I just read some reviews on this book and have to admit it seems to be one I'd like. Our library has lots of copies and all are out or on hold. Until '03 my wife and I lived on our farm and grew and processed all our food besides spices and seafood for about 5 years. It was hard work but satisfying. But like Kingsolver that was our life. How do others without the time and resources grow their own or buy local foods? In our area to eat beyond cabbage, collards, beets and carrots over the winter you have to can, freeze or ferment. The interest in learning those skills has fallen so far that our two counties have dropped their master food preserver programs. So even if the average working person agreed with Kingsolver I don't think they'd be able to copy her. I don't know the answer. As far as eating seasonal foods we had the joy of growing in the different seasons. Hard to put into words- it's like Christmas in December is great, but this Christmas in July stuff is a crock. We crave asparagus in April-June but not so interested the rest of the year. As the weather changes with the seasons so does the food in the garden. Anyhow, I think we'll end up with this book on our shelf. Tom

Very cool package ~ love that you included that perty New Years card, Sue. Those bowls are great, too! Katie, can't wait to hear what you did with the lemongrass powder, it sounds interesting. I bet the coffee is rich & delicious with the condensed milk, yum!

I read Kitchen Confidential. It was good, but I found the two Ruth Reichl books I read much more interesting. I don't know whether to like or dislike Bourdain as a person, because I don't know him, other than having read one of his books, but he does come across as arrogant. He's funny, though. I tried to like his show, The Taste, when it was first on last year, but it seemed way too much about the judges and not enough about the contestants or their cooking. That being said, I didn't make it past the opening rounds. I guess I've wondered way off topic now. Sorry. Sally

LindaC, Dont get me wrong, I am not making a scientific statistical statement here that Chinese ladies dont drink. I am only saying that in the many times I have traveled throughout China, many times to Hong Kong, Macau, Toronto, at least 20 times to Vancouver, many years of eating here in NYCs Chinatown, Flushings Chinatown, and Brooklyns Chinatown, I just dont remember ever having seen a Chinese lady consuming alcohol. I am certainly not disputing your having observed the opposite situation. It is just very interesting that my observations are quite different. gina_w, I am also surprised that this alcohol topic is dragging out a little longer than I expected. I do find it an interesting topic of learning because it so different than our Western culture and as part of eating habits. This is really the first time I look up the information to confirm what I have heard all along, for my own benefit and not for the sake of argument, about alcohol sensitivity. I dont believe that I have said "all Asian" anywhere. I am not making any "assertions" other than my own may be biased observations. I am sorry that my one-time referencing Wiki seemed to offend you. Sometime people get offended if you dont cite references. I do understand you have substantial "credential" in these topics, which makes it even more curious to me, for example, your observation that the Chinese and Japanese have similar social drinking practices is very different than mine. The Chinese and the Japanese working and socializing habits are nowhere near in my experience. I ride the train here in NY Westchester back and forth regularly. The train is also known as "Train to Tokyo " because so many Japanese work late into the night. You will not see too many Chinese work that way. I have been invited a few times to Japanese nighttime "entertainment" with the guys, and I know what you mean by their drinking habits. But as Anne1992 said, " As usual, we are all kind of right" We all have different friends and travel in different circles and we all have different life experiences. No more dead horse beating. dcarch