You are currently browsing Andrew Maki’s articles.
Tired of using coffee as a crutch, about 4 months back I kicked the habit. Sure I’ve dabbled since then, but not once have I looked back longingly. Starbucks, bad breath, and that humming nervous feeling of having imbibed too much caffeine can take a hike.
In its place, I have nurtured a taste for Earl Grey tea that has grown into a veritable addiction. I have bulk ordered “double bergamot” varieties unavailable locally, and become known for regularly toting a flashy glass tea vessel for loose-leaf on the go.
In an unabashed effort to push my Earl Grey fanaticism yet further, tonight I bring you the first installment of Adventures in Earl Grey, an exploration of the many less common uses of a tea that I have grown to love.
In January I closed the chapter on my exotic and challenging life in Podgorica, Montenegro, and took up residence in a green suburb of Brussels, Belgium. In doing so I left behind burrek and endless variations on grilled meat in exchange for a cheesier, French-style cuisine and excessive potato (and potato-like substances). Convinced that neither cuisine is overwhelmingly healthy, I’ve taken to describing my transition as a horizontal move from greasy/meaty to fatty/starchy.
One edible that I recently came across that fits the Belgium mold is morchella mushrooms sautéed with butter (recipe below the break). This treat, revealed to me by the ‘mushroom man’ at my local Sunday farmers market, constituted a spectacular Easter dinner almost* entirely by itself.
Stumbling upon the Gourmet and NYTimes articles on “fish shares” last Saturday compelled me to put up a post titled “Fish Shares for MV Striper”. In light of Owen’s comments in response (on the perceived upsides to implementing a fish share system), and after a bit more reading, I want to add a few additional comments.
It wasn’t until this morning that I first read about the novel concept of “fish shares.” Am I behind the times? Perhaps. But regardless of how cutting edge this idea (and practice) is, it merits significantly greater attention. Why aren’t the commercial striper fishermen off the coast of Cape Cod using a fish share system?
What are fish shares? The concept is based on the idea of regulating the fishing industry so that it remains healthy, and fish stocks aren’t depleted. By contrast to the current use of total catch quotas, i.e. X lbs of striper can be caught in a given season, fish shares rely on individual quotas or shares, i.e. each fisherman can bring in X lbs of striper in a given season. What is the result? By removing the pressure from fishermen to go out and get as many fish as quickly as possible to beat out competing fishermen, a system of fish shares encourages catching fish more gradually.
Photo Copyright: UK Evening Standard Online
Fearnley-Whittingstall is at it again, this time attempting to make garden landshares hip! It is always heartening to see a celebrity investing some of their fame and fortune in a cause to try to make a positive impact, but hardly ever is it for a cause as un-sexy as ‘shared gardens.’ Is Fearnley-Whittingstall ‘ahead of his time’ with this one?
Copyright Disclaimer: photo not my own
The US has recently decided to punish french producers of Roquefort cheese in retaliation for the EU´s continuing (13 year old) objection to importing American beef treated with certain “unsafe hormones.” As a US citizen I am OUTRAGED by my government’s attempts to force-feed hormone-jacked-up-beef to consumers who don´t want it. Sure the EU’s objection to certain hormones used in the US might not be driven by entirely benevolent health-related concerns (protectionism?!), but if farms in Europe can meet higher standards, why can’t farms in the US?
Don’t chop that squid into little rings – fry ‘er up whole! On a recent majestic afternoon at a secretive boat-side konoba in Herceg Novi, Montenegro I sampled the most delicious fried calamari of my life. No they were not fancily prepared. And no they were not an exotic variety of squid. The only significant difference between this calamari and every other calamari that I’ve eaten is that these squid were left whole!
Why buy it at the market when you can pick it in the wild for FREE? Call it stealing, call it taking part in ones civic duty, call it whatever you like. Montenegrins are rich in fruit trees and vines that beckon you at every street corner and on every hike. For a fruit glutton like myself the call of the pomegranate broke me, and the citrus embroiled me in a pattern of thievery that has deepened to this day.
Overcoming my initial failed attempt to purchase a bottle of Jelen Pivo, I slipped one into my shopping basket at a Voli supermarket last week and made it through the checkout. In light of the fact that I will move out of my apartment and into a new one across town tomorrow, I decided to celebrate my last day living in Stari Aerodrom by cracking the Jelen Pivo and writing this review.
Jelen Pivo is a 5% a.b.v. lager brewed in the style of a German pilsner. It is the unofficial national beer of Serbia.
In appearance, Jelen Pivo is extremely pale in color. It pours with a sizable, very white head of foam that dissipates relatively quickly. There is minimal lacing on the glass as the head shrinks down to form a film on top of the beer.
Andrew Maki
Alex Welles
Owen Maloy
Oh no! A small FISH future!
April 7, 2009 in Commentary, Fishing/Hunting | Tags: evolution, fish, fishing, hunting, natural selection, small | by Andrew Maki | Leave a comment
Apparently my fishing habits are altering the size of future fish, and not in a good way, according to a National Public Radio broadcast (January 16th 2009) on fishing and hunting.
Have you ever heard tales of epic battles with gigantic fish that took place many moons ago? Have you ever wondered why the largest fish that you ever caught you caught when you were a kid?
Apparently by catching and keeping big fish, we are all aiding the evolutionary process of natural selection that is leading to smaller fish. Why? Because we anglers who are fishing for dinner throw back the little guys and keep the larger ones. As a result, so says NPR, being small is a strategic advantage, and a characteristic that is transferable through generations.
Read the rest of this entry »
Share this:
Like this: