Good Vino from Mendocino
Date: August 15, 2008 | Category: Events, Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Travel & Leisure
The vinic verdict is in: Bonterra Vineyards of Mendocino county, California, tempts lips with certified organic wines at prices that are very palatable. Eschewing synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, they’ve adopted unconventional, innovative viticulture techniques-such as releasing their free-range chickens to comb the farm for undesirable insects and cutworms (the ethical eggs are an added bonus). The labels are printed with soy ink on recycled paper and the bottles are at least 50 percent recycled glass. Organic oenophiles rejoice.
Of Rice and Men
Date: August 15, 2008 | Category: Food & Drink, Lifestyle
Given that one fifth of the human population eats rice on a regular basis, eating certified organic brown rice is not only healthier than its paler cousin, it’s better for the planet. Massa Organics is so dedicated to their favorite crop, they even built their own home out of bales. Cultivating a family farm outside of Chico, California for more than 90 years, they distribute most of their product through local farmer’s markets and grocery stores.
Breaking Local Bread
Date: August 15, 2008 | Category: Food & Drink, Lifestyle
One of the easiest ways to reduce our carbon footprint is by buying products that are locally made. As you’ve probably heard by now (unless Michael Pollen is foreign to you) this applies to food too. In tribute to this philosophy, Acme’s legendary bread has grown largely by word-of-mouth. Once nibble, and you’ll understand why. Baked 24-hours per day in Berkeley, Acme Bread is best known to San Francisco bread connoisseurs from its central Ferry Building location. (more…)
Quick, Check Out Slow Food Nation
Date: August 15, 2008 | Category: Events, Featured, Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Travel & Leisure
You might have noticed that along with a new look, we now have daily themes (but of course we’re certainly not limited to our featured topic of the day ). Fridays are focused on “food & travel.” Fittingly our first week pays homage to our home town, so if you are visiting the Bay Area or call it home - you are in for a delicious treat. Very soon our newsletter will be customizable, featuring local content for multiple cities (let us know what city you’d like us to cover and we will do our best to accommodate). Stay tuned, and in the mean time, enjoy!
Finally, Fab Fast Food!
Date: August 8, 2008 | Category: Featured, Food & Drink
After my recent Cafe Gratitude experience, I was almost reluctant to return to the opposite end of the food chain. But being that I am the ONLY burger fan in the ecofab crew and I happened to be spending the weekend in Portland, Oregon, I took on the tasty assignment of sampling the eats at Burgerville. (more…)
Orgasmic Organic
Date: August 8, 2008 | Category: Food & Drink, Lifestyle
Bourbon Vanilla, Kashmir Cinnamon, Southern Butter Pecan, Julep Mint Chip: these gelato-style ice cream flavors from PJ Madison’s do their delectable names justice. Though free of all the nasty stuff that litters the ingredient lists of conventional cartons, we assure you, it’s full of all the richness and flavor that makes the pint a broken heart’s best friend. Gluten-free, Bovine Growth Hormone-free, certified kosher, high-fructose corn syrup-free and made from completely certified organic ingredients - introduce yourself to the upside of indulgence.
Sweets for the Sweet
Date: August 6, 2008 | Category: Food & Drink
Attention sugar-holics, help is on the way! Since the ecofab crew loathes self-deprivation, we typically subscribe to Oscar Wilde’s heard-earned wisdom: “The best way to overcome temptation is to yield to it.” (more…)
Show a Little Gratitude
Date: August 4, 2008 | Category: Food & Drink, Lifestyle
As I embrace the ecofabulous lifestyle, I took a suggestion from Andrea and ventured to Café Gratitude, a vegan raw foods joint. Having been raised on a steady diet of filet mignon and foie gras, I was hesitant to say the least. But at Andrea’s urging (and my stomach’s), I decided to give it a shot. Expecting to find items fit for a horse’s lunch (a bushel of raw carrots served with a lovely grass compote), I was surprised to open the six page menu and see so many selections, each titled with some self-assuring mantra: “I am fabulous” (lasagna), “I am elated” (enchiladas). I settled on the “I am cheerful” (pumpkin seed and walnut burger with macadamia nut cheese) coupled with an appetizer of live flax seed chips and organic guacamole (my one weakness!). I sat down at the rugged-looking bar, dropped a hemp napkin onto my lap. Watching the platters of colorful salads rush out of the kitchen and into the mouths of the eclectic customers definitely perked my interest in what was about to come.
Omar is Grateful!
Date: July 25, 2008 | Category: Food & Drink, Lifestyle
In an effort to embrace my new ecofabulous lifestyle, I ventured out to Café Gratitude in San Rafael, California, a popular vegan raw food joint that the rest of the crew here at headquarters frequents. Having been raised on a steady diet of over-cooked, organic meat I was hesitant, to say the least. I was surprised to pop open the six page menu and discover so many self-affirming selections like: “I am fabulous” (lasagna) and “I am cheerful” (pumpkin seed and walnut burger with macadamia nut cheese). I went with the cheerful burger coupled with an appetizer of live flax seed chips and organic guacamole (my all-time weakness)!
I sat down at the rugged-looking bar, dropped a hemp napkin onto my lap and watched the platters of colorful salads rush out to the equally colorful, eclectic crowd, buoying me for what was to come. Thankfully, Café Gratitude did not disappoint. The burger was an exotic blend of wholesome nuttiness. The guacamole was out of this world. And after devouring the chips, a normal tortilla chip seems mediocre at best. Then came the question of the day: “What do you love about partnerships?”(a little food for thought). To this I assuredly replied, “The ability to share new experiences together.”
In keeping with this thought, perhaps my next venture to Café Gratitude (which has two other locations in San Fran and Berkeley) will be on an ecofabulous first date. For now, I’m just grateful that healthy food can still taste delicious. Cheers, Omar.
Big Bags for Small Scholars
Date: July 23, 2008 | Category: Care, Food & Drink, Kids
Fleurville’s hip messenger bags are equipped to carry all the lead-free pencils and recycled notebooks your 5 to 10-year old scholars are likely to need in the course of a school day They also pack some serious heat with removable, insulate lunch bags that keep food warm and hands free for more important matters, like inspecting creepy crawlies and playing tag.
Outside pockets accommodate reusable water bottles and kaleidoscopes. Adjustable padded straps and cushions protect contents from bouncing against tender backs and bottoms. Fleurville offers an eclectic array of designs and styles to suit a variety of tastes, including hard-to-please ecofab boys. All products are PVC-free, Teflon-free and lead-free. If these bags boasted Fleurville’s re-run fabric, all the junior eco-fabsters we know would be getting them come August. Hopefully, Fleurville kids will soon be as eco-styling as the adults who care for them!
