Food

The highlight of my weekend was a visit to the Verrollet goat farm in Preslette, a tiny village in Haute-Savoie (Eastern France, near the Swiss border). Turns out fresh goat milk is pretty flippin’ awesome — and not as creamy as I expected. Thanks to Lucy for inviting us along, and taking awesome photos, like this one:

The Wall Street Journal, February 10 2009: But last spring, some of the temple’s neighbors decided they’d had their fill. They asked the city’s zoning board to shut down what they call a “commercial enterprise” operating in a residential zone. At a public hearing, a dozen neighborhood opponents sounded off: Some said they couldn’t stand the “offensive odors” of Thai food being prepared; others objected to litter, traffic and clanging pots early in the morning. One compared the temple to…

With Obama in the White House, France is hoping to have a much better relationship — at least culturally and culinarily — with the US. However, shortly before leaving office, the Bush Administration approved a 100 percent import duty on a bunch of EU items. France is upset because one of its main cheeses, roquefort, is being hit with a 300 percent tariff. Many read this as one of the Bush Administration’s flipping the bird against France, who still have…

I spent a couple hours this weekend making this map based on info collected by Lucy Vanel and by the city of Villeurbanne. Feel free to send me updates, tips, or suggestions!

Apparently in early 2001, David Manilow, one of the creators of “Check, Please!” sold his idea for a food TV show to Chicago’s WTTW. One of the early episodes, filmed in August 2001, featured a young state senator named Barack Obama, who was one member of the four-person panel to review Chicago’s Dixie Kitchen. According to The Internet Food Association: The episode was never broadcast. Obama didn’t seem “amateur” enough, and he dominated the show. But on [January 16 2009],…

I just got an email from taco truck lawyer Phil Greenwald: “The Judge accepted my arguments notwithstanding the opposition filed by the District Attorney’s Office. The Judge ruled the ordinance ‘unconstitutional.’” More at CaliforniaTacoTrucks.com.

Amigos, I’ve finally put together an online reference as to the precise legal nature of California and LA County law as applicable to taco trucks, and have provided some excerpts from last month’s LA County Board of Supervisors meeting whereby things got a bit more difficult for trucks in the unincorporated part of the county. Viva los taco trucks!

With origins in Mexico, a dash of Americanizations and a kitchen on wheels, taco trucks are the perfect metaphor for California. They represent cheap and quality street food that has spread from Calexico to Yreka and beyond. Anyone who loves an honest horchata, a good burrito and solid torta knows where to find these roving brigades of deliciousness. California Taco Trucks was started as a way for five Californians to explore this intersection and confluence of geography, culture, photography and,…

January 24 2008 Tacos Garcia Soscol St. at McKinstry Napa, CA Note: Advertised “Burrito Diablo de Camarón $8.50” Tacos Dos Hermanos Sonoma St at Soreno St. Vallejo, CA Tacos Jalisco Texas St. at Broadway Vallejo, CA Note: “Tacos de Birria” La Perla de Jalisco 1 block north of Kentucky St. at Alameda Vallejo, CA

I finally finished uploading photos from my two most recent solo crawls. March 1 2008 Tacos Panzon Campbell and Grand Ave. Oakland, CA Tacos Toñito Herman and Huntington Ave. (Under I-380 overpass) San Bruno, CA Tacos El Ranchito El Camino Real at Jenevin Ave. (Across from the Fire Station) San Bruno, CA Tacos El Ranchito #2 El Camino Real at Center St. (near McDonald’s) Millbrae, CA La Conchita El Camino Real and Hillcrest Ave. Millbrae, CA Note: Pastor was *really*…