The picture looks good what is it?
The problem is that there are no place I know of that serve that kind of food at a reasonable price.
Since good vegetarian food is rare, the prices are through the roof, and also most of them try to cater
to meat eaters with fake soy-based meat. I like to eat good stuff like this, but I find it does not move
me away from also eating all the SAD ( standard American diet ) bad stuff, so I end up just eating more! :-(

Thanks CrescentParkAnon, I feel I know you - you have been writing in so long (and I've been writing this column for so long too now).

This is Japanese Hot Pot over the grains hato mugi (Japanese barley) and brown rice. The recipe comes from my book, Cool Cuisine. I'll check my personal blog to see if the recipe is there and if not post it with a link on The Food Party! Great recipe by the way.

You need to come to one of my cooking classes where we show how to cook and eat flavorful veggies and grains easily. I agree, more veggie restaurants would be nice around here, or maybe we just need to look closer. I'm planning a trip to the South and looking on the way for veggie restaurants - I'm finding more than I expected.

How come Californians don't eat grits?

And why do the grocery stores mostly offer only quick-cooking hominy?

You gotta soak the real kind overnight.

Southern Mam, what part? Any suggestions for the Memphis - Louisiana section of the Great River Road?

I've found raw hominy at farmers markets but it is seasonal. Also at Rainbow Grocery in the City.

I'm from Alabama but I get my hominy from South Carolina...just don't tell my neighbors back home. Southerners take their grits very seriously.

Web Link

note: Anson Mills is a Certified Organic Processor by Clemson University DPI #02002

If you happen to be near the SE coastal areas, try some shrimp & grits for breakfast.

BTW, with some creativity...a good substitute for hash-brown potatoes at breakfast or as a side dish with dinner.

Polenta is ITALIAN grits...similar to its American counterpart.

African-Americans from the Deep South enjoy hominy grits as well.

To me, anything that inspires people to eat better even sporadically is a step in the right direction. I know many of the claims are nonsense, still it makes me think, and some articles on healthy eating and natural remedies tauting this or that (green tea; turmeric; shilajit; organic greens), articles that remind me that certain superfoods (kale) are on the dirty dozen, such articles that I read about on msn primarily, help keep me on the right track. And I appreciate them. I'm smart enough to know I can't gorge on turmeric (gross, anyway) and have 2 cokes a day. (removal of remaining text)