uuuuuuuwhat?!!!

Seriously.......for real?!!!!

Ramps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's ramp time. Yum Yum!! So ramps are starting to show up all over the place right now. We have gotten some from Ben Bebenroth, and from KJ Greens. They are also popping up at all the farmer's markets.

So, last week, we got 20 pounds of these dirty lil' suckers! As usual, we are gonna use as much as possible throughout the spring. We finally got a cryovac machine so we can seal and store enough to hopefully get us through the entire menu.

I decided to make Kim Chi and boy is it good. The odor of fresh kim chi as it ferments is something that is unmistakable. Factor in the already unique smell of ramps and you have an entirely unique aroma. I made kim chi from all 20 pounds and it has fully fermented.

If you're feeling frisky, the recipe is as follows:

Ramp Kim Chi

1/3 c. Korean Chili Powder (sub chili flakes if you can't find them....just pulverize in coffee mill)
3 T. Fish Sauce
1 T. Japeness Soy Sauce (preferrably Shoyu from Kikkoman)
1/4 c. Vidalia Onion, julienned
1/2 c. Carrots, peeled then julienned
2 T. Fresh Ginger, minced
1 t. Sugar
1 T. Corn Syrup

and most importantly....

3 Pounds of Cleaned Ramps

Combine all ingredients except ramps, onions, and carrots. Place cleaned vegetables in large bowl. While wearing gloves, rub ramps all over with spice mix. Make sure to be extra vigorous with your rubbing. Once coated, pack ramps into large Ball jar. They will all fit, trust me. Cover and allow to sit somewhere(your basement) for 7 days. Make sure to vent the jars daily. Just when you get used to the smell, it's time to refrigerate.

Enjoy! The above pic was taken by my lovely assistant, Heidi. She even made a batch of kim chi using this recipe and our house has never smelled better

Ohhh Boy!! Oberon and Oysters

This post is kind of late, but still worth a read. On my birthday, which happened to be the day after Oberon was released, we decided to get some oysters.

My favorite type, right now, are Island Creek Oysters. These oysters are delightfully briny and slightly sweet. We decided to get a couple dozen and chow down.

I always make a mignonette when I eat my oysters. I have never made one with beer and that's where the Oberon comes in.

Here's the recipe:

Oberon Mignonette

1 T. Crushed Black Peppercorns
1 each Orange, zested and juiced
1/2 c. Red Wine Vinegar
1 btl. Oberon
2 each Shallots, minced
pinch of fleur de sel
excess liquor

Combine the first 6 ingredients and set aside in your refrigerator. Shuck your oysters over a bowl, so you can catch any of that tasty liquor that might escape. Add this to the chilled mignonette and enjoy.

Treasures From The Land of Swayt Tea!

I recently took a brief trip back to the south and brought back some goodies. Te goodies are (clockwise from top left): Sazerac Rye, Russel's 6 year Rye, Cheerwine, and Cherry Lemon Sundrop.


Each of these goodies are not able to purchase here. Does anyone know why Rye isn't sold in Ohio?

On the Cover of The Rolling Stone.....well not quite

Last night I finally received the newest issue of Meatpaper. I am super excited, not only because it's a pork issue, but because I'm in it!!!

See Ma! All these wacky tattoos finally paid off.

The article is about Chef's with pork related tattoos. Some other notables in it are Chris Cosentino and Michael Symon.

Check out the scan below. If you get a chance, you should subscribe to this mag. Sasha Wizansky and crew do a fantastic job.

SOMETHING IMPORTANT

For a long time now, seasonal cooking has been something that is important to many. We have long since forgotten what it was like to not have every vegetable at our disposal at any point throughout the year. Some people forget that not that long ago, refrigeration was something that most families couldn't afford.

So how in the world did we ever get by without these modern conveniences? What happened to the good ol' days? What happened to preserving produce when it was in season so it could be enjoyed in the darker cold months when the sun wasn't hibernating?

Maybe we just forgot.

Or.....we rely on less than savory practices to provide us with the things we love so much throughout the year. These products generally aren't that good, but they seem to always remind us of the warmer months. It's always hard to let go of the sunshine time, especially in the long and arduous winter we often face in Cleveland.

Is it worth it?

The March 2009 issue of Gourmet magazine recently published an article entitled: Politics of the Plate-The Price of Tomatoes. This article is extremely informative, especially for all soccer moms that thought those tomatoes their children eat just fall from the sky. The disconnect between product and plate in this country is amazing, as I'm sure most of you are well aware(I hope).

This article shows exactly what goes on in certain circles to provide us , as consumers, with product that isn't really of the best quality. This is just done to provide the consumer with something that they feel is necessary for them to have year round.

Is it? At what expense?

Immigrants have to live in worse than ideal(that's putting it lightly) conditions. These men are oft abused by those that promised to make their lives so much better. I know that in this country we often turn a blind eye to such practices, but it's time to understand that purchasing goods out of season can even affect the quality of life for some people.

So, what should you the consumer do? First of all, educate yourself better about products that are seasonal. It's time to help the environment and your fellow man.

Think about how much you and your children can learn. Gardening is a great experience for families.

What if I can't garden? You can always grow tomatoes indoors. You can even make it a party.......when you jar up all those tomatoes that you can't eat immediately. As soon as you start, you can't stop....like Pringles!!!

I know that sometimes it's hard to make an impact. There is no excuse not to buy and /or grow tomatoes when they are in season. This helps just a little. It helps, on a small scale, to ensure that men are not being forced to live in the worst conditions just to pick something that is barely edible in the 1st place.


DON'T BUY TOMATOES THAT COME FROM FLORIDA WHEN THEY ARE OUT OF SEASON!!!
THIS IS JUST COMPOUNDING AN ALREADY HORRIBLE SITUATION!!!!


For more on how to make an impact, check out a website that I hold incredibly dear : River Cottage. Hugh has made a huge difference for me, and hopefully for you as well!

Please comment if this post meant anything to you!!!!!