Rookie Cookery

Steamed About Stevia

The Organic Consumers Association e-newsletter invites readers to freely share their articles on their blogs and web sites. Therefore, I am going to re-post their story (below) on the FDA's unfair bias against the use of the herb Stevia as a natural sweetener in food products. The article states:

"FDA CRACKS DOWN ON NATURAL HERBAL SWEETENER, STEVIA
The FDA, under pressure from the powerful sugar and artificial sweetener lobby, has issued a warning letter to Celestial Seasonings for using a popular natural sweetener in some of its teas. The letter indicates the FDA classifies the herb stevia as "unsafe", even though it is a main staple sweetener in countries like China and Japan and has been used without negative health effects by indigenous people for at least 400 years. In the FDA's letter to Celestial Seasonings, the agency aggressively condemns the use of the herb, noting that "enforcement action may include seizure of violative products". The FDA claims no evidence has been provided to the agency regarding the herb's safety, but federal records reveal the FDA has received over a thousand scientific studies regarding stevia, and all but one of them verify the safety of the herb. In sharp contrast, nearly half of the studies provided to the FDA regarding the artificial sweetener aspartame, previously owned by Monsanto, indicate serious health concerns, yet it is one of the most commonly used (and one of the most profitable) sweeteners in the U.S. The OCA has also verified the FDA has strengthened enforcement of stevia imports at the borders. Last week, the agency updated a document that mandates detainment of imported food products containing stevia.
Learn more: here.

That makes my blood boil. I have used Stevia many different times, and it's infuriating that Stevia is being targeted for suppression when the chemical poison manufacturers like Monsanto get away with murder by comparison. Clearly the FDA has compromised its ethics. I hope you will keep this issue on your radar and look for a way to hold the FDA accountable for protecting our health and to stop harassing people who want to bring healthful products like Stevia into the marketplace.

My next post will be a taste test report on a soda made with Stevia. Stay tuned!

A Delightful Evening at the Hidden Kitchen

Sacramento's Hidden Kitchen provides a different kind of dining event for small groups of people who love good food and good conversation. The hosts are Dennis and Mary Kercher, and about once a month they open up their home for people who delight in being surprised by whatever gourmet treats Dennis has planned to cook for them. Last Saturday night, along with several other Sacramento area food bloggers, wine experts, publishers and just regular folks. were treated to a well paced delivery if the following gourmet courses:

Seared Ahi Sliders
Sweet Potato Frites
Mango Ketchup
(all pictured above)

Gorgonzola Grape Galette with a salad of Watercress and Arugula

Gnocchi Verde with Garden Fresh pesto Genovese

Rosemary Rack of Lamb
Ratatouille a la Grille
Hidden Kitchen Corn Cakes

Grappa Brown Sugar Panna Cotta with Grape Gelee

(not pictured due to my crummy photography)

All ingredients were fresh and seasonal, often coming from the plants growing in the chef's own back yard, where we dined along a table set with glowing candles and smiling faces. I was impressed that the amount of food in each course was just about right; I was able to enjoy every bite and still have room for whatever came next (though just barely!) The various textures and flavors were vivid, and it's hard to choose my favorite, but if pressed I would have to choose the rosemary rack of lamb. It was tender and delicious.

Dinner guests included some of my favorite food blogger friends such as Elise, Garrett and Fernanda Rosa (check out her blog for great pictures, even if you can't read Portugese!) And although several of us brought a bottle of wine to share, we were also treated to a taste from bottles brought by Raul, a private chef who also works for the Vintner's Collective in Napa, and Ashley Teplin of Studio 707. The publisher of Edible Sacramento was there as well as food reviewers from other publications who were in stealth mode, and whose "covers" will not be blown here!

Part of the charm of a Hidden Kitchen dinner party is the knowledge that it is part of an underground movement of alternative fine dining experiences that offer something unique and different from a more traditional restaurant. The menu is chosen by the chef, and the focus is on the food and conversation rather than a wide variety of menu options or the decor of the room. The setting is intimate and very personal. I highly recommend it for the adventurous diner who enjoys being surprised and delighted.

NOTE: Special thanks to Elise for sending me Photoshop enhanced versions (brighter and cropped) of my pictures! What a pal.