Two years ago I endeavored to see if I could eat as a locavore over a Colorado winter (it’s a very seasonal place so it was not obvious it could happen), with the only produce and meat I ate being from within a 100 mile radius. I found a number of great resources through that personal challenge and after sending so many friends emails with details all of them I decided putting it in one place would be easier! I also have always loved to write so a blog was an obvious next step.
Who is your foodie inspiration?
That changes but Michael Pollan is a demi-God to me. I think he arose at a time to educate people on so many aspects of food at its core (food IS a system); it awoke a lot of people up to become more aware of what they are eating and the impact of their choices.
Your greasiest most batter splattered cook book is?
You know at the moment it is my Grandmother’s recipe box which has recipes in her hand and my Great Grandmother’s. Ironically they ate ‘clean’ food but with flair. I do love Deborah Madison too; an American seasonal chef who truly celebrates the season’s bounty with gorgeous food. When I began to eat as a locavore it completely shifted my way of food preparation. I’d go to my CSA farm, get my weekly share and then have to figure out what to make (vs. taking the recipe ingredient list to the store). The food drives the recipe, not the other way around. Deborah Madison is great to have ‘on the team’ when eating seasonally to turn any produce into a flavorful, interesting dish.
I am really bad at the ‘pick only one thing’ questions. VERY hard to narrow but what pops to mind is Hokkein Mee, a noodle dish with pork, shrimp and chili sauce I’d have every morning for breakfast at the canteen where I worked in Singapore. Beautiful thin noodles. Love all the food there. Was sad to leave it when I moved back to the U.S. AND there was the Oyster Omelet (not what you’d think of in Western countries as an omelet) at the Newton’s Circus Hawker Center too….
I can only pick one? Heidi Swanson from 101 Cookbooks would be fun. I love her food aesthetic and she seems to live a rich life. Would be a good dinner conversation. (Although an evening tippling with Caroline would be fun too with all her local infusions!) The other part of my food story telling is in the photography which is equally important to me. If I had to pick one Food Photographer to dine with it would be hands down Penny de los Santos. She is a person who operates on life’s vibration wherever she goes it seems. Her eye for people, circumstances and food is unsurpassed and reflects the beauty of her spirit I suspect.
I think a sous-vide machine would be fun. I’ve been tempted to try it on my own with my Food Saver (a machine that vacuum seals food) and a large pan of water. A Vitamix blender is on the list too. Oops; you said one.
Who taught you how to cook?
I’m really self-taught. Probably out of necessity when going to college! I remember having a stir fry cookbook, a wok and having two things I could actually cook on ‘repeat’. Fortunately I was in California where fresh food was abundant. I remember learning to cook shark. That seems weird now as I don’t think it’s a mainstream fish any longer (maybe it never way). I have taken cooking classes along the way mainly out of interest for regional cooking. My husband is a great cook too and we like complimentary cuisines. I’ve learned a lot from him.
Completely depends on the season. But right now Paella would be nice!
I don’t believe ‘guilt’ and ‘food’ belong in the same sentence together. Therefore I don’t have one.
Reveal something about yourself that others would be surprised to learn?
That I began my college education studying Marine Biology. After the shark comment, maybe that would not be such a surprise.
Rosemarried: Lindsay and I met a year ago being the second and third swappers in the monthly vintage recipe swap we participate in. She lives in Portland Oregon, perhaps the most enviable food locale in the U.S. (fortunately I live in another one!). She truly embraces all her area has to offer (including being part of the leadership of her local Farmer’s Market) and it shows in her food. It’s fresh in concept, innovative yet still approachable.
The Dusty Baker: A key element in my food is being gluten free. That shift happened over 5 years ago from medical necessity and I was determined to not have it be my cross to bear despite it needing to be incorporated into everything I consume. Three words I’d use to describe Jacqueline are ‘joyful’, ‘exuberant’ and ‘unstoppable’. She also is a gluten free foodie and nothing stands in her way. A mover and shaker in New York City, she delivers a constant stream of delectable gluten free food fit for any dietary needs or palate. She’s clear about all ingredients and her love of food.
The Tomato Tart. Sabrina and I really bonded last year over her personal grass roots endeavor to support the Japanese victims of the earthquake via tapping the blogging community to hold an online Bake Sale. The effort was tremendous yielding a tidy profit to be donated to Japanese non-profit and Sabrina not only conceived of it but managed all the technical details which were no small feat. She’s a native San Franciscan and we’ve shared many a moment over some of the long time restaurants there. Sabrina to me represents the ‘cool of food’. Like Lindsay I feel she takes advantage of all her regional offerings and presents sophisticated but approachable food and drink in a manner that reflects her unending originality. Everything about her is cool, down to her drawer of vintage, mismatched, unpolished silver. Everything.
The Daily Spud: My friend Aoife will not be answering these questions but her blog is too good to miss. Her star which has been burning brightly in her home country of Ireland but also in Europe has taken flight. The awards, recognition and opportunities are beginning to outpace her! I picked Aoife loving her blog and her undying devotion to the Irish beloved potato. She kindly did a guest post for me this past St. Patrick’s Day setting the record straight about what goes on in the homeland of that fair holiday. Being one who loves Ireland personally, and its people, Aoife delivers a great dose of the Motherland I personally thrive on. For any smitten with a good Irish accent, at the end of Aoife’s reflection of 2011 (post date 1.1.2012) there is an interview about her blog and you can hear her glorious accent describe what her blog is about.
Lizzy says
Fabulous post, Toni!!! Loved learning a little more about you…you are a blogger I've admired from the first times we crossed paths.
Boulder Locavore says
Thank you Lizzy. You know I feel the same about you!
Kim Bee says
What an incredible interview and post. I loved reading this one. You guys have me eyeing my foodsaver and a big pot of water right now. Lol!
Boulder Locavore says
So glad you enjoyed it! I'm all for DIY so if you try the 'poor man's sous vide' method do report back! Have a great weekend.
Eliotseats says
I love your philosophy about “guilty pleasures” when eating. Bravo! I really enjoyed reading this post and learning more about you. Those are some amazing tomatoes and blackberries!
Boulder Locavore says
I'm so glad you liked the post! I really appreciate your frequent reading! The tomatoes were from my home garden this summer; I thought they were so beautiful. The blackberries were from a summer picking trip (that was more like a journey to the Amazon rainforest for the mosquitos and heat than berry picking!).
celiacasaurus.com says
I really enjoyed this post. It can be daunting to write all about yourself, I'm glad you took that leap. It is really nice to get to know the person behind all the amazing recipes. I'm always inspired after visiting your site, really I am. I love your connection and appreciation for the past. Our grandmothers, and great-grandmothers had it right, they are and endless source of foodie knowledge and wisdom.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
xo Christie
Boulder Locavore says
Christie I really appreciate your comment (and all the reading you do of my blog)! It's funny because I always like to read more about people whose work I read but somehow for me to write about those things it feels like a big fat 'ME fest', and goes against my nature! I did like these questions as they provide more of the blogger's personal food foundation which gives insight for those who read them.
I also appreciate having a fellow vintage-o-phile! There are so many satisfying layers of preparing vintage recipes and I'm glad to know you too appreciate it!
[email protected] German Kitchen...in the Rockies says
That is a wonderful post Toni. Thanks for sharing some insides. I agreed with many of your answers and would also LOVE to have Penny at my table. Thanks again for all your help. Wishing you a wonderful weekend with your family. Kirsten
Boulder Locavore says
Thank you Kirsten. I know you share the love of all things local! Happy to help and hope it will be steps toward your desired end result! You too have a great weekend!
rosemarried says
Yay! So glad you “tagged” me. I'm hoping I can get to my post in the next couple of days (before I can head to Los Angeles for vacation). I will say that I had a lot of “me too!” moments in reading your comments. I adore 101 Cookbooks, and would love to eat at her table. And Michael Pollan really solidified my love of food. He made me see that eating carries weight and depth, and that food isn't to be taken lightly. He totally changed my life. In any case, thank you so SO much for the kind things you said about me, and I look forward to sharing some of my thoughts!
Boulder Locavore says
Oh Lindsay I'm so glad you agreed! You really are a gem that needs to be adored more! I know our perspectives really overlap alot and I appreciate knowing your blog is a safe haven for all I hold true about food, in spirit and in print!
Kiri W. says
Great post! 🙂 I love such insights into the bloggers behind the entries I enjoy every day. Thanks for sharing!
Boulder Locavore says
Kiri, thank you. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you leaving a comment almost every post; it's very heart warming for me!
Jay @ LocalFood.me says
Fun post. I also agree that food and guilt do not belong in the same sentence. Cheers!
Boulder Locavore says
Thank you Jay!
Susan says
Thanks for sharing Toni, and for introducing me to six blogs I didn't know about. I love all of the local food blogging going on!
Boulder Locavore says
Oh Susan I'm so glad! That makes the 'all about me' agony about doing this post worth it! These are all very interesting and well thought out blogs; I hope you'll enjoy them.
Ruth Reynoso-Sance says
Good read! It's great to know the person behind the words!
Boulder Locavore says
Thank you Ruth!
Chef Dennis says
Hi Toni
Thanks for taking the plunge and revealing a little bit about yourself to us, you know your reading public loves you and we always like to hear more about YOU! (You're lucky it wasn't me asking the questions!)
Have a great weekend my friend!
Dennis
Boulder Locavore says
A. You are too kind (but everyone knows that) and, B. I can only imagine YOUR questions. No doubt a Nehru reference somewhere in there!
Anonymous says
So cool! Love that 'food drives the recipe'!
Boulder Locavore says
It sounds so simple but it is an entirely different way to approach food I found. Had to change my thinking around totally. Now it seems so natural.
Daily Spud says
Sharks and marine biology, who'da thunk it? 🙂 Lovely post Toni and thank you so much for the kind words and the intro to yet more wonderful bloggers.
Boulder Locavore says
Absolutely! I hope more will find your blog and enjoy it half as much as I have Aoife.