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California Fish Swimming To Extinction

KGO's Wayne Freedman filed this report on the serious situation with California's native salmon and trout, and the efforts of environmental officials to try and stem what they say is a path to extinction.  According to one expert, ninety-five of California streams that once had the Coho salmon, don't have it anymore.  Global warming and man's impact have combined to decimate fish populations and a U.C. Davis study predicts extinction by the end of the century, if not sooner.  Marin has a success story with Lagunitas Creek according to this internet video report filed by Freedman.

Feature!- Giving In Marin with Meals Of Marin

Rita is lying in bed, and laughing.  The 88 year-old is recounting a few funny stories of an earlier, good time.  Except for the fact that you can clearly see she is bedridden, it would be hard to tell that times are not so good these days for the longtime Marin resident. 

Welcome to the second installment in our series, Giving in Marin.

Don't Be A Turkey- Donate Some Food This Holiday Season

We know times may be a little bit lean this Holiday season, even here in swanky Marin.   But for some people it only means things are much worse than usual.

The giant turkey shown here in the Corte Madera Town Center, is a collection point for canned food and toiletries for the neediest of families here in the County.  The food will be collected by the Marin Community Food Bank and then distributed in holiday baskets.  This is the Town Center Turkey's 15th annual year gathering the goodies and it'll be there till the New Year. 

North Bay Vintners Tallying Up The Tonnage After Rough Year

The 2008 wine grape harvest is just about wrapping up for North Bay growers, and for many of them, it's been a year they'd just as soon forget.

Sushi Ran's Chef Runs Over The Competition

The master chef at Sausalito's Sushi Ran, Mitsunori Kusakabe, just won top honors in the Eat-Japan Sushi Awards competition in London.  Kusakabe took first place after competing against sushi chefs from around the world including Japan, Russia, England and the U.S.  Kusakabe's dish, "Seven Rice Samurai" dish impressed the judges with techniques that transformed rice including freezing, sauteing, fermentation and frying, but you won't find that dish on the menu at Sushi Ran.  That dish is too complex to prepare at the restaurant.  Kusakabe's boss is thrilled and claimed the honor means he's the "top sushi chef in the world."

Kusakabe began his formal training as a sushi chef when he was 20, and has worked in Kyoto, New York and Miami Beach.  Here's the full story in the IJ.

Franks Bar-B-Que Closes- A Sign Of The Times Here In Marin County

"You have reached Frank's Bar-B-Que and catering service. I regret to announce that Frank's Bar-B-Que is closing down due to the economic situation of our nation...We're going to try and revamp this operation and reopen, maybe by the first of the year, if we can hang in there...Thanks for being a loyal customer and patron of Frank's.  We appreciate you all.  Thank you for calling."

Caffeine Intoxication Possible From Energy Drinks

With names like Amp, Jolt, Battery, Kick and even Cocaine there's no mistaking what these products are promoting; increased energy.  But with caffeine- and lots of it- as the main energy-boosting ingredient, some customers are getting more buzz than they bargained for; caffeine intoxication.  Symptoms can include anxiety, insomnia, tremors, stomach upset and hypertension according to a new study out from Johns Hopkins University researchers.

A typical cup of coffee can contain from 80 to 150 milligrams of caffeine.  But energy drinks fall under dietary supplements classification rather than food products, so manufacturers can load them up with caffeine, in some cases several hundred milligrams worth.

Another disturbing trend; many of the users reporting bad reactions from energy drink consumption were quite young.

Grape Juice Can Have The Benefits Of Wine Without The Buzz

Drinking a glass of red wine daily, has been touted for providing healthy heart-related benefits including lowering blood pressure, reduce blood clots and increase the 'good' cholesterol levels.  But what if you don't drink alcohol?  Researchers have found that imbibers of Concord grape juice received a lot of the same beneficial effects that wine-drinkers enjoyed.  Salut!

Le Garage - A Little Bit Of Paris In Marin

What do you get when you mix an outdoor industrial setting, croque monsieur and frites, and a fantastic view of the harbor?  The answer is Le Garage, Sausalito's newest bistro reviewed by Megan Richcreek in MoreEats!

Marin Wine Auction- Enjoying Wine, Food & Song For A Good Cause

The sun was out and the wine was flowing this past weekend, as donors and patrons strolled through the Marin Art and Garden Center to bid on items for the very first Marin Wine Auction held by Keiretsu Forum Charitable Foundation. 

Oyster Farm Fight- Aw Shucks...Can't We Just All Get Along?

You'd think being around all those oysters would make Kevin Lunny a lover, not a fighter.  But these days, the Drakes Bay Oyster Company owner is all about the fight.  Lunny, who's oyster career began when he purchased the West Marin business from the Johnson Oyster Company back in 2005, is currently in a pitched battle with the National Park Service in order to remain in business.

1st Annual Marin Wine Auction This Weekend

Calling all wine-lovers!!  You don't have to travel up to Napa or Sonoma to find those fine wines- instead make your way over to the first annual Marin Wine Auction in Ross at the Marin Art and Garden Center this Saturday from 3p to 9p.  Featuring over 20 wineries from ...Marin!  There will be Napa and Sonoma offerings as well, and it all goes to a good cause- local charities.  Kieretsu Forum is hosting the event which will have dancing, live music, silent auctions and a lot of wine.  Earlier this week, we featured three Marin wineries who will be represented at the auction- Pacheco Ranch Winery, West Wind Wines and Stubbs Vineyards.  For more information and tickets, please go here.

Marin Winery Feature- Stubbs Vineyard

What do you get when you mix organic grapes, self-sufficient solar energy and a few gargoyles?  The answer is a 600-acre spread in West Marin that produces some of Marin's finest wine, here in MoreEats.

Marin Winery Feature- West Wind Winery

There are a lot of family-run businesses here in Marin.  There are even a few family-run wineries here.  But there is only one family-run winery that produces wine to help other families.  Meet the folks at West Wind Winery in hills of Nicasio in MoreEats!

Marin Winery Feature- Pacheco Ranch Winery

If you happen to find yourself driving south on Highway 101 through Novato in the Hamilton area, you might catch a glimpse of some vineyards climbing up the side of the hill.  Vineyards are not a common sight here in Marin, even though we sit next door to the prolific wine-producing counties of Napa and Sonoma.  But there are several vineyards and wineries in Marin, and the winery that sits behind those vineyards in Novato, is the oldest in the county.  Check it out in MoreEats!

Arsenic In Drinking Water? A Study Links It To Diabetes

Remember the play Arsenic and Old Lace?  The nice old ladies would serve a drink laced with the poison to unsuspecting victims who promptly keeled over dead.  It turns out arsenic, which is naturally occurring, isn't good in small doses either.  JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association) has just published a study correlating a link between onset of Diabetes Type II and higher arsenic levels in drinking water.   

These Espresso Coffee Stands Keep It Hot...And The Coffee Too

So called "sexpresso" coffee shops up in Washington state are giving their customers an eyeful, along with the morning brew.  Seems the baristas are serving up pastries in their pasties... MSNBC has the story-

 

One Whole Foods Not Enough In Mill Valley

Just a few days ago, we told you about how Whole Foods has been experiencing partial profits due to the U.S. economic downturn.  But apparently things are hunky-dory for Whole Foods here in the County; especially Mill Valley.  There is already one store on Miller Avenue, but also plans to open another market in the old Albertson's grocery store building across town on E.Blithedale.  Of course, there is no official word on when the 'other' Whole Foods will be opening.  In a somewhat ambiguous statement, one Whole Food exec was quoted in the Marin IJ as saying-

"It's gone through the design process and we'll commit to a date sometime in the near future when we figure out what we're going to be doing there."

What's to figure out?  MoreMarin suspects they may be re-thinking the Whole Idea.

Bargain Hunting At ...Whole Foods?

Whole Foods, the purveyors of pricey organic produce and fancy foodstuffs, is pitching itself as an economical alternative to the run-of-the-mill, but inexpensive grocery store.  If you find that hard to believe, you aren't alone.  The top of the line organic foodstore that earned the moniker, 'whole paycheck' for the high grocery tab, has been suffering slower sales since 2006 and has seen its stock plummet 70% percent since then.  With food and gas prices reaching the stratosphere, people have been flocking back to traditional. generic grocery stores in search of lower prices.  Whole Foods insist that there are bargains to be had, if you just know where to look.  That might be difficult while you're trying to make your way through the $35 per pound cheese and $25 per pound organic steak. 

Trans-Fats Getting The Hook In California Restaurants

New York, Philadelphia and other cities were the first to ban trans-fat from restaurants, but California just became the first state to do so.  Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill on Friday to begin phasing them out; all use in restaurants must cease by 2010, and they must be gone from retail baked goods by 2011.

The movement to ban trans-fats- led by scientists and health experts- is gaining momentum, and the move to ban by the most populous state, is sure to kick start a national effort.  Trans-fats are created by inserting hydrogen into liquid oil at high temperatures, creating partial hydrogenation which produces a type of fat that can extend shelf life and appearance of packaged foods. Trans-fats are also used extensively at fast-food restaurants.  But trans-fats have been shown to increase the 'bad' cholesterol levels which have been linked to increased incidents of heart disease and heart attacks. 

Some national fast-food chains, McDonalds', KFC and Taco Bell to name a few, have already begun moving away from using trans-fats.  Read more in the NYT article here.

Tomatoes Ok To Eat But Jalapenos...Maybe Not

AP has the latest on the FDA's long, and so far, fruitless search to try and find the culprit for the recent outbreaks of e.Coli.  Tomatoes are back on the menu, but now they are worried about jalapeno peppers and cilantro.  There goes the salsa for the summer...
    

More Support For Marin Grand Jury Report On Restaurant Health Inspections

This Marin IJ editorial slamming the County for their slowness in posting restaurant health inspections and praising the Marin Grand Jury report is right on target.  Said the IJ about the County:

"What is troubling is that over the several years county officials have said they were working on posting reports online, they have failed to make sure other means of public access to those reports are being enforced... For several years, the county has been considering posting restaurant inspections online, but the initiative has languished in bureaucracy while other counties have moved forward not only with postings, but establishing a grading scale."

We couldn't agree more, which is why MoreMarin went ahead and compiled information for nearly 300 restaurants in the County and posted here on our own website. 

We have been lauded by many, and criticized by a few.  A few of the critics say that we should include re-inspection information, so that if a restaurant corrects the violation, that information is posted as well.  While we wanted to do that, re-inspection information is not collected, compiled and communicated in the same qualitative and unambiguous manner that inspections are conducted which then makes it impossible to post.  The County says they have started to change the way they collect re-inspection information, and we applaud that effort.

The IJ editorial addresses this issue when it says-

"It is important to stress that the posting of the reports also puts a responsibility on the county and its inspectors to maintain a prompt turn around on reinspections of restaurants that fix and clean up cited problems.  Those follow-up reports should be posted promptly. Restaurants deserve that responsiveness."

We completely agree.  We hope, along with everyone else, that the County reacts quickly to post the inspections online.  Meanwhile, patrons can check here to get the most currently available information anywhere.

It's Nice To Have The Grand Jury In Your Corner

Until about three weeks ago, a restaurant patron could not find restaurant health inspection online for Marin restaurants.  On June 2, this blog debuted the first- and so far only- online database of restaurant health inspections for over 280 Marin eateries.  A lot of our readers are grateful they could finally find health inspection information conveniently and quickly, from the privacy of their own home- something that the restaurant-going public enjoys in nearly all of the other Bay Area counties.   That same day, an article we posted detailing our efforts to collect and collate the data, included some troubling revelations about how the County manages the inspection process, specifically with respect to the timeliness of inspections. 

The County had been promising online information since 2005 but had never delivered.  We were pretty amazed that in this day and age, Marin could not find a way to make that crucial health information available on the web for the public.  It turns out, the Marin Civil Grand Jury feels the same way we did, and in a report just issued June 16, they pretty much take the County to task for failing to get the much promised information online.

Marin Can Finally 'Que Up!

Now barbeque fans don't have to travel across a bridge to find those mouth watering ribs. Frank's Bar-B-Que just opened over in Novato, and he's promising "honest, satisfyin' Bar-B-Que & fixin's, foot-stompin' music & gen-u-wine Southern hospitality!"  It's a Nick's Picks in MoreEats!

Marin County Restaurants- Safe and Healthy?

How often have you eaten in a restaurant, and wondered if you were getting a 'little something extra' with the order?  We wondered too, and decided to take a trip down to the Environmental Health Services department at the Marin Civic Center, to see for ourselves. 

Marin Restaurant Health Inspections Are Online...Here!

Until today, Marin was the only county in the Bay Area that had not posted their restaurant health inspections online.  MoreMarin is pleased to introduce the first online health inspection database, covering the over 280 full-service sit-down Marin restaurants listed on our website!

A Sure-Fire Way To Get The Kids To Eat Their Veggies

Ever wished your broccoli tasted like dessert?   It seems like something out of science fiction, but a magical little red berry can transform carrots into cake.  (Photo by Joe Fornabaio/NYT)

County To Post Restaurant Health Inspections Online By Fall

Update: MoreMarin has added their own database of restaurant health inspections on this website. Take a look!

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Did you ever wonder how your favorite restaurant stacks up safety-wise to the competition?   Ever wish you could just go online before trying out a new place?  Marin County health officials say soon they'll be able to provide what other Bay Area counties already have; a health inspection report database available online for the general public. 

Bobby's Cafe Celebrates Its Sweet Sixteen

Read how one restaurant managed to resurrect itself after disaster struck.  It's a Nick's Pick, in MoreEats!

Nick's Pick's- Sushi in San Rafael

Nick reviews the latest sushi restaurant to open on busy Fourth Street in San Rafael.  Find out if it's arigato or sayonara for Umi Sushi in MoreEats!

Six Marin Eateries Make The List...

What do Nick's Cove in Marshall, Cucina in San Anselmo, Pizzeria Picco in Larkspur, Buckeye Roadhouse in Mill Valley and Sushi Ran & Poggio in Sausalito all have in common? 

Play This Game...Feed The People!

Here's a really neat, do-good little computer game you can play at work guilt-free!  It's called FreeRice and the vocabulary-freaks among you will find it highly addictive,   Try it... we'll bet you can't stop at one game!

Peeps Have How Many Calories?????

Ever wonder how many candy calories your Cadbury Creme egg packs?  Here's a look...

It's Ok To Eat The Mussels!

That's the word after officials tested mussels in the SF Bay and found them safe to eat.  There was a ban on consuming mussels harvested from the Bay, after the Cosco Busan oil spill last fall.