• 03Nov

    It seems safe to say that there have been few single issues more passionately debated in the food world than that of the production of foie gras. It is illegal to produce it in the United Kingdom. For a short time the City of Chicago banned it (although that decision has since been repealed). The state of California is currently under a deadline to cease production and sale of the product. Like Colonel Travis’s “line in the sand”,  chefs all over the country stood decidedly on one side of the debate or the other. Charlie Trotter became the poster child for the opposition, whereas people like Anthony Bourdain took strong measures publicly to help ensure its protection.

    Ancient Hieroglyphic Depictions of Cruelty

    Ancient Hieroglyphic Depictions of Cruelty

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  • 20Oct

    Disclaimer:  Since the original posting of “A Campaign for Raw Milk”, I felt it was necessary to convey what should be obvious:  That unpasteurized milk is a raw product that contains live bacteria, beneficial and non-beneficial, which under rare circumstances in these modern times have been known to cause illness—especially if said milk is acquired from a facility that is not licensed to sell it.  If drinking raw milk, it is of utmost importance that the milk comes from a regulated and certified dairy that holds a Texas State Health DepartmentGrade A Raw for Retail Milk Permit.

    I am neither a chemist nor a microbiologist, and the assumptions that appeared in the original post were based on research that I did, which heavily relied on studies provided by the Weston A. Price Foundation.  I’ll be the first to admit that I was blown away by the plethora of facts or “facts” that can be found on the internets purporting raw milk’s alleged health benefits.  After several conversations with a chemist as well as our local microbiology expert, Dr. Richard Sucgang, it appears that most of the health benefits of raw milk are to this day, highly questionable. Aside from the argument of miraculous benefits that some have associated with raw milk, I feel there are still extremely important reasons to support its production and partake of the bovine elixir. Swim at your own risk…

     That being said: 

    Honestly, I’ve never been much of a milk drinker. I wasn’t the type of person who would step up to the fridge, pour myself a tall glass of ice-cold milk and gulp it down. In fact, just the thought of that, even to this day, makes me want to throw up a bit—something about the way it smelled after I swallowed. I grew up around these people though. I was good friends with a guy who drank massive quantities of the stuff for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Weird, I thought.

    Good Old Fashioned, Raw Milk

    Good Old Fashioned, Raw Milk

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  • 16Jun

    First off, it’s been kind of dead over here hasn’t?  Yeah.  I have no excuses.  I’ve been productive in other areas though—tons of yard and housework.  Last weekend we painted our bedroom AND worked on a dual purpose fence/trellis in our back yard.  No small task.

    I also wanted to point out and thank Houstonians for looking to me (cough) as their farmers market guiding light.  I’m very humbled…right.

     

    Bayou City Market Bag

    Bayou City Market Bag

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  • 31Mar

    The argument can be made that there are at least three, possibly four acceptable routes to take when one journeys from Houston to Yoakum, Texas.  My favorite is Highway 90.  I typically avoid I-10 at all costs and Highway 59 just puts me in a bad mood—not a good way to start a trip when the whole intention is to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.  During the Fall and into late February, a cruise down 90 takes a person right through the heart of goose and duck country.  One can see thousands of snow geese covering rice field after rice field. Many times in the evenings it is against the backdrop of a fiery red sky that will take your breath away. This is all good and swell, but the real reason I travel this road is because situated smack dab in the middle of Eagle Lake, Texas we find one of the finest chains of convenience stores ever conceived by mankind, Buc-ee’s.

    Buc-ee's

    Buc-ee's

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