tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post9153163194918921673..comments2024-02-28T23:43:49.197+01:00Comments on City On A Hill: Europe vs. America: The Food, Part 1Ed Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12846657618234700638noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-30341651588854576462014-01-01T08:26:13.998+01:002014-01-01T08:26:13.998+01:00USDA has some great informational sites on where t...USDA has some great informational sites on where the produce is coming from (both domestic and imports) and since you can run a report for a select period of time, I can figure out that to provide the guacamole for 150 wedding guests (for an adopted niece), I'll have to rely on imports--maybe Mexico, probably South America, since the wedding is in early April in northern California.<br />(California weather hasn't been that good for avos this year..at all)<br /><br />http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/portal/fv<br />This is the main site, there are many reports that can be run...including a Mexican crossing report...<br /><br />Laredo would be the crossing point for produce for Austin...on 12/27 14 40,000# trucks of broccoli crossed..<br />avocados...42 truckloads...<br />but this is not all 'perfect' produce...it's all grades ..the fancier stuff goes to the big name markets, the rest is sold through the huge LA terminal where small chains buy for their clientele and smaller stores buy from other distributors...<br />I love farmers markets but while all the non-produce business helps pay the bills, it's frustrating to shop at them and the really big ones (Santa Monica)..not worth the drive..<br />You might look for wholesale produce companies in your area, find out what local markets specialize is the less-perfect, more economical produce....<br />good luck...<br />and as a francophile..vive Jose Bovee... gabriele grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16127869830708518973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-39077660255121113562013-12-29T16:36:24.436+01:002013-12-29T16:36:24.436+01:00Nor do they necessarily give you any info on the b...Nor do they necessarily give you any info on the bottle except for elevated alcohol levels. Ed Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12846657618234700638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-2957523187187941592013-12-29T08:56:42.388+01:002013-12-29T08:56:42.388+01:00It's the shopping for wine back in the States ...It's the shopping for wine back in the States that kills me... I have no idea what all of those cutesy critter labels are all about. Sara Louisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06058056977783867772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-38596008485346012672013-12-28T06:34:20.293+01:002013-12-28T06:34:20.293+01:00Fage is my favorite brand of Greek yogurt. I get t...Fage is my favorite brand of Greek yogurt. I get the plain kind, either 0% or 2% fat, and add fruit, walnuts, lemon curd, or jam to it. I don't like any preflavored yogurt.Autumn S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06937692079402423073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-26614403999040414532013-12-24T20:38:56.244+01:002013-12-24T20:38:56.244+01:00A few more notes to the comments. I never think of...A few more notes to the comments. I never think of citrus when it comes to fruit, because it wasn't local in France. It sure was in Spain, though, and if I'd lived there I'd know a lot more about it. That said, I have no idea what I'd do with 15 lbs of grapefruit-sized oranges. I'm only one person! <br /><br />Kean: No Aldi around here, sorry, but having bought Trader Joe's-branded stuff in Berlin at one, I'm aware of that. And Didier: gotta leave *some* produits du terroir for visits, right? Although I'm told there's a place on 10th Avenue in New York that does a creditable currywurst. Ed Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17805932361842578943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-59052103575067712312013-12-23T21:55:53.445+01:002013-12-23T21:55:53.445+01:00Oh, of course, bánh mì bread! I've got to go b...Oh, of course, bánh mì bread! I've got to go back up there to find roasted chili/bean sauce to make lemongrass chicken with, so I'll make a note of that.Ed Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12846657618234700638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-67796154373105685802013-12-23T21:44:58.719+01:002013-12-23T21:44:58.719+01:00Trader Joe's has good crusty baguettes, and up...Trader Joe's has good crusty baguettes, and up north in "chinatown," the Baguette House has excellent Vietnamese French bread. Almost as good as the real deal.Linda Emmonsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-69063438179646964822013-12-22T10:02:04.748+01:002013-12-22T10:02:04.748+01:00No mention of Currywurst, can you find decent ones...No mention of Currywurst, can you find decent ones :-)DIdier Lagethttp://berlin.equipier.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-72428562015610595152013-12-22T08:27:16.258+01:002013-12-22T08:27:16.258+01:00One can have all kind of thoughts about ALDI but t...One can have all kind of thoughts about ALDI but they do have a few pretty high quality things at very reasonable prices. Trader Joe's is fully owned by Aldi and being selective there one can find a selection of again, high quality food at reasonable prices. Often enough directly imported from Aldi Germany, different names and labels of course. Trader's wine selection too is not bad at all - most of the 'Vinyards' they carry are more or less owned by ALDI, and there are some good offers in the Italian as well as French wines. Biggest difference to ALDI - the people who work there are actually friendly and help you pack your groceries instead of throwing it at you like in Berlin!keenasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10055842894299327193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-87506939205468329692013-12-21T23:44:31.580+01:002013-12-21T23:44:31.580+01:00The Sprouts around Denver are pretty good as far a...The Sprouts around Denver are pretty good as far as having actual food for sale. We prefer them to Whole Foods, which bought all the other natural food outlets in the area.<br /><br />We like to bake butternut squash (half it, take out the seeds, then bake in pyrex with a bit of water in the bottom) till half-baked, then mix with chopped anaheims or serranos and chunks of feta cheese. No other seasoning than salt and coarse black pepper. Rebake the mix for another half an hour topped with sunflower seeds. If you want more protein, you can add cooked quinoa to taste. Winter squash are yummy.jnfrhttp://jnfr.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-40158170325963636692013-12-21T22:20:32.932+01:002013-12-21T22:20:32.932+01:00You can thank GMO for the food uniformity. Every l...You can thank GMO for the food uniformity. Every little edamame the same. Every cherry tomato the same diameter. Welcome to the future.Dave Weilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-70036423628446599582013-12-21T21:11:23.275+01:002013-12-21T21:11:23.275+01:00I think "wallboard paste" might have bee...I think "wallboard paste" might have been me. I think it's wise to cling to a few hopes. I would like to think Austin would have a good bakery. I'm fortunate that Lawrence, KS has the best bakery between Chicago and Denver and we shop in Lawrence regularly. The breads at Whole Foods aren't terrible. I've about thrown in the towel on the perfect bagel and am settling for not terrible. The last really good bagel I ate, I brought home on a flight from Chicago and was baked at Kaufmann's in Skokie.<br /><br />My last experience with grocery shopping in Europe was Spain last spring and aside from the differences you note, I'd say that Europe kicks ass at charcuterie and cheese. <br /><br />-MichaelMichael Newmanhttp://hinkydinky.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-51612664116308897082013-12-21T21:10:04.011+01:002013-12-21T21:10:04.011+01:00Try White Mountain Bulgarian yoghurt - it's in...Try White Mountain Bulgarian yoghurt - it's in all the stores and has been the local brand for several decades now. No additives, no sugar/honey/agave syrup. Closest thing to real Greek yoghurt I used to fetch for my YaYa in Athens.<br />And no oranges on your fruits list? That's a shame because Texas oranges in15 lb bag, each orange as big as a grapefruit are $7.99 at the HEB Joe Nickhttp://www.joenickp.comnoreply@blogger.com