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Blog Entry 8 of 15 Things, news, whatnot

I'm Karen Ward Gilbert, a (former) community journalist here at YourHub.com. In this blog, I may (have written) about current events, the latest happenings at YourHub.com or blather ranging from what I overheard on the bus to my new favorite chocolate bar.

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~whatnot

On travel, travails and ... turnips?

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Contributed by: Karen Ward Gilbert/YourHub.com on 7/26/2006

I was just reading Denver Post sports and dining writer John Henderson's latest bit in his world-traveling gourmand column about a mozzarella bar in Italy.

He had me at "mozzarella".
And "Rome".
(OK, and "bar".)

I'd like to make a quick aside before proceeding: That guy has the best job in the world.

Not only have I been anxiously awaiting a trip to Italy (it supposedly is my honeymoon destination and yes, that's right, I was married two years ago and have yet to fly over the Atlantic) and his routine mention of international fare, sights and smells kills me.

Patience.

Until then I can research, watch cooking shows on PBS (I no longer have cable so my FoodTV addiction has quelled) and try to create little foreign food fiestas at home from time to time.

My husband truly is the adventurous one in our kitchen (he also reigns solely over the little charcoal-powered Weber Jr. in the backyard.) He embarks on daylong cooking odysseys -- soaking and seasoning, marinating and sauting. He can't be bothered. He listens to "scholarly lectures" on his iPod while he's cooking. (It's weird.)

Last Christmas I gave him Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles cookbook and we each immediately (probably) gained five pounds - it was the gift that kept on giving (to me.) Rich French sauces, beef, etc. made for some good cold winter months' grub.

But now that its scorchingly hot outside, the last thing I want to do is labor over heavy sauces, not to mention have the oven on at all.

I am inclined to prepare cold platters of cheese and crackers with fresh veggies and fruit, instead. (I've been eating a lot of chilled, pickled jalepenos too for some reason. And ice cream. Please, not at the same time -- I'm not pregnant.)

Which I guess is why Henderson's mention of antipasti (my favorite) got me thinking again of my hopeful trip across the pond. And good eats in general.

I'm not the world's greatest cook. But I'm not the absolute worst, either. I have a hearty appreciation for tastes, textures and colors. For me, simplicity and freshness rule.

Luckily, in Denver right now, simple, local farm-grown goodness is abundant.

Read: There is no shortage of farmers markets during the summer here.

Growing up in Wyoming - where "fresh produce" used to be considered an oxymoron (short growing season) - I had little exposure to the origins of food (except cattle, naturally.)

Food "came from" the grocery store. So, I still marvel when I meet local farmers who picked just yesterday that very zucchini I'm buying. That's fresh.

And after a July 20 visit to the nifty Lakewood farmers market located at 801 S. Yarrow St., I have decided all fruits, vegetables (and danishes?) purchased during the remainder of market season will come from some farmers market somewhere in the metro area.

That is, until the corn, tomatoes, zucchini and strawberries taking over the back 40 of my yard are ready for pickin'.

(My first-time adventure in gardening may or may not be discussed at a later date. It's riveting subject matter, I realize.)

Post-script: My (lucky) presence on "Brendan's List" was in peril due to my lapse in posting. I took such a brow-beating (from guys) for bashing George Thorogood in my last post I think I must have gotten unconsciously scarred.

Check out Brendan's List here.

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Showing 1-3 of 3 comments

Submitted By: Katherine Jerome

posted on 9/13/2006 @ 3:16:15 PM

Rated Blog Entry

I love cheese, crackers, fruit and veggie platters too!! ixnay the zucchini....am I right?

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Submitted By: Karen Gilbert

posted on 7/26/2006 @ 4:24:17 PM

(Not Rated)

Bill, I'm sold. Bring on the salami. (Stop snickering.)

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Submitted By: William Boucher

posted on 7/26/2006 @ 4:00:02 PM

Rated Blog Entry

Great to have you back! I realize it's probably not even in the same city, much less ballpark, but I like the cold antipasto platter at Buca di Beppo.

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Showing 1-3 of 3 comments

CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Karen Gilbert

Karen Gilbert has posted 15 blog entries and 71 comments since joining on 5/10/2006. Karen Gilbert's average blog rating is 4.95.

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