Pho BC

Each week, my friend and I have lunch at an ethnic restaurant. This week, we tried Pho BC on Regency Road, Lexington. We had been there before and, as always, it didn't disappoint! The Pho is filling and delicious with the most flavorful broth (and spicy if you dare add jalapeño and Siriachi sauce as we do). The eggrolls are really tasty too (even if they look more like taquitos).

The only thing is we try and have "Ethnic Tuesdays" and we were afraid Pho was closed; it turns out they are just closed on Tuesday. Anyway, it is really good.

Grilling

Ham roast was in the crock pot on this hot day, but for side dishes I went to the grill. Farmer's market finds of cabbage and garlic greens are perfect for the grill. Topped with salt, granulated garlic (cabbage only), Aleppo pepper and olive oil. Now I'm hungry!!

Oh, and the ham roast is from Farmer's Market, too. Hillside Heritage Farm to be precise. As my sister would say, "Happy Eating!"

Food Roundup or Roundup in My Food?

We know the drill. Infection. Antibiotic. Evolving infection. Modified formula for the antibiotic. Repeat over and over. Drug-resistant infections.

Ruh oh. Yeah, we know this system. We've seen it before and we'll see it again. Here's one instance that I've not thought of before, but it sure doesn't surprise me. From the NY Times comes "Invasion of the Superweeds:"

American farmers’ broad use of the weedkiller glyphosphate — particularly Roundup, which was originally made by Monsanto — has led to the rapid growth in recent years of herbicide-resistant weeds. To fight them, farmers are being forced to spray fields with more toxic herbicides, pull weeds by hand and return to more labor-intensive methods like regular plowing.

Soaking a field with Roundup. Then harvesting our dinner. (Reminder: Wash my veggies!) Pulling weeds by hand and regular plowing are great responses, though they will raise the cost of food. Increasingly toxic herbicides isn't a good option (see the repeat part described above).

Ultimately, the solution is what so many have come to. When and if you can, grow your own food. Join a coop. Support local farms where you know the methods used by the farmer.

Fruits, Veggies & Kids

Last night, after watching my 18 month old devour several asparagus spears and repeatedly asking for bites of lettuce, I happened upon a clip advertising a new television show set to premier on ABC this fall. Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution is set in Huntington, W. Va. (the CDC ranked the community in 2008 America's least healthy city) and the premier shows the lack of knowledge six-year-olds have about common fruits and veggies.



Based on my little guy's eating habits, I'm glad that I don't think I have to worry. Still, we all should be concerned... maybe more kids should have their parents read Foodie Babies Wear Bibs (An Urban Babies Wear Black Book).