Earth Day is coming and I always like to honor it with a celebration that directly honors the earth herself. Everyday, at the restaurant, we work with foods harvested directly from the earth: organic greens, broccoli, lettuces, green onion, garlic, carrots, daikon, avocado, tomatoes, yams, peanuts, limes, rice as well as, other food products like both wheat and rice noodles, plain and baked tofu, which are prepared  from what grows in the earth. The chicken, pork and beef toppings we serve are roam on the earth.  The Jasmine and Oolong tea leafs, the herbs and spices harvested from the earth.  To work in the kitchen in the early morning, when the cases of produce arrive, to listen to the chopping, to smell the rising aromas, to see the vibrant colors of greens and orange is a feast for all the senses.  This happens beginning early every morning, like playing among the fields, in our kitchen.  To take this wild abundance, and with alchemical magic, create: Spicy Dan, Pad Thai, Chow Mien, Laughing Phoenix, Chicken noodle soup (Pho) and so much more.

And so it is with so much gratitude for the abundant generosity of our earth, Earth Day is in deed a time for celebration.  A time to slow down and thoughtfully acknowledge the offerings from this blue green earth we live on.  All this natural medicine available for nourishing our bodies.  I see Earth Day as a thank you, as an astonishment, a wonder, a joy for the all that is given to sustain us.

This year Charlie Hong Kong’s celebration will benefit Life Lab at UCSC, which offers farm and garden based programs for children and educators.  It’s our way to honor families and their children who choose to “Eat Real”.

Party for children: Sat, April 20th, 10:30-noon, at Charlie Hong Kong, tickets: www.ediblemontereybay.com, under events tab.  Join us for the fun!

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