When rhubarb is in season, I am known to buy it by the boxful. I'll spend an entire afternoon chopping it up and then throw it in ziploc bags destined for the freezer. In fact I'd say my freezer is currently 40% rhubarb.
But I'm totally okay with that!
I get to make rhubarb treats, like this rhubarb dutch baby whenever I want.
It's been a stressful start to the week for two very important reasons.
1. I turned 30. EEK! :)
2. I got a ticket for talking on my cell phone (I wasn't). :(
NARF.
Luckily I have leftover strawberry rhubarb shrub to calm my nerves and ease me into a hopefully less stressful Tuesday. Tomorrow's another day right?
A couple nights ago I found myself at my grandmother's doorstep. With me, I had a bag of herbs, freshly picked from the garden, a ziploc full of flank steak in an Asian-inspired (gluten-free) soy marinade, and a few other odds and ends destined for what I hoped would be the perfect summer wrap.
"Are you hot?" Patrick glances over at me in my sweatshirt and I shrug.
"If you get hot, you can start the air conditioner by removing this peace of tape. I want to make sure you are comfortable." He motions to vents on the ceiling of the bus that he'd sealed with clear tape during the cooler months. I laugh, but assure him I'm fine.
Nick moves fast through the 100 degree heat to the precise location in his Clements Ridge Farm where the rhubarb grows. The soil is hot and I have to tread carefully, my flip flops failing to keep me afloat on the well tilled farm. Nick darts quickly between rhubarb bushes, snipping ripe Christmas colored stalks once at their base and again just before the leaves. A leafy pile forms and he tosses the first few stalks into in the box I carry in my arms, but it becomes too difficult for me to keep up with him.
Last weekend I joined 63,000 other natural foods industry members at the Anaheim convention center for Expo West, 2013. Our mission: to view, sample, and learn about what's new in the way of natural food products. With more than 2,400 exhibiting vendors, I can see why the organizers allot four full days for attendees to visit.
A few weeks ago, Patrick and I attended our second Paleo pop-up by Simone of Zenbelly Catering. This time, the event was held at Coffee Bar, a super modern open space in San Francisco's Potrerro Hill neighborhood. We were joined by my friend Justine who hosts a monthly Paleo cooking club, Michelle and Henry of NomNomPaleo (read their recap of the Zen Belly Popup), Jackie and Ben of LunchBots (I got to see their line of super slick stainless steel food containers at Expo West!), Daphne of The Fit Daffy, and Simone's boyfriend Simon (it's almost like they planned their names that way!).
The Gluten Free Expo seems like a lifetime ago but I wanted to be sure to give some love to some favorite moments, people, products, and blogs!
On the Friday before the expo, I had the gluten-free meal of a lifetime! Accompanying me were five out-of-town gluten-free eaters (Brandy Wendler (Mrs. Northwest), Mary Fran Wiley of Franny Cakes, Kyra Bussanich of Portland's Crave Bake Shop, Alison Needham of A Girl Defloured, and Andy Yeum of Taste Guru). We decided to meet up at the bakery so that they could pick up some treats for the road and set off for what would be an epic four-hour meal at the French Laundry.
Although January has been pretty great so far, I’m really looking forward to February for two big reasons.
The first: Valentines Day! The one holiday a year when all the time I spent in high school perfecting heart doodles in the margins of my notes actually pays off. Ok, I worked on it throughout college too. Pretty red hearts everywhere!
The second: The Gluten-Free Allergy-Free Expo on Feb 9 & 10.
