Farm to Table - about as analog as it gets

Local events are essential to showcase a city, its offerings and more specifically the talented people that call it home. I had the pleasure of volunteering at the Cleveland Botanical Garden which hosted Farm to Table a fundraiser that showcases the best of local, Cleveland restaurants and supports Green Corps, a work/study program founded and supported by the Cleveland Botanical Garden.

This showcasing highlights the best and brightest of Cleveland restaurants that focus on local and sustainable food offerings. From the East to West, South to North, fine samplings of food and wine were in abundance.

I am a vegetarian, albeit, not strict. When I encounter good food, food I know is from a reliable source, I will eat it. Sunday I had a venison burger; the hunter himself cooked and served it to me. Last night I dined on pork tenderloin with banana peppers over baguette from Spice of Life Catering; chicken corn chowder from Bon Appétit; tilapia ceviche with salsa from Sasa; King crab salad with avocado puree & tomatillo salsa from Pier W; Chicken, Watermelon and quinoa salad from Crop Bistro. A variety of other restaurants, including Light Bistro, Bar Cento, Sergio's, Moxie, ICASI, Coquette patisserie and even Chiopotle, among others, were also highlighted offering their delicious fares. Did I stray from my vegetarian ways? Certainly. Was it worth it? You bet your bottom dollar. My move to vegetarianism was prompted mainly from the disgusting practices of factory farming and capitalism’s general disregard for the health of people and animals; however, I will never pass up an opportunity to dine on the fine offerings of our local farms and chefs.

Take an opportunity to appreciate what a local economy has to offer. As obesity and diabetes and IBS and a variety of other preventable diseases become more and more prevalent in America isn’t it time we took it back to our analog roots and enjoyed real food in its unprocessed form?

Life is what you make of it

There is really nothing better than being able to enjoy the beauty of everything around us. Taking time to lean back, breath deep and just relax through reflection and meditation.

Call me digital

As my friends and I regularly do, we’ll sit around discussing various topics. One regular topic is my penchant for writing and specifically my abundance of ideas but lack of focus or maybe discipline to blog daily.
The other day we were discussing my desire to go back to being the proud owner and user of smart phone; taking a financial step back to take a step forward with an htc hero. Being underemployed, I have to constantly have some semblance of a budget (caveat: I don’t even know how to manage a budget) so it means making a decision between a smart phone or internet at home. I went with the phone; all in all, it seems like the ‘smarter’ and more versatile choice.
Up to this point I have been without cable (since moving to Ohio four years ago), the internet at home or on my phone (since about June). John, my ridiculously hilarious and outspoken friend lamented, “You’re a blogger without the internet. That’s ridiculous.” We discussed what being a blogger in the digital age does without actual digital access—to anything. He proceeded to poke fun at my lifestyle with suggestions, “You should, like, write it on a typewriter and take it to Kinko’s and have them transcribe it for you.” I’ll even post an ad on Craigslist, that’s what I’ll do for you.”
All joking aside, it is a rather outlandish notion that a person who is so engrossed in social media and loves the power of the digital pen would so grossly limit herself to actual 24/7 access. However, there is certainly a tipping point, on both sides of the fence, when I can say, in all honesty, I have had too much.
The break from home internet was great. All of the sudden I found myself caring a whole lot less what people said on facebook. I was not tethered to my email. I spent a lot less time perusing the interwebs. I was oversaturated with media. On the flip side, however, there were a lot of things I was unable to conveniently do. Have you tried looking for jobs without the internet? Times have changed. Pandora? No way. Reading through your favorite blogs and websites? Never!
I am stoked to have a smart phone. People like John can obacerate themselves and stop making so much fun of me. This analog girl is once again taking a foray into the digital world.