I honestly thought people wouldn’t care to read about my vegan adventures, recipes and experiences, since most of the folks in my circles are food enthusiasts, bacon lovers haha! In fact, I used to be one, and being honest I always preferred salami and prosciutto over bacon. Almost nine months since the last time I cooked any animal and going great so far!

There are so many things I want to share on my blog, hopefully I’ll pick up where I left, and I get to do more working and blogging and less working inside my head!

First thing I want to do is ask everyone who can to support Vegtoons animated series, “an entertaining, educational initiative designed specifically with omnivores in mind. In a light-hearted, sympathetic way, the show will help to raise awareness for living more compassionately and consciously.”

We have to start the conversation, I think in general even if you and/or your kids are not vegetarians/vegans this is a fantastic way to get them involved in the reality of our food.

Take a quick peak:

Now you can support Vegtoons on kickstarter – Please remember every little counts!

Usually when I work on these dinners I donâ€t have a station I just come to support the Chef cooking the garnishes or prepping and when the moment arrives I work on plating, and taking pictures at the same time.

Details that one would think are just meaningless become so important at the moment of the action, and by that I mean from heating up the plates hot enough the food goes to the guests deliciously hot, but not hot enough to burn anyone, sauces on the temperature, steady hands when you’re plating, follow the rhythm, don’t stop (most of the times for these dinners 6 cooks are working on each dish, one slices the meat, the other one spreads a sauce, etc), and then we put the plate on the window, and the Runner takes it to the waiter/waitress.

The process starts from the moment Chef decides whatâ€s going to the be Farmerâ€s dinner about.  This time I asked, “Chef whatâ€s the theme?”, Chef responds “Game”, I say “Yay” (then think, what do I even know about game).

I go home and google the word “GAME”, run the library to check out tons of books and people think Iâ€m some sort of crazy hunter who has lots of wild rabbits, squabs & buffalo meats at home.

For this particular dinner I didnâ€t suggested anything to Chef, I had my mind in other things and it makes me sad, but itâ€s ok I did ask for the Menu and he shared the draft with me, (in my little head I usually plan a Farm dinner and what I would serve to people).

At the end Chef always amazes me and I realize, yes Iâ€m creative and I think I have good taste, and I have read so much and cooked for so many people, but the life of a Chef, takes you where my boss is, developing ideas where it knocks your head off and you think, this is the work of a genius.  You know the person whoâ€s called Chef among the rest of the cooks has earned that name, not because of school or because he/she yells louder than the rest of the kitchen staff, but because that person, the Chef, knows his shit, and knows it well.

I used to think my best Sundays were the ones when I wake up early to make bread, or go and hang out with Family and cook for them and fool around, or even the ones I would play volleyball for hours, now my favorite Sundays are the ones where I go, watch, help and learn from Chef on these Farm dinners.

Thanks Chef.

Now back to work.
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Venison Carpaccio, herbs, Pickled Ramps & Black Pepper Vinaigrette (1st course)

Join DCâ€s food bloggers for our first happy hour of 2011! Weâ€ll be meeting at Lyon Hall, a French brasserie in Clarendon.

Happy Hour deals include house-made franks & brats for $5,

$5 SJF Cocktails,

1/2 price Wine by the Glass,

$3 Session beers from Draft Beer Menu.

Weâ€ll be there from 6:00pm to 9:00 pm; Lyon Hall will be extending their happy hour for us until 7:30pm.

RSVP here.

Jenna of Modern Domestic and I are co-hosting this happy hour, and we can’t wait to have this first one with all of you food lovers, food blogger, reader or friends, you are all more than welcome, stop by grab a Frank & beer and say hi!

¡a comer!

So this trip. I went with the boy.  As usual I have a thing for motorcycles and more if they are in big groups, I wonder what do they eat while they’re road tripping’

I did not know the Quantico exit takes you to FBI facilities, I also wonder what they eat while they are working in such a remote area.  But then again I would think they have a cafeteria, could I work there? By the time they finish with my background check there will be no FBI no more.

The plan was this, Chef Liam told me to visit the Farmers Market, and to do that without wasting time in traffic, I would have to be on 95 around 7am, and I did, I woke up around 6am, the night before I worked until midnight but still I woke up the boy and we got our things, some chocolate, some fruits on our way to Old Town Fredericksburg.

OK, so we arrived to this less than 12 vendors Farmers Market (few days after this trip Chef told me I went to the wrong Farmers Market, awesome!) so much for a weird Saturday off, and waking up so early, still had a great time and bought some things at this Market.

Farmers Market info–> 715 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 – (540) 372-1010

I tried this Pumpkin Cream Cheese Whoopie Pie, too sweet the filling to my taste, but good & huge!

I bought a Mint-Chocolate Plant, it didn’t survive more than 10 days, I surprised my starter is still alive, I pray to the God of the Bakers everytime I see it about to die. I can’t have a dog or a plant, if they don’t eat what I eat, I won’t feed them, shame on you JC!

This cute girl, sold us a Lemon-Blueberry Muffin at $1, it was nice, and she made it!

What am I doing in front of a Church you may ask yourself? Well it was very sunny, too sunny, the only big building giving a huge shadow so we took a break in front of it, no I did not go inside, it was closed.

Hyperion Espresso was our coffee break spot twice that day, it’s huge & comfty, it broke my heart to see they sell coffee from Costa Rica, why can’t I ever find a product from Panama overseas?

Their Menu, again I just had coffee, they boy had a cappuccino, we shared the muffin & the whoopie pie

So many antique shops, and weird shops, like this one, creepy & cute the perfect combination for a store!

Whenever I see a cemetery I look at the stones for the oldest person, 1815 was the year this time.

If you are visiting Old town with a bunch of girlfriends this is the place you want to hit for Tea, pastries & sandwiches, you guessed I was with the boy so no tea but pizza & cheese!

My favorite name for a Shop in this town!

Place I want to have dinner at the next time I visit!

Give me a break it was a Saturday off the first in a long time, we wanted fried pork skin & real Coke with real sugar, it almost killed us but it was fun!

This Pastry & Coffee place used to be a Church, it is gorgeous & have so many option for bread, pastries and it was so, but so comfortable & lovely.

Very nice Prive event, it was just starting and we were about to leave but everyone seemed so excited, I hope it was a total hit!

Loved the outfit! So much respect it was above 90F’s!

We asked many townees about where to eat, there was a French restaurant but we declined it looked too fancy for the kind of day we were having, so we decided pizza, and this is a place the boy wanted to try since he lived in Fredericksburg before and never actually tried it.

How was the Pizza and the cheese sticks? It wasn’t terrible, but if you are looking for an Italian Store version of pizza then this is OK, nothing for Neapolitan style pizza lovers.  I must add most of the college students who wait the tables are super duper friendly!

It was a great Saturday, we drove back and behaved really bad, we had a burger in a fast food place, try to guess where!  The lady at the Drive-Thru (hint) was adorable, so nice it made me forget I was committing a sin by eating such a burger & fried & coke.

I can’t wait to go back to Frefericksburg, every single person in this town was adorable, respectful, nice & attentive. Not that I am complaining about DC area folks, but trust me there is no hurry in a Saturday in Old Town Fredericksburg.  I like to think that everyone is in pause, waiting for me to go back and invite me over their stores, their tips of where to visit, to pet their dogs. I can’t wait to visit again.

This time visit also the right farmers market!

The boy is waiting for me at home, I have a long week coming seven days straight of work, plush the bread baking on the mornings, we also start brunch this week.  If I’m still alive after this week you will see me somewhere in Annandale, hopefully munching at A&J’s.

They’re kicking me out of the coffee shop so goodbye… for now…

¡a comer!