Yes, eating insects is disgusting. Not the actual eating part — I had some fried grasshoppers in Laos that were, well, sublime is not an overstatement. But I didn’t have to cook them. Cooking insects is a whole other barrel of fish, to mix metaphors. But the brave new world of entomophagy is all the […]
On the Table
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HumPlate
Recommending food is a little like matchmaking — oh, the smug joy when it goes right. You’ve got to introduce someone to the right dish at the right time and let the sparks fly. Here are some of the magic moments we’ve been having this month.
Posted inEat + Drink
Two New Owners for 3 Foods Café
If you’ve been scrolling through Craigslist in hopes of buying 3 Foods Café in Arcata, you’re too late. New owners Jennifer Shipman and Laura Duttweiler beat you to it, and no, they didn’t buy it online. Escrow closed on Friday, and the place itself will only close (fingers crossed) from Oct. 21 to Oct. 24. […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Autumn Booze
It’s always sad to see summer go, when everything turns from green to brown, shorts are replaced with jeans and the word “iced” is removed from coffee orders. Rather than dwell in the funk of another summer lost, it’s better to look at the perks of autumn: Those corduroys are practical again, mowing your lawn […]
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Hounding for Huckleberries
There is no shortage of huckleberry products out there: I have encountered huckleberry candy and huckleberry barbecue sauce, and last week I drank some huckleberry tea. They’re all disappointing. Nothing matches the taste of an actual, freshly picked huckleberry. These tiny blue-black orbs take forever to ripen, but they have a unique tangy-sweet flavor that […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Hum Plate
Sometimes it happens at first sight, across a crowded restaurant. Sometimes what’s been right in front of you for years just clicks. You fall in love. With food. We’ve been falling in love (or at least infatuation), eating promiscuously and tracking our flings on the new Hum Plate blog. Here’s a little taste of the […]
Posted inEat + Drink
Pesto Goes Rogue
For years I resisted developments in pesto. A purist, I was suspicious of change and, frankly, hostile towards new-fangled assumptions that the perfection of basil pesto should be tampered with. Even the phrase “basil pesto” still makes me cringe a little; it’s redundant! Alas, relentless onslaughts from Nigella Lawson and Fine Cooking Magazine have beaten […]
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Can It, You!
There’s no way to sugarcoat this: Canning can be a long, hot and occasionally frustrating process, especially if you’re new at it. But is it worth it? I don’t know, how do you feel about having a rainbow of local fruits and vegetables all arrayed in vintage glass jars lining your shelves, fruits and vegetables […]
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Sushi for the Gluten-challenged
That tiny protein that holds wheat together is a lot easier to avoid than it used to be. As long as you’re willing to spend a bit more, even mainstream grocery stores carry a handful of gluten-free items. Local co-ops and health food stores are a practical wonderland of gluten-free delicacies. But dining out is […]
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Roman Holiday
Our version of a heat wave is around 75 degrees. Still, who wants to cook when there are lawn chairs to be filled and bocce balls to be rolled? If incoming waves of zucchini and tomatoes (it’s good to have friends in Willow Creek) are keeping you in the kitchen, here are a couple of […]
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Summer Stock
I want to talk about soup. Some say soup is a cold weather dish, but I think it’s just seasonal. In winter, I make stews; in summer, I make soups. It’s just another way to eat the delightful treats we get at the market around this time. The thing about soup is you can […]
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New on the Menu in Eureka
There’s a recession on, but apparently we still need to eat. When this year’s Menu of Menus hit stands (and the Journal‘s app), a couple of places hadn’t officially opened yet. Three of them are in downtown Eureka. Who doesn’t love a stadium dog? And yet, even as you unwrap the foil, isn’t something telling […]