Archive for August, 2009

Melissa d’Arabian is redefining what Food TV Network is all about and it’s about time. Charles Darwin said it best, “It’s not the strongest of the species who survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change.” Melissa is strong, intelligent and not only responsive to change but a culinary chameleon. Hell, she’s a mom! Like so many mothers today she’s learned that cooking and motherhood can be a wonderful experience. It is because of motherhood that Melissa is who she is, a woman that is driven. Driven by passion, love of her craft and a willingness to make a difference.

For years and years we’ve grown accustomed to seeing these picture perfect chefs telling us how to do this or that and for the first time since Paula Deen, we have a regular person, a mom. Yes, there were lots of  folks rooting for Jeffrey Saad, I was even hoping he would win, but then I had to look at the bigger picture. What would it mean to “women” to have just a regular mom win, some one who is not really polished, who carries babies and cooks on a budget. Look let’s get real, we are in a recession, Julia and Julie is coming out at the same time the Food TV Network winner is being announced…hummm…is it all by design? You tell me.

North Carolina Food Finds and Good Times!

This is the second year for the North Carolina AgJam sponsored by the NC Department of Agriculture’s Marketing Division. Goodness Grows in NC Members and Commodity Associations are invited to exhibit their products at the Got to Be NC Ag Jam.  This second annual Food and Music Festival will feature country music artists Gretchen Wilson, Jason Jones, Josh Thompson, Johnny Orr and more. The event will be Saturday, September 12, 2009 at the Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek Amphitheater in Raleighm North Carolina.

There will be 20,000 tickets available for this day long concert event.  Gates will open to the public at Noon on September 12 and will close at 11:00 p.m. This is an opportunity for members of Goodness Grows in NC and the commodity association to sample and sell products to consumers from across the state.  For more details visit http://ncagjam.com/

If you don’t live in North Carolina you might want to contact the organizers and see how your Ag department might host a similar event in your state.