Spice is so very nice - By Bobbie Holob
Tiffin Picnic - Photo by Kathleen Daunhauer
…walk’in the dog and think’in about spice : ) I walk my dog Bree, (my trusty canine companion) a loving golden retriever of 8 years and consider it my bit of yoga. First thing in the morning (after coffee!), and before work and when the day comes to a close. I get thinking far too much and it often ends up being a bit of a work brainstorm! It’s fun for me and often uplifting and energizing…a good way to wake up.
Today on the yoga-dog-walk my thoughts drifted to more things I love about the shop of Plenty. There is a lot to love in between our 4 walls. Most recently I seem to be fixated on our spice bazaar. I love gazing at our ‘wall’ of spice! Not only do we just have spice - we have very FRESH and FRAGRANT spice. Need I say more?! It’s very common when a customer enters the store, their nose tilts up ever so slightly, maybe a wrinkle; they smile and exclaim what a wonderful aroma and ask what it is! I think it’s our spice bazaar aromas wafting and swirling about the shop….a bit magical! I cannot think of a more pleasant or natural aromatherapy!
I vividly remember when a recent order of ground cumin arrived from The Gathering Place - a wonderful small (family owned) group on Cortes Island. The scent was overwhelming, potent; I felt transported for a moment to some bustling exotic spice market. Ah the powerful sense of smell! I recently asked Trevor about the star anise motif for Plenty and was told that Trevor and Erica selected it because of its wonderful scent and flavour, its unique medicinal attributes, and its striking aesthetic appeal. I also discovered this Asian spice is a member of the Magnolia family. I think the subtle sweet licorice scent of star anise also lingers in the shop.
Dirty Wall Project’s 1st Anniversary Dinner
Cindy & Todd Ryan created Sally Bun (two doors down from Plenty) and recently sold it in order to devote time to their son’s foundation, The Dirty Wall Project. Their son, Kane, has headed up a remarkable project that builds schools and hosts medical clinics in India. The DWP is currently developing a sports field and garden in the Saki Naka slum area of Mumbai. The anniversary dinner will help raise funds for this project and others. We are pleased to provide an auction item for the dinner. So please attend and bid for a collection of great Plenty goods.
Cindy recently spent time in slum homes to watch and learn how to cook amazing, simple, Indian food. DWP will be publishing a cookbook of the recipes to raise funds. Watch for it at Plenty.
Food For Thought - PechaKucha Night
The 3rd Volume of PechaKucha Night Victoria will focus on yummy food…slow food, organic farms, community food groups, local food entrepreneurs, local drink entrepreneurs, local food stylists, local food photographers, urban food foresters, local chefs, local food enthusiasts, food designers…what a great way to celebrate the summer in Victoria!
August 12, 2010 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm at Victoria Event Centre, 1415 Broad Street $10/$8students
PechaKucha Night was devised in Tokyo in February 2003 as an event for young designers to meet, network, and show their work in public. It has turned into a massive celebration, with events happening in hundreds of cities around the world, inspiring creatives worldwide. Drawing its name from the Japanese term for the sound of “chit chat”, it rests on a presentation format that is based on a simple idea: 20 images x 20 seconds. It’s a format that makes presentations concise, and keeps things moving at a rapid pace.
PechaKucha Night started as a simple idea for a one-off event, devised by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Klein Dytham architecture as the first event held at their creative kitchen SuperDeluxe in Tokyo, in February 2003. Since then it has grown into an international movement.
FRESH: new thinking about what we’re eating
OPEN CINEMA and Food Roots are collaborating on a special screening event of “FRESH: new thinking about what we’re eating”.
On Wednesday, September 22nd, OPEN CINEMA Season Eight launches with the Victoria premiere of “FRESH: new thinking about what we’re eating” followed by open forum discussion. The event starts at 7pm, the discussion will start around 8.30pm and the evening will wrap-up by 10pm.
Food Roots is also hosting a Canning Workshop: Time to Preserve the Harvest. It takes place on Wednesday, August 18th form 6:30 - 9:30 pm at the Fairfield-Gonzales Community Centre Kitchen (1335 Thurlow, east end of Sir James Douglas School). Register by Tuesday, August 17th by sending your name, email address and phone number to Lee Fuge, leefuge[at]pacificcoast[dot]net or call 250-385-7974 and leave the requested information.
Plenty Turns Four!
Photo courtesy of Robi Smith at Blue Lantern Studio
Erica and I opened Plenty’s doors almost four years ago, on August 8th, 2006! Since its opening Plenty has developed a wonderful, loyal, and supportive following - thank-you to each of you for finding us and telling your friends, family, strangers, colleagues(…) about Plenty. I said this last year for our third anniversary and I’ll repeat it as it remains as true as ever: it’s your enthusiasm and support that weaves us into the community and keeps Plenty going. For anyone who is reading this but hasn’t been into the store yet please have a look at some of the friendly things people have been saying and then visit us to see for yourself.
Fair trade treasures have arrived!
Images courtesy of Nkuku
Their products are inspired by the traditional skills of artisans throughout Africa and India. The name ‘Nkuku’ was borrowed from a village in Zambia. They combine contemporary designs with age-old techniques, natural materials and sustainable methods of production to ensure each product is truly exceptional.
Come in to see spectacular hand-painted tiffins and other great items from Nkuku such as bowls, lanterns, pitchers, mugs, and salad servers.
A Public Market “within 30 years”?
Victoria Public Market 1891-1959, Victoria Archives
The City of Victoria is currently inviting feedback on the Draft Downtown Core Area Plan. There was a Community Forum held at the Conference Centre on Friday and it continues Saturday from 10 am - 4 pm where the city is seeking feedback on the downtown plan and the Official Community Plan.
The Draft Downtown Core Area Plan mentions the prospect of a permanent public market for the city (on page 80) under the heading “Urban Animation”. It discusses the development of outdoor cafe and dining areas and continues:
9.4.22 Review and update the City’s policy on public markets to:• Determine guidelines and standards for maintaining and expanding
existing markets and for establishing new markets.
• Identify the conditions and thresholds that must be met to trigger the development of a central public market within the 30-year term of this Plan.
Public markets provide much more than ‘urban animation’ but I am pleased to see that a public market is at least contemplated. I’m greatly discouraged though by the timeframe given. A permanent public market is needed within 5 years - not within 30. If you agree please contact the city to say so: ocp@victoria.ca, or attend the Saturday forum, or one of their future downtown planning events to say so in person.
Shortbread and Gelato Tasting on Friday!
Join us this Friday, June 25th Noon to 2 pm for a fantastic tasting of sorbeto and shortbread!
Lifecycles Fruit Tree Project will be sampling their new plum sorbeto and The Cookie Crate will be sampling a selection of their wonderful sweet shortbreads.
We carry two other types of gelato and sorbeto from the Fruit Tree Project and Salt Spring Island Gelato:
Fruit Tree Apple Pie Gelato – Locally harvested apples combined with a special spice mixture create the next best thing to mom’s apple pie.
Fruit Tree Pear Sorbeto – Locally grown and harvested pears. Refreshing and full of flavour.
Profits from the sale of these flavours are split between the Fruit Tree Project and Salt Spring Gelato. Click here to read an earlier posting about the Fruit Tree Project.
LifeCycles Fruit Tree Project appreciates the opportunity to partner with local, social-minded companies like Salt Spring Island Gelato. This partnership allows us to expand our membership, advocate for local food systems and economies, and raise funds in a sustainable and ethical fashion. The Fruit Tree Project redistributes over 25,000 lbs of food a year, food that would otherwise go to waste.
Jo-Ann Palmer and Pebbles Walker make wonderful shortbread cookies just up Island at The Cookie Crate in Black Creek, BC. The savory line includes blue cheese and walnut, white cheddar and herb, and our curry and currant. The sweet line consists of original, lemon and almond.
International Picnic Day is Friday, June 18th
Window display by Rebecca, photo by Trevor
Have you made plans for International Picnic Day yet? It’s on Friday, June 18th - so prepare to converge on Beacon Hill Park or another grassy patch with friends and family for some bites to eat under the evening sun and stars.
Tara Austen Weaver has a wonderful blog called Tea and Cookies where she vividly describes a picnic. Here is part of her posting (visit her blog for beautiful descriptions, photos, and recipes):
But more than the food—which was outstanding—were the people. Friends old and new, some met that very day. A conversation that dipped and wove its way through stories and laughter and strong opinions. The sharing of thoughts and hopes and experience, and even outrage sometimes, as the sun arched across an impossibly blue sky and headed for the horizon.
It reminded me of a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that I’ve always loved:
I wish that life should not be cheap, but sacred. I wish the days to be as centuries, loaded, fragrant.
And here is a link to another of her great posts about the pleasure of picnics.
Thursday’s Flowers
Flowers from Cotyledon Farm - photo courtesy of Mary-Lou Leidl
Summer has arrived with fresh cut flower deliveries starting again! Fresh cut flowers are delivered every Thursday at noon and sell out by Sunday. Brian Stretch of Cotyledon Farm on Mount Newton Cross Road grows these fantastic non-spray flowers. Brian’s niece Heather operates a certified organic blueberry and vegetable farm on a section of his property as part of Saanich Organics and he grows about an acre of beautiful flowers and perennials.