Big Game, Hunting, Cowboys & Rugged Stuff…………..

Wild Wyoming

Wyoming has a population of 568,000 people covering roughtly 97,000 square miles.  The sparsest populated state in the country, and probably one of the most rugged, desolate, and wild places out there.  To put the popluation density into perspective for those of you East coasters, Brooklyn has a population of 2.5 million people covering roughtly 97 square miles.  The constrast to New York is about as vast as one can get, and to witness Wyoming is to feel this sharp contrast.  This feeling exudes, and is one of openess and expansiveness like no other place I have experienced, not even when I was in the middle of the dessert in Jordan.  Adaption in Wyoming is a way of life.  The horses, for instance, grow a thick coat of fur like I have never seen in the horse world.  The moose and elk head for the lowlands in order to avoid walking through 10-20 feet of snow that would basically suffocating them in its deepness.  The wolves are out in full force year round.  The bears, of course, just sleep through the winter and the people adapt by hunting, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, fly fishing, hiking, and all of the other activities that fit the terraine and allow them to use the land to the best of their ability.  Food, shelter, water and everything that is needed to adapt to these powerful climates and changes in geography is evident in not only the wild animals that abound Wyoming, but in the people as well. 

 When my youngest brother and his family decided to move to Wyoming, I have to admit I was a little shocked.  They had been living in New Jersey, working for my fruit and vegetable company. They never adpated well to living there, so I knew they needed to get away, but to move to the middle of nowhere seemed excessive, and with two young kids I was worried.  But when I went to visit them in December, I realized the allure.  I don’t consider myself a city person by any means but I like accessibility and my love of New York City is because of its accessibility to the world. Brooklyn still has a smaller city feel to it that I enjoy, so Wyoming wasn’t actually a far stretch for me,  as I like and have always liked “country” living, having lived it somewhat at various stages of my life.  My journey to Wyoming was the most peaceful vacation I have been on, which is amazing considering the brutal weather, terrain and vastness of the country.  Minimal, hazy cell reception, slow download and upload speeds on the internet and no really urban life around us.  I was “stationed” in Riverton, Wyoming, which is about 3 hours west of Jackson Hole in the flat part of the State (most if Wyoming is flat, but this is very flat).  Now most of us are familiar with Yellowstone and Jackson Hole, but the other parts of Wyoming are what I think are the most interesting parts.  During the beginning of the vacation we were a bit landlocked as the kids (my niece and nephew) were still in school and their mother working.  So my brother and I did typical Wyoming things – we rode horses, shot guns and bows and arrows, and cooked lots of pig that they had raised and butchered.   We also spilit wood, picked ice out of the horses’ hooves, and then we ate, slept and woke up the next day and did it again.  We drove up to some nearby mountains for sledding next to an old ghost town called Atlantic City.  That was spectacular, with no one around, and fresh hills discovered by us and only for us, with not another person in sight.  It was a sunny warm day and a decent amount of snow.  The sledding was perfect, the kids were happy, and I was relaxed and had easily adapted to the idea of not working, disconnecting and finding my inner youth spirit (by the end of the day I had several bruises!).  We concluded by having a homecooked meal in the ghost town on Christmas Eve afternoon of cheese burgers, tator tots, deep fried jalapenos, local BBQ sauce, and of course beer!  The talk was of the fresh wolf tracks nearby that fascinated us and terrified the locals.  Wolves are not well liked in Wyoming as it turns out.

Grand Tetons

 Christmas was simple and filled with meat and cheese, and despite my ideals about eating tons of vegetables, I adapted to the fact that we were in the middle of nowhere during winter and so the fresh ham, again raised by my brother and butchered by a local, glazed in an amber-brown sugar glaze was perfect.  I even got to make up a new recipe for an upside down carmelized vanilla orange- cranberry cast iron cake! It was a lovely Christmas with great people and the simplicity of it all was extremly special.

 For New Years, we rented a cabin in the mountains about an hour west of Jackson Hole at a higher elevation and at the top of a pass in snowmobile country.  It was remote, isolated and the opposite of Jackson Hole’s tourist destination.  There was a restaurant, a bar, a little store, a gas station and a few cabins and rooms.  Outside of that, it was all mountains, miles and miles of trails for snowmobiling, and  fresh snow continuously coming down while we were there which was amazing.  We rode four-whellers around, there was more sledding, and we did sightseeing in the mountains where we saw bald eagles and wolf tracks.  We also saw some amazing kite snow boarders and lots of families snowmobiling, and met amazing folks from all around the country who were just out there having fun.  For New Year’s Eve we made a nice dinner in our cabin, watched a lot of Moonshiners episodes and drank beer.  We went to the local bar at our lodge while the kids watched movies  (the bar was literally 50 feet from the cabin!) and we met and spoke to the locals.  We learned about hunting bear and wolf and how to cook cowboy beans.  Wyoming is a free range state and I learned that this is why it’s known as cowboy country.  All the livestock gets to roam free up in the mountains, and essentially all over, and then the ranchers and cowboys round them up.  Since so many of the cattle and sheep move up into the mountains they need people on horseback to round them up.  I also learned that the dogs do most of the work.  There are lots of cowboys who break horses and brand cattle, eating over fires and smelling of those campfires with a hint of leather.  We met a guy named Cowboy Bill who spoke at great length about kids not knowing how to braid, that they can play video games but not know a thing about braiding.  He spoke about all the leather braiding he did and how he learned it as a child on horses (that is ironically how I learned to braid as well!) I also learned that the Grand Tetons were named after tits, which I thought was quite funny! We visited a town called Crowheart up in the mountains where a Crow Indian and Shoshoni Indian had a duel and the Shoshoni won and ate the Crow’s heart, thus the name.  I would love to say that the story goes on and on and that we stayed up all night and danced in the New Year, but honestly I went to bed at about 10 PM!  I’m not much of a New Year’s gal, and had been having such a great time that I was simply and wonderfully tired.  I thought a lot about what all my friends were doing on New Year’s and knew that so many of them wouldn’t have been able to handle this.  It was nothing extravagant – there was no champagne, no dressed up ladies, no perfume smell in the air –  just the mountains and the people, talking and having laughs over beer.  It was easy for me to adapt to, but I wondered how many people could. 

The following day we woke up and showered and went to Jackson Hole for some snowboarding. The drive to Jackson was amazing and I imagine that outside of winter it would be filled with many other animals.  As it was we saw elk, buffalo, moose and bald eagles and I’m telling you these sights never get old!  The Grand Tetons are an amazing sight and the road we traveled down was right alongside them the entire time.  We arrived in Jackson Hole on New Year’s Day.  I had never been before and had heard nice things.  It was cute, nestled in the mountains, and expensive, filled with things that big cities and rich folks are accustomed to such as fine dining, art and kitschy places like bars with saddle stools.  Now don’t get me wring, I like fine dining, I love art and I like kitschy in the right dose, but because I had just come from the other “sector” of Wyoming, it just all seemed fake and like Disneyland plopped in the middle of this great, rugged place.  It was filled with people from all over the country and while that part I liked, it also changed it, making it seem less authentic.  I had grown fond of the Wymoing I had come to love in the weeks prior. Nevertheless we stayed the night to make our big dreams of snowboarding a reality the next day.  With the astronomical costs of snowboaridng and skiing (I have yet to understand how families can afford this!) we spent a better part of the day on the cheaper of the two slopes.  With two kids ages 5 and 10, we spent most of the time in the snow face down (I myself had the same problem with the snowboard) and so decided to trade our snowboards in for skis so that I might actually have some enjoyment. After a day (more like 4 hours) we packed up and headed home to the same amazing sights and beautiful views.  My journey to Wyoming was ending with only a few days left.  I had adapted to the rugged ways quite well and was starting to dread a bit the idea of my hectic life back home, but ultimately I like my life in New York.  Wyoming had become a constant nudge, letting me know that I need to have a wild rugged place to go for myself, that it’s a necessary thing for the soul.

On my last day, my brother and his wife had to work but the  kids were still off of school so we ventured to the largest hot springs in the world in Thermopolis, Wyoming.  2,575 gallons of hot (135 degree) waters running per minute! Shoshoini Indian flocked to this area beacause of the therepeutic waters and healing properties.  Located next to the Wind River today, the area is a public attraction bringing people from all over Wyoming and beyond to soak in the waters.  There are even water parks – yes, hot spring water parks – open year round.  On the day we went it was crazily warm weather so we were able to swim and play in the outdoor pools surrounded by snow without risking frostbite.  Afterwards we went to Hot Springs State Park and hiked, witnessing the colorful minreal rocks and canyons and looked, but unfortunately never saw the big bison heards that roam there.  On the journey home through Wind River Canyon, we stopped for a picnic in the snow along the river and listened to the quiet of the canyon.  We saw some big cat tracks and enjoyed the warm and cold of it all.

My trip to Wyoming was simply perfect.  While seeing my family was the best part, I learned a great deal about myself and my current life, and about people and the world, which is ultimately why I love to travel anywhere.  I realized yet again that my ability to adapt allows me to truly enjoy all of my experiences and that no matter where I am, I need to keep adapting and discovering new, rugged wild parts of myself and other places thoughout the world.

When Even A Whisk Can’t fix it…………..

Nissa’s Home Kitchen

But A Drink Might! For the last nine year I resided in the same home in Park Slope, it is the only place DI have lived in New York and I don’t really have plans of moving. This month as we talk failure, it’s only fair we take a good look into my kitchen, where a lot of failures have occurred and where most of the personal life failures have been addressed from. I am somewhat lucky to have a large apartment in New York, its rare and I have a yard for Sadie which is also rare, the kitchen, albeit small, was extremely alluring to me from the get go due to its open shelf design. As many of you are aware I love this open shelf way of living in the kitchen and this type of design is one we also implemented into Ger-Nis Culinary & Herb Center as well. I typically like a few cupboards to hide things but other than that I like everything out in the open, dishes, jars of nuts, seeds, spices etc. (Little secret my clothes closet is the same way!) I like it bright and truthfully kind of like my kitchen a little cluttered and flooded with art form my sister in law. Even Sadie has her own Burro painting that hangs over her food and water dishes in the kitchen. My kitchen, even as small as it is, with an oven that won’t open all the way because of the radiator, is essentially my home and thus a place where failures happened (literally and figuratively) as well as were figured out (literally and figuratively).

Probably my most memorable failure in the kitchen was when I was making my very first meal for a man I quite enjoyed. He was the Ger in Ger-Nis and I remember being so excited to make him dinner, he had not yet experienced the talents of my cooking and I was excited to have him take witness to them. I remember the evening like it was yesterday and it was about 8 ½ years ago to be exact. I was making a dish that was a staple of mine, the dish all my friends and family would have me make for special occasions, fennel, black pepper, and lemon zest crusted tuna with scallops & shrimp in a spicy and herbaceous tomato sauce served over herbed couscous. This was a dish I could do in my sleep and that I had even done will completely intoxicated and there had never been a soul who thought the dish was anything less than perfection, until that evening with the Ger in Ger-Nis! I knew it was going to be a bomb because I was struggling in everything I did, from the hand grinding of the peppercorns to the zesting of the lemons, the searing of the tuna chunk and even my herb ratios were off. I was so stressed out by this failure that it created a ripple effect of problems, anxiety and in the end a shitty dish. I remember the look on his face, the bland look. That look brought up so many feelings of failure and I know then that there was a serious connection to feelings and the way I cook. To this day my friends will still not believe the dish could have been that bad, but because I know the feelings that were a part of it and that at that time especially I had such a lack of control of my feelings that they essentially controlled my cooking. The road has been a long one since then, with many failures that all led me to this path where I have clearly come to recognize that my feelings; need not only to be separate from who I am but also my cooking. This could only been witnessed by experiencing failure and in this kitchen over the next 7 ½ years after the failed seafood stew, failure was inevitable.

In terms of work I cannot tell you how many mornings making coffee dealing with the import business and Israel, failure after failure in business and many crappy cups of coffee made because of the high stress and emotion, many half made breakfasts fed to the dog. This kitchen was a big source of emotions for me a place where many came to surface. The love life was also not out of context when it came to failures in this kitchen, with many upon many upon many phone conversations & arguments (love types) happening simultaneously while trying to cook dinner and all the emotions that I journeyed through were experienced through many failures in the meals. The irony in much of what I am saying is that while all of this was going on I never realized it. It took the conglomerate of failures to get me to change and witness how my emotions dictated all my actions. Like a class action suit brought against me all my failures finally lined up and said enough. And that is where I am today, slowly learning how to separate my emotions from my being both in life and in my cooking. There are ups and downs, a few days ago after a volatile phone conversation I managed to mangle macaroni and cheese, the dish looked how I felt and I laughed and said it was time to give myself a break!

My New Favorite Tool in the Kitchen & In Life!

Laid Back California, Teaches Me To Hang Back!

On my most recent trip to LA, I stayed in Santa Monica, directly across the street from where I was born, St John’s Hospital.  It was therapeutic in a way as it made me think about the fact that I was began this life at 10 pounds (a little over actually J) and I began my life at the sea, in the warmth and basically surrounded by people who had decided on living a life that was relatively slower than most.,  This is the beach and this is in essence Santa Monica and I think it’s a lot about who I am as well.   Santa Monica is basically the beach of LA and is certainly a bit more laid back, despite it being pretty uppity in general! (Welcome to LA) For years Santa Monica has been home to a diverse crowd, many of Hollywood executives, movie stars, and generally people in the movie & TV business as well as surfers, beach bums and a general folk that if they are going to have to live in LA they are going to live eat the beach.  For me this is the epitome of Santa Monica, folks who despite everything want to wake up to the sea, the salty air whether it be cool or hot, sand in their bed sheets and above all the ability to see sunsets without having to travel too far.  These folks all have two things in common really despite large socio economic backgrounds: first they are willing to pay a good portion of their income to this “beach bum” life style. Second, they are in essence more laid back than others, they have a patience about them that comes from sun and sand. 

This is where things get a little hazy for me, I have lived a large portion of my 38 year old life on the beach, so where is my patience right?  Well I have a few ideas on that topic, number one is that the ocean and the sea help me ground myself and allow me to attempt to reach a level of patience that I am only just understanding.  The beach has a way of grounding and I think its safe to judge beach towns as more patient than most.  Santa Monica is a perfect example of this. Sure it is pretentious (sorry Santa Monica) and it is also a little pompous and bouswazee……but  there is a real element of laid back beach patience here that you can only discover if you live there.  I not only lived there as a child but also as an adult while working for HerbThyme Farms, I lived there a few years and this is the location I stay always anytime I visit LA.  What I love about Santa Monica is that there is a select few of us who understand the layout of the land who can see through the Hollywood, even Hollywood can see through the Hollywood in order to capture the beach patie3nce vibe that exudes through Santa Monica’s soul.

The food scene is no different, of course it is laden with high end places that fall short and don’t deliver, but it is also laden with places that are completely laid back and artistic, just like Santa Monica’s residents have notoriously been.  The amazing food scene that is happening there is natural and easy, like beach hair, wavy and salty and perfect.  The chefs are utilizing local farms and artisans and the places are becoming smaller and smaller, this is not a club scene is an easy breezy vide that is oh so patient, tables turning in about 3 -4 hours as opposed to 2 and a rooted repeated clientele that can only say, patience is a virtue in Santa Monica! The place screams lets do it different, get on board! 

Discovery of the Unexpected & It’s Growth

Petra, Jordan and The Arab World

The Temple Mount

My travels take to me to the middle east a great deal and through my business and personal relationships with the Israelis it has up until now been pretty predominantly on the Jewish sectors, with the exception of the business that we did with the Palestinians and the fresh herbs.  Although certainly I am like most Israelis amongst Arabs in this Jewish world, it always felt just like that; Arabs living in a Jewish place.  Not to say that there are not pockets of places that you felt very much a part of Arab culture and not Jewish, but the overall sentiment and feeling is often that you are in Israel regardless a Jewish controlled state.  Not that that is a problem but after traveling there enough and meeting and knowing a great many Arabs, it just feels different.  So on this latest trip I got the very unexpected opportunity to delve into the Arab world a bit more and into the actual Arab world and not just the Jewish controlled Arab world and it felt totally different and was completely unexpected both in the reality and in the energy that I felt experiencing it.  The unexpected opportunity to experience something different came from the reality that I was traveling not alone and with another American, not my normal Israeli entourage.  This allowed for us to have more opportunity to visit places that were just kind of either off limits to or just avoided by Israelis.

 First, while visiting Jerusalem and the Old City, which I get to do often and feel that I usually have such amazing tour guides, locals who can help me barter and move me through the mazes with ease, but these folks are Israelis and on this occasion as it was just two of us Americans we took the opportunity to go  into the Temple Mount the Eastern Jerusalem section and one of the most important religious sites for both the Jews and the Arabs.  The Temple Mount is said to be so holy that “regular” jews should not go, only rabbi’s are allowed and of course soldiers are free to roam during duty!  The Islamic controlled Eastern Jerusalem controls this section and has since the 60 day war, but with the overseeing and supervised by the Israeli government, which is why some are adamant that this is the Israelis occupying Palestinian Territory.  Tricky business indeed but we wanted to forge through and see for ourselves what was on that other side.  The gate to the Temple Mount the Golden Gate (the pillars said to be a gift of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon) Opens up for tourists to pass through only a few hours of each day on select days.  On this day we were just in time.  The irony is its truly all the same location, the holy lands of all three of these major religions all center around this 50 acre parcel of land really.    As we moved through extra security and up a tiny walkway over the wailing wall, through a bridge loaded with battering rams (just sitting there in case) we walk in an into a very immediately different and unexpected place.  Amazingly old and filled with Arab men and women, sitting, talking and going about there business.  There is not much up there besides the amazing views (some of the best views I have seen from the old city) and the temples and mainly just religious stuff.  We walked in an I immediately got swindled out of 20 sheckels!  The art of conning the tourist knows no boundaries.  They said my dress was too short and I needed to buy this scarf to cover them up.  Later I found out that was not true! Oh well.  We decided to get a tour guide, to allow us a better feel for where we actually were.  I am not a religious person and had no real religious upbrining so I was a bit out of context.  Our guide was amazing and we learned a great deal in a very short amount of time.  Oh yeah we were ona time constraint as well, due to head back for a meeting in Tel Aviv!

So what we learned first and foremost was that I always seemed to be standing right in the pathway of some divine god who was soon to return!  It was a little daunting, I would hate to get in the way of the Messiah coming home.  The jews regard the Temple mount “as the location where god chose the Divine presence to rest and it was from there the wold expanded into its present form and where god gathered the dust to create the first man, Adam. During the Second Temple Period it functioned also as an economical center. From that location the word of God will come out to all nations, and that is the site where all prayers are focused. According to Jewish tradition and scripture, the first temple was built by Solomon the son of David in 957 BCE and destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. The second was constructed under the auspices of Zerubbabel in 516 BCE and destroyed by the Roman Empire in 70 CE. Jewish tradition maintains it is here the Third and final Temple will also be built. The location is the holiest site in Judaism and is the place Jews turn towards during prayer. Due to its extreme sanctity, many Jews will not walk on the Mount itself, to avoid unintentionally entering the area where the Holy of Holies stood, since according to Rabbinical law,some aspect of the Divine Presence is still present at the site.^[2] It was from the Holy of Holies that the High Priest communicated directly with God.

 Among Sunni Muslims, the Mount is widely considered to be the third holiest site in Islam. Revered as the Noble Sanctuary (Bait-ul-Muqaddas) and the location of Muhammad’s journey to Jerusalem and ascent to heaven, the site is also associated with Jewish biblical prophets who are also venerated in Islam.^[ After the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem in 637 CE, Umayyad Caliphs commissioned the construction of the al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock on the site.^[3] The Dome was completed in 692 CE, making it one of the oldest extant Islamic structures in the world, after the Kaabah. The Al Aqsa Mosque rests on the far southern side of the Mount, facing Mecca. The Dome of the Rock currently sits in the middle, occupying or close to the area where the Bible mandates the Holy Temple be rebuilt.^[4]

In light of the dual claims of both Judaism and Islam, it is one of the most contested religious sites in the world. Since the Crusades, the Muslim community of Jerusalem has managed the site as a Waqf, without interruption.^[5] As part of the Old City, controlled by Israel since 1967, both Israel and the Palestinian Authority claim sovereignty over the site, which remains a major focal point of the Arab-Israeli conflict.^[6] In an attempt to keep the status quo, the Israeli government enforces a controversial ban on prayer by non-Muslim visitors.

 The visit was an exciting one and I learned a great deal more about the regions conflicts and the deep rooted religious history that is at the root of it.  There was so much unexpected in this visit from the stand up ladies toilets to the amazing history lesson.  The view was magical really and the powerful energy of the place could not go unnoticed. 

 Petra

 We got on a plane at 6 a, one morning in Tel Aviv headed for Elat, after a huge ordeal of security, which doesn’t seem justified considering we were flying to Elat, but I’m a pro at this and accepted it.  A tour guide picked us up at the airport and transported us to the Jordanian border.  There were 3 other folks in our tour.  One was a French man and the other two a married couple form Estonia!  They were all lovely and we were excited.  The tour guide gave us the drill on the border crossing and was pretty serious and I have to admit I was a bit taken back by what we were about to experience.  So we handed over our passports and got a bright orange sticker placed on our chests. Our Israel border person gave them back to us and we stood in line to get checked out of Israel.  He then pointed to this long walkway between the border, surrounded by barbed wire and seemingly high security.  He said walk down that path and one of our guides will meet you on the other side after Jordanian security checks your passports.  We did just that and for a split second I couldn’t help but think I believe I have seen someone get shot in  a place looks like this in the movies! J But we made it to the other side only to find that our tour guide was not there.  We were a bit taken back but “our group” didn’t seem to mind we were in Jordan and they were excited.  I however was a little worried as borders are serious places, especially between Israel and Jordan.  Our guide finally came and we got checked into Jordan, loaded up in van and on the road to Petra after a short stop in the amazing and clean city of Aqaba on the Red Sea.  My first glimpse into this Arab world was fascinating and totally unexpected.  I saw many of the typical Arab Kiffiyeh or scarf headdress.  Many of the men were wearing long white and other colored cloaks along with that headdress, it was amazing to see.  The city was modern and clean and the people were super friendly and nice.  As we continued on our two hour drive to Petra through some  of the most arid and desolate land I have seen I witnessed camels and donkey sand Bedouins roaming the dessert.  We got to talk politics and learn some basic history in the car ride with our tour guide.  I learned an amazing amount of information that I had no access to prior.  There is so much one learns and absorbs by actually being somewhere.  I was floored by my lack of knowledge of history and excited to learn so many amazing tid bits and political facts.  This amazing journey was totally unexpected and totally rewarding and by far one of the most amazing experiences of my life!

Pondering the Meaning of Family, Hurricanes & Gratitude with Friends

I have lived many of places in my life, all over the USA and a few places abroad.  When I moved to Brooklyn nice years ago (yes it’s been that long!) I felt like I had come home.  Now it’s not like the people are pouring their hearts and souls out and inviting me in for tea and crumpets each and every day.  On the contrary, New Yorkers and Brooklynites, are a bit rash, a bit impatient, direct, and certainly have a bit more assertiveness than the ordinary American.  However, they are real and for me that is the one quality that gives Brooklyn and all the neighborhoods throughout all the five boroughs a great sense of community and family.  There is something about New York in general that allows for this simultaneous comrodery or family spirit all while allowing for a certain independence or freedom.  Maybe it’s the fact that New York is for the most part a transplant city.  First the immigrant history and then the transplants.  People that live here have roots all over, their families live all over the country and the world for the most part and so they are connected to the idea of the need for family communities right here all while keeping the distant ones alive as well.  There are pockets of family communities all over Brooklyn, places where people call home despite no blood relatives living near them.  Long and short term friends that listen and support us as we move through life with this New York spirit of creativity and freedom of sorts.  It doesn’t matter which community you move through in New York and Brooklyn, you see these family communities alive and thriving.  Now we all know that New Yorkers have a bap rap for being  cold, abrasive, short and disinterested to the average tourist that visits, but the truth is New Yorkers are busy people and there is less time for tourists in our everyday lives, this is true, but it is also true that New Yorkers are genuine so they are the first to tell you they have no time, they are also ready to help and genuine about it to the tourists as well.

 So back to Brooklyn and specifically my neighborhood of Park Slope where I have lived nine years now in the same place on Prospect Park.  In Brooklyn as in most family community’s food and family go hand in hand so it’s no wonder that a great part of my Brooklyn family revolves around food, especially for me since I am attracted to it like a magnet!  I have become genuine friends with many of the local restaurant owners and those who work at these establishments. The same goes for the food stores, whether it be wine, beer, cheese, or groceries.  These folks know parts of me that my blood family doesn’t get to see that often……my habits!  Those who know your habits know a real part of you and when we live in communities amongst each other we begin to learn these things.  What we eat, when we eat it, what we buy, who  we come there with,  how much we drink, what we wear etc etc, these things have a way of creating a bond with our community, habits are part of who we are, we also genuinely get to know these folks by frequenting their establishments day after day, so it’s no wonder that these communities begin to take care of one another often times the way families used to.  Even down to giving small loans to each other.  In most cases food is involved and for me this long tradition of breaking bread together really is important in this mix and I think Americans tend to miss out on this concept often, “families who eat together, stay together” and this goes for community and extended families as well!  So I guess the moral of the story is look for family in your community, eat together, grow food together, make food together and support your community family, like Brooklyn does!

A Quest for Food Purity Which Lead to the Discovery of Spirit Authenticity

in myself & in others………..

The long crescent stretch of coastline along the Lingurian Sea and between the Italian Alps in the north of Italy located in the state of Genoa, is considered the Italian Riviera. Famous for its breathtaking sea views and crystal clear waters, small fishing ports and villages typically built on cliffs, a place where mountains meet the sea with little if any meadowlands , it’s romantic allure and breathtaking views paired with the warm sun and ocean breeze, make it the place to be in the summertime.  The houses along the coast are painted in vibrant pinks, oranges and yellows with green window shutters. It’s a quintessential vibrant Italian area, where the sea dominates the culture and traditions. The Italian Riviera stretches from La Spezia to the South all the way along the coast to the border of France and to the French Riviera.  The northern coast of Italy has long been a posh and chic area often with extravagant villas overlooking the sea but still speckled with local traditions, especially in cuisine.   Relatively conservative are the northern coastal Italians, so don’t expect the same kind of topless sunbathers and sexiness that exudes the French Riviera. The Italian Riviera is a bit more sophisticated and conservative, with the heartbeat being tradition and culture. This playground for the rich and famous of Italy and Europe and a newly discovered tourist destination among westerners, mainly due to the Cinque Terre region has become the world’s best and longest secret.

 The cuisine of Linguria is very different from the other regions of Italy.   Filled with fresh seafood’s and fresh herbs specifically basil, marjoram and borage, not to mention a slew of indigenous wild herbs.  The Genovese Basil, one of the most popular and sweetest varieties of basil is coveted by this region (as well as the world) is seen heavily throughout their cuisine, and this Ligurian Coast is known as the home of pesto!  The sweetest basil in the world is the claim of the Lingurians.  The folklore says that the basil that was planted and grown hundreds of years ago next to the sea turned sweeter due to the sea air and salt as it grew in along the warm hillsides of the Lingurian coast.  Basil and pesto are seen throughout the cuisines and the traditional method of pesto making is still seen widely throughout this region of Italy, not to mention that all are completely aware of why this method is the best for pesto.( See Recipe of the Month for more on that)  Outside of the pesto which is pretty predominant, the other key indicators that you are smack dab on the Italian Rivira are other fresh herbs, like the Prebuggiun, an indigenous herb mixture typical in the Lingurian and Genoan cuisine, still traditionally used and foraged however the wild foraged herbs are bought in markets as opposed to harvested in the hillsides for each household. There are still a large handful of professional foragers that forage daily and bring to markets.  Typical herbs used in this mix are, basil, marjoram, borage, spinach, cicerbita, grattalingua, wild chicory, dandelion, meadow chard, nettles,  French scorzner, ribwort plantain, sow thisleleg, wild fennel, salad burnet, red valerian, curled doc, lesse celandine; plus a few other indigenous herbs.  The herbs are typically washed and boiled down into a filling and then either mixed with cheeses and eggs for pansotti or other traditional dishes like the prebuggium per la pasqualina (Easter Cake.)

 Of course on a sea like the Linguarian Sea one can expect to find a plethora of seafood and certainly with an Italian herbal flare. With a rich tradition of fisherman and fishing this area is thick with all elements of the sea. Think seafood pastas and risottos and loads and loads of anchovies. There is lots of octopus, squid and cuttlefish abundant in the dishes as well. The warm Mediterranean sea is  also perfect for olives and a special type that loves basking in the glories of the sea salted sunshine. They say that everything is sweeter in Lingurian because of the sea and the warmth, the olives, the herbs, the vegetables, the pine nuts, the chestnuts and yes even the garlic.  Another of the specialties of the area is focaccia.  This unleaved flat bread is eaten straight out of the oven and smothered in fresh herbs form the region after its baked.

 The region is a passionate crowd as I have/will demonstrate over all in this month’s blog.  They love their traditions and work hard to keep them alive and their food is very much a part of their culture,  The historical data that each and every person contains about food and culture is tremendous.  The indulge in outdoor activity whenever possible, the beach, boating, fishing and hiking and all activities revolve around eating well and traditionally!

Get Me Outta That Box , Get Me Into the Great Outdoors
What You See is What You Get, Get Outside

Sometimes, well……..most often life has a way of sending you signals that a bit of change is needed.  I’ve become more and more in tune with those signals for myself. I’m an interesting lady, I take those signals very seriously and understand that there are important lessons to be learned or a well needed break around the corner when you stop long enough to listen to the signals and then take risks and get outside the box sometimes to take action on those signals.  My life is hectic and full, it has been for some time and I have quite a large responsibility beyond the norm of folks my age and friends and acquaintance around me, I think this is one thing most don’t understand about me.  I don’t complain about it (often J) but I do take the need to unwind and get outside of myself seriously especially the older I get.  A few of the more recent incidents in which judgment was passed on me had weighed heavily on me.  I had been spending a lot of time in my own head, judging myself and others and nothing good was happening of it.  I have a pretty good gauge for when I need a break and when I need to get to “outside” to get some air so to speak. Getting outside can mean many things for sure depending on where you happen to be but regardless of where you are, you can find the place that makes you feel like you are out in the midst of “the great outdoors” and this feeling evokes a opening of the soul that allows one to look within themselves a bit more, doesn’t even mind you have to spend time looking, there is something that just happens when you put yourself in the environment. And I find this opening in my soul to be a magic creator in my cooking repertoire as well.

I live on Prospect Park in Brooklyn and have lived here for 9 years.  I found my place on craigslist randomly and chose it before I ever stepped foot in NYC.  I had two dogs at the time (one has since passed) and I know I needed space, being form California space was something I had been used to and didn’t want to go into shock, nor did I want my dogs to have a hard time adjusting. I also knew that space was pivotal for my mind frame and I wasn’t comfortable with seeking it out in a city environment.  Prospect Park living has given me the space I need.  Walking , running, biking on a bright sunny morning or a foggy raining stroll by the lake is always a mind clearing experience.  I am lucky and smart for living here I think!

Sometimes you just subconsciously know you need a bit more space and I am again lucky I have a family that is spread out all over.  We are like that, free floaters seeking what we need and knowing we help each other along the way.  So recently I was in need a head space, getting further outside sort of trip, the man that thought I was a princess aside and all the other work stuff and personal relationship woes, I needed to get outta dodge.  I went to see my brother Olof and his wife Jenny (my bestest lady friend) and their kids in Fairgrove, Missouri a little town outside Springfield, Missouri or as I call it, Brad Pitts town!  The town is a place I travel too often to visit them and a place whereI feel like they take the need for the great outdoors seriously. There is tons of space and you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere except the five, yes five Wal-Mart’s.  We decided since it was Memorial Day, we would do what most Americans do in the summer, CAMP.  So with a large amount of excitement I prepared to camp, for the first time in a long time.  I like camping, I always have and I belive that just by simply being in the great outdoors, the mind is allowed to relax and subconsciously make progress with whatever the mind is trying to accomplish.

My time in the greatoutdoors did amazing things for my head.  I got to relax and let go but yet my mind was able to keep moving ahead while relaxing. That’s the thing about the great out doors, you don’t even realize how much is happening.  And for me this relaxing environment gives me a new free will to make the most progress in my cooking and recipe creations.  My mind is free to finally be extra creative and inture with my moment, no pressures, just fun.  This is indeed what happened on this trip to the great outdoors in Missouri, I got to create some recipes off the cuff, use my creative spirit as well as let my mind go and relax. 

When we take the time to let go and get “outside” our own heads we automatically are putting ourselves in the perfect environment for healing, idea gathering, growth and above all creativity.  So for me I never seem to forget how important getting outside is, even if it’s only a park.  My best creative work tends to happen during these moments even when I an unaware of it!

Eugene, Oregon

It’s no secret that I often say my life was completely as expected but at the same time completely unexpected.  Eugene, Oregon was one of those pivotal places I found myself in that was a life changer.  A place where my quest beyond the limits of ordinary was easy to find and fit into and like so many other aspects of my life, it was a place that fueled so many things to come both in what I accomplished professionally, personally and spiritually.

Eugene, Oregon can be described in many ways depending on who you speak with.  Some will tell you it’s a red neckish kind of place, some will tell you it’s a college town where the Mighty Ducks are a part of everyday life and some will tell you it’s a hippy village of sorts.  I think the truth as always in most stereotypes, lies somewhere in between all of the encompassing a little of it all and a whole lot more.  For me Eugene Oregon was a place I learned a great deal about who I was deep inside and I learned that the adult I was growing up to be was one that was on the quest beyond the limits of ordinary.  There were many examples around me of folks who were moving and living beyond the ordinary.  The greatest part of being witness to this in Eugene was that, life was simple there so it may not have seemed to outsides how extraordinary some of these people were.  Many of them chose to live a life based on their passions and eco-consciousness long before it became “cool” to do so.  For me this place was a gold mine of being able to travel to the depths of possibilities within yourself.  I remember when I planted my first garden here.  Not only did I start all the seeds, built my own green houses, made my own beds, made my own dirt, covered the paths with bark that we shred ourselves, but I did it on a large scale.  I learned all about the insect and in this case the mighty culprits were SLUGS! I trapped a raccoon (with the help of a feisty neighbor who was definitely on a quest beyond the limits of ordinary) who had been dining in my garden by moonlight for weeks and released him in a nature conservative!  Holy shit was that an experience I never want to re-create.  I was able to do all this in the magical kingdom of Eugene because it had an energy about it that coddled and embraced passion, questing beyond ordinary.  Certainly their definition of extraordinary might differ from mine; I didn’t recognize that at the time.   Think the youth in me put most of the folks I encountered on a pedestal of sorts, understanding what they were doing was indeed extraordinary, but in retrospect as I aged and grew wiser, I understood that sometimes what is extraordinary is the energy given off by any certain situation and with that energy we all do different things and we all become different things, putting to use that energy as we will.  Some like the ordinary and some things that may seem extraordinary to some is simply ordinary to others.   The real definition of one who is on the quest beyond the limits of ordinary, in my opinion, is that a person is always evolving beyond who and what they are, always taking notice to all that exists on this planet and moving to understand as many depths of life and their being as possible as well as to understand their fellow man and planet in the same nature.

Eugene was a place that did exactly this for me, it took me to the depths of my being, challenged the very nature of all I thought I was and gave me possibilities and skills to expand forever to come.  It was a small but important piece of my so far quest beyond the ordinary.  Eugene was also a place where food was a crucial aspect to life and this is certainly a huge piece or component of my quest.  The seasons  there were like a mother giving birth, there was something so dependable about it all and logical yet there was always the element of mystery to it, albeit due to weather or disease, the land taught me consistency in being extraordinary which is important again as I have aged I have been humbly reminded that one cannot be crazy to be extraordinary, borderline maybe but crazy no! 

My days as a produce manager at Sundance Natural Foods were some of my best to date.  Being surrounded by nothing but organic fruits and veggies and trying to display them as works of art.  That was essentially my job (of course making sales was the job really).  The people that I was surrounded by were always journeying to depths that amazed me, their interests and ideologies in general challenged the norm, which is crucial if you ever want to quest further than ordinary.   I learned a lot from the people in this place and those who came just to be around that type of energy.  Eugene like so many of my places I hung my hat was pivotal to my quest, beyond the limits of the ordinary!

I have been lucky enough to get to travel to many places in the world starting as a child. When people ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, after veterinarian and ambassador, I would say I wanted to travel. Traveling evokes such good feelings for me. Loneliness dissipates, stress gets erased, and overall I feel happiest while traveling, absorbing foods and cultures of the world.  Here are a few of the most memorable places and the “sustenance” I gathered from each location. The common draw to these locations is that the people there know how to take time to fill themselves with the sustenance they need, which is so much about just sitting back, eating, and realizing- something I love doing when I travel but never quite am able to do when I am here on US soil……….anyhow….good times and many more to come!

Israel   (General Israel)

I’ve been traveling to Israel for over 8 years now. I remember when I got my new passport to travel to Israel for the first time 8 years ago almost exactly.  I remember not knowing what to expect and have loved it ever since.  When I first began traveling there, the tourism sector was down, not too many travelers going there like today again, so there was an element of peacefulness to it that I enjoyed a great deal.  I considered myself lucky when I traveled for work; I got to discover growers all over the country which basically meant not going to the tourist sites. I got to go into people’s homes in the north by the Galilee, in the south in the Negev and the Arava, and around the Dead Sea.  I got to experience food that was traditional and fresh and like nothing I have ever had before.  But most incredible to me was the people and their appreciation for food and the gift of sharing food together.  The Israelis appreciate taking time to be with one another, and eating is a perfect way to do that. That is one of the most heartfelt bits of “sustenance” that I can take from the land of milk and honey for sure. My favorite all time food experience in Israel would have to be the Kurdish food that one of our early herb grower’s mothers made for me, kube and kofta and cabbage salads and cucumber salads, spicy and herby like I like, the most amazing food I have tasted yet!

Souiliac, Mauritius

Mauritius was my first ever real vacation. I took two weeks and turned my phone off and flew halfway around the world to this tiny little perfect island!  I went on a yoga mediation retreat, with high hopes of learning to combat stress better.  Funny thing is for the first 4 days I couldn’t do yoga; the Indian Yogis said that I needed to learn how to breathe first before I could do yoga.  Ironic as breathing is still hard for me to this day!  The food in Mauritius was heavenly. It was an all ayurvedic diet for the full two weeks and consisted of the cleanest, healthiest food ever. There was something so fulfilling- simply about waking up eating clean, doing yoga, swimming in the clearest of blue seas and relaxing.  The people knew how to eat healthy in general there.  Very little alcohol, very little meat, nothing processed just good clean food and fun.  Super amazing experience, I would go back in a heartbeat.  All time best food experience in Mauritius: The ethnic mixture of the food from Mauritius for me made it one of the most interesting of all fusion foods, a combination of French, Chinese, Arab and Indian influences and ingredients made the experience of eating interesting beyond comprehension.  I ate a jack fruit curry there that blew my mind.

Amsterdam, Holland

This was the first place I had ever traveled where the people looked like me.  I had mostly traveled throughout Latin America and the Middle East up until that point and so being in Holland I witnessed people that were tall and larger.  It was great to feel very comfortable there as a Swedish girl- it made me want to visit Sweden.  The food was fresh but hearty, and the fresh herb usage was ferocious, and I loved it.  Again one of the common threads was people sitting in coffee shops (no, not that kind) and just talking to each other, being present in each other’s lives.  I loved it and am trying to bring it into my life more.  Best food experience:  Bitterballen on a cold rainy day!

Guadalajara, Mexico

A stop I have made a few times- both times with one of my brothers and both times en route to either fruit or pepper farms.  Either way Guadalajara is a memorable place.  Typical big city Mexico but somewhat unique as well.  The food scene in Guadalajara I think is remarkable, tomes of upscale restaurants like I had never seen before in Mexico.  Tons of foodie people were there, and it was very interesting to witness people coming together for food.  Both times we spent an entire day in Guadalajara, visiting the churches and museums and relaxing. Both times I enjoyed one of the most incredible meals in Mexico to date! Best food moment in Guadalajara: chicken enchiladas with a mole sauce that was sublime. I never loved mole but this one was spicy and perfectly seasoned, didn’t taste like chocolate!

Santorini, Greece

Santorini is indeed one of my most special places. For one, I sincerely felt love while there with a dear friend and new lover.  And secondly, it’s Santorini for shit’s sake- one of the most majestic places on EARTH!  Santorini taught me the art of indulgence and feeling worthy of that indulgence.  The scenery was so exquisite, the people calm and happy, and it was difficult to complain about much. It was truly amazing, and the food, spectacularly fresh, seafood, tomatoes, wine…….love was in the air in Santorini for all and it translated into a good time.  Best food moment: Eating our morning breakfast of eggs & herbs, santorini tomatoes, fresh juice and fruit and honey and yogurt, all while taking in the bright sun and deep blue sea.

The Dead Sea & Arava Desert, Israel

To float in the Dead Sea is unlike any other experience on earth.  My main memory of the Dead Sea which usually goes hand with trips to the Arava desert, is floating in the Dead Sea in the middle of summer, the heat is typically over 110 F and the water probably about 80 F, hot and hotter on all counts!  But spending the day with good friends floating, drinking some herbal iced tea and eating fruits and dried dates is a great loving memory.  In the Arava, I have to admit I have tried some wacky stuff, one of my favorites was the ostrich burger, thick and juicy and like a steak!    My overwhelmingly incredible food moment in the Arava was a moonlight picnic in the middle of the dessert, with blankets and pillows…..lots of babaganush, dolmas, hummus, fresh pita and some lemon thyme flavored moonshine! (Dancing & singing galore!)

Berlin, Germany

Well first and foremost, I loved Berlin- clean, organized, and a good example of how quickly one can change.  Think about the short amount of time since the wall fell and how integrated the city is.  Berlin has always been a fun city that I travel to once a year for a fruit & vegetable convention.  Always interesting food and so much organic, sustainable and green stuff is happening here. I am always inspired to make drastic changes when I return.  This last time in February of this year, I was inspired to make my biggest change yet and have been happy for its inspiration ever since!  Best food moment in Berlin had to be the sour bratten at one of the oldest restaurants in Berlin.

Tel Aviv, Israel

One of my favorite places to visit.   I love Tel Aviv and spent one whole summer there.  I packed up my dog and moved and took the summer off work while I was going to finish my first cookbook proposal.  I ended up playing non stop in the food scene of Israel as well as spending MANY days on the beach and training in kick boxing with some great folks!  It was a perfect life (for the summer)- I awoke every day, ate breakfast on the veranda overlooking the sea, walked around, went to the beach, went to the big open air market & bought fresh vegetables, cheeses, fruits, nuts seeds, wines…….learned Hebrew (ksat!) and simply went on a big food education journey.  I discovered the incredible attention to detail that I am such a fan of, not only in the food but the general attention to detail in their art, music, fashion… The culture in Tel Aviv is unlike anything else, and the people are jovial and usually taking in something good- afternoon espressos, a football game, a good band, an incredible BBQ a nice swim, a jog along the beach or an art show.  All of which is surrounded by the freshest foods.  Loved my times there, hope to have many more.  I shared a lot of Tel Aviv with my family. Many folks came to visit while I was there, and I got to witness Stavin (4) and Kianna (7) (at the time) indulge in another culture, one of the best things I had ever done.  My favorite Tel Aviv food experience: Hands down all my meals with Kfir at Boya, eggplant, hummus and grilled fish- and lots of kosher wine!

Larnaka, Cyprus

What a trip with some amazingly crazy folks, and I’m not talking about the Greeks!  I was lucky enough to be invited with a group of pepper growers (45 men and 4 women!) to Cyprus for their annual season ending trip.  We went to incredible restaurants in the middle of the mountains and ate incredibly well, drank uncanny amounts, and sang and danced all night long.  This place taught me about the beauty of new friends and the meaning of people being kind and generous to me at a time in life where there were not many who were. The best of the food there had to be the halumi cheese raviolis…..so good I want to fly there now and eat them!

Paris, France

An accidental visit, due to my reading my ticket incorrectly upon returning from Berlin.  The re-route was through Paris.  When we got off the plane I said let’s just ask how much it is to take the next plane back to NYC, thinking it would just be a dream. The guy then said it will cost $7 Euros and the next plane leaves at 7 am and it is now 5 pm the day prior.  We stayed in Paris for ONE NIGHT ONLY. We first went to the Eiffel Tower, then walked everywhere, and had a late night meal in a lovely, little café…….We walked until about 3 am, then got a little hotel and slept an hour or two, showered, and went to the airport.  I was there with a dear friend, and it was a spectacular reminder of how much sustenance there is in the word with impromptu happenings- a BIG reminder of how important it is to be free for ideas to generate!  Most memorable food moment there was the snails, great big suckers filled with herbs and butter, lovelier than I could have imagined, and the wine was ESQUISITE!

Uruapan, Mexico

Traveled to Uruapan a few times- both times with one of my brothers, and Uruapan is a remarkable place in the middle of the mountains.  The monarch butterflies call the place home so if that isn’t any idea of how perfect it is then I don’t know what is!  Uruapan is the center of the avocado trade, and avocado is in much of the area’s cuisine.  I had good times there and began a very good friendship via work in Uruapan and by far my best food moment was an avocado icecreamcicle that I shared with a street dog I named Freckles, but I also want to point out my best breakfast ever- fresh blackberries right off the vine into my mouth with a strong coffee on a hillside overlooking Uruapan at about 10 am on a sunny day!

Islas Secas, Panama

A quick surf trip while in Panama for work.  Amazingly beautiful and simple. I was with one of my brothers, and no one else was around.  It gave being alone a different perspective.  We had a lot of fun for sure, and it was a nice getaway for the both of us at a hectic time.  There wasn’t much to do, we were on an island so we swam, kayaked, surfed, ate, slept and hiked.  Not bad!  Best food moment was a fresh ahi tuna sashimi with coconut something on it…..caught a few hours before we ate it and a memorable taste to this day.

Barra de la Cruz, Mexico

Another impromptu surf trip during a trip to Mexico for work.  Epic waves and superstar surfers, and of course again I was the only girl.  Barra del la Cruz is a tiny little village with absolutely nothing in it but some amazing waves so it’s a surreal place to see a bunch of foreigners.  Anyhow the time was so amazing and it was amazing to be in the presence of such great surfers. I learned a lot and had probably the best wave of my life there!   The place humbled me a great deal. Best food moment:  fresh ceviche tostadas on the beach in a shack and a negra modela!

Lima, Peru (General Peru)

Amazing place was Peru!  I traveled throughout Lima and to the north and the coastal north as well.  Mangoes, bananas and avocadoes work trip.  Gustav and I took Kianna, his daughter, with us, and it was amazing to witness her in this place interacting with farmers and speaking a little Spanish and trying different foods.  This trip was one of my most proud for being able to give opportunities and reminded me of the fact that I always want that in my life, to be a giver of opportunities!  Perfect food moment:  for me clearly it was the plethora of ceviche but, since Kianna doesn’t do ceviche, my perfect food moment in Peru was witnessing her try all the other things.  She was at her best food wise there, inspired by the people and place, I guess; it was magical to witness!

Berlin, a city with a rich history too long to get too in-depth with here, is a city symbolized by the Brandenburg gate, a gate that was throughout history about separation and a gate today that is more clearly a “gateway” and about movement and change.  Berlin is a city with a rich culture, politics, media, science, art, and especially notable for its creativity in the world of business.  Perhaps most fascinating to me is the East vs. West nature of the city.   For many folks my age or older, we cannot forget the muddled words in 1989 by our then president Ronald Reagan, “ Mr. Gorbachav, take down that wall.”  Nor can we forget the amazing video footage shown on televisions throughout the world, showing thousands of Germans (old and young, East and West) literally chipping away at this wall with small tools and their hands. As a 16 year old then and a child who spent the prior 4 years in Central America (coupled with my American education). I didn’t really have a clue what this was all about.  I knew what most Americans were told- that the East and West were separated because of communism, or, as we were really taught, one side was good and the other was bad. (The irony is that we lived in Nicaragua from 1986-87, and communism was a part of our lives. Although I had no clue, later on in life I learned more about communism as the type predominant in the eastern bloc and the type predominant in Nicaragua).

The wall, which was built by the Eastern Germans in 1961 and made of thick concrete with guard shacks along the entire wall, was built to separate two opposing world viewpoints as opposed to learning tolerance and to live side by side (think now of Israel and the large concrete wall they have been building for the last few years).The wall, which restricted freedom of movement and ideas, deterring emigration between the two locations.  But, as we know, ideas like water, find their way through any wall and any regime for that matter. Ideas spread, and Germany is a place long noted for the rapid spread of ideas, good ones and bad ones both.  Eventually the ideologies of the West spread into the people of the East and the lives of the easterners were clear in the eyes of the West. As communism as we knew it began to fall in the Eastern bloc, East Germany was not strong enough to hold on either as their own people were the ones who wanted to let go of communism and embrace something new and different- something they saw their “ brothers and sisters” of the West embracing as a democracy of sorts.  The wall came down, and so began the new freedom of movement of people, ideas, politics, and an overall fresh start for the region.

Berlin is a city long known for fresh starts, from the removal of the wall giving rise to hundreds of thousands of people moving throughout the area carrying many ideas from East to West and between outsiders.  The creativity here is extensive, and I am deeply in awe of how a city that was once separated in two and completely different by force, has morphed into one unique and adaptable place.  If you haven’t been, GO. It is certainly a city to keep your eye on for the latest and greatest in creative thinking. I am blessed to get to visit each year for the Fruit Logistica conference, a worldwide convention for the fruit and vegetable side of my business.

The food which I also usually mention in this section (sorry it was outshined this time by its people!) is extremely diverse as well as authentically German.  Fresh, with loads of organic and creative fare, its grocery stores are also amazing…..go, go today, and see for yourself!