Appetite for America

From Boston to Santa Cruz, we searched out the truest foods in America on a twenty-day drive.
Our best meals out were encouraged by people we met along the way.  Coop’s in New Orleans served up plump fried oysters and crawfish, not to mention Abitas- the local brew.  Jim Neely’s Interstate BBQ put Memphis on our radar.  Plantain breakfast followed by coffee at Joe’s and Amy’s ice cream in Austin was Suzie’s perfect meal.  As a chef, I enjoyed earning room and board by cooking dinner for friends along the way and taking time to sit down together.

Our biggest challenge was finding food worth supporting.  The dilemma forced us to eat dozens of peanut butter, honey and maldon salt sandwiches, pictured above.  It also reinforced our dream plan of building a farm education and cooking center on the east coast.  For a lot of America, food sources are scary and we see a need for change.  Fresh food doesn’t just happen and spring water should not make your teeth ache.  Organic produce is largely unavailable and farmers markets are hard to find.  Many grocery stores have never stocked natural meats, let alone organic. Large cities, Austin for example, were the most progressive with budding small-scale food businesses.  Now, rural America needs to get on board.

We love the landscape of America.  We hope to see it dotted with more worthy farms and supported farmers.  Suzie is learning how to do just that at the sustainable farming program offered at UC Santa Cruz.  I can’t wait to see her grow.

-CLY

Comments

[Katya d'Angelo]

I want to work at your farm education and cooking center!! That may not sound sincere, but it truly is. I'll help plan and finance (as soon as I am able)!

P.S. Working with Liz is freakin' awesome :P

[Jess]

Amen to all the sentiments about sustainable agriculture, cooking and eating! Parts of Europe are much more progressive, but here in Sandwich, Kent, UK the choices are also slim on the ground. London, as you might expect, has better choices. Presumably you have both read 'Animal, Vegetable, Miracle' by Barbara Kingsolver?

[Ruth]

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my

first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I

will keep visiting this blog very often.

Ruth

http://www.infrared-sauna-spot.info

[JJ]

Farm education and cooking center! I'm in!!
(p.s. I love your site :-)