Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

I interned with Slow Food recently and left confused about what the organization is doing. The 10-person staff (some of whom are part-time) must respond to the inquiries of over 14,000 members, many of whom seemed to want to be involved on a larger scale. Start your own convivium was often the enthusiastic response. A wonderful idea, but not practical for the average fully-employed person. I still support the idea of Slow Food, but I believe that the organization has lost something in their travel across the Atlantic. The principles of a clean, safe and fair food system as outlined in Carlo Petrini's latest book, Slow Food Nation, are a wonderful idea, but it is based in the Italian culture and their ideas about food. Additionally, as a member of the E.U., there is greater government regulation in Italy's food system - in my mind making a Slow Food system more feasible. I wondered why SFUSA didn't have a more political agenda, and thought it might have to do with the need to remain unbiased politically to ensure their grant-funding; I never found out the answer to this question. They are approaching their seven-year itch in the United States and if they do want to shed their elitist image they will need to make a statement about where they stand on the many issues that threaten the United States food system, starting with lobbyists, corporate tie-ins and the like. They have added their support for the Farm Bill legislation and have many wonderful programs that encourage the preservation of heritage foods, but this is often preaching to the choir - I feel they need to make a bold statement about where they stand on the U.S. food system and why, risk losing some members, but gain others.

Cooking: Kabocha Squash
Eating: Durian - sorry, but it's true. I love this stuff.

Cooking: Carrot
Raw: Pears

Cooking: chard
Raw: Mango

fruit raw & cooked
1.) pear
2.) pear

or...

I CAN"T BELIEVE NOBODY HAS SAID IT?!

vegetable raw & cooked
1.) garlic
2.) garlic

Cooking: Potatoes or Tomatoes
Raw: Carrots