In a previous life, I was a New York Times food writer who ate at fancy restaurants and cooked even fancier food (in a shoebox-sized kitchen, no less). Since moving to Colorado seven years ago, I’ve been the restaurant critic at Denver Magazine and have written extensively for 5280 and The Denver Post. More important to the blog, however, is the fact that I’ve made the transition to all things organic and local. My eating habits now reflect my jam-making, bread-kneading Polish grandmother more than they do the Gramercy Tavern. I think that’s a good thing, and if you’re reading this, chances are you do, too.
P.S. This being a food site and all, you might like to know that I have a food background. I spent a decade in Paris, London and New York, where I spent nights and weekends ferreting out the best local bakeries, cheese shops, wine bars and markets. I also interned at Amy’s Bread in Manhattan and went to The Institute of Culinary Education, where I learned, among other things, the difference between a brown braise and a white braise and how to make homemade mayo.
It would take years, however, for me to realize that nothing beats a farm-fresh carrot, still clothed in dirt. Okay, a clean carrot beats a dirty one, but only if it’s cleaned right before you eat it.
I LOVE your site! It makes me very anxious to have the local farmers’ markets open so I can start preparing things for the freezer for winter 2009!
Love the site too!!! Finally I get access to all the awesome recipes that have fed me over the years!! Keep up the great work! Congratulations!
Love the site! I’m a fan from Paris. Thank you.
Hi! Great website! I am looking forward to serving you as the Loveland- Fort Collins’ market coordinator! Your site is inspiring; I hope to share your story at the sustainable fair tomorrow and the Be Local fair on April 29.
Cheryl Smith
This is wonderful!! I don’t why I haven’t spent every day on here. You are such an inspiration and I can’t wait to see y’all this summer. I have forwarded your site onto a few other friends who will really benefit from your heart and writings. Love to you and the kiddos!!
It was great to meet you and your daughter at the Local Foods Festival! I love your blog. Well written, informative and entertaining. Hope to see you and my “spritzer” soon!
Thanks, Jennifer. Great meeting you, too. (Your cookbook is a real beauty!) Incidentally, it was your radishes that we used in the first version of Asparagus and White Bean Salad that I blogged about today. So you were on our minds this week, too!
It was nice to meet you at the farmers market Saturday. I want to send you my kohlrabi-beet curry recipe. Let me know the best way to send it to you. I am a wordpress member, too, so if you’d like to invite me to post it, I could do that.
Lorienne@thesingingkitchen.com
I’m so glad you remembered! Why don’t you email it to me at SeedtoSpoon@aol.com and I’ll post it for you with your name and web address. Thanks!
Hey,
Let me know the next time you’re in Boulder!
Hey Annie, will do!
Excellent site.
Enjoyed our visit in Maine.
tedk
Do you have your peach upside down cake recipe ? What is the name of your cookbook? I have so much food from my CSA so thank you for the ideas to freeze for winter..
Hi Sheila — I’m so glad the site has been helpful to you! Just tonight I froze extra green beans — my littlest one loves beans so they’re really for her this winter
Thanks for reminding me about the peach upside down cake recipe. I’ll post it tomorrow!
Thank you so much for telling me about kohlrabi and cue ball zucchini! This is my first year in a CSA and I was at a complete loss as to what to do. I am hoping you might have some ideas soon for the lemon cucumbers and yellow beans I got this week.
I am so grateful for this site!
You made my day! I’m so glad that you’ve enjoyed the site and that you’re cooking seasonally
For lemon cucumbers, you can use any recipe that calls for cucumbers but I’ll be glad to pass along one of my favorites. It’s for a chickpea and cucumber salad and it’s what I used for my lemon cucumbers earlier this week. For yellow beans, I’m planning on trying out a new recipe for Roast Chicken Salad with Potatoes and Beans for dinner next week and will put it on the site if it’s good. Please keep in touch and let me know how else I can help.
Grande! I’ll take the recipe for the cucumbers and I can’t wait to hear about the roast chicken salad. Thanks again!
[...] one of the things I love most about teaching classes, I always learn something as well. Gretchen Kurtz, a Denver based food writer, was one of guest enjoyed talking with during lunch and learning about [...]
WOW! What a beautiful site. I am eager to explore the pages and posts in greater depth. I am forwarding a link to family and friends with the boost that I know you from CGMS. Thank you for providing this wonderful site, I look forward to learning more.
I’m so glad that you like it, and really appreciate your willingness to share it with friends! I know I can learn a lot from you, too. You’re always welcome to send along a seasonal recipe or tip. P.S. Maybe we can think of more ways to bring this into the classroom for the kiddos!
Hi, Gretchen!
At long last I’m reading your blog! Maddy and I began reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma (Young Reader’s Edition) with a small homeschool group and I’ve just spent the evening reading about how you use your CSA produce. We’re planning to take the plunge soon. Hard not to DO something with all that incredibly eye-opening information. Hey, quick question: I’d love to learn which fruits/vegetables freeze well (and particularly to what degree freezing will affect their texture/flavor). I saw the very helpful ways to refrigerate items but didn’t find anything on freezing them. Hope you and your crew are doing well! We missed you in CO over Christmas. We were visiting my folks in Bailey and couldn’t manage to steal away.
Another question: We don’t have the luxury of purchasing a separate freezer for excess produce. What do you recommend for folks who have to live with small freezer spaces?
I can’t wait to share Seed to Spoon with friends! Love the recipes and practical tips.
Hi Mary — You bring up such great questions! I’ll write a post on freezing this week and try to answer them. I’m thrilled that you and Maddy are reading Omnivore’s Dilemma. I haven’t seen the young reader’s edition but I know of other families who have read it. I’d love to hear more on her response. — gretchen
Love the site, what a great tool for people looking to change eating habits to more healthy and local,Michael City Bakery
Love your site! Can’t wait to try your recipes, in fact, I’m heading to the farmer’s market now to get some supplies….
Great website! I love your recipes…some great new ideas for me to try. I also appreciate your comments on eating fresh and supporting the CSAs.
Hi Gretchen,
Can you give me your opinion on the milk home delivery service Royal Crest? We have a 10 month old and while I’m still breastfeeding, there will come a time when she will start drinking whole milk. I currently buy Horizon Organic skim milk for me and my husband. He is very interested in Royal Crest, but one of my concerns is the plastic bottles that Royal Crest uses, washes and reuses. I contacted Royal Crest about BPA in the plastic and got a less that satisfactory response. Basically told me that reports of chemicals being leached from plastic is a bunch of malarkey. I just wanted to ask if you had any thought. Please feel free to email me privately or to your site; which by the way I love!!!!
I would be pleased to have you include our farm on your list of CSAs in Colorado. Our farm is located northwest of Wellington, Colorado (yes, just 1/2 mile north of Grant’s), but we feature delivery of shares to Fort Collins and nearby areas.
Thank you!
I would love to add you — thanks for getting in touch!