The Herbfarm Restaurant From farm to be able good table

We’re indisputably spoiled in the bounty of the Pacific Northwest. The abundance of fresh foodstuffs available has spawned countless restaurants featuring the flora and fauna of the region’s spectacular local environment. It’s not enough to say you cook “local food”, because it’s ubiquitous and obvious—now.

It hasn’t always been so. The Herbfarm Restaurant, and founders Ron Zimmerman and Carrie Van Dyck, were among the first visionaries to celebrate local food before it was obvious to do so.

Located 30 minutes out of Seattle, tucked away in the winery enclave of picturesque Woodinville, Washington, the Herbfarm is perennially rated one of the top restaurants in the United States. Singularly focused on seasonality, the menu changes every few weeks and is based on themes: The Great Basil Banquet, A Mycologist’s Dream, A Taste of Trees … Even within these windows of seasons the menu changes nightly, sometimes being finalized only hours before guests arrive.

Of course, with such advance menu planning and an out-of-the-way location, guests have to do their part, and must book in advance for the dinner. With prices ranging from $170–225 USD per person plus taxes, it’s not a spur-of-the-moment dinner out. The advance reservation ensures that all dietary concessions are considered, that your presence is eagerly awaited, and your table prepared for you (private or a seat at the convivial communal table) upon arrival.

One memorable dinner took place last fall for Über Tuber, an homage to the humble potato. Over four hours, nine courses, and generous pairings, we enjoyed potatoes in every imaginable way. The most generous food known, spuds produce more food per acre than any grain or legume and there are more than 400 varieties cultivated for 8,000 years in the western Andes. Talented next-gen chef Chris Weber (the youngest overseeing any of America’s 47 AAA 5-Diamond restaurants) did his utmost to get his hands on and utilize as many of these as he could. Our menu included Carola, Ozette, Purple Majesty, La Ratte, Maris Piper, Bintje, and more.

Über Tuber started off with a cup of good cheer in the form of house-harvested and brewed medlar and rose geranium tea, followed by a tour in the extensive herb garden with the generous and experienced Van Dyck—complete with plucking and tasting—knowing full well these very herbs would soon find their way to our plates. Zimmerman, an unpretentious and humorous encyclopedia of culinary and vinous knowledge, hosted the evening, introducing the crew, chef, and each course.

Course after course of imaginative, exquisitely presented, expertly prepared food filled the tables: tubers mashed with fresh king crab leg, turned into waffles with coho roe and rose radish in the form of Espelette pepper tater tots, and in the midst of Oregon black truffle gratin. Dessert even featured the versatile spud by way of chocolate dipped potato chips and walnut mashed potato fudge.

Sommelier Joey Lopaka constantly refilled Riedel glasses with specially selected wines from the Herbfarm’s collection of 26,000 bottles and 4,500 selections, special wines plucked from Pacific Northwest wineries. Wine geeks supplemented the evening with exceptional wines from the Herbfarm cellars. I enjoyed a 1945 Massandra Rose Muscat, a flight of rare Rutherglen Rosewood muscats (including a solera began in 1890), and finished with a spectacular 1795 Madeira. Yes, Madeira from the 18th century. It might just be the oldest drinkable wine still available to taste in the world.

The whole Herbfarm experience achieves umami—that complete sensory experience of capturing the ingredients, the moment, and the flavours at their peak. With a Spanish guitarist strumming, fire crackling in the kitchen, candles providing a flattering glow, and a well-paced flow of beautiful plates and glasses, friends are made here, united by love of food and wine. Time flies by and stands still, but the memories (oh that Madeira) will always remain.

More research : regulation needed on energy drinks

A new review of the existing evidence suggests that energy drinks may represent a looming public health threat in Europe, especially for kids and young adults.

The main health risks from energy drinks come from very high caffeine levels and a higher likelihood of consuming alcohol and tobacco with the drinks, as well as engaging in other risky behaviors, the study team says in the journal Frontiers in Public Health.

There are also ingredients other than caffeine in some of the drinks – such as guarana and taurine - whose effects are so poorly studied it’s hard to say whether they’re safe in large quantities and in children and teens, the authors add.

“The way these beverages are marketed can also sometimes be a challenge given they apparently target young people,” said Joao Breda, who led the study.

Breda is with the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, but the paper does not reflect WHO views or policy, he notes.

About 500 new brands of energy drinks were released worldwide in 2006, he and his colleagues write.

In the U.S., sales of energy drinks have increased by about 10 percent per year between 2008 and 2012. A European Food Safety Authority study in 2011 found that 68 percent of adolescents aged 10 to 18 years old, 18 percent of children under age 10 and 30 percent of adults in the European Union were consuming energy drinks.

Breda said his team reviewed existing studies because public health researchers had asked for more concrete and updated information on the issue of energy drinks.

“We then realized very few studies were available and thought it could be a good idea to summarize the scarce and still insufficient evidence available,” he told Reuters Health in an email.

The researchers selected papers that had looked at the adverse effects of energy drinks and found that much of the potential risk comes from the caffeine in the drinks.

In Europe, for example, energy drinks are responsible for 43 percent of the caffeine consumed by kids and 18 percent of the caffeine consumed by teens, according to the 2011 study.

On average, people in that study consumed an average of one liter (34 ounces) of the drinks per month, but some drank more than four liters per month and more than 13 percent of young adult consumers reported drinking up to one liter per session.

The research Breda’s team reviewed also showed that teens who consumed energy drinks were more likely to use tobacco and other harmful substances, to drink alcohol and to be at a greater risk for depression and physical injuries requiring medical treatment. (See Reuters Health stories of March 5, 2014, here: reut.rs/12cF9is and December 12, 2013, here: reut.rs/1CWEhd2).

About 70 percent of young adults who drink energy drinks mix them with alcohol, the study team found.

“Due to their stimulant effect they may cover up the fatigue and drunkenness effect of alcohol leading to heavier alcohol consumption and incorrect perception of actual state especially in inexperienced drinkers, namely adolescents,” Breda said.

But the drinks are marketed with an emphasis on their ability to boost energy and enhance focus, and the marketing is largely targeted to young males, according to the report.

Many of the concerns about energy drinks do seem to be related to caffeine, said Christopher Gindlesperger from the American Beverage Association, but he pointed out that most mainstream energy drinks contain about half the caffeine of a similar sized cup of coffee.

“Importantly, leading energy drink makers also voluntarily display total caffeine amounts from all sources on their packages,” he told Reuters Health.

Gindlesperger said energy drink makers also display an advisory statement on their packages indicating that the product is not intended (or recommended) for children, pregnant or nursing women, or persons sensitive to caffeine.

“And they do not market energy drinks to children or sell or market them in K-12 schools,” he noted.

“It appears clear that excessive or irresponsible consumption of energy drinks does represent a public health problem,” said Michael Siegel, a researcher at the Boston University School of Public Health who was not involved in the review

“The problem of very high caffeine content in some brands could be dealt with effectively through legislation that places a limit on the maximum allowable amount of caffeine in these beverages,” Siegel said.

But, he added the problem of youth mixing alcohol and energy drinks is more insidious and more difficult to deal with.

“The FDA has already removed from the market all malt-type beverages that contain caffeine,” he said in an email.

But, Siegel added that many young people mix caffeine into alcoholic beverages on their own.

“What is perhaps needed are educational campaigns that teach youth about the negative consequences of mixing caffeine and alcohol,” he said.

Rebecca McKetin said that in addition to the caffeine, people should also be aware of the high sugar content of these beverages.

“People are effectively consuming a lot of soft drink, which increases their risk of obesity, diabetes, tooth decay etc.,” said McKetin, of the Australian National University’s Center for Research on Ageing, Health and Well-being in Canberra.

McKetin said there is a convenience factor in the delivery of caffeine in these drinks that opens up opportunities to consume them in a manner that is different to what we have seen with traditional caffeinated beverages such as tea and coffee.

“It is much easier to open a can of Red Bull than to make an espresso, and the sugary additives in energy drinks masks the bitterness of the caffeine,” she told Reuters Health in an email.

Americans eating less trans fat, but still too much

Between 1980 and 2009, Americans’ consumption of trans fat dropped by about a third and intake of saturated fats declined as well, but both are still more common in daily diets than the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends, according to a new study.

“Other studies have previously shown a decline in trans fat intake over time, but our study is the first to look at such a long period of time,” lead author Mary Ann Honors of the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health in the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

“Trans fat intake declined by over one third, which was great to see,” Honors told Reuters Health by email.

The 12,500 people enrolled in the Minnesota Heart Study described in detail what they had eaten over the previous 24 hours in a series of six surveys over a 30-year period. Researchers compared their reported types and amounts of nutrients with recommendations from the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and AHA recommendations.

Over time, total fat, saturated fat and trans fat declined, but remained above recommended levels.

Total fat declined from an average of 39 percent of daily calorie intake to 33 percent. Trans fatty acids declined from 2.9 percent of calories to 1.9 percent for men.

That means trans fat intake decreased by 32 percent for men and 35 percent for women, on average.

The AHA recommends keeping trans fats, found in partially hydrogenated oils and noted on nutrition labels, to one percent or less of total calories consumed.

Saturated fats, found in fatty beef, lard, butter and coconut oil, declined as well but still accounted for more than 11 percent of daily calories for men and women in 2009, according to the results in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

The AHA recommends limiting saturated fat to between 5 percent and 6 percent of total calories.

Consumption of the healthy omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and herring, remained steady – but lower than recommendations – over the study period. These fats can be good for the heart, reducing blood pressure and triglyceride levels.

The study examined trends in fat consumption, not the reasons behind them, but there could be several explanations for the decline, Honors said.

“For example, Food and Drug Administration regulations now require the trans fat content to be included on the Nutrition Facts Panel of packaged foods, making it easier for consumers to identify foods containing trans fats and to avoid those products,” she said. “In addition, many food manufacturers have begun to reduce the trans fat content of their products, resulting in fewer trans fat-containing food products in the marketplace.”

Trans fats are naturally found in low amounts in some foods, including meats, she noted, but the majority of trans fats that people consume are from processed foods.

“The evidence is compelling enough to aim for the elimination of trans fats entirely,” said Rajiv Chowdhury, a senior research associate in Global Cardiovascular Health in the School of Clinical Medicine at the University of Cambridge in the UK. “There is also an increasing realization that trans fats are potentially even worse than saturated fats for cardiovascular health.”

Saturated fats, on the other hand, need to be studied further as the current evidence indicates that their health effects may vary widely based on type and source, he told Reuters Health by email. The saturated fats available in dairy products may not be harmful, said Chowdhury, who was not involved in the new study.

“Because researchers have found that consuming trans and saturated fats may increase cardiovascular disease risk, it may be particularly important for individuals with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease to avoid these nutrients and follow the recommendations,” Honors said. “Diet is one important avenue for reducing cardiovascular disease risk.”

National Teen Driver Safety Week, says CDC success of parents key

This is National Teen Driver Safety Week, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hopes its “Parents are Key” campaign will help parents encourage safe driving habits.

Among the tools for parents on the CDC’s website: a "Parent-Teen Driving Agreement," designed to be posted on refrigerators and serve as a daily safety reminder (see here: 1.usa.gov/1s9lB3q). On the CDC site, parents can also learn about common danger zones and state driving laws.

The 5 NHTSA safety recommendations: no cell phone use or texting while driving, no extra passengers, no speeding, no alcohol, and no driving or riding without a seatbelt. (See more here: 1.usa.gov/1nS1mMJ.)Also this week, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) is running its "5 to Drive" campaign, urging parents and guardians to discuss one safety topic each day, Monday through Friday.

"Despite a declining trend, young drivers remain the largest percentage of crashes and deaths on our roads and we must all do more to change that," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in a statement sent to Reuters Health.

From 2003 to 2012, the number of teens who died each year in motor vehicle crashes declined by 50 percent, from nearly 6,000 to 3,000.

During the same period, the rate of passenger vehicle drivers ages 16 to 19 years involved in fatal crashes fell by 52 percent, according to data compiled by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Despite the declines, motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death for teens. Among teens who died in passenger vehicle crashes in 2012, some 60 percent were not wearing a seatbelt.

Sixteen-year-old Casandra Giles, a high school student from Zion, Illinois, told Reuters Health she avoids texting and eating while driving, because she distrusts other teenage drivers and wishes to remain vigilant behind the wheel.

"I wear my seatbelt at all times, and I never use my cell phone, because I want my passenger to be safe, too," Giles said. "Many teenagers take driving for granted and speed and show off for other students around school. Some drink, when they get it from older siblings."

Nearly one million high school teens drank alcohol and drove in 2011, according to the CDC.

Richard Patnode, a driving instructor with Arcade Drivers School, Inc. based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, said he believes many parents set a bad example and are reluctant to teach their teens about driving.

Patnode, who teaches some 500 students each year, said he has seen some students illegally drive themselves to driving school. "The parents need to take them driving, not just leave it to driving schools," Patnode told Reuters Health. "Some parents are afraid and never talk about texting or cell phone use. Parents still do it and they can't focus, either."

Dr. Ruth Shults, senior epidemiologist in the Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention at the CDC, advises parents to allow their teens to drive family vehicles, because they tend to be safer than the older, more affordable vehicles of many teens.

"Teens who share a family car tend to take fewer risks when driving. Also, family cars are typically newer than a car that would be purchased for a teen, so they are likely to have more safety features," Shults said in a statement to Reuters Health. "Prohibit driving when crashes are more likely to occur—at night and when there are other teens in the car."

The CDC also has tools to help pediatricians talk to their young patients about safe driving, here: 1.usa.gov/1tgoy7t.

Beverage Alternatives to Diet Soda

It is a common misconception that diet sodas will help people lose weight. While the drinks may not contain sugar, the sugar substitute is not much better. In fact, it can lead some to think that they might not be contributing to obesity by drinking a diet soda. Forbes Living TV offers some beverage alternatives which are better for us.

Drink water. It is a natural hydrator. It is usually free or sold in bottles at a very low price. It is portable, can be recapped to prevent spilling when moving and can be flavored.

Sugar-free juices are another good alternative. Some contain extra vitamins and minerals to improve overall health. And most do not cost too much. They are usually sold in boxes or small cartons.

Green tea comes in a several forms and different taste varieties to please most taste buds. Drink it cold from a can or bottle, or make it hot and add honey to naturally sweeten it up.

Sparkling flavored water will give carbonated beverage lovers the bubbly they desire with no added artificial ingredients. Tonic water flavored with strawberry slices and lemon or lime adds flavor and zip to the drink.

As the weather becomes cooler and heaters come on, familykenkel recommends readers stay hydrated all year long.  Kick the diet soda addiction out in the cold with the above ideas or tell us yours.

Family Travel Reminders

Many families will travel out of town for the holidays. Some will take the roads and some will go by air. No matter which way you and your family travel, Forbes Living TV shares some reminders to keep handy.

Who will take care of the house, mail and family pets while you are away? Now is the time to reserve the best caretakers for these valuable assets. Be sure to add some buffer time to the schedule to allow for delayed flights or heavy traffic congestion. Add an extra day to the schedule, if needed. Make a list of what needs to be done daily.

Families who are taking flights out of town should consider downloading movies on tablets or digital devices a week or more before the flight departs. Sometimes the download is slow even on a fast connection.  The same applies for adding apps and especially those related for travel.

If special meals, such as a gluten-free one, are needed for family members, place that request when reserving the flight and seats. If the reservation is already made, call the airline and add the request well in advance of the flight.

familykenkel also suggests checking the baggage restrictions for all connecting flights. Your checked suitcase may be too big and heavy for the regional airline connection to the destination point. Know before you go.

With a little advance planning, a family holiday trip can go smoothly. Why leave some things to chance?

Manipulation Madness

Q: My foster child can be amazingly manipulative, all the time! If I lovingly respond to her, am I not just reinforcing this behavior?

Best Super Foods of Fall

Look no further than the local farmer’s market, organic market or super market for the best super foods of fall that Forbes Living TV is pleased to share.

Apples, without doubt, are a terrific super food rich in vitamins and fiber. No matter which variety you like, they are plentiful this time of year.

Brussels sprouts may be on the avoid list of veggies but roasted with a little garlic, a spritz of olive oil and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese, they are truly divine. They are also chock full of iron.

Pears, if you please, can be eaten as it, baked or roasted. They are juicy and sweet and supply a good amount of vitamin C.

Cauliflower is an inexpensive vegetable which can be steamed, broiled or mashed up to make a healthier “mashed potato” dish. It has qualities which can lower cholesterol, prevent cancer and contains a lot of Vitamin C.

Squash has a thicker skin than its summer cousins so it is sweeter and can be stored longer. They are in abundance in the produce section right now. Sprinkle some ginger and cinnamon on it.

Pumpkin is a popular winter squash that is full of fiber, potassium and Vitamin B. Buy a ripe one, slice it and roast it. Cool and cut into cubes to peel. familykenkel loves it in soup and smoothies. You can also buy canned pumpkin and use it the same way if wanting to take the easy way out. Enjoy the super fruits and veggies of fall!

My Daughter is Ruining My Time!

		Q: When trying to embrace my daughter (age 13) during stressful times, I began to realize that she has created crises over and over to receive that kind of love and attention. It ended up whenever I had a plan and it didn't include her (work, coffee with a friend, etc.), she'd have a crisis (feel sick, kick the wall and insist on a trip to the E.R., lock herself in her room). Then, when I started to include her in everything, she'd sabotage it (push the table over in the restaurant, break equipment at work, ruin clothes in stores at the mall, etc.). I felt like I was being completely controlled and "trained" to focus only on her all of the time. How do you manage that in moderation?
A: There are several dynamics going on in the relationship between you and your daughter. First, let's look beyond the behavior to determine why children "create crises." The voice of this type of behavior is saying, "I need to feel loved and I need to have attention so I know I won't be lost in this world!" Behavior is the language of our children. As adults, we communicate verbally and miss the voice of our children because these behaviors interrupt the flow of our day and are often so nerve grinding, we can't listen to them! Your daughter is expressing that she is insecure in her attachment relationship with you. When you leave home without her, the acting out or sicknesses begin. Although I do not have her exact history, this tells me that she has experienced severe abandonment in the past. She is terrified of you leaving her…it feels like you won't ever come back. Her perception and fear of you leaving her is more than just an idea -- it is her reality. Our thoughts become our reality. Try to relate to her fear in a situation in your life. If you were convinced, for some reason, that your husband would be injured in a car accident on his way to work, you would do EVERYTHING in your power to keep him from leaving the house. You might yell in desperation to get him to understand the seriousness of this issue. You might even feign an illness in your efforts to have him stay home with you. This is your daughter's story. Her fear of losing you is driving these behaviors. Then, when you took her with you, I have a feeling that she was with you simply out of desperation on your part. However, even though she was with you, I suspect you weren't really with her 100%. You didn't want her there because this was supposed to be your time to take care of yourself and you felt like you didn't have any other choice but to take her with you. This is all understandable, and unfortunately, happens too many times to parents simply out of their own survival. However, we need to look openly and honestly at the dynamic that is created in such a scenario. So you take her with you, all the while, the monsters of resentment, anger, regressive attitude of "whatever," and intolerance raise their ugly heads. These stressors become barriers to your connection with her. You are physically with her, but not emotionally engaged and not paying attention to her from an intrinsic, core level within you. Your daughter is very intuitive; she can sense the barriers of your resentment and your state of survival. If you are in a place of survival, you cannot be in a place of unconditional love for someone else. Your focus is on you, leaving no emotional space for your child and rendering you unable to respond to your child in an authentic and personal way. Due to her intense fear of losing you, she needs you to connect with her at every level possible. This means connecting with her through your metacommunication (your tone of voice, timing of your responses, inflection in your voice, your physical touch, your body posture and body language, your facial expressions, your eye contact, etc.). It takes using all of your senses to fully be in relationship with your child in order to create security with a child who is so overtly insecure. When you're unable to do this, the result is that your daughter is left feeling even more unsafe, unprotected, and insecure. At this point, you are now in a public place and she is sensing your disconnect and, additionally, she becomes overwhelmed and threatened by being in a new environment. She shifts into a place of complete overwhelm and her behaviors are out of control. The mother/daughter connection is lost, so efforts to regulate her and calm her prove futile. You become stressed and the public humiliation is making the hair on the back of your neck rise. Your thought process goes something like this, "She's ruining my time, again! I should have just left her home!" Disaster strikes once again. There is a better way. Understanding this dynamic, let's look at what can be done to create security for her. We know that children become secure when they feel accepted, approved, validated, and acknowledged. It will take having some experiences with her, just the two of you, to create this security. It can be as simple as a "Girl's Night Out" and driving down to have ice cream or something special in a quiet and calm environment, just the two of you. It isn't about the ice cream, though. It is about your relationship with her. It requires you to be authentic and fully present with her. She is old enough to be able to express her fears of you leaving her. Point out what would happen in the past when you left. Let her know that you now understand that these behaviors were signals of her being so scared of you leaving. Apologize for not "hearing" her. Commit to making it different with her. Help her to express her fears when you are both calm and regulated. It will help diffuse the ignition of acting out behaviors the next time you leave without her. Validate her fears. Acknowledge how scary it must feel every time you leave home without her. Accept her reaction to your absence. Reassure her that you want to make this better for her. The next time you have to leave, spend at least 15 minutes of one-on-one time with her prior to leaving. Set up a plan for her to call you when she feels scared. Make your time away from her short at first. Prolonged absences can be too overwhelming to her regulatory system. You can begin to build on these times away, but start slowly. Remember that children heal through relationships. Therapeutic worksheets, behavior charts, and logical consequences don't promote in-depth healing. It takes you being 100% present in relationship when you are with her in order for her to begin to feel safe when you're not with her.