Great Sage: Book Club Night
17 Dec
Tonight we went to Great Sage for Book Club, a perfect choice for dinner after reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Great Sage is a strictly vegetarian restaurant that serves only fresh, organic produce.
We started the night off with a hummus plate.
My stomach wasn’t feeling up to an organic cocktail, so I decided to splurge on a Virgil’s Diet Root Beer. It was good but had a funny aftertaste, so I didn’t drink the entire bottle.
I got a dish called the "Americana," which was a Seasoned Lentil Walnut Loaf, Housemade Barbecue Sauce, Onion Sage Gravy, Whipped Gold Potato and Lemon Garlic Broccoli.
I liked how this meal tried to be a "homecooked meatloaf." I love lentils, so I really enjoyed this dish, but I don’t think it’s for everybody. I also wish there hadn’t been so much gravy. That could just be the former diet-me talking though.
Here’s what the other members got… (they were more than happy to take photos!)
The Special of the Night: a Green Curry with Mixed Vegetables
I believe this was an Onion soup with a Cubano salad.
Grilled Herbed Polenta with Roasted Portabella Marinated Red Onion, Spinach Garlic Sauté, Tofu Ricotta, Housemade Ragout
Discussion around this book was perfect for any foodie. Plus the food we were eating seemed to so directly correspond with our talk.
Some of our questions:
- Would you ever do what Barbara Kingsolver did? Take a year and eat only food in which you know it’s origin?
- Do you have space to create and grow your own food?
- What’s the deal with organic food?
- How about milk?
- Would you ever grow asparagus?
- Have you ever canned food? Will you ever?
Many of the group members belonged to a CSA (or had experience with one), and it really got me thinking to getting a membership. The only problem is that I don’t know if Bill and I could eat a full order each week.
It’s funny how I move away from the farmlands of Pennsylvania to the city – and now all I crave are the simple foods I used to eat back home. Maybe this is telling me something?
What do you know about CSAs or Food Co-Ops? Are you a member of one?
ooh, i really want to read that one, have to pick it up after xmas!
i’d love to do a csa, but for just me it’s too much. i’m on the lookout for someone to share it with…
Very cool that your book club includes dinner – I want to belong to a book club like that!
I don’t know much about CSAs – in fact, I had never even heard of one until I started reading blogs (am I sad?) Perhaps some day when I have a family and/or have a reason to make a lot of food, I will join one. Otherwise, I don’t think I could use it all up and I don’t want to waste anything!
Everyone’s food looks great!
I would love to take some time to get into growing, canning my own food, including asparagus. I should have taken advantage of the land at my parent’s house, but I feel like I can make an effot to do my best in N.J. In the summer my parents have a lot of their own vegetables and things like that, but I am not sure what to do with milk.
Have you read Omnivore’s Dilemma? My dad loved it. It talks a lot about organic v. local and issues like that.
I wish I was in your book club!
I’m so excited, I got the Barbara Kingsolver book and am going to read it once finals are over!
Because I go to school in Mass. and am in a community service learning program, I hear a lot about food politics and food co-ops.
My roommates and I are in winter farm share, from an amazing local farm. The veggies are plentiful and great and I love supporting local community agriculture!
A lot of my friends are also working on food security issues, farm to school programs and community gardens in a nearby town of Holyoke.
I love being a part of the CSA! We get our veggies every few weeks and split it between 3 people, so it’s not that bad.
everything looks wonderful! esp. the curry! yum!
HAPPY WEDNESDAY ROSE!
First, I’d like to congratulate you on the blender!
I have that book, but haven’t gotten to it yet. I joined a CSA for the first time this spring and doubt I’ll do it again next year. I live by myself and have to work late some nights, so it got to be a little overwhelming at times. I felt like I had to do so much prepping on weekends. Also, when I went away for vacations, I felt like I wasted the money for that week’s share. I have easy access to my local farmers market on Sundays, plus one near my office on Thursdays. I think those markets are more practical for me. I can still get local produce, just not 12 ears of corn all at once.
what a great dinner!!! glad you enjoyed the book!
i had thought of participating in a CSA but since it was just mean, i didn’t think i could eat that much. but i think it’s a good thing to do.
That’s cool – lentil meatloaf! I’ve never read that book but I think it’s time!
We’re on the waiting list for a CSA here. We got on it last year and they said we might get on in two years. Yikes. In Portland we used to shop at a co-op that was close to our condo and loved it!
A lot of CSA’s in our area allow half shares. Maybe you could look into that. I love lentil meatloaf. I should look into making mine sometime soon, now that it’s so frigid outside.
Hey Rose–Love your blog and getting ideas for restaurants in the DC area! I live in DC by myself and would be interested in doing a CSA share…let me know what you decide! Also, are you interested in having more members in your book club? I’m looking to join one…
Bridget (bsullivanrd @ Gmail.com)
That food looks amazing! Also, I found my CSA through Local Harvest and it’s a great starting experience to eating local. We did waste some but it got us being creative and to eat more seasonally as well. We’re hoping to have some of our own homegrown veggies in the spring and try to go to our local farmer’s market. If you’re interested in this stuff this site’s totally inspiring! http://pathtofreedom.com/