A Visit to Long Meadow Ranch

Long Meadow Ranch, an organic farm in the Napa Valley, graciously hosted us for an in-depth tour of the property and a great discussion of food and food systems in California and beyond. 

The world Long Meadow Ranch has created is an inspiration and a beautiful example of what can be done when dedication, ideals and resources are brought together. 

They maintain over 650 acres with a mix of gardens, orchards, vineyard, olive groves and pasture land for their herd of Highland cattle (the largest in North America). They make their own wines, press their own olive oil and run the restaurant Farmstead where you can taste everything they produce.

Friday Faves — notes from the new gastroconomy, No. 58

weekly round-up of our favorite finds from the front lines of food 

 

• Because winter is not over yet, March is National Noodle Month. (not to be confused with National Pasta month, which is October, duh.)  Food52 has some delicious suggestions, like Viet Hapa Pho by Furey and the Feast (above).

• At the Bay Area Center for Asian American Media’s 2013 CAAMFest, the “Emotional Eating” program will screen seven films from North America and Asia about food and all that goes with it. Showing at Sundance Kabuki, in San Francisco.

• To keep going on the east-meets-west theme, a new bar in London called Mizuwari has opened up featuring Japanese whisky (yes, that's whisky made in Japan). Miss Whisky give it a thumbs up.

• Picking wine and other alcohol off a list is everywhere, but picking a particular breed of beef that way is news. Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland has started to offer a breed book for diners to choose their beef. "While this makes our job a little more complicated because we have to source from farmers from all over Scotland, having a weekly change of breed gives us a chance to be more flexible," said Mr Howie. "There are issues with low breed numbers for the likes of Galloway or Highland cattle so, in some instances, we will wait until the time is right, while larger herds such as Luing or Aberdeen Angus are more readily available."

Friday Faves — notes from the new gastroconomy, No. 35

weekly round-up of our favorite finds from the front lines of food

• French cows get pre-marinated, drinking up to two bottles of high quality wine every day as farmers attempt to produce the best beef in Europe. The obvious: "It soon became clear that they were 'happy cows' who ended up producing an exceptionally succulent meat."

• In the spirit of pre-marinating, you can watch a clam salt itself in what might be one of the strangest youtube videos ever. (What would a Friday the 13th edition be without something weird?)

• Supply exceeding demand is causing real problems for Maine lobster fishermen. It's a treat for tourists, but record low ex-vessel prices are forcing fishermen up and down the Maine coast to idle their vessels.

• In hospitality, the party is moving up to the roof. New roof top bars in cities across the US are helping hotels maximize dollars earned per square foot of space. "Being able to relax after work with a great cocktail while looking over the city you conquered that day … is something people greatly enjoy."

• A new resource for designing while hungry — Bacon Ipsum, filler text for your meatiest projects.

• The Guardian UK asks, has baconalia gone too far? "Some believe that the internet is mainly a tool for sharing pictures of cats, but a large part of cyberspace is dedicated to an obsession with bacon." The crazy world of baconalia - in pictures.

• Marion Cunningham, the soul of Fanny Farmer and American home cookery champion, died this week at age 90. Russ Parsons of The Los Angeles Times described her as "one part America's grandma, one part culinary godfather."  Kim Severson wrote her New York Times obituary.