OK,

So I usually write about recipes and what not, but I just read a very disturbing article on MSN that said global warming is going to affect malted barley production and will increase the price of beer. I think my heart just stopped beating. Polar bears, arctic tundra, increased sea levels and now beer might become an endangered species…oh my!

Now before you all (and me) get our arms up in a roar, this study was made in Australia and New Zealand. One of my favorite beers, Coopers in from down under and now I am fully behind the global warming/green bandwagon, if it will save some south Pacific islands and my favorite beer.

Now one might think that this is only a local event, and will only effect those in AU and NZ, but this theory is flawed. Global warming will effect us all and beer, wine and all other distilled beverages, or all beverages for that fact will have their production compromised due to a lack of fermentables. While we watch the growing regions of the planet shrink and increasingly turn to biofuels as a failed attempt to wean ourselves off burning things to create power, we will lose beer in the process. Might as well just close up shop and call it a day, cause if we watch ourselves lose the ability to brew beer, we are staring our fate in the mirror.

I , therefore am now committing myself to walking to work 2x a week, more if I do not have to run errands during the build out. Once the restaurant is open, weather permitting I’ll walk every day to do my part to save beer (and the polar bears ;)).

R U in???

chefRob

more on this subject can be found here,

Beer lovers beware!

If you are into keeping beer off the endangered species list, please sign up/in to this blog and post a comment (and a link) to your site/post stating that you will do all you can or will discuss this subject. Since I have to moderate all comments, the non-spam links I will leave…and I will check to see if there is a post/article/page at the other end talking about this horrible fate we face together….Cheers!

1 Comment »

Tea…I always think about tea when I’m not feeling well, and today is one of those days. It was a long week at the restaurant, writing menu’s and working on getting a new logo, the bar built and making sure that the ansul system is being installed properly. I did take the time to go to a Rational demonstration and got to sample some pretty great food. For those who are not in the know, a Rational oven is this crazy oven from Germany that can do 8 things at once…really. Check it out here. It does seem to take some of the fun out of cooking, if you ask me…Now back to the tea.

While I was living in Vietnam we had some guests at the resort that were from south Asia, Pakistan and Bangladesh to be exact. After their group had finished dinner I was lucky enough to have some time to chat with them. It’s always interesting to meet diplomats oversees. After the 20 questions on how and why I ended up in central Vietnam we got to talking about tea. There are 2 teas that I really enjoy, Jasmine and Guava.

Continue Reading »

No Comments »