San Diego Unseen: An Urban Portrait
Plight of the honeybee
Your story on Malaki Obado’s Asali Honey was the most important article in your April 13 Food Issue, yet it missed many crucial points.
We have the hard-working honeybee to thank for every third bite of food we eat. Cross-pollination helps at least 30 percent of the world’s crops to thrive, and more than $15 billion a year in U.S. crops are pollinated by bees, including apples, berries, almonds and more. However, the U.S. honeybee population has been experiencing colony collapse disorder (CCD). In other words, our much-needed honeybee is dying off due to a loss of habitat, malnutrition and the use of toxic pesticides. Albert Einstein himself once surmised that when the honeybee disappears, human civilization has only four more years left to live.
Also missing from the Food Issue was critical information pertaining to food security. Food purchased at most conventional grocery stores (Albertsons, Vons, etc.) travels upwards of 1,500 miles. Everyone can relate to feeling the pinch at the gas pump these days. With analysts estimating $6 gallons this summer, we will finally begin to feel the true cost of food. Food isn’t cheap, and oil is not an infinite resource. What happens when we can no longer afford the gasoline to fly old food from agro-industries located in South America, Africa and elsewhere?
Rather than sit around to find out, we can buy locally grown and organic food from local farmers. Purchase a weekly community supported agriculture (CSA) box from one of San Diego’s family farms, such as JR Organics (jrorganicsfarm.com) or Suzie’s Farm (suziesfarm.com). Chock full of fresh produce, one box can feed a family of four for as little as $34 a week, while students or individuals can band together for a half-box. You can even grow your own food in containers. For hands-on learning, City College has a sustainable ag program (seedsatcity.com) partially taught by one of San Diego’s most humble beekeepers, or you can dig in and volunteer at Wild Willow Farm (sandiegoroots.org). For the carnivores out there, Sage Mountain Farm (sagemountainbeef.com) has created a beef CSA. Composed of locally raised cattle that is fed greens (versus grains) and is hormone-free, it’s the healthiest, most delicious alternative. Best of all, by implementing these small steps in your day-to-day, you are helping to preserve the homes—as well as the lives—of the vital American honeybee.
Cara H. Cadwallader,
creative director and founder,
The Prosperity Hive,
East Village
Come on back, Jenny
Quite frankly, I was a little disappointed by your “Skip the steak” review of Cafe La Maze [“City Eat,” April 6].
It’s no secret that Cafe La Maze is famous for its prime rib. It’s advertised on a well-lit sign by the restaurant’s entrance that Cafe La Maze has “the best prime rib in town.” Or Google it. It’s there at the top.
So, it stands to reason that a food critic might want to try the dish the restaurant is famous for. Yet, curiously, prime rib isn’t even mentioned once in the article. Somehow, Jenny Montgomery has managed to completely overlook a house specialty that comprises literally half of the entire steak menu. Judging La Maze by its rib-eye is telling less than half the story.
That said, Ms. Montgomery did make two salient points. One is, yes, the shrimp-poop thing, I agree. The other is the scarcity of coveted potato skins. Again, taboo. But you’d like more salt and pepper on your steak, Jenny? It’s right there on the table. I know; I work there. And, yes, the staff is very friendly, thank you.
But “sawing away”? If you’re unhappy with the way your steak is cooked, your server will be more than happy to exchange your steak for another, slightly softer, piece. It’s as easy as asking. And, my god, Ms. Montgomery, your “Gable-esque ears” were “assaulted” by the best song by the best singer-songwriter of all time? We should all be so lucky. Anyway, you thought the salad was pretty, so, thank you. And I’m glad you liked the decor. And the mushrooms. And the rolls. And the beef bones. And the energy. And the history of the space.
And on behalf of Cafe La Maze, I’d like to invite you back—but, this time, to try the specialty plate we’re actually famous for. As for those “Gable-esque” ears of yours, well, they might enjoy the live music we feature every single night of the week (another fact you failed to mention). Tut tut, Ms. Montgomery.
But we forgive you. We hope you come in again soon, this time having already done your research and hopefully without such a predisposition towards finding a cutesy, condemning, half-true headline.
Ryan Hume,
National City
Correction
In last week’s “Bottle Rocket” wine column, Anders Wright erroneously reported that Terra restaurant’s Jeff and Michael Rossman are brothers. Jeff is Michael’s son. We’re sorry for the error.
