Hungry Times Two

We and some friends of ours saw Tableland , the first of several food-related films being shown as part of local food film series. We're not pure Slow Food members or anything like that .. yet .. but we do strive for local food via the Farmer's Market, etc. (saw Jeff Themm, Nashville Farmer's Market Exec. Dir. in audience). The film festival 's running 6:30 p.m., every Tuesday, from June 16-23, so check out a film or two if you live in Middle Tennessee. One of the best characters from the film is an B.C. oysterman named Brent Petkau. He not only hauls in some tasty looking bivalves, he waxes poetic on them and " The Oyster Revolution ." Seriously, he's great, as are all of the chefs, farmers, etc. in the film. There's also the guy from Soiled Reputation that also had some notable quotes. Lastly, I finally saw a face behind a name, something of a food celebrity sighting: Pete , of Pete's Green's. Somehow, I'd heard the company name ...

Yep, it's yet another rant about the malarial heat of Nashville, when you just want to lay around without any clothes on...oh wait, that's not appropriate for this blog. Instead, how about when you just feel downright maniacal as the temps reach 90 degrees and the mosquitoes are out and you just don't look too cute with those visible beads of moisture crowding your temples and upper lip. Yeah, it's so hot. And not in a Paris Hilton kind of way. Thus, it's time to make some iced tea and chill the hell out. For tea, I like to use my blue pitcher, formerly used by my beloved late Grandmother Coxey to make her fruit tea - a disgusting mix of brewed iced tea and whatever fruit juice happened to be accessible, such as orange juice or the remaining syrupy juice from the canned peaches, pears or pineapple in her oh-so-1950s style ubiquitous fruit salads. Don't get me started on her favorite throwback of a salad, the half of a chilled canned pear nested on iceberg lettuc...

So, it's officially June, and that means one thing for certain: the A/C will likely be no match for the ungodly sweltering summer heat about to inflict us here in Nashville. I know, it's not Mississippi/downright Deep and Dirty South, but it's already 90 degrees here today and I just don't think I have another heat-induced hissy fit left in me. My 28 years in this humid-ass place known as the South have used up those sweaty tantrums. Luckily, my favorite summer pastime known as Being Lazy as all Get Out is already in full swing, with my first session turning out better than expected yesterday evening. With an icy beverage within reach on the coffee table and a supplemental box fan running at full-speed on my outstretched form on the couch, I held court in the living room with a couple books to while away the sultry night. I present to you the first of several, the one, the only.... Summer Reading Lists for Those of Us Who Really Like our Food, MmmKay ? 1) The United S...

To the point: if you haven't tried Sriracha hot sauce, go forth and getchu some! Check out this article in the NYT by one of my fave writers John T. Edge on the amazing devotion surrounding this sauce. My favorite quote in the story: "It burns your body, not your tongue ." I first discovered it at Doc Chey's in Asheville , NC, and have smeared it on spring rolls, burritos, sushi, hot dogs, and anything else that needs a fiery punch now and then. I most recently had it on some sushi from Taki out in Hermitage and also on glazed tilapia from the Mustard Seed in Mount Pleasant, SC. If you like a little - scratch that - LOT of heat, I highly suggest this sizzling sauce.

Just a wee bit of the month of May remains and thus I finally broke my self-imposed barrier from the farmers markets. During a visit to Asheville this long holiday weekend to celebrate my mother's magnificent self turning Sixty-Somethin', Mamma Mia and I checked out the offerings of the Western North Carolina Farmers Market. This was the market that begat my love for all foods fresh and fantastic during my college years at UNC-Asheville. I recall summer days spent tasting the liberal samples of fresh yogurt cheese and assorted nuts and snackies (Roasted Pepitas, Cuban crackers, dried papaya) from one vendor and buying Coates Brothers produce like it was going out of style (green beans, squash, beautiful fat tomatoes, and strawberries). And oh, the strawberries -the ruby of the Southern Spring Season. They're only so good for so long, but I relish this fruit like no other. My friend Beth the blogger brought some berries from her area of the world, Raleigh, NC, to our beach e...

We're at beautiful Sullivan's Island, SC this week and I actually have time/energy to write on this blog. Foods consumed so far include kabobs (with local Shem Creek shrimp, the first time I've grilled shrimp), sandwiches and chips seasoned with a hint of sand and my mom's knock-out good breakfast casserole (sausage, egg, hashbrowns and cheese, all cooked together, yum!) I picked up another bag of local shrimp today at Mt. Pleasant Seafood http://www.boonehallfarms.com/departments/mtp_seafood.php , although the freshest of the freshest is at Magwood's . I also snagged some crabbing gear, as I'm hoping to catch enough 5"+ (the legal size) blue and stone crabs tomorrow via the highly technical method known as "noodling." : ) That entails a stick, some string, a lead weight and turkey necks that have been sitting out in the sun for a few hours (crabs love carrion). Overall, crabbing is just as much about the effort/process that goes into it as it...

Co-blogger is networking like mad at a work conference in Minneapolis and I've received word that amongst other things, he's consumed beer cheese soup. Exhibit A: Thanks to lovely Laurie for the evidence. Yes, this is popcorn garnish you see. Crazy, huh?