I was a bit hesitant to allow myself to be profiled in the latest issue of the local, “Rocktown Weekly” newspaper. You can see the full article in PDF form here: Rocktown Weekly Profile Article, Journalist Amber Lester, however, proved to ably pull together the different aspects of our life into a pretty good article. I’m learning that it is the rare article that is completely accurate so here are some clarifications and corrections:

1. I am providing bread and some soup at Earth and Tea cafe in downtown Harrisonburg. If you would like to find my soup at the Earth and Tea cafe then may I suggest that you ask specifically for “A Bowl of Good” soup.
2. Indeed she has received calls to supply a location in Farmville. She is wide open to supplying other places in Harrisonburg and around the Valley. She is not married exclusively to Earth and Tea cafe. We are actively exploring ideas for places that you can pick up our frozen soups by the quart, and other “A Bowl of Good” products. If you have any big ideas feel free to email me and give me your tips;
3. Poqomchi (misspelled once and correctly another time) is NOT a dialect. Poqomchi is a DISTINCT MAYAN LANGUAGE as distinct and different as English and Swahili;
4. The videos that were shown locally to the Poqomchi were viewed via local cable feed on their own televisions, NOT televisions supplied by A.I.D. workers.

It looks like the Rocktown Weekly discovered our blog page! Pick up a copy at your local grocery store to read an article on Katrina and A Bowl of Good.

Put February 9 on your calender! The Friendly City Food Co-op Steering Committee that I have been meeting with is planning a big PARTY on February 9 to promote the idea of a downtown food cooperative that be a full service grocery store open to all. The party will be held at the Hardesty Higgins House with great music, food (I am doing it) and lots of fun! Stay tuned for more details.

I enjoyed seeing many of you at the Earth and Tea Cafe on Wednesday of last week when I was in helping out with the first day. I have heard good feedback on the soups I am supplying to the cafe–if you haven’t stopped in yet, do give it a try at some point.

By the way, some of you were wondering where I am cooking. I have worked out a very nice arrangement with the folks at the Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant. I use their kitchen on their days off. It has worked out very well. Do patronize the Blue Nile–they are a great business! Great food!

Marakash Mash? Yeah, that is the name of may latest soup creation. The newest food establishment to downtown Harrisonburg is called the Earth and Tea Cafe. I will be supplying soups to this cafe. The cafe has a wonderfully inviting and warm Moroccan atmosphere. To go with the Moroccan theme I created Marakash Mash–my take on the Moroccan theme. It is a vegan soup, by the way, but has been loved by all so far. This soup will be available daily at Earth and Tea Cafe along with a changing variety of my other classic soup options.

I did not get a ton of responses on soup names, but my way-cool friend Trish came through for me. Take a look at the new soup names and let me know what you think. Also, I have listed a few soups that are still un-named, or perhaps have perfect names. Check it out:

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (Carribean Coconut Stew)
All Thai’d Up (Tom Kha Gai)
Imagine John Lentil (Country Lentil Soup)
V2 – Veggie Squared (Very Vegetable, Vegetable Soup)
Marakash Mash (Moroccan Lentil and Garbanzo)

Still in need of names:
Highland Guatemalan Chicken
Chicken Sweet Potato, Chipotle and Lime
Nigerian Chicken, Bean and Cabbage
Cincinnati Chili

I am still in creation mode, so stay tuned for new soups.