Small Farms Collective French Press: Product Review

I purchased the French Press from Small Farms Collective recently from Amazon. Whether you drink tea or coffee or both you should definitely get one of these. For coffee at home, I usually make espresso or pour-over, but I have never had a good French Press so I have enjoyed experiencing a different kind of coffee brewing at home.

Besides brewing hot coffee, I have made tea in it (Pu-erh Yunnan and Gunpowder Green Tea from Louisville Tea Co.). Since this one is clear glass (some French Presses are metal) you can see the color of whatever you are brewing. Not so important for coffee, but I think it is very important for tea; I usually pour my tea into my cast iron teapot after it’s done brewing but I never brew tea any more in anything that isn’t clear.

I have also used it once so far for cold brew coffee. I coarse-ground about 100 grams of fresh coffee beans (AmazonFresh Just Bright Whole Bean Coffee, Light Roast), put them in the French Press, then filled it nearly to the top with water and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight. Then just used the built-in strainer to filter out the coffee and pour into a separate container, this was much easier than filtering the cold brew through a paper pour-over filter as I’ve always done before.

The below picture is the Small Farms Collective French Press with Higher Grounds’ Justice blend coffee and one of my Tealyra La Lune 10oz glasses.

Related 27Press Book:
19 Lessons On Tea

Free Irish Whiskey and Sushi Audiobook Codes

Both 7 Lessons on Irish Whiskey and 12 Lessons On Sushi are now available in audiobook format for the first time, and Audible has provided me with codes that will allow people who have already purchased audiobooks in the past to download either book for free.

If you’d like a code for one or both of these books just email or text me or comment on this post.

You can also purchase them and start listening instantly…

$2.76 ($3.95) – 7 Lessons On Irish Whiskey

$4.86 ($6.95) – 12 Lessons On Sushi

If you’ve never purchased an audiobook from Audible, new members always get their first 2 books free, just click here to get your trial membership. I’ve been an Audible member for almost 11 years and have listened to almost 300 audiobooks in that time, it is a great way to catch up on all the books you might not otherwise have time to sit down and read.

Cooked (Pollan): Book Review

Cooking is not just an activity that involves you sweating it out in the kitchen, but it is an art in itself. If done correctly and patiently, using the right ingredients and techniques, you don’t just whip up great dishes, but create memories that will linger on in the mind of those who are lucky enough to eat it.

In Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation by Michael Pollan, published in 2013, the author explores the impact of four of the most powerful elements of nature – air, water, fire and earth – on the food that we eat. From baking to fermenting, he experiments with some of the best chefs in the world to discover how beautifully these four elements shape and cook the food that we so love to eat.

The entire world pauses to read a culinary book that is written by the renowned journalist, Michael Pollan. It is no wonder that after penning down several critically acclaimed non-fiction books based on food and culinary science such as In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto and The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, his next piece of work, Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation, has taken the world by storm. It is difficult to find an author as passionate about food and the role it plays in the evolution of mankind as Pollan. So the book certainly deserves your attention if you love food.

Readers have loved how the food systematically breaks down into the four sections of fire, air, earth and water giving ample explanation of how each of them shape and cook the food separately in their own unique way. It will take you on a journey starting from the basic techniques of cooking to how they have evolved over the centuries, and how this evolution has shaped our society and inter-personal relationships.

The book also makes a point to remind its readers how the modern man is losing his touch with the real methods of cooking. Relying on processed food to take care of our nutritional requirements weakens us and the entire cycle of ecological inter dependence. In fact, the author claims that by adopting a healthier cooking practice, we can fight health issues successfully and go back to restoring our disturbed relationship with nature.

In 2016 Pollan and Alex Gibney turned the book into a 4-part documentary series released exclusively on NetFlix which brought stunning visuals to Pollan’s story.

Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation is 496 pages long and currently available on Amazon in  Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback, Audible, Audio CD formats.

Michael Pollan is also well known for his phrase, “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” from his book In Defense of Food, as well as his book The Omnivore’s Dilemma, and various other books, documentaries, and lectures (e.g. Michael Pollan: “Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation” | Talks at Google).

The Sushi Economy (Issenberg): Book Review

Whether you’re an avid sushi lover, or just intrigued by this globally loved dish, The Sushi Economy: Globalization and the Making of a Modern Delicacy by Sasha Issenberg will satiate all your curiosity as far as this Japanese dish is concerned; this sushi biography is thoroughly researched, well articulated and makes an interesting read.

Sushi was, at one point, just a local Japanese street food and the tuna fish that is most commonly used for making it, was sold at scrap value. However, currently, this fish is one of the most expensive ones in the market while sushi has found its way to the best Michelin star restaurants, scattered all over the world. The book traces the sushi’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of the most luxurious dishes on the menu in the 21st Century.

Being an experienced and a credible journalist, Issenberg, has brought the same curiosity and an interesting writing style to this book. The vivid and detailed narration takes into account every aspect of the sushi business – right from the catching and transportation of fish to serving that sushi on the plate! Readers will be able to vividly imagine the Tsukiji fish market and the religious arrangement of the dish on the plate. It’s all out there for the reader to imagine, smell and taste.

The book vividly discusses the Tsukiji fish market that covers 57 acres in the capital city of Japan and trade worth $6 billion are annually carried out over here. Along with that, it beautifully narrates how the sushi has changed over the years – from taking birth in the 19th century to being revamped when Japanese planes came back with North Atlantic Bluefin Tuna instead of flying back empty. Meant for the foodie, the economist and the hungry reader as well, this book is nothing less than a delight to read.

What sets this book apart from most of the other sushi guides is that it is not just a bland narrative on the development of sushi into a globally loved dish, but also takes into account the tiny details like kitchen scenes in the restaurants as well as how it has taken advantage of globalization to enjoy the enviable position that it has today. A bonus is that this book also discusses the economics of sushi deeper than many others out there on the bookshelves.

The Sushi Economy: Globalization and the Making of a Modern Delicacy is 351 pages long and currently available on Amazon in Kindle, Hardcover, and Paperback formats.

Sasha Issenberg has also written several other highly rated non-fiction books.

Related 27Press Book:
12 Lessons On Sushi

Tea: History, Terroirs, Varieties: Book Review

Tea: History, Terroirs, Varieties (Second Edition) by Kevin Gascoyne, Francois Marchand, and Jasmin Desharnais is great book on tea because it thoroughly provides an overview of tea’s history, different varieties, growing and harvesting process, fascinating ceremonies, local methods of preparation, tasting notes, and infusion accessories. A lot is covered in this book on all of the topics a beginner, or even a more experienced tea drinker, would be interested in.

page 30/31

But the really special part of this book is the massive collection of photos. Nearly every page contains one or more images from around the world and really brings the topic of diversity and complexity of the tea industry to life. If you’re new to tea, you’ll be amazed by how many different colors of tea there are. The book also explores the world’s top tea-growing countries to explain the common characteristics of that nation’s tea. Examples of countries covered in the book are Japan, Taiwan, China, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam, and Nepal, and the region of East Africa.

page 50/51

After reading this book, you’ll learn how climate and soil influence’s a tea’s characteristics. Terroirs is the lingo used to refer to these factors. You’ll also learn about the different tea families, grades, cultivars, and varieties. The section on tea’s history includes a timeline for easy reference. This book is a well-rounded, thorough book on tea that even includes interviews with industry leaders and 15 gourmet recipes that use tea as an ingredient.

Tea: History, Terroirs, Varieties (Second Edition) is 272 pages long and currently available on Amazon only in Paperback format.

Related 27Press Book:
19 Lessons On Tea

page 108/109

The Story of Sushi (Corson): Book Review

The Story of Sushi: An Unlikely Saga of Raw Fish and Rice by Trevor Corson (previously titled, The Zen of Fish: The Story of Sushi, from Samurai to Supermarket), intertwines history with entertainment.

Corson focuses on the story of a young woman named Kate, described as a fun down to earth girl who was athletic and one of the guys until she broke a finger in High School. Unable to play sports anymore she became depressed and developed an eating disorder. As her depression and eating habits grew worse a friend recommended Kate try sushi. Hesitant at first Kate tried it and ended up loving it. Seemingly, more than the sushi, Kate enjoyed the attitude of the chefs who were comical and outgoing, reminding her of herself before getting sick.

As Kate continued visiting this sushi bar her overall health improved. As she pondered her future, she knew she wanted a career in which she could build friendships with customers, helping them to enjoy life. As if it was fate, Kate saw an ad for the California Sushi Academy. After a year of debating, she walked out on a leap of faith, leaving everything and everyone behind on a quest to be a sushi chef. The California Sushi Academy, California’s first Sushi Academy, consisted of an extensive 12-week training program. Corson explains how this is different from Japan where sushi apprentices spend 5 years or more just learning to make the rice before being allowed to handle anything else.

The sushi-related history and culture lessons carefully woven into Kate’s story were very interesting and informative. Corson brought his readers through sushi’s humble beginnings in Japan to its worldwide fame today. Corson did a good job painting a picture allowing his readers to “see” exactly what he was talking about. Scenes displaying Japanese culture like the auctions at the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo, the history of Japanese knives and even the use of Japanese terms throughout the book tied the culture in nicely.

The history of the food itself was also interesting. The precision put into preparing meals requires lots of practice. The process of making certain foods like miso and soy sauce were eye opening and the natural history of the different types of fish and how to catch/farm, cook, and/or present them was informative.

Some of the other facts mentioned by Carson that were particularly interesting is that the California Roll was invented due to a Californian sushi chef running out of fatty tuna; the term mack daddy was derived from mackerels, and that the organisms eaten by flamingos are responsible for their color. Overall, the book was interesting and educational. Carson’s choice to focus on Kate, instead of others in the class, was smart because Kate being new to Sushi and Japanese culture, like many of his readers, was a nice relatable gateway to the “story of sushi”.

The Story of Sushi is 388 pages long and currently available on Amazon in Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback, and Audible formats.

Trevor Corson also wrote The Secret Life of Lobsters: How Fishermen and Scientists Are Unraveling the Mysteries of Our Favorite Crustacean which is also available on Amazon in several formats.

Related 27Press Book:
12 Lessons On Sushi

Jiro Dreams of Sushi: Movie Review

Jiro Ono is a man who has completely dedicated his life to making the best possible sushi. This documentary follows his daily routine and that of the people who work with him. In 2011 when the documentary was released, Jiro was 85 years old, and widely regarded as the greatest sushi chef in the world. He still comes to work every day, except national holidays.

In the opening minutes of the film, Jiro states the following, which gives us some insight into his dedication and work ethic…

“Once you decide on your occupation you must immerse yourself in your work. You have to fall in love with your work. Never complain about your job. You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill. That’s the secret of success and is the key to being regarded honorably.”

Later Jiro reveals that when he was a child he was kicked out of his home at the age of nine, so he felt he had to be successful; he had nowhere to go if he couldn’t make a living for himself. Jiro says that when felt his younger son was ready to open his own sushi place, after years of apprenticeship, that he essentially told him the same thing, that he must go out into the world and be successful, because he couldn’t come back to work at his place. I was surprised at how much this film was not just about sushi, but an inspirational story about a successful small business owner and the effect he’s had on the lives of the people around him.

The sushi information was amazing too though. The documentary gives a thorough behind the scenes look at what goes in to preparing some of the best sushi in the world. You get to see Jiro and his staff go though their daily routine to get ready for each meal; they carefully cut and taste each piece of fish to make sure it’s just right, they prepare the sushi rice with a process they’ve perfected over many years, they massage the octopus for almost an hour to make it tender, and so on, making sure every step is completed as close to perfect as possible.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi is 83 minutes long and currently available for streaming on NetFlix. On Amazon it is available on Amazon Video and DVD.

Related 27Press Book:
12 Lessons On Sushi