Archive for July 2009
Public Service Announcement for NYC Paleos
Sorry for the late notice, but if any of you out there are in NYC, then I’ve been alerted there’s a meetup group. It has 35 members. http://www.meetup.com/Eating-Paleo-in-NYC/ John Durant, the organizer and host, emailed me some days ago that they were having a BBQ, which I somehow thought was this weekend. Tuns out it…
Read MoreThe Grassfed Beef & Lamb Experience
This is a prelude to a post on why I now think you should consider incorporating at least some measure of grassfed meats into your paleo eating lifestyle. This is where I’ll get into the issues of sustainability and cost. This, of course, comes on the heels of revelations in seeing the documentary film Food,…
Read MoreHigh Protein Breakfasts
I mentioned in the epic-comment post about my carb binge that I’ve been trying to get more protein, and have felt a heightened sense of well being for it (and just for clarification, since it was apparently unclear — for which I will take blame: I was not in any sense doing a Lyle McDonald…
Read MorePaleo “Fish & Chips”
Well, not really, but that’s what we jokingly dubbed this dish. Very simple and quick. Paleo "Fish & Chips" This was simply wild-caught Alaskan cod fried in a very nice amount of butter, salt & pepper to taste. In the meantime, make a chopped relish of your choice of pickle & red onion. I prefer…
Read MoreReport: A Carb Binge
So we went to a concert Friday night — Dave Mason, and then The Moody Blues. Hell yea! Because of the time frame in which we arrived in Arnold, CA, then had to leave for the show, no time to get dinner (and who wants to fast at a concert???). So, I quickly decided this…
Read MoreGreetings, Music Fans
So, then, we arrived up at our mountain vacation home a coupla hours ago, in Arnold, CA; and, I think we’re gonna go do sumthin’. We’ve decided to head down to Murphy’s, CA, just 15 minutes down the road, to Ironstone Vinyard’s amphitheater. The Moody Blues, with Dave Mason, on tap for tonight. Of all…
Read MoreMy Review of Food, Inc.
A number of people emailed me to insist that I see it. And, I wasn’t too excited about it. I’ve still not read Pollan’s books, nor have I read Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation. Both authors are featured prominently in this documentary film. Here’s the official website. Well, we saw the film last weekend, and, I’d…
Read MoreFriday Dinner, Dessert & Champagne
Paleo Raspberry Tart Here was the one photo I snapped, but there are lots of others. And what an incredible meal it was. To see the rest, head on over to Julie’s blog, Fraises et Tartines ("Strawberries & Toasts"). Not only has Julie put together an amazing set of photos, but you get the complete…
Read MoreDowntown Campbell Farmers’ Market
It was quite a day, yesterday. Though I’d been to the Downtown Campbell Farmers’ Market years before, this visit was special, owing to my increasing interest in organic foods, grassfed meats, and wild caught fish. It’s funny how once your awareness has been elevated in some particular area, you see things you looked at before,…
Read MoreReal Results to Keep You Motivated
It’s happening all over. People getting lean almost effortlessly, devoid of gripping hunger; in short, enjoying themselves, feeling better about themselves, and looking better and better. Frankly, it’s difficult for me to imagine these results being out of reach for anyone who really wants them. It takes such a short time to reach the "point…
Read MoreThe San Pedro Square Farmer’s Market
San Jose, downtown. It’s a mere five minutes away from my home. It’s every Friday from 10-2. All of these can be clicked for the larger hi-res version. San Jose Downtown Farmer’s Market, San Pedro Square Vegetables Heirloom Tomatoes Tomatoes Tomatoes Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon & Trout, One Week Old Flowers Vegetables Fresh Strawberries
Read MoreMeals By Others
A few things I’m still trying to familiarize myself with on this new platform, such as image management. So, let’s start with some food porn and I’ll get to some commentary soon. Here’s one by my friend Robert from last week. Chicken with Toasted Almonds & Pineapple That’s accompanied by some homemade hashbrowns cooked in…
Read MoreLive With WordPress, Now. Bye Bye, TypePad
Well, there will be some odds & ends to fix and adjust, but it looks like everything went off without a hitch. I have wanted to do this for a long time, but the task would have been daunting with all the images to handle, links, and so on. But Alec and Martin at foliovision…
Read MoreOdds & Ends
First, foremost, and most importantly, Beatrice et moi are going to dinner at Fraises et Tartines Friday night. No, it’s not a posh-chic downtown restaurant — though I’ll be first through the door if my friend Julie ever decides to open a restaurant. She did steak au poivre for her & hubby last night, in observance of Bastille Day (better than flag waving, any day). And last week, we got an invite for her bruschetta burgers, but had already made plans. She’s been emailing me about Paleo, as she wants to do a Paleo compliant meal for me — in spite of my protestations that she prepare what she likes — and blog about the experience. I’ll certainly highlight it here, because I know it’s going to be good. Next, I just found that my local Whole Foods has a new free range egg section. They’ve got local, free range chicken, quail, duck, goose, and ostrich eggs. Amazing. I got away with a dozen chicken eggs, and they even had a photo of the chickens pecking around in a field, no doubt boosting nutritional content from eating all the bugs and various things they eat on the ground (dirt too,…
Read MoreAmerican Academy of Dermatology Issues Updated Position Statement on Vitamin D
First line: No Safe Threshold for Sun or Indoor Tanning Exposure
Atkins: Lost Souls
I’m mad as hell, so here goes a shot The Atkins organization (“Nutritionals,” et al) is, I believe, doing a tremendous disservice to the great work done by its pioneer, Dr. Robert Atkins. Frankly: that company sells virtually nothing but processed crap. Bars & shakes loaded with soy, artificial sweeteners, unpronounceable, mystery ingredients, and other Bad Stuff®. And now, it’s All-Purpose Baking Mix and Penne Pasta, both absolutely chock full of gluten. Here’s the press release. The ingredients for one of the bars are what you see to the left. Amazing, eh? So, their only distinction from your run of the mill boxed crap is that it’s lower in carbs? I guess so. Here’s the ingredients for the baking mix: “Wheat Gluten, Whole Grain Soy Flour, Modified Wheat Starch, Unprocessed Wheat Bran. CONTAINS WHEAT AND SOY.” And the penne pasta: “Enriched Semolina (Semolina, Niacin, Iron (Ferrous Sulfate), Thiamin Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2, Folic Acid), Modified Wheat Starch, Wheat Gluten, Wheat Protein Isloate. CONTAINS WHEAT.” Soy has no place whatsoever in the human diet (please see here and here). And, neither does wheat, or grains in general. What I’m wondering is how may people with undiagnosed celiac disease (not…
Read MoreLunchtime Burger Salad
Not a burger and a salad, a burger salad. From time-to-time in a pinch, I’ll get one of Carl’s Junior Low Carb Six Dollar Burgers, without the cheese or catsup. Not a bad option and only about 5 grams of carb. Of course, you can do your own lettuce wrap burger, or, you can just make it a salad (click for the hi-res image). Very simple. Lettuce of your choice, lay on a heaping tbsp of mayo (important, otherwise to dry), then your burger (this had shrooms, garlic, yellow onion and pine nuts in it) on the mayo, garnish with onion, tomato (these were delicious heirlooms), dill pickle (if you haven’t run out), and mustard & catsup (Trader Joe’s: some sugar, but no HFCS and no unpronounceable ingredients).
Read MoreCobb Salad
Well, what I didn’t know is that there’s a history to the Cobb Salad, invented by Bob Cobb, owner of the Brown Derby in Hollywood, CA. A couple of nights before, we had decided to collaborate with friends for Friday, and since Julie makes such amazing bacon bits, I suggested a Cobb. So here was the starting palette, with the Bing Cherries there for the dessert (click on it for the hi-res). There seems to be a lot of variations on the Cobb, and this was no exception. I couldn’t source Roquefort without going to Whole Foods, so I went with blue. I also made blue cheese dressing per this recipe, pictured above, and I cut it down by 1/3 so as not to have leftovers. My second attempt to make mayonnaise failed, just as the first, so I was left using 2/3 cup of Trader Joe’s expeller pressed canola oil mayo. Chopped up the romaine and watercress, dressed with about 2/3 of the blue cheese dressing, plated, then used the remaining 1/3 dressing to mix up with the 5 oz. blue cheese crumbles for the centerpiece (click on the photo for the hi-res version). Oh, man, was it ever…
Read MoreThe Vegetarian Menace
One for the Pea-Brain Diet Got an email from reader Katherine Strange, proprietor of SF Bay Area’s Evolution Catering. I haven’t tried the menu, yet, but that’s only because I have the time and inclination to cook for myself most of the time. If that’s a problem for you, or an occasional problem, you’re near to San Francisco and want to eat right, ring up Kat and get some nice food. A vegetarian wasn’t too happy about the menu offerings. Kat, It would be interesting if you included some pure vegetarian meals (beans, grains and veggies) if you really want to be an “Evolutionary” caterer. Research shows that only a vegetarian diet is really sustainable for the planet, and is still the healthiest way to eat that there is. I ‘d be interested if you decide to continue to evolve…. Then, a kind reply got an even more insistent response. …And their organs only needed to survive for 20-30 years. Life span extended with the evolution of agriculture, as did the need for the kidneys and heart to last longer. High protein diets are very hard on the kidneys, causing high rates of kidney stones, which can lead to kidney…
Read MoreLinks and Quick Hits
~ Good science is done for a 20-yr study and the jury is in: Caloric restriction definitely extends life, and at a better quality (less disease) in monkeys. Fortunately, intermittent fasting just might do the same thing or even better. ~ Vitamin D and its bactericidal (“anti-bacterial”) action. “Vitamin D, activated ergosterol, is bactericidal to tubercle bacilli, proteus, bacillus aerogenes, staphylococci and non-hemolytic streptococci in vitro and in vivo.” Nice to have such great information coming out so that we can finally cure our ignorant stupidity with regard to the sun. Uh, wait…seems that paper was published in, uh…1946! ~ Free the Animal gets a plug on The Image Mentor. “One of the people who really influenced Kevin and me on our journey toward personal wellness is an old neighbor and friend, Richard Nikoley. He writes a very informative blog about eating natural foods and I highly recommend reading up on his posts for more information because he’s so passionate about this topic. It’s particularly changed his life like it’s changed ours.” I made mention of Joseph Rosenfeld and his partner, Kevin, last February and they’re still going strong. I can tell Joseph had to redo all his photos on…
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