Open View Gardens

Spotlight

September 29, 2011 | Barbara | 3 Comments

Guest Post #12 Kate Gridley’s “Pig Tales”

Barbara’s Note: This week we bring you our dear friends — Kate ...

September 19, 2011 | Elizabeth | 2 Comments

Guest Post #11: A Love of Macarons

Note from Elizabeth: Today our guest writer is Megan Halpern, one of ...

September 12, 2011 | Elizabeth | 2 Comments

Guest Post #10: Transported to Morocco via Bisteeya

Note from Elizabeth: I’m lucky to have two parents who cook. I ...

Latest News

February 8, 2012 | Barbara | 0 Comments

Potlucks & Culture Kitchens: My Kind of School

When I first dreamed up Open View Gardens, I wanted to help expand our sense of what we grow and eat locally, and to encourage community building by exploring our culinary diversity. As our mission reads: “Growing food grounds us in the relationships between earth and nourishment; preparing food brings us into relationship with our […]

January 30, 2012 | Elizabeth | 4 Comments

Dinner for One: Learning How to Enjoy Cooking for Yourself

I’m one of those many people who say they love to cook for others. As I reflected on in a past post, food can be a powerful expression of love and care. I’ve never enjoyed cooking for myself, though; when I’m alone I usually throw something quick together — some cannellini beans or a pot […]

January 24, 2012 | Barbara | 4 Comments

January Blues: In Search of Fresh Vegetables

This is a meandering post. Just so you know. Whenever I head to New York City–and head there I do often to visit my daughter–I take canvas shopping bags and a big old cooler to haul back as much food as possible. I dream of the ingredient shopping possible at the greenmarket, the spice shops […]

January 16, 2012 | Elizabeth | 4 Comments

Chocolate, Waffles and Frites: A Weekend in Bruges

When I first started planning a trip to Bruges, a gorgeous medieval city in north-western Belgium, food immediately came to mind. I imagined walking the ancient, winding streets along the canals and stopping for a hot chocolate in a cozy café to warm up along the way, while my boyfriend dreamed of the sausage-and-frites stalls. […]

January 11, 2012 | Barbara | 3 Comments

Seeds of Change?

Wouldn’t you know it–just as I vow to rein in my sprawling gardens this season, even more gorgeous and enticing seed catalogs arrive from suppliers, some of which I haven’t even heard of before. The Natural Gardening Company of California, for instance, which touts its position as the “oldest certified organic nursery in the United […]

January 3, 2012 | Barbara | 2 Comments

A New Year, A Bundle of Seed Catalogues and a Dilemma

Outside the weather continues to flirt with winter, temperatures careening between yesterday’s 40s and today’s single digits (first real cold), snow dancing about the sky but refusing to lay down a fluffy quilt to insulate the gardens. Yesterday the fennel, artichokes and rosemary were still alive and well inside their light tunnel. We’ve had a […]

December 27, 2011 | Elizabeth | 2 Comments

Finding Tradition at Christmas

There’s nothing like coming home. Especially at Christmas time. Before packing my bags I wrote a list of all the foods I missed — almond butter, puff pastry tart, sweet potatoes, homemade corn tortillas, gado gado– and all the items I wanted to bring home with me: champagne vinegar, pomegranate molasses, raw cacao powder, cheddar […]

December 20, 2011 | Elizabeth | 1 Comment

Guest Post #13: Lessons from Zambia

Elizabeth’s Note: After a brief pause, we’ve got a new guest post to share, this time from one of my close friends, Maxime Billick, a native of Montreal. I first met Maxime many years ago on a volunteer trip to Dominica (pronounced Domih-NEEKah and not to be confused with the Dominican Republic) in the Caribbean. I’ve […]

December 14, 2011 | Barbara | 4 Comments

A Fishy Confession–Double Standards

I eat seafood only when I’m on a seacoast. Never in Vermont. Or at least not by choice. I know that this rather severe, absolute rule flows from having grown up six miles from the ocean, and from spending childhood summers in a cottage overlooking the salty water–water that was once filled with lobsters and […]

December 5, 2011 | Elizabeth | 3 Comments

Speaking the Language of Food

During my first few weeks in Mestre, I was lucky enough to discover the Women’s Multicultural Center, financed by the Municipality of Venice. The Center offers information, advice and support and organizes cultural events for immigrant women, including Italian and English lessons and — to my delight — cooking classes. I immediately signed up for […]

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