Something I have been wondering about, actually....

What is the difference between a microbrew and a craft brew? A microbrewery and a craft brewery? Somehow, they have seemed to blend into one another...

Paul Hightower of the Dallas Craft Brew Examiner, né the Microbrew Examiner, examines (natch!) the semantics before us.

Follow this link if you, too, have wondered about the subtle differences between microbrews and craft beers.

And follow this link to add your favorite craft brew to the Locallectual directory.

Prost!

-Karen

Health agencies and the medical community continue to recommend increased consumption of fatty fish due to the health benefits of a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids. However, global fisheries are currently in a state of severe crisis as demand outweighs supply. This has become a socio-economic issue as well, as declining stocks are being diverted from local markets to affluent markets. This means serious consequences for the food security of poorer countries and coastal communities. Some experts are recommending more research to clarify the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, as results of some studies on the health benefits have been mixed. Others recommend lab-grown algae-derived omega-3 fatty acid supplements as a cleaner, sustainable alternative to fatty fish, in addition to a diet featuring adequate plant-based omega-3s from foods such as dark green leafy vegetables. I have found a great book on the state of the world's fish supply to be End of the Line: How Overfishing is Changing the World and What We Eat by Charles Clover. It is a must-read for anyone who seeks to understand where we are at and how we got here in terms of fish, the environment, and the food supply.

-Karen

Tomorrow (Saturday, March 21st) there will be a special local food event at the 2009 Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville, Virginia. It will be held at the Charlottesville Cooking School at 2 p.m. and again at 4 p.m.

The event will be a presentation of the book Cooking Fresh from the Mid-Atlantic with a Panel Discussion: "The Flavor of Local."

Featured speakers will include Gail Hobbs-Page, owner and cheese maker at Caromont Farm Artisan Cheeses, Megan Weary, owner of Roundabout Farm and CSA, Fran McManus, editor of Cooking Fresh from the Mid-Atlantic and Martha Stafford, owner of Charlottesvile Cooking School.

Contact the folks at the Charlottesville Cookong School for more information.

The Virginia Festival of the Book is always a festival to look forward to, and this local food event makes it extra-special this year!

-Karen

Did you catch Alice Waters on 60 minutes tonight? If not, follow this link to watch it. My favorite quote, from the mayor of San Francisco: "How can you not love Alice Waters?"

-Karen