Marrakech, Tangier, Casablanca. We may have been lost, but we were certainly well fed.

It all started with the idea of getting lost in Morocco. From a romanticized article in the New York Times and the abundance of cocktails in Casablanca, to our friends misty memories of their own trip to the North African country, TH and I couldn’t get the locale out of our heads.

So we booked tickets, slept through most of Christmas Day in the Lisbon airport, and arrived by nightfall in Marrakech. And we learned very quickly that it is not at all difficult to get lost in Morocco. Lesson number one: Google Maps, and GPS systems, don’t work in in this country, where the old city center most closely resembles Labyrinth. Wandering the streets at 11pm, two suitcases in tow, every male age 10 to 70 wants to become your new friend, bring you to his riad, or show you the way. Sooner or later (the when just depends on your exhaustion level), you’ll need to succumb to these new friends (for a fee, of course), because Google Maps, just isn’t gonna cut it.

Of course, in the moment it will seem that you are going the right way (your GPS will say you are!) and that you can navigate the city all alone. But when you let your pride give way, and ask the latest leather-jacket-wearing buddy for directions, you’ll realize, as you turn down the fourth winding side street, that, arriving by nightfall in Marrakech is adventurous, at the least. The $1 you tip your friend will be worth it, I promise.
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Start your day with a bright herbal tea inspired by my African adventure!

I was lucky enough to spend a week in Morocco over the Christmas holidays. TH and I had an incredible time exploring a completely new culture, and eating a week’s worth of tagines, preserved lemons, cured olives, and rich breads. From wandering through the evening medinas — complete with grilled meats, live music, and costumed performers — to drinking cocktails à la Casablanca in a bar said to inspire the movie, the trip was truly unique. I’ll post a detailed travel guide from our trip shortly, along with some great pictures we snapped along the way, but for a fresh start to January, I wanted to share a glass or two of Moroccan mint tea.

We saw locals sipping on this herbal tea everywhere we went — bars, cafès, even corner stoops; one café owner described the brown liquid as Morocco’s whiskey. We trekked up steep cobblestone streets to sip on it over lunch at a tiny seaside restaurant in Tangier, and watched the sunset over the Marrakech marketplace at a fancy rooftop café. We also managed to bring back a lovely set of gold painted glasses perfect for enjoying the mint-studded tea back at home.

Mint tea may be a wonderful memory of our trip, but this cooling herb also packs plenty of benefits for those of you looking to spruce up in the New Year. Rich in Vitamins A and C, mint also contains a number of minerals, making it a great addition to your morning cuppa. Drinking a pot spiked with mint can stimulate the senses and improve mood, and mint is also known to relieve congestion, head colds and headaches, a much needed remedy this time of year. Moroccan’s enjoy their tea very sweet, with a large handful of mint in each glass. I prefer to cut out some of that sugar, and add a squeeze of lemon juice for a bright, minty sip that makes me feel fresh and ready to tackle the day.

Moroccan Mint Tea
4-6 servings
1 tablespoon loose leaf green tea
4 cups boiling water
2-4 tablespoons sugar, to taste
1 large bunch mint, reserve some mint for garnishing
1 lemon

1. Place the mint, green tea and sugar into a decorative teapot. Pour the boiling water over the mint and brew for 3 to 5 minutes. Place the garnishing mint into the tea cups, pour the tea through a strainer into the cups, and serve. Top with fresh squeezed lemon juice to taste.

A last bite of summer full of lobster, lobster and, oh yeah, some seaside views.

We spent a few days in Cape Cod last week, surprisingly my first visit to this in-demand East Coast locale. Although the weather has turned decidedly chilly and many establishments shuttered their doors shockingly early in lieu of the drop in visitors after Labor Day (don’t plan for any late night eating), it was easy to understand the charm of this seaside getaway. Driving on curvy back roads, you’ll stumble upon one must-see stop after the other — Marion’s pie shop (try the mini blueberry-crumble), the picturesque and remote South Beach in Chatham, and the kitchy Bird Watcher’s General Store in Orleans are all worth a visit — but just walking through the tiny streets amongst salty air-worn bungalows makes for an enjoyable day.

Other than a weekend of relaxing beachside strolls and sightseeing, the area provides for a pretty simple mission: lobster rolls. Harwich Port’s Brax Landing offers the makings of a massive lunch; sit on the bayside patio (the perfect setting even on a chillier afternoon) and share the enormous sandwich, as well as a bowl of the ultra-rich lobster bisque. Make sure to visit to the classic Cape Cod town of Chatham, complete with whitewashed fences, preppy boutiques and Topsider-wearing tourists, and you’ll find Nickerson’s Fish & Lobsters, a tiny operation hidden on a fishing dock. It’s a great place to pick up grub (especially their delicious toasted lobster rolls) before you head out to South Beach, a pristine area popular with both bird watchers and dedicated fishermen, that can only be reached by boat. And the roadside Arnold’s Lobster & Clam Bar in Eastham deserves a stop along your route, for its eclectic diner-style charm and the raved about fried lobster tail dinner.

When you’re ready for a break from lobster, head to the town of Wellfleet, home to the eponymous oyster. You’ll find some of the most inventive fare in the Cape Cod area at the Wicked Oyster, along with a variety of creative cocktails and a decent wine list. For a more casual affair, head to Mac’s Shack and shuck a few oysters yourself. And when you’re feeling a bit stuffed, just head out for another oceanside walk; that salty breeze is guaranteed to get your stomach growling again.

Breathtaking views from the nearby Dunes and impressive restaurants give this Midwest destination the summer seal of approval.

I’ve never been anywhere near Cape Cod, but for some reason, I keep telling people that Traverse City is Michigan’s version of the Northeastern summer town. There must be something about the getaway’s lakeside and bay views, paired with quaint shops decked in vintage camping knickknacks, that makes me imagine couples dressed in seersucker, chomping down lobster rolls. You may not find a clambake this far west, but if you have a few days on your hands, Traverse City makes an excellent summering spot.

And you’ll need at least a few days. Plan to spend three at minimum — you’re actually heading to several peninsulas and bays, all worth their own visit. Add to that travel time; Traverse City is a good six-hour drive from Chicago, or a few-hours flight (into the Cherry Capital Airport) if you’re coming from either coast. But it’s worth the effort when you hit the tree-lined hillsides and shockingly bright blue lake waters that make Michigan the Great Lakes State.

You could easily spend your entire vacation just enjoying the lake, by way of Traverse Bay. On the drive into town, notice signs for boat, jet ski and pontoon rentals — they’re actually fairly affordable and a great way to spend a relaxing morning. If you’d rather stay of the water, catch some rays on the public beaches that line the roads heading into Traverse City and around the nearby Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas.

Charming bed-and-breakfasts also fill the area, but Traverse City offers the most central location (both peninsulas are only each a thirty minute drive away). Hotels and inns dot the highway into town for several miles, including chain lodges and more luxurious options like the Antiquities’ Wellington Inn (230 Wellington St., Traverse City). In town, the Oviatt House (244 E. 8th St., Traverse City), is a charming, affordable bed-and-breakfast only a few blocks from the town’s main street.
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Lunch at Shake Shack, dinner at Eat and a few pretty butterflies along the way.

I spent a few days in New York City last week, taking in the hot weather, culture and intense life all around me. Every visit I make to this city always brings me new places to explore, or something I haven’t done yet; I may have been there for business, but I couldn’t help stopping at a few food destinations along the way. It’s a wonder I hadn’t been to Shake Shack before, but the creamy milkshake and rich burger made a wonderful sunny lunch in the park. Later I strolled through the nearby Eatly, Mario Batali’s impressive mecca to all things Italy. Heading to the train, I noticed a beautiful window display of live butterflies called Wish for Women. It’s created by Women In Need and Alpina Wish Space, who release a butterfly into the habitat for every wish/donation that is made. The next night, I had a quick dinner at Greenpoint’s Eat, a restaurant dedicated to sustainable, local and delicious foods. The sweet raspberry juice and rustic barley salad, brightened with spicy radish shavings, cucumber and dill, was the perfect bite before I rushed to catch my flight back to Chicago.

Katherine Sacks

After the massive earthquake hit Haiti in early January, the world reacted. Aid poured into the struggling country  from every corner, as relief workers fought to rescue survivors and distribute supplies to the thousands now in need. From large scale text-message donation services to the highly-successful Hope for Haiti Now telethon, huge efforts have been made to raise money. Restaurants have held benefit dinners, stores have started to collect donations, and performers have released benefit songs.

Chicagoans are among the many contributing to the aid effort. While not all of the fundraisers are on the national level, each endeavor can be an effective way to raise money for the Caribbean country, as a group of local Yelpers proved this past Saturday, January 25th. They took a small idea, a bake sale, and turned it into a big way to raise money for Haiti.

As event coordinator Tina Bennett said, “It was a very organic process. I’m a parent, and so the idea of a bake sale to raise money seemed like a very natural one. I know how to bake, I know how to have a bake sale. So it seemed easy and I just figured why don’t I just ask a bunch of businesses that were my favorite businesses to help and basically everybody just said yes and it all came together very quickly and easily, kind of amazingly.”

Bennett, with the the help of volunteer organizer Cassie David, was able to enlist over 30 volunteers and garner donations from seven Chicago area bakeries for the Yelp sponsored event, including Angel Food Bakery, Luscious Layers Bakery and Bleeding Heart Bakery. Hyde Park restaurant Medici on 57th donated its upstairs space, where the sale took place.Plates of cookies, cupcakes and brownies lined long tables, as volunteers clad in Yelp’s signature red shirts sliced into rich chocolate cakes and bagged cookies. One volunteer even sold doggie treats. Attendees were asked to purchase tickets, which they then traded with the volunteers for baked goods.

“It was all over twitter and people were really excited about it,” said attendee, Lincoln Square resident Page Worthy. “With Yelpers, usually it’s just all about drinking and getting free stuff, but when it really matters they’ll come out and support a cause.”

Click above to view a slide show of the Baking for Haiti event

Contributors and volunteers came from all areas of Chicago for many reasons. Some were enticed by the big name bakeries, others wanted to make a donation or help aid efforts for Haiti. By mid afternoon, many of the tables and platters were bare.  After several hours and pounds of sugar, flour and butter, Baking for Haiti raised over $1500. These proceeds will go directly to both Doctors without Borders and Oxfam.

“It’s pretty amazing  how this has come together,” David said. “I think that this has been really great because it shows that you just have to have this little idea and get a community of people behind you and you can do it.”

This past Labor Day, Slow Food USA sponsored over 300 potluck eat-in’s in support of their Time for Lunch campaign, urging change in the school lunch system. According to the organization, a little change can go a long way.

One of the many eat-ins held this past Sepetember 7th, at Spiraling Orchard Park in Los Angeles.

With over 30 million children eating school lunches each day, Slow Food USA asserts that change cannot wait. Health-food advocates, environmentalist, and those concerned with the state of the National School Lunch Program rallied together this past Labor Day to support the group’s platform on the issue of what is served in school lunches. In parks, stores, homes, and community gardens across the nation, groups gathered for eat-in potlucks, asking attendees to sign the Time for Lunch petition and help make change happen now.

The main goal of the campaign, which was launched this past June 2009, is to convince Congress to allocate $1 more per student lunch, raising the reimbursement rate from $2.75 to $3.75. Other key objectives of the campaign include reducing the “junk” and “fast” food found in schools, gaining grants for school farm and garden programs, and establishing financial incentives for buying local products.

“It is time to give kids real food: food that tastes good, is good for them, is good for the people who grow and prepare it, and is good for the planet,” stated Josh Viertel, president of Slow Food USA.

The National School Lunch Program, which sets the standards for school lunches, falls under the Child Nutrition Act. The legislation is reauthorized every five years, and this year’s deadline is September 2009. During the 300 plus Labor Day potlucks, Slow Food USA acquired over 20,000 signatures online and 10,000 written signatures for it’s petition. Combined with the attention garnered from the eat-in’s, the group hopes to make Congress reform the standards of the current Child Nutrition Act.

The issues of child obesity and poor nutrition, which lead to health care issues of high -blood pressure and diabetes, support the debate for an increase in the quality of food that children are served. Slow Food USA hopes to develop standards for all food sold in schools, reducing children’s exposure to unhealthy products and promoting in them healthy habits.

To support these changes in school lunch system, go online and sign the petition, asking Congress for change. And, through the month of September, become a Slow Food USA member for a donation of any amount and join this group’s efforts for real food for children throughout the country.

View more picture’s of the Labor Day eat-in’s at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ tags/timeforlunch/.

Imagine a world with the sweetest carrots, peppery radishes, and leek scapes with a musky, garlic bite. This is a world where produce is given loving care by farmers who never take a day off and who live a stone throw away from the planting beds. Every morning the crops are pruned and tended, and by mid-afternoon the day’s vegetables are picked and whisked away. Washed and cleaned, they are roasted, chopped and pureed into the food of two-Michelin-star Manresa restaurant. A silky smooth puree of parsnip rests below roast squab, and turnip milk is steamed into a frothy foam atop a root vegetable risotto. From soil to plate, the vegetables rarely touch the inside of a refrigerator.

Everything about Love Apple Farm owner Cynthia Sandberg’s home feels magical, vibrant, and robust. The Santa Cruz sunlight streaks through the trees onto the planting beds, feeding the produce with vital nutrients, as volunteers and farmers spread throughout the two-acre farm. One woman pulls out spotted leaves from red Russian Kale, acting as a human pesticide. These leaves have been attacked by pests, and this is the farm’s way of naturally protecting against attackers. Another woman feeds the chickens with vegetable scraps. The air is rich with the earthy, musky smell of vegetables — life is thriving all around.

The relationship between Love Apple and Manresa is truly codependent. Each Manresa cook saves compost scraps to return to the farm, putting back into the land what is taken out.  The restaurant is the farm’s exclusive consumer, making it possible for Sandberg to focus on the special needs of the restaurant, something most farmers are unable to do. Her specialty? Biodynamic techniques. No artificial chemicals are used, instead, fermented herbal and mineral preparations are applied as compost additives and field sprays. Sandberg also uses the astronomical calendar to determine planting times and harvesting.

A typical day at the farm begins as one might imagine, just as the sunrise is peeking out above the Santa Cruz Mountains. Love Apple Farm is home to a flock of chickens, who provide more than half of the egg supply to the restaurant, and a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig named Dali. The morning chores include feeding these hungry animals, mending the planting beds, sowing seeds, and weeding. In the afternoons, the farm workers and volunteers all enjoy a lunch together made with products from the farm. On Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays the farm is open to the public for tomato sales, the namesake of the farm. And closing chores include collecting the chicken eggs, closing the greenhouses, and covering the planting beds with frost blankets. In the evening the farm workers again share meals together with the produce of the farm. Occasionally cooks from the restaurant join the farmers and treat them to Manresa-style prepared meals.

25 miles down the road in Los Gatos, Manresa’s chef David Kinch has been serving his dish Into the Garden since 2006, an item that showcases the relationship between Love Apple Farms and the restaurant.  A mixture of seasonal vegetables are chosen daily, each plate is unique and different. Some of the produce is served raw, some is cooked softly in its own juices, and everything is served on a dusting of a dehydrated chicory dirt. Raw slivers of solar yellow carrots nest between shaved beets and Bordeaux spinach, vegetable jus foam playfully dots nasturtium,  and bright green pea tendrils peep out. With each bite the earthy, honest flavors of the garden come through, a perfect mix a creativity, reverence and culinary sophistication.

Walking through Love Apple Farm, it’s easy to see where Kinch draws his inspiration. Arugula flowers remarkably seem more pungent then their leafy moniker, flower beds are packed with borage flowers full of vanilla and almond aromas. Bite into ruby streaks mustard greens and your mouth is afire of horse radish flavor, then chew on flowering cilantro which has double the tang of the standard variety. On this farm the produce is fresher, more vibrant, and succulent than anything you have ever tasted. It must have something to do with all that love they are putting into it. In a country where so many people depend on commercially produced fruits and vegetables, or even worse, frozen and canned products, Love Apple Farm is a beacon of hope, a ray of sunshine and a omen for the future of farming and restaurants everywhere. Or at least one can dream. And on this two-acre of farm land in Santa Cruz, California that dream is reality.

Dominican Republica: Paradise Found

Charlotte revved the throttle of the atv as we roared up the rocky hillside, pushing into the Samana mountain range.  Day three of the Dominican adventure and we were deep into the lush countryside heading towards the coffee fields.

The sky over head was clear, the sun shone bright above us. Each turn brought a new view.  In the wilderness, surrounded by lush greens, the blue beach peeped out between the valleys in the far off distance. Then all at once, we were bumping along the rocky countryside, holding onto the sides of the atv desperately. The road was dotted with cheerfully painted houses, bright pinks, yellows and blues. Dominican children met us along the way, waving merrily yelling “Hola, hola!”

I had arrived on my first trip to the Dominican three days prior with my long time friend Erin, her boyfriend Morgan, and our friend  Charlotte.  Erin’s family owns a home in Las Terrenas, a small fisherman village in the Samana Pennisula, a two hour trip from the capital city of Santo Domingo.  Instead of an all-inclusive resort, our vacation plans included a beach front abode with home cooked meals, in house exercise classes taught by Erin’s fitness instructor mother, and insider knowledge and guidance from our local hosts. It would truly be a locals vacation, an immersion into the culture of the Dominican rather than the luxury resort images that trips to the Caribbean often conjure up.

Walking along the deserted beach the first day, we couldn’t have asked for a more serene trip. During our breakfast of fresh tropical fruits and pineapple juice at a nearby hotel’s restaurant, the town seemed void of any other foreigners. Dominican women walked along the road, laughing and talking loudly. Men zoomed by on motorcycles. A herd of cattle cooled in the shade of a tidal pool along the beaches edge.

Surfing was the activity I had come for so we headed to Playa Bonita, the wave beach.  We rented boards from an Argentinian who gave us simple instructions in broken English. The water was cool, but mild, and the waves crashed softly against the sand. We waded in the shallow water, letting the salty sea eat at our skin. Once I found my balance atop the board, I waited for the pull of the wave behind me. Sitting on the board, the sun beating down on my body, life in the Caribbean was perfect.

An atv quad expedition is key to the Dominican experience. Renting the all terrain vehicles for the day was inexpensive and let us conquer the rugged Dominican landscape. Leaving Las Terrenas behind, the trip to the coffee fields brought us deep into the wilderness. Our guides, Erin’s parents neighbors, who are French transplants to the DR, led us to a home where the coffee beans are harvested and laid out on a large paved floors to dry in the sun. The beans are then ground, water is boiled, poured over the ground beans and pushed through a simple sieve. Rich, sweet, and bright, it is coffee than can beat any corner shop Americans have grown dependent on.

Back on the quads, we powered through the rocky trail,  and passed a shack where the bark from rubber trees is pressed into latex, stopping to buy some jewelry from the locals. Thirty minutes later, we reached the town of Limone. There we stopped to have a Dominican style lunch. The table quickly filled with rotisserie chicken, stewed goat, rice with pigeon peas, crispy potatoes, and fried cakes spiced with anise seed. Tall glasses of cool, fresh squeeze pineapple juice quenched our throats after the long drive. Talk turned to life as an expatriate in the Dominican. French, English, German, and Spanish filled the table as we all discussed our experiences traveling to this country. The Dominican is home to many expats, mostly French, who have created quite a community of cafes, restaurants, and shops in the towns.

After lunch we left our French guides and carried onwards to the beach. Along the gravel road, we hired a motoconcho, a motorcyle taxi, to lead the way. Through the town of Limone we passed teenagers dancing, families eating, and men and women walking around. Motorcycles and atvs zoomed all around us. Past the town and our atvs slopped downward, and then suddenly we were driving over a short, muddy bridge. As we drew close, the sun set a yellowy haze over the beach. We had arrived at paradise, a totally secluded, alcove of a beach with bright white sands, gushing waves, and rocky cliffs. We jumped into the water, playing with the waves and then napped under the sun, letting the exhaustion of the day overtake us. Spring days are long in the Dominican and  it was still sunny when we awoke. Our motoconcho driver sliced open fresh coconuts he found nearby and we all shared a snack before heading back to town. The younger coconuts had soft meat that slid down our throats, but its bitter milk was not as palatable. The older coconuts had sweet milk, refreshing and clean, with crunchy, fibrous meat. A great snack to get us started on our drive back to the fishermen village.

With days spent in vigorous activities, evenings at our abode were spent living a simple life. Dinners of grilled fish bought from the local fishermen complimented salads of potatoes, green beans and onions, couscous, and wine. Eating to the soundtrack of the waves crashing along the beach; easy dinner conversation shared between friends. A few nights we mustered up energy and ventured into town for salsa dancing and cocktails with the locals. Several venues had live music and even to the most ardent two left footer dancing in the Caribbean is done with ease.

At my urging, we devoted a second day to surfing, sharing the waves with some German tourists who seemed as novice at the water sport as we did. Wave after wave, I pulled the board back against the tide, hoping to catch a good wave and jump up, getting at least my knees up on the board. The strength of the water was exhausting, the waves beating upon me, but it was exhilarating to swim in the cool Dominican sea. Finally I managed to catch a few good waves, enough to satisfy my surfing interests, at least for a time.

With Erin’s parents as guides, we enjoyed a day hiking to the waterfall at Limone. Rolling green hills started the trail, and large pastures of chickens and horses met us along the way. A steep, rocky decline brought us to the base of the lowest waterfall.  As we walked deeper into the bushland, it seemed we were conquering a rain forest. The trees became more dense, the air filled with moisture, sounds of birds and wildlife filled the air. Sunbeams shot through the trees, shining golden rays through the emerald topography. In the far distance we could hear the cascading waters as we descended down steep, rock steps built into the hillside. The waterfall was breathtaking. Standing at its base, spritzed in water, a calmness overcame us.

Our last day in Las Terrenas and we rented atvs again and rode to Playa Coson. This secluded beach is only accessible by a two hour walk along the beach from Playa Bonita or by the small dirt rode we zoomed through town on the atvs. At the end of the road we found white sands and palms trees, the picture picture beach. A small shack is set up on one end, ready to feed the large number of people who have gathered to the beach for grilled lobster, fish and chicken. We ordered our lobster quickly, securing enough lobster for our group, and sat down at the picnic table at the beach to soak up the sun and sip on pineapple juice and rum. The lobster arrived glistening in the sun, covered in butter, earthy and charred. With a big plate of rice, red beans, french fries, and shredded salad, it was the perfect meal to end the perfect vacation. Basking in the sun, time stood still, and nothing could be better than life in the Dominican.

Our flight the next day seemed surreal. The worry and anxiety that was the reality of flight connections and checking baggage seemed such a contrast to the easy, simple life we had led in the Dominican. I knew the feelings of calm and serenity we had found in the Caribbean would fade, I just had hoped it wouldn’t happen as suddenly as our transfer in Fort Lauderdale. But alas real life comes stumbling back abruptly at times and you run with it as you must. For Paradise is easily found, and in the Dominican Republic it is never very far away.

First Look: Farmers Market Preview

The days are warming up and your tongue is craving the sweet strawberries and juicy peaches of spring. Even with the occasional bright sunny day, it’s still just a bit too early for fruit, but the farmers markets are starting to bustle. This Sunday, the Dupont Market was alive with bustle, and lucky for the home cook, springtime is just around the corner.

I have to say, I’m a bit of a farmers market snob. Having spent the last three years shopping at the best markets in Los Angles, it’s hard not to be. But inspiration from this week’s Washington Post Food Section spotlight on farmers markets had me yearning for a trip to the market.

While April is still a bit too early for East coast produce, the Dupont Market was alive with farm fresh eggs from Smith Meadows Farm, Pink Lady apples from Quaker Valley Orchards, and bright green butter lettuce from Endless Summer Harvest. Local artists entertained with folk music and customers cooled off with a sweet bite of Dolcezza’s gelato. While the market was sparse on the produce end, shoppers happily purchased artisan bread from the Atwater Bakery stall, organic shitake, trumpet, and oyster mushrooms from Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms, and grass-fed cows milk from Clear Spring Creamery. As the weather continues to warm up, more produce will appear each week. With so much inspiration straight from the markets, this spring give your recipes a new look with products straight from the farm.