Finding Fantasia (the local way)

Some time ago I made a promise to dedicate an entire post to the Golden Temple, "the holiest Gurdwara of Sikhism" and their recent decision to serve 100% organic food (for free) to the public. This is not that post. I promise (yet again) that it will be written, in the near-ish future, but for now I have been busy exploring local flavors in my own back yard, give or take 3 hours.

Last weekend my boo and I journeyed to the quaint village of Easton, P.A. to visit what we thought would be a dog breeder (will explain later). We were there to see Shiba Inus (yes we are getting a dog!!), but we ended up discovering a vibrant, self sustaining culture replete with family farms, organically grown grapes (for winemaking!), microbreweries, and rustic, local cafes.

View from our table at the Riegelsville Inn, built in 1838

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Earlier this week my friend Brian Muro (AKA Ms. Muro) came for a visit. With the sun finally shining, we hit the boardwalk on our bicycles and road all the way to Ocean City and back. Along the way we made time to stop for (my favorite) homemade ice cream at the one and only Margate Dairy Bar in Margate...

First taste of summer: homemade soft serve ice cream!

Taking a well earned break and enjoying the view...

After nearly 3 hours of battling the winds whipping off the ocean, ice cream never tasted so good! It gave us just enough energy to get home and cook dinner. In a rare reversal of roles, Ms. Muro took the lead in the kitchen and prepared an exquisite creation consisting of salmon, broccoli, string beans, onions & garlic bread...



For years now, every time I cook for Brian, he says to me: "I really have to cook for you" but talk is cheap my friend and as Ms. Muro herself would say, the proof is in the pudding, or haricots verts as the case was this week.

All is well that ends well though and my tastebuds would have to agree that this scrumptious chef d'oeuvre was worth the (oh so long) wait. But anyone who knows anything knows that perfection cannot be rushed, which is why freshly peeled and chopped garlic, hand prepped veggies, fresh herbs (more turmeric!), and patience were the key ingredients here. The result?

Pleasure of the purest kind...

As you can plainly see, our trip and cuisine were both phenomenal. And as usual, we enjoyed one another's company to the max! Most of our time was spent being silly, as was the case here:

Ms. Muro sporting the shirt I got him for his birthday

But what makes each others company so rewarding is that it exists as a dynamic balance between gay (pun intended) merry making and fruitful activity. Our friendship is a perfect coming together of imperfect and chaotic energies that have the power to excite, inspire and challenge our preconceived identities; this connection feeds off good fun, good food, and a willingness to explore the uncharted territory before us.

Life isn't perfect, but find a reason to smile (laugh, cry, scream, dance...) anyway and keep looking straight ahead, or as Brian says, "gayly forward".  There will always be time for work, but be sure to enjoy all of life's pleasures and the people you share them with, along the way.

Sometimes, girls (and guys) just wanna have fun :)

From Stir Crazy to Stir Fry: The Color Cure

Taste the rainbow. No. I'm not referring to skittles.

Amidst these April showers, and sometimes snow showers, I'm feeling a bit impatient for the season's transformation. I know summer is coming, and it will probably be hot as hell thanks to global warming, but honestly, if I wake up to one more cold, wet, white day, I might lose it.

Let's face it, we all need some color during these transitions. If not in the sunshine and blue sky, then at very least, on our plates. Which is why I've had a colorful week, food wise. I've indulged in everything from homemade turmeric and ginger spiced tea to brilliantly hued vegetable & tofu stir fry.

I don't know which was pleased more, my sense of taste or of sight.

The Sweet Life

As the flowers start to bloom and life begins to emerge anew, I can't help but feel the colorful spirit of spring sweetly singing to me. The song is for the future and for all the exciting possibilities that drift on the dawn of each new day.

But before I can look too far forward, I'll take a moment to look back, and at the here and now, to acknowledge the hustle and bustle foreshadowing future transformations.

With so much happening this last month, it was easy to stick to my goal of not eating meat, while indulging my senses in life and its endless array of flavors, textures & colors. Gurpreet and I took a three day trip to rural Watertown, NY situated on lake Ontario, just fifteen minutes from Canada! While we were there for an interview, we were pleasantly surprised by the mouthwatering culinary experience we shared at the rustic Cavallarios Cucina.