Frank M.'s Profile
"A fruit tree in winter"
Member since October, 2006
User stats
23 reviews
2 useful ratings
12 listings added
Location
Oakland, CA
Last great book or movie
Waterland, The Wire
My blog or website
How we'll get around in 20 years...
Horses
Not always organic--but walks the talk
This is really an addendum to the review below--Fetzer does make a very good, inexpensive wine, and grows its grapes organically. However, due to the large quantities of wine it produces (you can often find it in Trader Joe's across the country), it buys grapes on the market to mix with its organically grown grapes, and these it buys are not always organic. That said, Bonterra, which Fetzer owns, is all organic--in fact biodynamic, which involves full moons, cow horns, and strange misting processes. And the company absolutely walks the talk; its former President, Paul Dolan, was a strong advocate for organic winemaking and sustainable business practices, and wrote a book about his experiences: True to Our Roots: Fermenting a Business Revolution.
keywords: Fetzer wine biodynamic Dolan
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With wine or without, this is a terrific cheese
While my most recent tasting of these cheese was sans wine, it takes only a tap of the old cabeza to remember Winter, 2007, wine uncorked, fire blazing, rain pounding the ceiling--and the first seductive bite of this subtle beauty. Yes, we would flirt until dinner, with me smoothing knifefuls on a water cracker and deliciously entertaining my new friend--following that up with a swallowful of Pinot. We have a word for this: Delight! And St. Pat, while perhaps less mysterious without the glass of wine--and not quite as flirtatious--was a fine companion on this recent afternoon of snacking, one I would gladly welcome to my mouth again.
keywords: cheese
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Great with cheese
In fact, these crackers are great with cheese. They provide a crispy supporting role in the relationship. They don't overpower the cheese, or taste grainy, or add anything you wouldn't want to your palate (like rye, say, or sesame) for those, like me, who prefer their crackers plain. But they aren't wimpy, either, though they do have a tendency to break in two (not a sign of wimpiness in my view; but a sign of fragility--and worth noting). Now, if you're like me and wonder why I'm reviewing a cracker, I can say this: This is a cracker worth eating. Whether everything worth eating is worth reviewing is a question I'll leave up to you.
keywords: cracker
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True to its name
Velvet is the right word for this chocolate--it's one of the smoother varieties that have crossed my palate over the last six months. And I concur with reviewer Jessica P., the packaging makes me feel good about eating it. Consider the name: Alter Eco. . . it gives a personification to the chocolate, as if it's active in the eco-movement itself. Imagine: a phalanx of protesting chocolate bars, demanding a more ecologically sensible society, marching down a street near you! Problem is, they'd get eaten up quick. Perhaps that's not a bad thing; perhaps these chocolate bars prefer to do their work from the inside. Which is all the more reason to eat one.
keywords: chocolate fair trade
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Exceptional caterer for "green" events
For our wedding, an outdoor affair at a private residence in Sonoma County, my (now) wife and I wanted a caterer that provided sustainable foods. Rising Sun turned out to be the perfect choice. Owned and operated by a husband-wife team--Heather handles the floor, Chad's the chef--they made the transition to green after their child got sick, and a switch to organic foods solved the problem. Their food was sensational, from the aspargus lasagna to the roasted lamb. Heather made suggestions for the event that enhanced the experience, such as serving family style, rather than having a buffet. Their set-up, serving trays, and style all get high marks for aesthetics. And the service was exactly right: unobtrusive, friendly, punctual, and smart. Ex-caterer friends at the wedding remarked on Rising Sun's overall excellence. I can't recommend them more highly.
keywords: Rising Sun, caterers, events
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Too thin
I love that Weleda produces products using natural ingredients suchas Ratanhia, whatever that is, and that this toothpaste is fluoride-free (in high concentrations fluoride is toxic), and doesn't have sodium lauryl sulfate (which has been known to be contaminated with carcinogens). But in practice, while I like the taste, this toothpaste is too thin, and prevents a very long brush--it starts to drizzle out of my mouth when I use it. (Sodium lauryl sulfate is a foaming agent, commonly found in toothpastes, shampoos, and other personal care products; the trick in finding good natural care products is where they don't include the ingredient but still foam. Unfortunately this product fails this test.)
keywords: toothpaste, fluoride-free
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great for keeping you sane during a trade show
as the title suggests, this is great if you've got to stay on your feet all day--no ragged up or fall off in attention, a nice even energy.
keywords: energy drink
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Awesome food
Lulu uses local, organic ingredients to create inventive dishes--like Maine shrimp with grits (which I had last night and stands out as one of the more interesting dishes I've eaten in a few years). It's a relatively small restaurant, and it's open for brunch, as well as dinner, always with eclectic art on the walls. Highly recommend it!
keywords: restaurant, organic, chicago
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One of Sacto's Best
The name may not scream restaurant--Mulvaney's Building & Loan sort of reminds you of a bank. But that's the beauty of this place: It's got quirks. Located in an Old Firehouse (which a long time ago was a coffeehouse), Mulvaney's is my favorite Sacramento restaurant. I love that they're one of the first places in town to bring a sustainable ethic to eating. In the SF Bay Area, you don't have to go far to connect with this ethic, but in Sacramento it can be harder to track down. Anyway, I've eaten here three or four times and it's always been good. It's not as elegant or nuanced as some of the Bay Area eateries I frequent, but it's a welcome addition to the Sactown dining scene.
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Breath freshening toothpaste
I started using this toothpaste only recently, and I love it. It's got a great taste but none of the chemicals I like to avoid in toothpaste, like sodium lauryl sulfate (a foaming agent that some think may be linked to cancer, though I don't believe there are any definitive studies) and flouride (which has been increasingly controversial, banned in some countries, and may even be bad for your teeth). Basically, I like this stuff because I think I'm getting something more natural than the stuff in Tom's of Maine (which has sodium lauryl sulfate and, sometimes, flouride) and more commerical toothpastes.
keywords: toothpaste
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