Monday, June 25, 2007
The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollen. My red-headed, fair-skinned, French-speaking friend whose husband was recently transferred to Miami has been reading a lot of books lately... most recently Michael Pollen's, The Omnivore's Dilemma. Just a few chapters into the book, the concept of supermarket steak is already ruined. She curses that I ever recommended the book because now she'll either end up living on lettuce or having quadrupled her food bill in the hope of finding grazed beef.
I don't think it was actually I who suggested she read this book but maybe it was...hey, all these toxins coursing through my body from all of the garbage I've eaten in my youth prior to anyone knowing that it would one day short-circuit my brain neurons has made me forget... like Teflon... have you ever thought about the number of Teflon pan souvenirs that are now forever lodged in cancer-receptive parts of our bodies? Or how about all of those potato/apple peels our mothers insisted yielded the most vitamins but turns out had the highest concentration of all the legal/illegal shit sprayed on them to ward off bugs/blights/ and other crop-hindering quotas.
After I read Fast Food Nation, My Year of Meat, and an array of Michael Pollen books/articles, I've taken on a kind of diametrically opposed philosophy of 1) I spend a fortune at Whole Food Market in the 'organic' section (plus WFM has the best chocolate turtles on the planet), and 2) take it all with a grain of organic salt BECAUSE -- as my good Uncle Frank from Brooklyn used to say: "Anna.... none of us is getting out of this world alive...." Add on my anti-theistic outlook on life (it's all about disintegrating into toxin-enriched dust baby) and I figure I can eat all the corn-fed, hormone infused cow I want. Of course I am still looking for the little-pink-pill that will put me out of my artery-clogged, toxin disabled misery when I chose -- as opposed to some illiterate nursing care attendant feeding me mashed peas in my wheel chair.
I don't think it was actually I who suggested she read this book but maybe it was...hey, all these toxins coursing through my body from all of the garbage I've eaten in my youth prior to anyone knowing that it would one day short-circuit my brain neurons has made me forget... like Teflon... have you ever thought about the number of Teflon pan souvenirs that are now forever lodged in cancer-receptive parts of our bodies? Or how about all of those potato/apple peels our mothers insisted yielded the most vitamins but turns out had the highest concentration of all the legal/illegal shit sprayed on them to ward off bugs/blights/ and other crop-hindering quotas.
After I read Fast Food Nation, My Year of Meat, and an array of Michael Pollen books/articles, I've taken on a kind of diametrically opposed philosophy of 1) I spend a fortune at Whole Food Market in the 'organic' section (plus WFM has the best chocolate turtles on the planet), and 2) take it all with a grain of organic salt BECAUSE -- as my good Uncle Frank from Brooklyn used to say: "Anna.... none of us is getting out of this world alive...." Add on my anti-theistic outlook on life (it's all about disintegrating into toxin-enriched dust baby) and I figure I can eat all the corn-fed, hormone infused cow I want. Of course I am still looking for the little-pink-pill that will put me out of my artery-clogged, toxin disabled misery when I chose -- as opposed to some illiterate nursing care attendant feeding me mashed peas in my wheel chair.
Friday, June 15, 2007
One Significant Step for Equal Rights: One Quantum Leap for Massachusetts’ Historic Role in that Endeavor: No doubt there are people who signed the marriage amendment petition unhappy they won’t get to decide in 2008 who gets to marry whom, but they shouldn’t be unhappy because democracy wasn’t working. In fact it prevailed brilliantly. The bottom line is that getting petition signatures is but one cog in the wheel of changing the state constitution and by no means a guarantee that a petition will get on the ballot for a vote. No matter how you slice it, this amendment would have excluded certain individuals from the same rights and protections enjoyed by others. Our state legislators, whose duty it is to vote on what goes to the ballot, gave it the resounding thumbs down it deserved. The message was clear: civil rights should not be put to popular vote. The deafening roar of cheers that greeted legislators after the adjournment of the Constitutional Convention concurred.
It is heartening that the millions of dollars that would have otherwise been wasted on pitting neighbors, friends, and families against one another as the 2008 ballot approached, may now be used towards the really important stuff like education, the environment, economic competitiveness, affordable housing -- not splitting hairs over the definition of marriage.
A big thank you to Senator X and Representative X who both stood firm from the beginning. Thank you to the founding fathers for the prescience to pockmark the constitution with enough checks and balances to weather the ever-evolving new realities of a society that no one can always predict beforehand. Kudos to the many gay and lesbian families who took the time to share their stories and whose accounts compelled just enough legislators to change their vote and keep discrimination out of the constitution (you can go to http://www.massequality.org/action/share_reading.php to get to know these lovely families too). And finally, good luck to marriages everywhere. We need all of the love and commitment on this planet we can muster!
It is heartening that the millions of dollars that would have otherwise been wasted on pitting neighbors, friends, and families against one another as the 2008 ballot approached, may now be used towards the really important stuff like education, the environment, economic competitiveness, affordable housing -- not splitting hairs over the definition of marriage.
A big thank you to Senator X and Representative X who both stood firm from the beginning. Thank you to the founding fathers for the prescience to pockmark the constitution with enough checks and balances to weather the ever-evolving new realities of a society that no one can always predict beforehand. Kudos to the many gay and lesbian families who took the time to share their stories and whose accounts compelled just enough legislators to change their vote and keep discrimination out of the constitution (you can go to http://www.massequality.org/action/share_reading.php to get to know these lovely families too). And finally, good luck to marriages everywhere. We need all of the love and commitment on this planet we can muster!
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Oh We're Only About A Year Behind in Posting... Let's start with a restuarant review and then will go on to catching up on everything in between...
ZAFFERANO -- HOW DID IT END UP IN EAST BOSTON?
From London to Boston's North End, Italian-born Chef Pietro Delviscovo has serenaded some of the most demanding of palates. Situated now in East Boston, Chef Delviscovo's Italian cuisine includes his signature hand-crafted pasta, savory seafood, grilled meats, and homemade desserts. Saffron, the ancient aromatic spice much sought in dishes worldwide (and hence the restaurant's name Zafferano), adds delightful zing to several of Pietro' s dishes and brings an unusual but not un-authentic flavor of Italy to the dinner table.
The ambiance of Zafferano is elegantly understated. Crisp linen tablecloths, impeccable table-ware, cool tiled floors, and peach-colored walls make for a welcome and quiet reprieve from the 747's lowering their landing gear towards Logan Airport just meters above. Which brings us to the question as to why a first class chef ended up in this particular East Boston neighborhood in the first place.
Well let's just say that certain politicians have been selling East Boston as the next big sure-bet-wonder-Mecca, 'conveniently located just a few T stops from Boston', for some time now. But with a $1.3 billion dollar state deficit at hand, many of the urban revitalization projects meant to lure young professionals and first-time home buyers into the area have not kept pace with the hopes of entrepreneurs who took an early plunge into the neighborhood. Faltering sub-prime loans don't do much to foster restaurant patronage either. Translation: I would venture to guess that Zafferano is rarely full on any given night. And frankly, the corner on which Zafferano finds itself feels a little like a highway rest stop half-way between where you came from and where you want to be . This is a shame because Zafferano is a gem of a restaurant deserving of a more inviting (and lucrative) location.
But there we were on a Thursday night -- four of ten patrons in a restaurant that has a seating capacity of forty-nine. The good news is that the restaurant has great feng shui and so it does not feel uncomfortable even with so few guests present. Nonetheless, I would highly recommend going to Zafferano with people you like and can rely on for lively conversation given that the alternative, an atrabilious silence interrupted only by the occasional clank of silverware, might prove deadly.
Now how to describe delicious... Let's start by mopping up (with fresh-made bread) the perfect duet of oil/balsamic dressing that still lingered on my plate from what was a delectable grilled calamari and shrimp antipasto served on baby romaine greens ($12). Just to note, the calamari is served sans tentacles but in bulbous pieces atop the greens. I usually prefer my eight-armed cephalopod mollusk camouflaged to not look like the ugly creature it is but any aesthetic reservations were soon put to rest by the tender succulence of the meat, sliced effortlessly with fork and knife. Meanwhile, hubby had the minestrone soup -- a reminder that market-fresh ingredients, fine preparation, and a sprinkle of love sure do make for good soup and loud slurpy sounds emanating next to me.
For the main course I found myself in the typical Libra-esque conundrum of being torn between too many choices (entrees range from $15 - $32). Figuring that the badge of a good Italian restaurant is its carbs (something I think some of my Italian friends would vigorously dispute), I went with the seafood risotto while my girlfriend tried the fresh-made pasta and marinara sauce. To say the least, neither of us was disappointed and we were particularly impressed by her al dente-perfect, hand-twisted rotini drizzled with a fresh and zesty marinara. My husband opted for the fan of Angus Sirloin steak with asparagus tips, and my girlfriend's husband went with the wild mushroom risotto. These later mentioned dishes were purportedly excellent as well though our eating mates never offered us a bite and so I must confess that this particular part of the review is based entirely on reasoned conjecture that a regressive primal instinct to hoard selfishly that which is really, really high-quality was at play.
Of course, were Zafferano to move to a swankier location than its present East Boston one, their rent would also skyrocket. Everything else would go up with it and the affordable range of wines (between $15 -$45) would not be quite as affordable as they are now. All totaled, we spent around $110 per couple. This included pre-dinner drinks for two, a bottle of wine, three appetizers, four entrees, and a round of port for dessert. Also included was a bit of conversation with the owner (a.k.a Pietro) and his lovely wife, Giuseppina, who like to visit with guests to make sure they have enjoyed the meal. Apropos dessert, Pietro makes these as well but as tempting as a liqueur-infused sponge cake topped with a silky cream glaze sounded, we were all just too pleas antly full to go the last round.
Zafferano is a first-class, must-go-to restaurant which I hope will retain its authentic flavor no matter what location they may one day find themselves. Zafferano is located at 999 Saratoga St., East Boston, MA 02128. Tel.: 617-561-2922. Website: http://www.zafferanoboston.com/. Hours of operation are Mon.–Wed., 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Thur.-Sat., 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Reservations optional.
ZAFFERANO -- HOW DID IT END UP IN EAST BOSTON?
From London to Boston's North End, Italian-born Chef Pietro Delviscovo has serenaded some of the most demanding of palates. Situated now in East Boston, Chef Delviscovo's Italian cuisine includes his signature hand-crafted pasta, savory seafood, grilled meats, and homemade desserts. Saffron, the ancient aromatic spice much sought in dishes worldwide (and hence the restaurant's name Zafferano), adds delightful zing to several of Pietro' s dishes and brings an unusual but not un-authentic flavor of Italy to the dinner table.
The ambiance of Zafferano is elegantly understated. Crisp linen tablecloths, impeccable table-ware, cool tiled floors, and peach-colored walls make for a welcome and quiet reprieve from the 747's lowering their landing gear towards Logan Airport just meters above. Which brings us to the question as to why a first class chef ended up in this particular East Boston neighborhood in the first place.
Well let's just say that certain politicians have been selling East Boston as the next big sure-bet-wonder-Mecca, 'conveniently located just a few T stops from Boston', for some time now. But with a $1.3 billion dollar state deficit at hand, many of the urban revitalization projects meant to lure young professionals and first-time home buyers into the area have not kept pace with the hopes of entrepreneurs who took an early plunge into the neighborhood. Faltering sub-prime loans don't do much to foster restaurant patronage either. Translation: I would venture to guess that Zafferano is rarely full on any given night. And frankly, the corner on which Zafferano finds itself feels a little like a highway rest stop half-way between where you came from and where you want to be . This is a shame because Zafferano is a gem of a restaurant deserving of a more inviting (and lucrative) location.
But there we were on a Thursday night -- four of ten patrons in a restaurant that has a seating capacity of forty-nine. The good news is that the restaurant has great feng shui and so it does not feel uncomfortable even with so few guests present. Nonetheless, I would highly recommend going to Zafferano with people you like and can rely on for lively conversation given that the alternative, an atrabilious silence interrupted only by the occasional clank of silverware, might prove deadly.
Now how to describe delicious... Let's start by mopping up (with fresh-made bread) the perfect duet of oil/balsamic dressing that still lingered on my plate from what was a delectable grilled calamari and shrimp antipasto served on baby romaine greens ($12). Just to note, the calamari is served sans tentacles but in bulbous pieces atop the greens. I usually prefer my eight-armed cephalopod mollusk camouflaged to not look like the ugly creature it is but any aesthetic reservations were soon put to rest by the tender succulence of the meat, sliced effortlessly with fork and knife. Meanwhile, hubby had the minestrone soup -- a reminder that market-fresh ingredients, fine preparation, and a sprinkle of love sure do make for good soup and loud slurpy sounds emanating next to me.
For the main course I found myself in the typical Libra-esque conundrum of being torn between too many choices (entrees range from $15 - $32). Figuring that the badge of a good Italian restaurant is its carbs (something I think some of my Italian friends would vigorously dispute), I went with the seafood risotto while my girlfriend tried the fresh-made pasta and marinara sauce. To say the least, neither of us was disappointed and we were particularly impressed by her al dente-perfect, hand-twisted rotini drizzled with a fresh and zesty marinara. My husband opted for the fan of Angus Sirloin steak with asparagus tips, and my girlfriend's husband went with the wild mushroom risotto. These later mentioned dishes were purportedly excellent as well though our eating mates never offered us a bite and so I must confess that this particular part of the review is based entirely on reasoned conjecture that a regressive primal instinct to hoard selfishly that which is really, really high-quality was at play.
Of course, were Zafferano to move to a swankier location than its present East Boston one, their rent would also skyrocket. Everything else would go up with it and the affordable range of wines (between $15 -$45) would not be quite as affordable as they are now. All totaled, we spent around $110 per couple. This included pre-dinner drinks for two, a bottle of wine, three appetizers, four entrees, and a round of port for dessert. Also included was a bit of conversation with the owner (a.k.a Pietro) and his lovely wife, Giuseppina, who like to visit with guests to make sure they have enjoyed the meal. Apropos dessert, Pietro makes these as well but as tempting as a liqueur-infused sponge cake topped with a silky cream glaze sounded, we were all just too pleas antly full to go the last round.
Zafferano is a first-class, must-go-to restaurant which I hope will retain its authentic flavor no matter what location they may one day find themselves. Zafferano is located at 999 Saratoga St., East Boston, MA 02128. Tel.: 617-561-2922. Website: http://www.zafferanoboston.com/. Hours of operation are Mon.–Wed., 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Thur.-Sat., 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Reservations optional.
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