Podchef's Gastrocast Podcast

Welcome to the Podchef's Gastrocast!
The podcast about cooking, food, and the politics of what we eat.

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Gastrocast Cookbook

Meat Cuts Chart

Attention all UK fans! This chart and one for pork and lamb grace the walls of the kitchen in Gordon Ramsay's F Word--second series.

I would love to know how to lay my hands on these three posters.

Sure I can buy something similar here. But what I want is the UK cuts, not the American ones. If anyone knows where I can purchase these, or how to obtain them, I would love. . .L. O. V. E. to know.

Thanks

by: ChefNeal at 11/29/06 23:49 | link | comments |
gordon ramsay, posters, meat, beef cutting chart, f word

Snowing, again

It's snowing again. I'm trying to find time and spirit to get this week's show started. I am also trying to sort out refridgerators and freezers which were off for three days.

So meanwhile, have a look at the photoset of snowy pictures, and register for the FORUM--where even now I am uploading a "Members Only" video of the Wood Oven (pictured here, covered in snow) being used for Thanksgiving Turkey.

With a little luck this latest snow and the warming (it's 29 degrees F, horray!) temperatures that have come with it won't take us out like the last storm. One can hope anyway. Then maybe I can get caught up and produce a show!

by: ChefNeal at 11/29/06 22:47 | link | comments (1)|
photos, video, forum, gastrocast, snow, thanksgiving, gastrocast forum

I've got the power

Three days without power has left me with severe lack of internet and blogging dementia.
Three days of cooking on a woodstove and trying to conserve propane when having to boil all water has left me with a new appreciation for all "new-fangled" labor saving devices like water heaters, dishwashers, ovens etc.

We finally got power back tonight, but it is tenuous. Trees are heavily overburdened with snow and the wind is picking up. In the snowy silence the only sounds have been the gun-shot like snapping of frozen trees and limbs and their crash to the ground.

Tonight is supposed to be the coldest yet--near zero F and more snow is expected tomorrow.
This wouldn't be anything out of the ordinary in Vermont, New Hampshire or Maine--even Alaska. But here on the island a foot of snow in 12 hours is an oddity. This is more snow than we have had in three or four years combined and the last time this much fell in one night we ended up with three feet. That was over 9 years ago. We are not set up for any amount of snow. We get rain and wind in the winter. The trees, giant Douglas Firs, Shore Pines and Cedars are used to that. Add the weight of tons of snow and problems occur. With soil that is only 8 inches deep in most places over rock, the trees have nothing to hold them in as the topple like dominoes. Our island is one of the smallest and it looks like it will be at least two weeks of cleanup just to clear the roads back to two lanes.

I'm going to try to get a show out this week--if the power stays on. I've had to move the smallest of chickens into the house to keep from freezing and I've got freezers and refridgerators to clean out and fences to mend but I think I need the sanity of routine to help me out here. It's only the middle of the week and it feels like we've been at war with the elements for a month. And we are some of the lucky ones--we have fuel and water and a way to heat our house during this sort of emergency. We have food supplies for a month, at least and resources so we don't have to leave home. I can't imagine people  who don't.

More later.

by: ChefNeal at 11/29/06 04:47 | link | comments (3)|
weather, snow, winter, storms

Oh No Snow!

It's snowed 6 inches since this morning. Big deal you say?

That's more snow than we've had in the last 6 years. What trees the gale force winds haven't affected, the heavy snows are bringing down. We lost power some time ago--ah the wonder of a laptop and stolen dialup account--and we're hunkered in for a night withou juice.

Just got back in from checking the animals.The electric fence was wiped out and needs mending. We patched it together, for now. Fortunately the animals aren't in the mood for wandering--just eating what we've fed them.

We never get snow like this. It is an oddity. No surprise if it goes away tomorrow, except the forecast is for lower temperatures.

Time to go so I don't waste battery power. Update when I can.

by: ChefNeal at 11/26/06 22:18 | link | comments |
weather, snow, winter

Happy Turkey Day

Sorry, no show this week, but I send you this. Have a great Thanksgiving and I'll be back next week with another Gastrocast. (Not that I'm going anywhere. . .so, skype me, email me or comment here if you'd like. . . .)

by: ChefNeal at 11/22/06 23:40 | link | comments |
podchef, gastrocast, thanksgiving, gastrocast tv, gastrocast forum

A little Game for you

You might find this interesting. If you want to play the game on a larger screen click here.

Thanks to Planet Raw Milk for the tip.

by: ChefNeal at 11/21/06 15:16 | link | comments |
game, fun, mcdonalds

Video of Gales

A rough look at rough weather:

by: ChefNeal at 11/20/06 23:45 | link | comments |
video, gales, storms

Top Fives

A few days ago, Heather of Wiggly Wiggler's asked me to do a top five of my favorite Wiggly Wiggler's Podcast. No Problem,. . . or rather too many choices. In fact today's show goes right up there as well.

So this morning I was honored, again, when Heather rang me up for an interview on Bokashi, EM, farming, food issues, The Omnivore's Dilemma and The Gastrocast. I'll let you know when the interview airs--probably in a few weeks. It will be a miracle if Heather can get the whole thing in one episode of the Wiggly podcast. I can't speak for her, but it was a great pleasure talking with her and answering her questions.

I'll cross post this to the forum so when and if it airs there can be a discussion on whether people agree with what I am saying, or if  I am talking utter bullocks as usual.

by: ChefNeal at 11/20/06 21:14 | link | comments |
gastrocast, gastrocast cookbook, farming, bokashi, bokashi buckets, em, food politics, wiggly wigglers, gastrocast forum, the omnivores dilemma, michael pollan