*This giveaway is now closed. Scroll down to see the winner!*

As you may already know, I am very, very picky about the products I will accept for review and giveaway on Savvy Eats.

When I’m approached about reviewing a food product, I ask myself four things:

1. Does this product fit into my “ethical eating” ideals?

2. Can I find a comparable product locally?

3. Does the company practice growing habits or buy from suppliers with growing practices that I can stand behind?

4. Is this a product I would buy and eat on a regular basis, if I like the sample?

Only when the answers to all four of these questions are positive do I accept the product. I don’t want to compromise my values or waste your time recommending a product that isn’t great.

When Rice Select emailed me about reviewing their rice, I was hesitant. What was so special about rice? I could just get it in the bulk bins at the co-op or grocery store, right?

Wrong.

I peppered the PR people with questions about the product and its processing. I loved that Rice Select’s products are all GMO-free. They go to great lengths to ensure that all of their products are of the highest quality possible. I loved that the rice undergoes minimal processing before being packaged into recyclable containers.

Plus, the white rice in the bulk section of our co-op wasn’t quite measuring up for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love the variety available and the brown rice is great. I love the texture that brown rice lends to stir-fries and the like, and we usually eat brown rice over white. But sometimes, with things like curry, nothing beats a bed of soft and fluffy rice to soak up the sauce and help cut the spice. And I still hadn’t found a white rice I really liked…until this Texmati rice.

I first used the Texmati rice (the first successfully-grown basmati rice in the US) they sent me on Sunday with my red chickpea curry, and it made for the fluffiest white rice I have ever cooked.

On Monday, I served more of the Texmati rice with some tikka masala (recipe to come). Once again, the rice was soft and fluffy and perfect.

So while I’ll keep buying my brown rice at the co-op, I think I’ll be buying Rice Select rice as my white alternative from now on.

Happily, Rice Select has generously offered to share the rice love with one of you! One Savvy Reader will receive Texmati rice in a RiceSelect tote.

To enter, just leave a comment below telling me your favorite way to eat rice! Simple as that.

I’ll randomly select a winner on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 12.

*Sorry, this product will only ship to readers in the United States.*

*This giveaway is now closed. The winner is… *

brandi October 5, 2011 at 9:39 am

Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant: Confessions of Cooking for One and Dining Alone , edited by Jenni Ferrari-Adler, was the August Kitchen Reader selection and was chosen by Anni of anjeme.

I struggled to decide how many stars to give this book. On the one hand, a book full of short food-related essays was just what I needed this month. I especially identified with many of the stories in the first half of the book.

I squealed with delight when I came across a brief description of my beloved Madison Farmers Market in one story. I called Dan into the room to show him the paragraph where Amanda Hesser mentioned the restaurant we ate dinner at on New Year’s Eve. I loved every peek into what the writers eat when they are home alone.

But my enthusiasm waned as I passed the half-way mark and continued until the end of the book. It may just be that short stories have never really been my “thing,” and the novelty of reading them had started to wear off. It may be that the way the stories were arranged and ordered put every essay I really identified with towards the beginning of the book.

I’m not sure what it was, but it certainly made it difficult to give a star rating to the book overall. I really wanted to give it 3.5 stars, but am sticking with whole numbers and didn’t think rounding up to 4 would be accurate… so three out of five stars it is.

Have you read this book, and if so, what did you think? What kind of writing isn’t really your “thing”?

I enjoy some short stories, but really prefer longer essays and stories where I can take more time to get to know the characters and the setting. But I’d definitely take short stories over poetry any day.

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen was the July Kitchen Reader selection, chosen by Karen of Shortbread.

I’ve come across this book on many of my library adventures.  I wasn’t sure why I was so resistant to reading it, but I must have sensed something: I’m giving this book only 2 out of 5 stars.

And you know what? I’m still trying to pinpoint what I didn’t like about it.  Perhaps it is partially because I can’t decide what genre it falls into?  Or maybe it is the fact that everything happened too fast towards the end.  Suddenly, everything fell into place, and not like they would in a well-crafted story.  More like when a toddler tries to cram puzzle pieces in where they don’t fit.  So much about the plot just felt too convenient and at time, unrealistic.

Don’t get my wrong.  The book still had its endearing moments, like the descriptions of Chloe’s sandwiches and the nicknames “Oldsey” and “Oldgret.”  But would I recommend it to a friend?  Probably not, which gives it a 2 star rating on my scale.

Our twenty-first birthday gift to Marisa was a wine tour around Seneca Lake. With thirty-four wineries on the official wine trail, along with multiple other small vineyards, we obviously couldn’t visit them all. So we chose, somewhat randomly, nine to check out.

Granted, our plans changed a bit. When we realized there were multiple bachelorette parties at two of our intended stops and they would be incredibly crowded, we decided to skip them. And then we stumbled onto a little organic winery that wasn’t on the official wine trail, so we ended up with eight stops:

Fruit Yard Winery , whose specialty is unique fruit wines, though they do have some excellent grape wines as well. We ended up bringing home a bottle of the pear wine (made 100% from pears) and one of the sweeter white wines. We would definitely visit this one again.

Next up was Torrey Ridge and Earle Estates Meadery , which were actually in the same building. While we bought a bottle at Torrey Ridge, I don’t think we would go out of our way to visit either of these again. They were good, but not outstanding, and there are so many other wineries to explore!

We somehow don’t have photos of the next two. Which is too bad, because the fourth winery was actually our favorite: Miles Wine Cellars. The employee running our tasting was exceptional, answering all of our questions about the wine and telling us stories about the ghosts that supposedly live in the winery.

We had lunch at Ventosa Vineyards, chosen because of their Italian cafe and Tocai Friulano wine, which is only made at this one vineyard outside of Italy. Unfortunately, the food wasn’t my favorite and they didn’t actually have the Tocai Friulano available for tastings, so it was a bit of a let-down. The view was gorgeous, though.

Next up was Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars, which specializes in Rieslings, one of my favorites. While Marisa and Nick chose to sample both the red and white wines, I stuck with the Rieslings. It was so interesting to taste how much the wine changed just because they used grapes from one end of the estate versus the other!

After deciding to skip two of the wineries on our list, we stumbled upon little Silver Thread Vineyard, which had a small but great variety of red and white wines, many of which had mineral undertone flavors. I was particularly intrigued by this vineyard because it uses sustainable farming practices and employs solar and geothermal power to make the wine.

And finally, we ended with Penguin Bay Winery. We particularly loved their very clean dry wines and their sweeter varieties. Plus, the labels are adorable!

So there you have it. Eight winery visits in a single day. To sum it all up…

Wineries we would definitely visit and/or buy wine from again:

• Fruit Yard Winery
• Miles Wine Cellars
• Silver Thread Vineyard
• Penguin Bay Winery

Wineries we might visit again:

• Torrey Ridge
• Earle Estates Meadery
• Ventosa Vineyards
• Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars

Though we usually cooked and ate in while Marisa and Nick were in town, we did feel the need to take them to our favorite restaurant in Ithaca: Just a Taste.

Located just off the Commons, this little tapas place has terrific food at appealing prices. The restaurant uses local ingredients wherever possible, and offers a variety of local and foreign wines. The service has been pleasant and helpful, answering questions and bringing out individual dishes as soon as they are done so that you receive them at their freshest.

We aren’t the only ones who love Just a Taste; there is usually a wait for a table. Luckily, it is surrounded by some excellent bars and restaurants for patrons to enjoy a drink or two while they wait for a call on their cell phone telling them their table is ready.

When you first walk in the door, the atmosphere isn’t necessarily impressive. Standard formica-like tables are crowded into the small dining room, even coming right next to the door, and the walls and lighting are quite plain. However, this was our first visit where the weather was nice enough to allow us to eat outdoors.

The difference is like night and day. While the tables are still a bit crowded, the enclosed courtyard is bright, cheery and airy, with a few strategically placed trees and umbrellas providing shade on the sunniest of days.

During our meal with Marisa and Nick, we shared eight dishes between the four of us:

Asparagus sauteed in brown butter with garlic, pecans and Romano cheese.

Two thoughts kept running around in my mind as I savored this dish:

1. I should really learn to make and cook with brown butter.

2. Is there more?

It is now one of my life goals to make asparagus sauteed in brown butter. Or brussels sprouts sauteed in brown butter. Or any vegetable sauteed in brown butter. I have a feeling it makes every vegetable taste better.

Warm brie with melon and crostini.

A fairly standard tapas. Buttery and creamy.

Housemade focaccia with extra virgin olive oil and roasted garlic.

We try to sample different dishes every time we go to Just a Taste. Except for the focaccia. We almost always get the focaccia, which comes with a full head of roasted garlic. It is just so fluffy and soft, with just the right amount of salt and crust. And with the soft garlic cloves spread on top? Perfection.

Chilled mussels steamed in white wine with lemon, bell pepper, garlic and tarragon.

Ice-cold and tender, these were probably the freshest and tastiest mussels I’ve ever had. And this is coming from the girl who can’t decide whether or not she likes seafood.

Grilled mako shark with lime-chili slaw and corn tortilla cream sauce.

This was our “let’s try something out there” order. None of us had ever tried shark before. But it was meaty and flaky, with a taste reminiscent of tilapia. I would be willing to give shark a shot again for sure.

Grilled flank steak with raisin celery salad, stilton blue cheese and red wine vinaigrette.

I wasn’t quite in the steak mood, but I did enjoy a few bites. The thin steak was perfect paired with the blue cheese.

Tortilla espanola: a baked egg, potato and onion dish.

Dan and I have ordered this dish before, and thought it was so good that Nick and Marisa should try it too. It is like a frittata, but with potato slices thrown into the mix. Who doesn’t like roasted potato slices?

Duck leg braised with star anise, onion, garlic, ginger and soy on fried polenta.

The duck leg may have won the silver for “best tasting dish” of the evening, after the asparagus. The star anise aroma was very strong, but the flavors all blended together and balanced each other out. I would definitely order this one again!

Overall, I have to give Just a Taste 4.8 out of 5 stars for its high-quality food, excellent service and beautiful outdoor seating, with just a minor subtraction for the indoor decor.

What is your favorite local restaurant?

Blood, Bones & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton was the June Kitchen Reader selection, chosen by Aileen of Pharma Foodie.

I’ve been loving food memoirs lately. I love reading about how chefs have found themselves over the stove. Many began cooking and discovered their love for food at an early age. Since that isn’t something I personally experienced, I enjoy getting that peek into their young lives.

Like many chefs, Gabrielle Hamilton began learning about food as a child. She never intended to be a chef, but events and decisions made throughout her life led her down the kitchen path, giving the book the subtitle “The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef.” However, her passion for food is evident throughout the text, and I found myself wanting to study certain passages in order to improve my own food writing.

This book is more than just a food memoir, however. When Hamilton gets outside the kitchen, she writes about family, love and relationships. She is upfront and honest, discussing the dissolution of her family and her unhappy marriage. Her descriptions of her travels make me yearn to go back to Italy and reminded me to focus on high-quality, simple ingredients.

I give this memoir 4 stars out of 5. If you’re looking for a food- and relationship-focused memoir, I can’t recommend this one enough.

I’ve been stalking a book on the “New Arrivals” shelf at our library: My Fair Lazy, by Jen Lancaster

I still haven’t snagged it, but maybe today’s the day?

If you’re looking for a light summer read, I can’t recommend Jen Lancaster’s books enough. I tore through her other four memoirs, and can’t wait to get my hands on this newest one. They are captivating, hilarious and easy-to-read. Bring a copy on your next trip to the beach. Just be prepared for some odd looks when you start laughing out loud on the sand.

Other books by Jen Lancaster:

Such a Pretty Fat (I gave it 5 stars out of 5)

Bright Lights, Big Ass (4 stars out of 5)

Pretty in Plaid (4 stars out of 5)

Bitter is the New Black (4 stars out of 5)

For more of my book reviews, check out my Books page. For my reading list, visit me on Goodreads.

*This giveaway is now closed. Please click here to see if you’re the winner!*

Let the birthday giveaways continue!

At Camp Blogaway, I had the pleasure of eating several meals with Susan of Foodblogga. Her blog is one of those that I adore from the moment I discover it, and want to go back and read all the archives.

When she brought out a box of her recently-published book, I couldn’t resist buying one of each. Partly because I love supporting my favorite bloggers, and largely because the concepts are so fun and unique. Recipes Every Man Should Know went to Dan, in the hopes that he’ll learn some skills and help me in the kitchen…or make me a meal himself.

And the Encyclopedia of Sandwiches? Well, that’s for one of you. Though I went through a moral dilemma as I flipped through it on the plane on Sunday; I wish I had bought a second copy for myself!

I know, you’re probably thinking, “A book about sandwiches? Really? Doesn’t everyone know how to make a sandwich?”

Well, yes, if you want to limit yourself to PB&J and basic ham and cheese sandwiches.

But if you want to know the history or story behind each sandwich? You need this book.

And if you want recipes for ethnic sandwiches, like the Vietnamese Bahn Mi? You need this book.

And if you want to feel inspired by sandwiches like the proscuitto and fig sandwich? You need this book.

And if you want something completely new and decadent, like a pound cake sandwich or banana split sandwich? You need this book.

Are you getting the picture?

And are you realizing you want a copy of this book? Then you’re in luck, because I have a signed copy of the Encyclopedia of Sandwiches for one of you!

To enter, leave a comment telling me your favorite type of sandwich. I’ll choose a winner on Thursday!

And don’t forget to enter my two scone giveaways!

*This giveaway is now closed. Please click here to see if you’re the winner!*

Remember Cordelia, the friend who officiated our wedding? She lives in the Twin Cities, so when I planned my Minnesota visit, I knew that one of my top priorities was to see her.

There was no question when it came to choosing a lunch spot. We always go to the same place, every single time I’m in town. And why not? The food and atmosphere are so terrific, there’s really no need to give up one of my rare opportunities to visit Caffe Latte to try another restaurant.

What’s so great about Caffe Latte?

The options, selected cafeteria-style. Typically, I alternate between getting the ham salad sandwich on chewy foccacia and one of the huge fresh salads. Sometimes, I mix it up with a warm bowl of soup or one of their many fruit or pasta salads. But usually, I stick with the sandwich or the salad… or a half-and-half mixture, though I then have to give up the foccacia (not an option for a half sandwich).

The turtle cake. Seriously, you haven’t had turtle cake until you’ve had a slice from Caffe Latte. Cordelia and I often split one of the large slices for dessert, and savor every bite. We’ve also had the chocolate buttercream cake. Just as delicious!

The warm drinks. The hot chocolate and coffee drinks are out-of-this-world amazing. I typically hold off on ordering one, though…have to save room for cake!

The atmosphere. There is a big seating area upstairs, away from the noise and clamor of the ordering line. Full walls of windows make for fun people watching, and the booths are cozy and comfortable, perfect for long catch-up chats.

Quince, the shop next door. Filled with a fantastic mix of cute, creative and downright crazy items. We always take time to browse, picking up gifts for upcoming birthdays, trying on the pink and blue cowboy hats adorned with rhinestones and tiaras (Cordelia gave Dan the blue one as a joke gift for his bachelor party. He won’t allow me to post a picture of it on the blog), and debating whether or not we could pull off cute diaper bags as purses.

Seriously, we once had a long conversation on whether or not Cordelia could carry this toucan one to class as a book bag without anyone knowing it was a diaper bag. She ultimately decided to pass, but told me that when Dan and I have kids, that’s what she’s gifting us. She still has a few years to wait!

Overall, Caffe Latte definitely gets  5 out of 5 stars!

Per usual, I had a blast at Caffe Latte with Cordelia today! I’m meeting up with Abby this evening, then it is off to Camp Blogaway in the morning!

This afternoon, I drove downtown to meet up with my little sister Marisa for lunch. With all her classes and coursework, it just made more sense for me to come to her, rather than the other way around!

Plus, I wanted to see her apartment and where she lived on campus.

Since she knows the area, I let her choose our lunch spot…The Purple Onion Cafe.

Upon first look, The Purple Onion seems like the kind of cafe that has great coffee and hot drinks, and offers food as a sort of an afterthought. But no.

Not only was there a wide selection of baked goods and pre-made sandwiches, but the food we ordered off the menu was fresh, flavorful and delicious.

I chose the Spring Salad with feta instead of gorgonzola:

Spring mix lettuce with gorgonzola feta cheese, red onions, fresh strawberries, toasted almonds, chicken and Raspberry Poppyseed Vinaigrette.

 

And I enjoyed every single bite. The salad came with my choice of toast or a popover. The popover sounded fun and different, but I wasn’t thrilled with the flavor and texture. Marisa told me that she loves their bread, though. So next time, I’d get the toast instead of the popover.

Marisa ordered a half salad/half sandwich combo, and gave it two thumbs up.

Overall, I’d give The Purple Onion Cafe 3.5 out of 5 stars for a quick and casual meal. I’d definitely go back!