Barbara-jo in Eat Magazine

Barbara-jo is featured in Eat Magazine. The article can be found here.

Salade Nicoise

Every few months, my family participates in a progressive dinner with 2 other families in our neighbourhood. Last weekend's theme was France and I was inspired to make a Salade Nicoise using as many fresh vegetables I could find at the farmers market. I based my salad on the recipe in Laura Calder's latest book, French Taste and added slices of seared locally caught Albacore tuna. A lovely homage to the beginning of summer!

Salade Nicoise from French Taste by Laura Calder

For the vinaigrette

1/2 garlic clove, minced

1 teaspoon (5 mL) tarragon vinegar

1/2 teaspoon (2 mL) Dijon mustard

1/4 cup (60 mL) mild olive oil, or half olive oil and half peanut oil

Lemon juice

Salt and pepper

For the salad:

About 10 leaves from a head of Bibb lettuce

About 6 fresh basil leaves, shredded

6 cherry tomatoes

6 baby red potatoes, boiled until tender and sliced

4 ounces (110 g) green beans, blanched

3 baby artichoke hearts, cooked and quartered

1 very small red onion, sliced very finely and separated into rings

A handful of nicoise olives

2 hard-cooked eggs, quartered

3 or 4 anchovy fillets

Fleur de sel and freshly ground pepper

For the vinaigrette, whisk together the garlic, vinegar and mustard. Whisk in the oil, adding it in a thin stream. Taste, and add some lemon if the dressing isn't sharp enough. Season with salt and pepper.

Toss the lettuce leaves with a very little bit of the vinaigrette and the shredded basil, and arrange on a platter. Separately toss the tomatoes, potato slices, green beans, and artichoke hearts in a bit of vinaigrette, and arrange on the platter. Scatter over the onion and olives. Arrange the eggs and anchovies on top. Season with salt and pepper, and eat.

Makes 2 servings

Canada Day Hours

Books to Cooks will be open on Canada Day, July 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Drop by to celebrate Canada's 142nd Birthday!

Market Fresh!

Farmers markets are beginning to burgeon for the summer season and locally grown fresh vegetables and fruits are being sought after by fresh-flavour-seekers. For a listing of Farmers Markets closest to you check out this link for Vancouver Farmers Markets. This site is great for planning your day around shopping for the most tasty, in-season, produce to plan a simple picnic, or a lavish night of entertaining friends and family. Whatever the reason, it is a good idea to support your local farmers and encourage purchasing and eating their seasonal crops.

Mark has taken advantage of our local produce this week by preparing three different items to feature three of our favourite cookbooks here at Barbara-Jo's Books to Cooks. Michel Roux's Pastry, Elisa Beynon's The Vicar's Wife's Cook Book, and Elisabeth M. Purueitt and Chad Robertson's Tartine. Each recipe is straight forward and easy to use with a finished product nothing but spectacular.

From top to bottom:

Seasonal Vegetable Tart

Maman's Tarte aux Fraises

Banana-Date Tea Cake

UBC Farm Pollanated - June 6, 2009

Early Saturday morning, I picked up the author and food activist Michael Pollan from the Opus Hotel. I was taking him to a fundraiser for the farm at UBC where he was speaking to promote the paperback release of his critically-acclaimed In Defense of Food. While it was essentially Michael’s first visit to Vancouver, I instinctively felt he was the ideal person to support all the wonderful work done at UBC Farm. The last working farm within city limits, it is a cause near and dear to my heart.

We had sold 675 tickets and everything appeared to be in order. Still, I couldn’t help but feel nervous. In all my years as a bookseller, I had never attempted anything of this magnitude. The scope of the event was prompted by the importance of ensuring that UBC’s 24 hectare farm continue to play a vital role in our community. It has always been my dream to create a large scale fundraiser for one of our most crucial food-related resources. But this was my town – my dream. Would Michael Pollan share my home-grown passion for the cause?

I decided to put my nagging doubts aside as we traveled west along 16th Avenue to UBC. It was a lovely drive. We came to the round about and circled to the left to journey down the road to the farm. Michael inquired, were we on campus? We took the tranquil wooded road to the farm and drove right up to the farm centre where we were to meet Mark Bomford, director of the UBC Farm.

The plan was for Mark to take us on a tour of the farm, with CBC’s Cheryl Mackay, conducting an interview. We began our tour with the simple idea of taking in a few of the farm’s highlights. As if on cue, a hawk swooped down within feet of us on the way to securing his lunch. Looking up, we could see a group of crows swarming eagles. We could hear honeybees buzzing and the rooster protested our presence while protecting his girls. As we met the Mayan farmers, I was deeply affected by the natural beauty of our surroundings.

We made our way to the children’s garden where Meeru Dhalwala and Vikram Vij had prepared a picnic lunch. The cloudy sky had turned brilliant. We dined on a feast that included local goat, mung bean salad, mint and mango chutney, cabbage and paneer salad and sautéed mushrooms. Afterwards, we made our way to the field where our guests had gathered to enjoy their own picnics before hearing Michael speak.

I welcomed the crowd and introduced Mark Bomford. Mark spoke briefly but eloquently about the farm and favoured Michael with a lovely introduction. When organizing this event with the publisher, I had requested that Michael speak for 15-20 minutes, before proceeding with the book signing. But when Michael took to the stage he spoke passionately about the importance of real food for 45 minutes. The tears welled in my eyes when the crowd rose from the ground to give him a much-deserved standing ovation.

After his speech, Michael went to his signing table. The farm conducted tours. Our guests enjoyed the folksy live music while sampling the plant-based appetisers offered by participating restaurants of the Chefs' Table Society. It was a happy day.

That evening we enjoyed dinner in a private home cooked by Chef Robert Clark, an extraordinary cook and a wonderful man. There were seven of us, including a journalist who had observed Michael at the farm and was continuing his research over an inspired meal. Robert’s menu? Spring Pea Soup with B.C. Spot Prawns, Hannah Brook Farm Steamed Asparagus with quail egg, Venturi-Shultze balsamic and hazelnut snow, Pemberton Valley Beets with Salt Spring Island Goat Cheese, Pan Grilled Bayne Sound Scallops with Fava Beans, Mushrooms and New Potatoes. Little Qualicum Fromage Frais Cheesecake with North Arm Farm Rhubarb, preserved sour cherries, Terra Breads Red fife Baguette with Agassiz Farm House Butter.

What a way to end the perfect day. Since it’s a beautiful evening, Michael and I decide to walk back to his hotel. I thank him for his generosity and for helping me achieve one of my dreams. He responds with a gracious thank you, and says good-bye “until the next book”. Thanks to the generosity of all who attended the event to support the farm, I am giving a cheque to the UBC Farm for $12,000.00. Another dream come true for everyone who cares about the vital role sustainable food plays in the city we love.

Barbara-jo McIntosh
June 10, 2009

Tongue Twisters

"She sells seashells by the sea shore!" Say that 10 times fast to get your party and your palate warmed up for Gord Martin's sought after cookbooks Tongue Twisters. We have gotten our hands on 6 precious copies of this elusive book and have been salivating ever since!

Featuring "sexy food" from Gord Martin's two restaurants, Bin 941 and Bin 942, this cookbook includes such luscious recipes for: Wild Mushroom Savory Honey Baklava; Pistachio-Crusted Warmed Brie with Gingered Biscotti, Blackberry Coulis, and Rosemary Nectar; or, if you are feeling particularly indulgent, Erotic Chocolate Fondue and Dipping Doughnuts.

Our featured recipe this week is for a Chimichurri Sauce and comes from this book. This is a perfect accompaniment to any spring and summer dishes ranging from lamb, beef, poultry, pork and/or grilled vegetables of every sort. Simple to prepare and even easier to enjoy.

Chimichurri Sauce

4 cloves garlic, peeled

1 bunch fresh cilantro

1 bunch flat leaf (Italian) parsley

1/2 tsp chile flakes

1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp rice wine vinegar

zest of 1 lemon

zest of 1 orange

1/2 cup olive oil

In a food processor, blend all ingredients.

Image borrowed from http://media.perseusdistribution.com/covers/high/9781551521497.jpg

Michael Pollan at the UBC Farm

The UBC Farm fundraiser with Michael Pollan was a huge success! Over 675 guests gathered at the idyllic UBC Farm to listen to Michael speak about his book, In Defense of Food, and the many different ways we can all "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

Here are some unofficial photos of the day.

Michael Pollan UBC Farm Fundraiser Sold Out!

Barbara-Jo's Books to Cooks is very pleased to announce that the June 6 Michael Pollan presentation at UBC Farm is sold out. Thank you for supporting UBC Farm!

Brazilian Table at Cobre

Join us for a nuevo latino evening at Cobre Restaurant to celebrate The Brazilian Table by Yara Castro Roberts on Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. Chef Stuart Irving will be preparing traditional Brazilian dishes from this beautiful, informative book. Tickets are $95 and include gratuity and a copy of The Brazilian Table.

Here's a sneak preview of the Brazilian menu from Chef Yara's book:

Farofa & green chili relleno

Tomato carpaccio

Vila rica roasted pork,

fava beans & double smoked bacon

Cerrado free range chicken,

hearts of palm pot au feu, blue corn muffin

Capirnha mousse,

brazil nut alfajore crumbled

Call 604-688-6755 to purchase tickets.

Michael Pollan UBC Farm Fundraiser

The June 6 UBC Farm fundraiser with author Michael Pollan is just days away. We're looking forward to this unique opportunity to hear Michael speak and meet him at the book signing of In Defense of Food.

If you haven't purchased tickets yet, they are still available but are selling quickly. Tickets may be purchased at the store or over the phone and picked up at the store before store closing on Friday, June 5.

For more information about the fundraiser, visit our website and call 604-688-6755 to purchase tickets.