Winter Reading

Books About Smart Birds

 Ziggy Blum's picks

I have an inordinate fondness for all things feathered, and share my house with eleven roommates of the psittacine (parrot) persuasion, so it shouldn't be a big surprise that when I scan the shelves for reading material, books about birds catch my eye.  This passion for avians is something I share with George Brown, the book-buyer of the Kiva (who also happens to be one of the owners), which accounts for there being plenty of books on the Kiva's shelves which appeal to this interest.


These are some of the titles I chose.



The Mind of the Raven

by Bernd Heinrich, first published in hardcover in 1999

Ravens and crows are popular birds, and it's no wonder.  They're beautiful and devastatingly intelligent. Crows, comfortable in the metropolis, are easy and fun to observe as they negotiate traffic, drop nuts to crack on the pavement, mob predators, and otherwise demonstrate their smarts in town.

Ravens--larger, more solitary, much more at home in the wilderness, and possibly even cleverer than their city cousins--are harder for a townie to get to know.  Bernd Heinrich has spent many years observing ravens in the wild and in captivity, and Mind of the Raven is the next best thing to doing so yourself.  Interesting and scholarly, this book is a rich and fascinating glimpse into the complicated world of raven behavior and wild nature.

Crow Planet

by Lyanda Lynn Haupt, 2011

Closer to home (at least to my home!) we have Crow Planet, which examines the phenomena of nature in the midst of human civilization.  She shows us crows and their behavior in a vivid light, along with their biology and folklore, and gives us insights into the disjunction of nature and human nature as well.

The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill

by Mark Bittner, 2005

Another exploration of nature in the setting of the unnatural, this book is a story of misfits--the author himself, inclined to be a Dharma Bum, and the parrots of the title--escaped conures whose breeding colony exists to this day in the city of San Francisco.  Reading this book brings up a lot of questions, but also brings to light the interrelationships that form between creatures as diverse as humans and feral parrots, and how misfits of all kinds can find their niche in alien environments.

The Parrot Who Owns Me

by Joanna Burger, 2001

A lively and informative read, written by a woman who not only knows and observes her companion parrots with a sharp and compassionate eye, but who is also an ornithologist.  In The Parrot Who Owns Me, Joanna Burger tells of her slowly developing relationship with Tiko, a middle-aged Amazon parrot, orphaned by his elderly owners.

Her tone is light and engaging, but the book is informative and thought-provoking, and the story of her bond with Tiko--who builds nests for her each breeding season--is touching.  She also speaks engagingly of birds in general--their habits, habitats, physiology--and nature and nature conservancy as a whole.

If you are looking for a gift for anyone who is contemplating the addition of a parrot as a family member, The Parrot Who Owns Me and Alex & Me are highly recommended reading--I guarantee they will open the eyes of the uninitiated to the amount of care, interaction, and attention a parrot demands and deserves, and the rewards the human in the relationship may receive in return.

Alex & Me

by Irene M. Pepperberg, first published in hardcover 2008

Not long ago birds were generally believed--by biologists and the populace at large--to be pretty stupid.  This idea has changed dramatically in the recent past, and Alex and Irene Pepperberg are two big reasons why.

Like many people, I was an avid fan of Alex, an African Grey parrot owned and taught by Dr. Irene Pepperberg.  He was a sort of avian ambassador, if not a superstar.  He fascinated researchers in animal intelligence, human psychology, and linguistics, not to mention a lot of us who simply like birds and believe them to be smarter than was generally recognized.  He delighted journalists and television hosts with what appeared to be his particular brand of wry humor.  In this tribute to her long collaboration with Alex, who died prematurely at the age of 31,  Dr. Pepperberg tells us about their journey together, and how he demonstrated his ability not only to learn and understand human language but to use it to "mess with [their] heads."  

Dr. Pepperberg shows us not only a bird, but a person, with quirky individual traits and a lot of charm.  Admittedly, I'm a softie where birds are concerned, but I was moved both to tears and to laughter a couple of times in the course of the narrative.


Now that the demands of yard and garden have mellowed with the onset of chilly weather, it's a great time to cozy up with a natural history book (and maybe a feathered friend or two--on your shoulder, or outside in the bird feeder).

Wine & Cheese Pairing for December

Gruyere and Morbier 

with Chateau Lugagnac Bordeaux Supérieur 

Reviewed by Ziggy (Kiva Beer & Wine) and Josh (Kiva Deli)

The Wine:  Chateau de Lugagnac Bordeaux Supérieur 2009:  50 % Merlot Noir, 50 % Cabernet Sauvignon

Ziggy says:  On the nose I detected scents of cut wood, blackberries, wood ash, violet, and the wet leaf scent of autumn woods.

On the palate: lots of vibrant fruit, black currant and blackberry, with hints of charcoal, licorice, and toast.  The flavor seemed concentrated on the front of the palate, with a thinner back palate that reminded me of bourbon whiskey. 

While at first sip it seemed like a big-bodied wine, it proved silky and evasive as it lingered in the mouth.  With its thinner texture, fine-grained tannins, and medium-long finish, Chateau de Lugagnac would be a good wine to enjoy with many foods, especially roasted meats and vegetables. 

The Cheeses:  Gruyere and Morbier

Delicious Duo: Morbier & Gruyere

Josh says:  Gruyere, a classic Swiss cheese, is made with raw milk and has a big, vibrant, slightly sweet and nutty flavor. This is a perfect cheese for the holiday season, whether for a cheese plate or everyone’s favorite, fondue. It is wonderful for cooking, whether melting over croutons for French onion soup or used in a gratin. Its versatility and big flavor makes this cheese a favorite.

Morbier, a raw milk cheese from France, has a beautifully silky texture broken by its signature layer of ash that provides a subtle but pleasantly gritty textural counterpoint. The flavor is complex and richly nutty, with a slight aromatic bitterness that is complimented nicely by a fruity red wine. The visual contrast between the ash and the white paste of the cheese makes this an intriguing addition to any cheese plate.

Morbier comes with a charming story to share with your guests. Traditionally, cheesemakers would press evening curd into a mold, brush their hands against blackened copper pots and spread the ash over the curds. The following day, the morning curd was pressed on top, creating the unique look of this cheese. (Modern day morbier is made with tasteless vegetable ash.)

The Pairings

Josh says:  The smooth, rich, full-bodied Bordeaux pairs nicely with both of these raw milk, nutty cheeses.

Ziggy says:  I have often found that Gruyere brings out the best in many wines, especially reds, and this pairing went very well--the Gruyere was scrumptious and savory, redolent with notes of nuts and roasted meat, rich without being buttery or heavy:  a grownup cheese that went very well with a grownup wine.  Its texture was firm, smooth, and slightly waxy, with a mouthfeel (not flavor) that reminded me of chocolate. 

The Morbier was a little mild for my personal taste--older Morbier can be quite strong.  It was rich and buttery, smooth and meltingly rich.  As a pairing, it brought out bright cherry and black fruit notes in the wine. 

In spite of my general preference for the Gruyere, I thought the Morbier worked better with the Lugagnac than the Gruyere did.  In either case, a juicy late-season pear would have made a perfect third.

There's a venerable wine business maxim:  "Buy on fruit, sell on cheese."   The tartness of fruit shows a wine's flavor more starkly and highlights its flaws, whereas cheese softens harsh tannins, brings out fruit notes, and plays up a wine's best side.  Gruyere and Morbier will probably bring out the best in any bottle.

More Chanterelles!

As promised, I'm back with a couple more recipes from Kiva employees.  

Robin, one of our talented chefs, made us a sample of the following recipe today that amazed all who tasted it.  This is a recipe that should be read all the way through, so you can familiarize yourself with the details and the length of preparation before you try it.  Without further ado, I present this gem:

Robin's Chanterelle Ragout

Robin's Polenta Wedges with Chanterelle Mushroom Ragout

Polenta:

• 1 c polenta (corn grits)
• 3 c water (for added flavor use chicken or vegetable stock)
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/3 teaspoon white pepper
• 1-1/2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil

Chanterelle Mushroom Ragout

• 2 c chanterelle mushrooms, cleaned and pulled by hand into strips
• 1/4 c minced shallots
• 1/3 c chopped parsley
• 1/2 c Marsala wine
• 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

For Polenta wedges:  In saucepot, bring 3 c of water or stock to a boil.  Add 1 cup polenta.  Turn heat to low. Stir the polenta constantly until grits are creamy, then add 3 Tablespoons of butter, salt, white pepper, and parmesan cheese.  Stir until all ingredients are incorporated.  On a greased baking sheet with a lip pour polenta out and smooth into an even layer.  Chill for 1 to 2 hours or until firm (can be done overnight).  Flip pan onto a cutting surface and cut into wedges, or use a biscuit cutter to make rounds.

For Mushroom Ragout:  Clean chanterelles with a damp paper towel, rubbing gently.  Pull the chanterelles into strips.  Over high heat, bring the oil to the smoking point in a sauté pan.  Throw the polenta wedges into the pan and cook on each side until golden brown (be careful; it will spatter).  Remove and dab dry on a paper towel.

To serve:  Place Polenta Wedges on a plate and drizzle a generous portion of Chanterelle Ragout on top.  Garnish with additional grated Parmesan and chopped parsley.



If you're looking for something a little faster, here's another to try.  This looks like a terrific potluck contribution.

Elena's Chanterelles en Pastry

• 1 lb fresh chanterelles, chopped
• 6 oz salted butter
• 1 medium leek, sliced
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup whole milk ricotta
• 2 to 3 packages Puff Pastry
• Salt and pepper

Sauté leek and onion in 1 oz of butter until caramelized.  Set aside.  Saute mushrooms and garlic with 1 oz butter and add to caramelized onions and leeks.  Toss with ricotta, add salt and pepper to taste.

Melt remaining butter.  Unfold pastry.  Brush with the melted butter, then cut in 2-inch strips.  Put a teaspoon or two of mushroom mix on one end of strip, then fold into triangles.

Place on parchment-covered cookie sheet.  Brush top with melted butter.  Bake at 350 until golden on top.  Serve warm.

The Season of Rain and Chanterelles

Well, here it is: after a record-breaking dry spell, the old familiar cold and rain have finally arrived.  Some of us love it; some of us hate it; and some of us tolerate the long grey months because we know that they have their rewards.

A match made in Heaven

Rewards?  Yes, there are a few.  What's rain in the valley is usually snow in the higher elevations, providing sport for skiers and snowboarders.  After we wait out a soggy winter we often have a beautiful spring (a little lacking in recent years) and wonderful summers, for a start.   

And for the intrepid hiker who isn't afraid of damp feet and slippery footing, Oregon's forests can be beautiful in the rainy season, and the many species of fascinating and edible mushrooms that spring up when the rain comes down are a reason to welcome the wet.

Of the wealth of the Northwest's wild mushrooms, one of the most versatile--and certainly the best-known--is the Chanterelle.

Rob Miller has been the Kiva's major supplier of chanterelles for about a decade--often our sole supplier.  Our produce department likes the fresh, clean, sound mushrooms he brings us, as well as his reliability and his sensitivity to the areas in which he picks.

"I don't like to work with intangibles," he says; he made the choice long ago to be out in the weather hunting for chanterelles rather than sitting behind a desk shuffling numbers.  Rob says he loves to spend time in nature and take longs walks in the forests where he harvests fungal delicacies; he needs time in the wild to be happy.  This is especially lucky this year, since unusual weather (the long, late-summer dry spell followed by not only rain, but cold) has made this year's mushroom crop scarce and harder to find--the worst year for picking that Rob has seen. 

Since we don't all have the time, ability, or know-how to go on those long walks ourselves, many of us rely on the convenient commercial availabilty of chanterelles and other wild mushrooms.  Having someone else do the legwork can be well worth the time and effort saved for busy folks, even though this year's smaller harvest has driven prices up.

Chanterelles have a nutty, savory, delicate flavor with wide appeal--varieties of this mushroom grow in the northerly areas of Europe, Asia, and America, and they're relished in many different cuisines.  There are endless ways to prepare and enjoy them; a quick search for "chanterelle recipes" on Google yielded 42,000 hits! 

Chanterelle recipes are easier to find than mushrooms, but in search of more, I solicited recipes from Kiva employees this week and got some to add to the record.

A caveat:  these are not recipes written or tested by professional chefs, so use your own judgement.  Your mileage may vary!

The simplest came from Tom, our local grocery buyer.  He likes to slice, pan-fry, and eat chanterelles before they leave the skillet.  It doesn't get easier than that! 

Dave, one of our produce managers, offered this recipe:

Dave's Kale with Chanterelle

Dave and a tasty friend

1 bunch Italian kale, chopped

A couple of medium-large chanterelles, halved

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 small or 1 large shallot, minced

A couple tablespoons olive oil

In a skillet, heat the oil over medium heat.  Add minced garlic, stir until garlic is translucent.  Add minced shallots, simmer until translucent.  Lower the heat and add the chopped kale.

In a separate pan, heat the chanterelles until they release liquid, then add them to the kale mixture.  Season to taste with sea salt and black pepper; serve immediately.

-----

Our wine buyer Ziggy makes this creamy Chanterelle Chicken every autumn at least once.  As you might expect, wine plays an important part in this dish. 

Ziggy's Chanterelle Chicken (serves 4 to 6)

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, browned and cubed (1/2 inch cubes)

About 1 lb chanterelles, chopped fairly small

Ziggy's Chanterelle Chicken Sauce ready to serve

Two very large or four small shallots, minced

2/3 to ¾  bottle of dry white wine for cooking

½ pint heavy cream or Half-and-Half

4 Tablespoons butter, give or take a little

A couple of Tablespoons of flour

Fettuccine pasta, preferably fresh

The proportions of this recipe are very flexible, and I vary them every time I make it with the same great results.

Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed skillet until bubbling; add the minced shallots.  Cook until translucent (don’t let them brown), then add the chopped chanterelles.  Heat until mushrooms are cooked through and have released their liquid; cook a few more minutes, then add the white wine in dollops of about a cup and let reduce between each addition.  Allow some time for this; I generally let the shallot-chanterelle mixture simmer for an hour or more while adding wine slowly.  (Chanterelles, like many foods, have alcohol-soluble factors that release and develop flavor during cooking with wine.)

Note:  For cooking wine I used the Domino Pinot Grigio; any crisp, dry white wine would do, though for my personal taste I prefer not to use Chardonnay for cooking.  The usual caution about not cooking with wine you wouldn't want to drink applies; you don't want to cook with wine which is "off" or yucky.  However, I do often cook with wine which is simpler (and less expensive) than I usually want to sip with dinner.

Brown the chicken on a grill or in a separate skillet with a little additional butter or olive oil.  I usually cook it whole over medium or medium-high heat until the surface is browned, then cut it in cubes and brown the cut sides lightly.  The chicken can then be set aside while the shallot-chanterelle-wine mixture cooks down.

When the sauce is thickening but still contains a fair amount of liquid, add the browned chicken (the good stuff in the pan can be deglazed with a little wine and added along with the chicken) and simmer until the chicken is fully cooked.  The meat absorbs the flavor.

The flour is used to thicken the finished sauce; it can either be sprinkled lightly over the mixture and stirred in until the sauce gets a little dry, or a roux can be made in a separate pan or skillet (heat a little extra butter until bubbly; add the flour and cook for a few minutes without letting the mixture brown) and then added back into the main mixture.

After the sauce is thickened, add cream to taste (I like it to be a gravy-like consistency) and serve it over pasta.  (Pasta Plus’s fresh linguine is my favorite.)

Pear and Blue Cheese Salad

This is a traditional autumn recipe in my house, and I always pair it with an oaked Chardonnay which complements the savory woody notes of the mushrooms.  I recommend Stangeland for an Oregon Chardonnay (oaky but also floral and subtle with some crispness left), or J. Lohr’s Riverstone or Arroyo Vista Chardonnays for California wine.

I also always accompany the Chanterelle Chicken with a pear/blue-cheese salad.  Any pear of your choice can be sliced or cubed, topped with small pieces of blue cheese (I love the Fourme D’Ambert, which is sweet and nutty and complements fruit very well), and crushed roasted hazelnuts, covered with a balsamic vinaigrette and served on a bed of greens.


That's it for now.  Next week we'll be back with a few other recipes from familiar faces at the Kiva.  In the meantime,  tell us--what do you do with chanterelles?

Thinking Globally, Farming Locally

Cattail Creek Lamb Returns to Our Meat Section

The Kiva's meat selection focuses on local, naturally-raised products.  Our knowledgeable buyers Emma and Will deal directly with the farmers and ranchers who raise the animals rather than a central distributor, so their relationship with the food we sell is up-close and personal.

Local lamb producer Cattail Creek was one of the first suppliers the Kiva added when we first started carrying meat.  The mild flavor and tender texture made it an immediate hit with both families and restaurants in the area.  

After a hiatus of one and a half years, Cattail Creek Lamb is back on our shelves this month, and maybe better than ever. 

John Neumeister, Cattail Creek’s founder, has been a familiar face at the Kiva for a long time.  He was glad to answer all my questions when I called him last week, and had a lot of interesting things to say about food and how it’s produced.  John’s agricultural resumé is impressive: he grew up on a mixed sheep and cattle farm in Ohio; he has been raising lamb for thirty years since moving to Oregon; and has been involved in organic farming since the 1970’s.  He has degrees in animal and crop sciences from Oregon State University.  He co-authored the Certified Organic Standards for livestock which were adopted by Oregon Tilth and the National Organic Standards.  

Now in partnership with Farmland LP, a U.S. private equity fund whose mission is to acquire farmland and convert it to organic production, John is primarily in charge of marketing, while partners Craig Wichner and Jason Bradford oversee most of the operations, and the farms are managed by shepherd Mac Stewart--an all-star team whose qualifications are as formidable as Mr. Neumeister’s. 

I was impressed to find that Cattail Creek is more than a business enterprise--it’s a vision of community-supported, sustainable agriculture.  “We’re not looking for loopholes just to sell a more expensive product,” John told me.

It’s very literally a grassroots effort.  In John’s opinion, Cattail Creek has the strongest raising claim of any of the larger lamb-producing farms in the valley (most of which pasture their lambs on seed-producing or after-harvest fields that have been treated with chemicals), with 800 of its 900 acres--comprised of three properties between Corvallis and Philomath--certified organic, and the remainder transitional.

Sheep are designed by nature to be grazers, and better pasture produces better meat, so the conversion of commercial farmland to high-quality organic pasture is an important step.  Cattail Creek’s system encourages a wide variety of plant species in their pastures, such as cold-tolerant and drought-resistant grasses, legumes (which fix nitrogen in the soil), plantains, and chicory.  The land is never treated with chemicals, and rock powders are used as fertilizers.  The sheep make their contribution too, in the form of manure which cycles nutrients back into the soil.

Starting from the ground up, Cattail Creek is dedicated to humane care and handling of its animals.  They use no synthetic crop treatment and no GMO crops; lambs are 100% grass fed and free of antibiotics or hormones.

Although it’s a new enterprise, their breeding program assures that not only the lambs but their mothers as well eat a chemical- and GMO-free, 100% vegetarian diet, and are also free of hormones and antibiotics (animals which become sick and require treatment with antibiotics are removed from the program).  It’s their intention to find breeds of sheep which thrive best under local conditions and raise them through generations rather than buying lambs from brokers.

The advantage to consumers is obvious--the 100% grass-fed meat tastes better than the “muttony” lamb from a feedlot operation, but the benefits go beyond flavor.  Cattail Creek is diversifying their operations toward a goal of integrated holistic farming.  In addition to developing markets to utilize the byproducts of lamb production, they’ve incorporated a new poultry-raising project and added vegetable crops.  Some land is also leased to a hog farmer.  John hopes that Farmland LP may be a vision of the future of CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), where instead of having a farm subscription, the participants would be involved in a cooperative effort to acquire the land on which their food is grown. 

The Kiva is currently carrying Cattail Creek’s ground lamb, stew and kabob meat, lamb chops, and shoulder steak.  Sausage is expected to be available in November.

Cattail Creek’s meat is processed and packed by Century Oak Packing Co., a local company owned by Lonely Lane Farms. http://centuryoakpacking.com/html/contact_us.html

We’re lucky to live in an area with an abundance of sustainable agriculture, offering readily-available organic produce, meat, eggs, and dairy products.  It’s a luxury to be able to buy fresh, healthy food just one or two stops from the farm.  Welcome back, Cattail Creek!

For more information on Cattail Creek and Farmland LP, visit http://www.farmlandlp.com/

Cheese and Wine Pairing for October

This month Josh and Ziggy, our representatives from the Deli and the Wine Department respectively, tried pairing Seeing Red Cabernet and Perrydale Aged Gouda from Salem’s Willamette Valley Cheese Company.

Josh says:  Perrydale ($18.70/lb.) is the Kiva’s newest offering from Salem’s Willamette Valley Cheese Company.  A blend of sheep’s milk from Roseburg’s Catsby  Farm and local cow’s milk, this cheese is made in the style of a gouda and aged for one year.  The aging process yields a beautifully complex flavor, but with a still-tender creamy paste; however, the most exciting aspect of this cheese is its use of sheep’s milk from one of Oregon’s two commercial sheep dairies.

Pairing notes:  The mellow acid of the wine and the slight tang from the sheep’s milk worked well together to balance the creamy richness of the cheese.

Ziggy says:  Seeing Red ($13.75) is Columbia Valley juice from Cartel Wine Group.  Seattle Magazine describes Cartel Wine Group as modern-day négociants who buy the wine left over after blending from large established Washington wineries and blend this high-quality surplus themselves.  The result is an affordable wine with the flavor profile of a more expensive bottle. 

Seeing Red is a lovely wine for autumn--very fruity and rich, with notes of cassis, ripe berries, herbs, and smoke.  My tasting partner and I also found a hint of astringency and a slight trace of bitterness--both qualities which can be a plus in a food wine.  (Other foods which might pair well with Seeing Red include red meats and stews, hearty tomato-based dishes, and sharp cheeses.)

My tasting partner disdains the “stinky” cheeses that I love, and Perrydale pleased us both.  We found it to be strong but not overwhelming, mellow, a little musky and mildly fragrant with a round, creamy, complex flavor profile.  I think it would pair very well with a number of medium- to full-bodied Spanish or Italian red wines.  While it might work with some robust whites and even sweet wines, I think it will go best with red.

Perrydale and Seeing Red made an enjoyable match.  The cheese brought out tannic notes from the wine; the wine brought out complex and subtle herbal and bitter notes in the cheese.  Lovely as an intriguing appetizer; satisfying as a savory dessert.

School is Out; Let the Summer Reading Begin!

Remember those long, golden summer days spent outside with a good book?  The adventures you could have without ever leaving your yard?

Let your little one explore the world of CatWings this summer.  Their imagination will soar!

These sweet stories follow four kittens and their adventures from the city to the country and all the characters they meet along the way.

With subtle messages about family, kindness and compassion these books are easy to love even for adults.

Look for all four titles: CatWings, CatWings Return, Wonderful Alexander and the CatWings, and Jane on Her Own.

Written by Ursula K. Le Guin and illustrated by S. D. Schindler, this series will be a great addition to your child's summer reading list.  

COMMUNITY SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS.

The Kiva was built on and is sustained by community.  Within our store there is a community.  Surrounding our store is a community.  And beyond even our beloved downtown, there is a larger community which we contribute to, which we are supported by, which inspires and enlivens our economy, our sense of individuality, our place, our time.  In times of need and in times of celebration we turn to our community, however we define it, to support us, to uplift us, to sustain us.  Please read on to learn how you as part of our community can support an individual.

About Emily

Hi! It’s me, Emily – your friendly Kiva Deli Clerk! I'm 28 years old and I come from the beautiful town of Marquette, Michigan on the shores of dazzling Lake Superior. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in photography from Northern Michigan University. I was drawn to the west coast (and Oregon in particular) because of the art scene and the amazing beauty of the mountains and the ocean. I came to Eugene specifically because I visited in 2009, fell in love with the place, and decided to move soon after. A great west adventure! It has been my pleasure to work at the Kiva for the last two years, to meet and serve all you wonderful people.

Cancer Diagnosis

About one month after I moved to Eugene I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. It was an incredibly difficult struggle physically, mentally, and financially. Thanks to the strength of friends (in particular my Kiva family) I fought through, and on February 4th of 2011, I finished 6 months of chemotherapy treatment. I was considered "cured" of my cancer at that point. Unfortunately, in March of this year, at a routine scan, some unusual activity popped up between my lungs. A biopsy was performed, and it looks as though my Hodgkin's is back for round 2. (I don't know who it thinks it's messing with?!) It's a scary road I'm about to walk down - but I WILL kick this thing again - once and for all! My options are going to be expensive and taxing, and I hope to sell my art as a way to help fund the heavy medical bills I will (and already do) have to face. A great west adventure it has truly been, but I'm happy to have the love and support of so many amazing people in this beautiful little town. 

Bike Raffle

As a part of this lovely community, I have had the pleasure to meet some really special people. Among these are the lads down at Collins Bike Shop. Beyond being incredibly supportive to me, they also donated this beautiful bike to raffle off, to raise money for me! The raffle will run until the 5^th of July, and tickets are $1 a piece. You can buy as many tickets as you like to increase your chance of winning. I am on medical leave now from work, and all of the proceeds of this raffle will go directly to me, to help support me through my coming cancer treatment. This bike is worth $450.00 retail – so whoever wins it will be getting a great deal, for a great cause!

Postcards of my Photography are also on sale at the front of the store, with the other cards, if you’d like to support my art! ♥

♥~Emily Nyman~♥

Everything's Coming Up Rosés

     The drama!  The intrigue!  In a battle of the taste buds who will survive?!  *cue dramatic Iron Chef-type music*  

Huh?  Are we watching reality television?  Is this thing on?

      Fortunately (or unfortunately) there will be no Kiva reality series.  (Although, I tend to think it would make for some very entertaining material!) 
      There will, however, be another monthly wine and cheese pairing featuring notes from Ziggy and Josh, our wine and cheese buyers.  This one is particularly interesting because of their difference of opinion.  There is only one way to settle this dispute and that is to taste for yourself!
Ziggy: Since it’s beginning to look like spring is here, everything is coming up rosés. 
If you think sweet and sickly when you see pink, you might want to rethink your drink.  Rosés are often misunderstood and their versatility can be under-appreciated.
A rosé wine can vary in color from palest pink through peach and orange hues to varied shades of clear, vivid red; and can vary in palate from delicate to bold.  Some, yes, are sweet, and some are dry with varying degrees of tannin.  The right rosé can complement a mild fish dish or take on a grilled steak, and the color alone won’t tell you a great deal about the character of the wine.
There are several ways rosés arrive at their rosy hue.  Most are made from grapes used to make red wine, either as a single varietal or a blend, and colored by being allowed to remain in contact with the skins, where the pigment resides.  Others may be produced by blending white and red wines.  While this is not a popular method in many regions, there are some very tasty wines that result from it. 
Most rosés will be crisp and have vivid fresh fruit notes like strawberry, cherry, apricot or melon, and, served chilled, will complement and enhance a summer afternoon or evening.
We chose Territorial’s Pinot Noir Rosé for our pairing this month.  The Kiva has carried Territorial wines for many years, and their Rosé has shown consistent quality and been a steady seller.
We are currently stocking the 2010 Rosé; and the 2011 is expected in soon.  I and my tasting partner found it to be drinking extremely well.  While the usual advice about drinking rosé fresh is good, many will continue to show well for at least one or two years after bottling.  Don’t throw ‘em away without uncorking a taste.
We found the 2010 to have a bright, deep rose color.  On the nose, I found notes of violet and strawberry lollipop.  The palate was light, bright, and crisp with lots of soft, icy fruit including cherry and stone fruits.  We drank it chilled but not iced.
My tasting partner and I particularly liked the rosé with the Fern’s Edge Pleasant Hill cheese, which has a young, sharpish cheddar-like flavor, a crumbly texture, and a bite on the finish.  This cheese brought out fresh fruity notes in the wine.  Of the Fern’s Edge cheese we tried, this pairing was by far our favorite.
While Josh and Emma especially enjoyed the Mt. Zion with the rosé, I have to disagree.  The cheese is excellent--earthy, meaty, and scrumptious--but I wanted to pair it with a big, rich, full-bodied wine (like a Washington Cabernet).  I found that it made the rosé taste alkaline and overpowered its bright and fruit notes.
The feta was fresh, rich, mild, and, while salty, it was not overpoweringly so.  We thought it went well with the Territorial Rosé and brought out some tannin on the palate.

The Five Corners was soft, initially mild, but with a complex buttery musk on the finish.  The Territorial Rosé was a pleasing accompaniment, but the butteriness of the cheese seemed to blunt the wine’s acidic crispness a little.

The Kiva stocks a wide range of rosés from many parts of the world.  Pretty in pink on the shelf right now include:

Monmousseau Rosé d'Anjou 2010:  a soft, gentle rosé, just off-dry, from the Anjou district of the Western Loire region.  50% Grolleau, an unusual variety primarily found in Rosé d'Anjou, and 50% Cab Franc.  Very easy to drink, fruity and pleasing.  Pairs well with fresh goat cheeses, mild pork or chicken dishes.  Also--like most rosés--a pleasant tipple for a summer afternoon.  $11.75

 Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Pays d'Oc 2011:  Less than 1000 cases produced.  I found this to be crisp and lucid, with clean, clear berry fruits.  Quite dry but not acerbic.  Made from a blend of Grenache and Cinsault grapes from the Roussillon region.  Many pairings are possible, but grilled chicken and vegetables is a top choice.   $15.50
 Calcu Rosé 2010:  A perennial favorite of mine from the Valle de Colchagua, Chile.  Made from 50% Malbec, 40% Syrah, and 10% Petit Verdot, there is some complexity to this round, slightly magical blend.  It deserves its name, which means "magician" in a local language.  $11.75
 Druid's Fluid Pink 2009:  Lightly sweet, fruity, and easy to drink, Druid's Fluid wines hail from Oregon's Troon Vineyards in the Applegate Valley.  If you're looking for a crowd-pleaser, it's "the wine for everyone"--in their own words.  $12.00
 Hey Mambo Kinky Pink 2010:  A California Pinot Noir Rosé.  A tasty, dry rosé that will cool off a hot afternoon, accompany salmon on the barbeque, or otherwise serve any function you desire of a dry rosé.  Good value--and a fun name.  $10.50
 Melrose Two Dog Red 2009:  Sweet but not too sweet, with a residual sugar of 1.7%, this rosé contains a fair amount of Pinot Gris.  Another easy quaffer for a warm summer night, it would also make a good aperitif with many hors d'oeuvres.  $12.00
 Cardwell Hill Rosé of Pinot Noir 2011:  From a small producer of excellent Pinot Noir, Cardwell Hill's Rosé is dry and bright with a cherry/berry nose and a fresh finish.  A fine value and versatile dinner guest from the Willamette Valley.  $10.50
 Charles & Charles Rosé 2011:  Yes, you can drink rosé and still be bad... Edgy packaging and copy, and a solid mouthful of dry, bright syrah rosé.  A bucket of ice is all it lacks.  $10.50
 Del Rio Rosé Jolee: A rosé that tastes sweeter than its official figure of .5% residual sugar because of the predominance of the heavenly fragrant Early Muscat that makes up 63% of the blend.  17% Riesling and 20% blend of red grapes makes up the rest of this salmon-colored wine that would be equally at home with spicy Asian food or a cheesecake dessert.  $11.75
 This list is not exhaustive, and it doesn't even touch sparkling rosés, which also come in a spectrum ranging from the fascinating, complicated, and elegant to fizzy pink grown-up soda-pop.  As the season warms up (yes, it will--I think it will...) we'll be seeing more rosés from France, Spain, and Italy.  Ask Ziggy to tell you exactly what's in stock!
Josh: "I don't have to go away for the weekend, I'm already here, " says Fern's Edge Goat Dairy owner, Shari, as she casts a proud glance across her farm indicating her view of Dexter Lake through the trees. She has been raising award-winning dairy goats at her beautiful farm in Lowell since the early 1970's.  

Happy goats produce good-quality milk, and her goats have every reason to be happy.  Each goat is named and cared for as a member of the family, grows up on organic feed, dutifully produces milk, and then retires with her fellow "beloved old ladies" to live out her days in the bucolic pastures of the farm.  She pays to have each goat's milk tested every three weeks to ensure the health of the animals and the quality of the milk.  Her impeccably-clean dairy results in fresh, clean-tasting cheeses that would never be described as "goaty".  
I chose to celebrate this devotion to sustainable farming, happy, healthy goats, and high-quality local cheese, by selecting Fern's Edge Goat Dairy's pride and joy, their Mt. Zion aged goat cheese, for this month's wine and cheese pairing:
The Wine: Territorial Vineyard's Rosé is fruity, bright and clean, portending of lazy summer evenings to come.
The Cheese: Mt. Zion is a raw, toothsome aged artisan farmstead goat cheese in the style of a Spanish Manchego.  This cheese serves as a showpiece for a great collaboration between the goat herd owner and cheese-maker that brings together decades of of dairy goat experience with generations of cheese-making experience.
The Pairing: A good, straight-ahead, innocently refreshing rosé meets an older, more seasoned cheese and suddenly becomes more interesting.  

Celebrate well-made local food and drink and enjoy!

Books Over Movies

I finally gave in to the nagging of my Netflix queue and watched the movie Forks Over Knives.  I did so dutifully and at times enthusiastically.  I nodded in agreement with certain parts, offered my own commentary to the talking heads and gasped in awe at some of the statistics.  When it was over I expected to feel inspired.  What I felt instead was a little dismayed.  I kept thinking “I don’t want to be sick.  I want to be healthy!  Do I have to be vegan?”  I am not a vegan, though I do admire those who are.  If you are anything like me and these types of questions plague you too, let me cheerfully recommend the BOOK Forks Over Knives.

Foremost, it is a cookbook with over 100 mouth watering recipes.  There is a list of handy kitchen tools that make quick work of all the fruits and veggies you’ll be making into masterpieces.  There is even a conversion chart in the back.  The recipes range from the most basic like Steamed Veggies with Brown Rice (pg. 137) to the new and intriguing like Green Pea Guacamole (pg. 74).  Interspersed are short biographies of the doctors, their patients, and other folks who support this way of eating.  

Notice I didn’t call it a diet.  When I think of a diet, I think of all the things I can’t eat.  This is a way of eating that reminds me of the abundance and variety of all the things I can eat!  By and large the message is that we shouldn’t worry about eating a particular food to get enough of a particular nutrient.  If we focus on eating a variety of foods, and not using animal products as the foundation, we will be exposing ourselves to all the nutrients we need.  

So vegans, vegetarians and the rest of us can take heart - health is attainable and it tastes so good! 

  Looking for more plant-based culinary inspiration?  Check out Fields of Greens.  Based on recipes from the Greens Restaurant in San Francisco, it is a treasure trove of vegetarian dishes. 

An Unlikely Duo

     It’s a tale as old as time.  An unlikely duo teaming up to save the day and teach us all a valuable lesson.  Our hero’s: Tom Hunton and Charlie Tilt, owners of Hunton’s Farm and Hummingbird Wholesale respectively.  One a grower of grain, one a distributor.  Both located here in the scenic Willamette Valley.  So what is it that brings these two businessmen together?  

To answer this we must start at the beginning and ask another question.  How do those hard little kernels of grain turn up on your plate in the form of cereal and bread?  It is through the magic of milling!  And now, thanks to these two enterprising daredevils, for the first time in over 80 years, the Willamette Valley boasts its very own stone flour mill.

Years ago, these types of grist mills were common along many of the waterways of the Willamette Valley.  As grain farmers turned to grass seed production, and a preference for white bread developed among their consumers, many of these mills were forced to close.  Where there is no grain being grown, there is no need for a flour mill.  And so it went for a long time.  

As the economy began to change and the price of grass seed changed with it, the Hunton’s realized the need to re-strategize.  Enter Charlie and Julie Tilt and their business Hummingbird Wholesale.  If the Hunton’s were going to grow grains (and beans, as it turns out), it would only make good economic sense to mill them locally as well.  Hauling a commodity hundreds of miles to be milled and processed and then shipping it back is not only increasing the carbon footprint of a product, but also unnecessarily increasing the cost.

 

And so, with their forces combined, (and some help from eDev and the City of Eugene), they built a mill.  As with any construction project, things got complicated, but they persevered.  Working with an eye towards the future they created a mission statement and a set of goals to support continued viability, provide resources to farmers in the valley, implement innovative practices, and foster an environment of optimism and collaboration.  

As individuals, when we choose to support these products and businesses, we can have far-reaching effects on our local and subsequently global economies, standards of health and living, and what society holds as important.  We can all be heroes!       

Don't Drink the Green Beer

     It's time for another monthly wine and cheese pairing!  Except, this month, in honor of St. Patrick's Day, we are featuring Oakshire Beer and a few delectable varieties of Irish Cheese!

     Josh, Ziggy, and I were fortunate enough to visit Oakshire's facilities and see for ourselves what makes this beer so special.  Our friendly hosts Sam and Ariel greeted us warmly and put us right to work tasting a flight of their finely crafted beer.  As the weather raged outside, we were warm and comfortable in their tasting room which opens up into the fermenting and bottling rooms.

The barstools are re-purposed casks.

A flight of tasty beer.

     When we were all done in the tasting room, Sam took us on a tour of the fermentation and bottling rooms.  He walked us through each step of the process, from grain to keg.  What stood out was the cleanliness, organization and efficiency of the whole operation.
     In 2006 Oakshire was founded by two brothers who were home brewers.  The giant, gleaming stainless steel tanks make it obvious that the company has come a long way since then.  What hasn't changed is their dedication to producing a beer that is rooted in artisanship and craftsmanship, which is what their oak tree logo represents.

     So what was that I mentioned about cheese?  Read on for tasting notes from our two resident experts!

Ziggy: We tried a flight of the current brews, ranging in taste from the bright and light-bodied Amber through to their rich and robust Overcast Espresso Stout.  Sam told us that the original recipe Oakshire began with was similar to the Amber.  The Watershed IPA is crisp and lively with the fresh taste of floral hops -- the fragrance and taste definition of fresh beer is one big reason to buy local!  We also tried the Domaine du Lane, a French Farmhouse Ale, which is available at the brewery.  Inspired by Belgian ales, I found the taste complex with layers of fruit, and yeast.  Delicious!  While we are featuring the O'Dark:30 in our pairing of the month, it would be a shame to let the other terrific Oakshire beers pass without a nod.  I tried a bottle of the Overcast Espresso Stout with our four Irish cheeses.  The espresso in the Espresso Stout is the aptly-named Chupacabra blend from Wandering Goat, and Sam tells us the stout contains about a shot's worth of espresso per pint.  The brisk espresso flavor comes through and combines with the rich, toasty chocolate notes of the dark malt.  Overcast has a rich and creamy mouth feel and a well-balanced palate with both sweet and bitter notes, definitely not a cloyingly sweet stout.  Myself and my tasting partner thought the Dubliner was a stellar combination with the Overcast.  The ale brought out the sweetness of the cheese and accented its buttery quality, while the cheese brought out the toastiness and velvety smoothness of the ale.  Another excellent combination was the porter cheese.  This cheese in itself is rich, creamy, and smooth as ice cream.  We found that it complemented the bitter notes and accentuated the coffee flavor of the stout.

Josh: March is in like a lion this year, and so is the ferociously bold O'Dark:30, the seasonal beer from Oakshire Brewing.  This full-bodied dark ale begins with an assertive dry hopped aroma and mellows to a dark malt finish.  With a perfectly contrived balance between bitterness and sweet notes, this beer provides exciting possibilities for pairing with cheese.  In honor of St. Patrick's Day and our recent visit to the brewery, I decided to employ the O'Dark:30 as a match for a few of The Kiva deli's Irish cheeses.  Good beer and good cheese make for a good time; however, one of the combinations worked really well for me.  Kerrygold's 12 month aged Dubliner, with its salty crunch and a hint of sweetness paired particularly well with the O'Dark:30.

     Well folks, there you have it!  So remember this St. Patrick's Day to eat, drink and be merry, just not the green beer.  Cheers!

Josh and Ziggy!