many catering to the metro NYC restaurant scene for locally grown, organic specialty vegetables. In the final analysis, change comes and new opportunities arise when devoted people make it happen. I have never been that type of community change agent - but thank goodness there walk among us people who are.

[victoria marie eastus]

Very true and you are right about Portand. For me though VT calls my name....one day!