By Joy Pierson on August 26, 2010

What’s the Secret to Candle 79’s Success?

I love farmers markets more than any other market or store. I love carrots more than karats! Knowing the people who grow my food is important to me. I love weekly visits with the farmers from our area. Seeing the farmers’ pride and joy for a job well done caring for the land and their crops enhances the flavor and nourishment of what I buy from them. I love tasting the delicious fruits of their labor that were just picked and grown under their care to support their families. I buy as much of the best produce as I can! I come home with the best and freshest fruits, vegetables, herbs and even organic local mushrooms. I am so excited about how I am going to prepare these gems.

My current use for all this produce is the work I’m doing for “The Candle 79 Cookbook.” This cookbook is going to be extraordinary thanks to talented chefs Angel Ramos and Jorge Pineda, and the entire Candle 79 Team led by Benay Vynerib and Francesca MacAaron with the support of Mark Doskow. It really does take a village to do what we do, especially to meet our lofty goal of changing the world. We need to support each other, so we can support good people doing good things, and the efforts of those good people can grow that much greater. By the people in my local community supporting growers and their sustainable practices, I’ve recently seen my local health food store decide to carry only organic produce. It’s so exciting to see the commitment of a community come to fruition. As Bart and I always say, and firmly believe, “When you commit, providence will provide.”

Do you know the story of how Bart and I have experienced this in our own lives? I tell this story all the time, so skip over it if you’ve heard it already. On Friday, Aug. 13, 1993, Bart and I won the New York State Lottery. We didn’t win millions, but we won what we needed: $53,000. That was the seed money that allowed us to open what is now Candle Café. It must have been meant to be that Candle Café was to be born and become a vehicle to feed millions wholesome, plant-based foods.

Home from the market and from the health food store with an incredible array of fresh and delicious food, I’m getting hungry. It’s time to whip up something good to eat. I love to create magic from the farmers market. First I prep the greens – gorgeous greens. I am so excited by dark leafy greens. I want to make them lemony and garlicky. Then I cut some onions and leeks to do a stir-fry with them as my base. What next? I think I’ll add the mushrooms and this beautiful red and green cabbage I have. I also will add toasted sesame seeds and raw hemp seeds before finishing it off with fresh herbs and a cayenne kick at the end. It’s so exciting to create a meal you love for yourself and loved ones. I can feel sad or be in a funk, and when I start to cook it makes me feel better. I think it is because I am actively creating a healing meal that nourishes my body, mind and spirit.

Over 26 years ago Candle Café was one of the first restaurants to use the expression “food fresh from farm to table.” That has been our day-to-day mantra ever since. No “virtual” farms, just incredibly hard-working men and women growing and picking the crops that have appeared on our daily menus ever since. I find it so inspiring that we can share this commitment with our now fourth-generation client base that have shown by their loyalty that they too love and respect our mission of serving fresh organic vegan food every day. Live, love, laugh and cook.

Photo Credit: M. Gibion

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By Guest Blogger on August 12, 2010

When Should You Buy Organic?

One of the biggest debates as we peruse the produce aisle is whether or not to buy organic. Most folks know that eating organic fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of developing cancer and other diseases. However, in this economy, sometimes our wallets override our emotions. Well, I’m here to tell you that there is a loophole to get out of the guilt we may have when not buying organic. If you’re looking to do right by your body without breaking the bank, you will be happy to find out that you can skimp here and there!

Two lists were compiled with data from the US Department of Agriculture; one is The Dirty Dozen and the other is The Clean 15. Tests were run to determine the amount of pesticide residue found in non-organic fruits and vegetables after they had been pressure washed. The produce that made The Dirty Dozen list tested positive for at least 47 different chemicals, with some testing positive for as many as 67. And that wasn’t just in the skin. They found traces all the way down into the seeds! By making sure that you stick to organic when buying the fruit and veggies from this list, you can reduce your exposure to harmful toxins by as much as 80 percent.

If you can’t afford to buy organic all the time, you can still rest easy. Purchasing conventional, non-organic produce from The Clean 15 list is likely fine, as those were the least affected by chemicals. Mainly due to their thicker skin, The Clean 15 are able to fight toxin absorption much better than those on The Dirty Dozen list. Of course, I’m an advocate of buying local and organic produce whenever possible. But in this day and age, we could all use a financial break every now and again, so here’s a little pass when you need one.

When you MUST buy organic:
1. celery
2. peaches
3. strawberries
4. apples
5. domestic blueberries
6. nectarines
7. sweet bell peppers
8. spinach, kale and collard greens
9. cherries
10. potatoes
11. imported grapes
12. lettuce

When you can skip it:
1. onions
2. avocados
3. sweet corn
4. pineapples
5. mangoes
6. sweet peas
7. asparagus
8. kiwi fruit
9. cabbage
10. eggplant
11. cantaloupe
12. watermelon
13. grapefruit
14. sweet potatoes
15. sweet onions

While it is said that it’s safe to consume The Clean 15, never miss out on a thorough wash of your produce. In fact, conventional as well as organic produce should always be washed and treated with a special veggie wash. Even when eating organic, your produce can be touched by 20 sets of hands before it ends up on your fork, so take precautions for your health. Shop smart, stay healthy and save your money for rainy days whenever you can!

Carolyn Scott is the executive producer, creator, host, and writer of The Healthy Voyager brand. Her web series, radio show, site, blog and social network show you how to live, and travel, healthy and green.

Photo Credit: Darren Kirby

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