Food

6 Things You Should Know About Lavender

Posted by Jenna on Oct 17, 2012 in Food, Sustainability, Virginia | 0 comments

1. Lavender is farmed.

In fact, there are well over 100 lavender farms across the United States. Though most tend to be concentrated on the west coast, it’s a slowly growing agro-industry.

I recently visited White Oak Lavender Farm, in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. The family-run farm, which grows over 30 varieties

3 Korean Festival-Inspired Foods to Try

Posted by Jenna on Sep 20, 2012 in Food, Virginia | 0 comments

Last weekend I attended Northern Virginia’s annual Korean festival. Located in Centreville, VA, the city’s population of approximately 71,000 topped out in last year’s census with a 25% (and growing) Asian demographic, many of whom are Korean. That’s not to mention Fairfax County, where Centreville is located; the Asian population there is nearly 20%.

Slow Strawberries and Changed Perceptions: U-Pick Virginia

Posted by Jenna on May 22, 2012 in Food, Virginia, Voices of Virginia | 0 comments

“Mommy, it tastes like the sun!” The little girl squealed, her red-stained fingers and mouth evidence that she was more far interested in eating the strawberries than collecting them. Her nearly empty bucket corroborated.

More than half of the strawberry pickers in the patch were around her age, and collectively, they were probably eating double

Growing from Rocks: Thoughts from a Spanish Farm

Posted by Jenna on Nov 3, 2011 in Barcelona, Food, Spain | 1 comment

The soil was full of rocks. I could feel them bulging into the bottoms of my feet, their jagged edges slightly dulled by the thin soles of my sandals. When I reached the periphery of the farm’s boundary and turned around for a panoramic view, all the small stones I’d just rolled my ankles across bled into an undulating and uneven

Eating Red in Budapest

Posted by Jenna on Aug 22, 2011 in Budapest, Food, Hungary, Uncategorized | 2 comments

The first time I experienced quality Hungarian paprika was akin to being invited to a party laced with contraband. “This is the good stuff,” my Hungarian professor proclaimed, pulling a zip-locked baggie full of deep red powder from her purse. “This stuff is straight from Budapest; I’ve never been

Sampling Slovenian Grapes

Posted by Jenna on Apr 25, 2011 in Bled, Food, Slovenia | 0 comments

“Red or white?” the woman asked, as a flurry of wine lists appeared on the table in front of us. I hadn’t noticed her from the night before; her energy-infused movements contrasted the more subtle nature of the other bartender. I wondered if she was the owner.