| Meal tickets
Ever since a trip to Vietnam two years ago, during which I toured the exotic food markets of Nha Trang with the hotel chef at the Ana Mandara resort and learned how to make my own rice paper for spring rolls at cooking schools in Hoi An, I have been convinced that there is no better way to get to the heart of any city than through its cuisine. .
Master chef's workshop helps perfect school food
Ashland public schools food service employees Mary Stilwell (Mindess School), right, and Laurel Imbof (Ashland High School) measure shredded cheese as they prepare arroz con queso (rice with cheese) during a cooking workshop at Framingham State College. .
Farms tout their fresh pickings
For years, the Lawrences followed tradition to dispense with their garden surplus - aka the "zucchini strategy." Nelson would carry some bounty to his airline job for co-workers to snap up. Anne leaned more on the neighbors, she said: Ring the doorbell, leave the bag, "and run." Now, there's a much better answer: Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, which lets shoppers pre-purchase a regular supply, or "share," of fruits, vegetables and other goodies from a local farm. Growers lock in guaranteed income from subscribers, who get ultra-fresh, healthful foods raised close to home. Both sides' payoff was in abundant display Saturday at Storytree Farm in Pleasant Valley, and at Rosemattel's, just down the road in Barberton. The CSAs had open houses to show their goods and share advice and inspiration in the growing movement toward micro-farming.
Java B Good makes most of menu, location
Since the time he was a teenager working at the Hyperion Field Club, Bryan Marker has loved the food-service industry.
Over the decades, he's worked at a host of Des Moines dining establishments: the Hotel Fort Des Moines, Perkins, the Des Moines Art Center and Grounds for Celebration - where he was a partner in the business.
His latest restaurant venture is Java B Good, a coffee shop and cafe he opened last summer with partner Chris Erickson in the Boesen florist shop at 3801 Ingersoll Ave.
"First and foremost, I enjoy customer service," Marker said, explaining why he opened Java B Good. "I'm like a bartender - without booze here - I really am. And I've got great employees. I respect them and in turn, they respect me. We have fun, and we have fun with our customers."
Boesen has long housed a coffee shop in its Ingersoll location.
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