Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Livin' in the Blurbs: Living Large

There's a huge DIY (do-it-yourself) ethic developing in Portland, from raising chickens in back yards to turning lawns into vegetable gardens to making cheese at home. Yes, I said making cheese at home. My friend Luan at Foster & Dobbs started a DIY cheesemakers group a couple of years ago to give folks a chance to meet and learn from each other, and she was overwhelmed with the response. And Wed., Sept. 9, Claudia Lucero of Urban Cheesecraft will join the group to demonstrate making mozzarella. So get in and get your cheese on!

Details: DIY Cheesemakers Group with demonstration of making mozzarella. Wed., Sept. 9, 7:30 pm; free. Foster & Dobbs Authentic Foods, 2518 NE 15th Ave. Phone 503-284-1157.

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I think I may have a big 'ol crush on Mark Doxtader of Tastebud Farm. I just can't resist giving the big guy a hug when I see him, or stop craving his pizzas, bagels and the vegetables that come out of his mobile wood-fired oven. No one is as dedicated to using the freshest, most of-the-moment seasonal ingredients in his cooking than Mark, and now he's featuring Montreal-style bagels along with his famous wood-fired bagels. What's a Montreal bagel? Wikipedia describes it as "smaller, sweeter and denser, with a larger hole" and always, ALWAYS baked in a wood-fired oven. 'Nuff said.

Details: Find Tastebud Farm Montreal bagels at four eastside New Seasons locations, Pastaworks (weekends), Twin Paradox and Half & Half. Also at local farmers' markets and Tastebud Farm Restaurant, 3220 SE Milwaukie Ave. Phone 503-234-0330.

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Speaking of tastebuds, you can visit Mark and a bunch of other food, beer and wine folks at the Muddy Boot Organic Festival on Sept. 12 and 13. Head over to St. Philip Neri in SE Portland and check out the workshops and exhibits on sustainable living along with organic beer and wine, activities for kids and musical entertainment from Jack Straw to the Portland Cello Project. And the keynote address on Fri., Sept. 11, will be given by none other than author, activist and 350.org founder Bill McKibben (check the Muddy Boots website to purchase tickets).

Details: Muddy Boot Organic Festival. Sept. 12, noon-9 pm; Sept. 13, noon-6 pm; free. St. Philip Neri Church, 2408 SE 16th Ave. (near 18th & Division).

2 comments:

dds said...

Love the graphics on the Muddy Boots poster! Who did it? (Totally beside the point of course. :)

Kathleen Bauer said...

I like it, too, but have no idea. I don't see a phone number, but it looks like you can contact them via e-mail with questions.