insert lyrics to "Food" by Reggie and the Full Effect

Whirlwind of the last few days. 

Day before yesterday I was hired at The Melting Pot on St. Charles. I’ve never been to a Melting Pot but I hear it’s a great date place. Also, the average sales per gust pretty much dictates that I’ll be making some serious tips. Not to mention I will be at the table preparing fondue and demonstrating my mad wine skills. And being politely chatty. 

Last night while I was out with Melinda (who is such a great cheerleader!) she introduced me to a chef that might want to enlist me as a server/ Southwest food advisor. Going to speak to them this afternoon. Today I received an e-mail from a manager at Copeland’s Cheesecake Bistro. He wants to interview me tomorrow. 

So, within a few days of looking for a job in New Orleans I HAVE a job, still getting call backs from other applications that I put in and still networking for more opportunities. Suck it Las Cruces. Cher and I went out for celebration drinks, hence the lack of bloggy.

Yesterday was my adventure into local foods and cooperatives. 

Found the Crescent City Farmer’s Market on Broadway. Taking the St. Charles street car I discovered lots of places. I knew that Touro Synagogue was on the route, but also Temple Sinai, the Jewish Community Center, Loyola, the Library, and the zoo. St. Charles street car pretty much rocks my socks. 

The farmer’s market is lush. LUSH! I was blown away by how much was available. Chard, carrots, beets the size of your fist, cauliflower (!), sweet potatoes, strawberries, citrus of all shapes and sizes—more produce that I’m used to seeing at market. Then there was goat milk products, chicken, seafood, beef, bread, pies, juices, PALETAS! 

One of the vendors had plant starters. I was excited to see many mints- chocolate, orange, and PINEAPPLE MINT which is my very favorite. Pineapple mint likes to try to die. This happened to me every single time I tried to raise them. I was happy (but dismayed) to see the yellowing leaves of the mint the vendor had. It’s not just me! I’m not a pineapple mint killer. Pineapple mint is just depressed. 

I wanted to purchase something from every vendor, but decided to pace myself. If I bought everything this week I wouldn’t have a reason to go back next week. 

I bought carrots from one vendor purely because the vendor had really good looking arms. Like, on the cover of a romance novel titled, “Naomi and The Farmer’s Son” arms. Next time I’m going to take a picture. Naomi= Shameless

I bought chard, garlic chevre, some beet lemonade (it sounds interesting; I still haven’t mustered the courage to drink it) and two pints of strawberries for my gracious friend Cher. 

Then it was off to the New Orleans Food Cooperative. This coop isn’t as large as the one in Las Cruces, but to be fair this is only a baby coop. They started up in October of last year. 

 

That said, they already have more of their shit together than Mountain View Market. 

Transparency and accountability for one. The member comment cards are replied to and posted on a public board. MVM management has a really bad habit of letting member comments, complaints and commendations go on ignored. Board minutes for the previous meetings are also posted publicly and from what I can tell in a timely fashion. They also provide you with a copy of the coop’s bylaws when you sign up. I don’t think many people who work at MVM know where a copy of the bylaws (just the one) is kept in the store. 

Then there’s joining. The cashier didn’t treat my joining as a chore. She didn’t send me off to another desk to finalize my membership. She didn’t apologize to the next person in line about “taking so long.” No, Brooke called a coworker over help other guests while she spent time with me to fill out my application and explain a few things. 

Once the transaction was done… she rang a cow bell over her head and shouted, “WE HAVE A NEW OWNER.” This announcement was prompted by smiles all around and a chorus of “WOO!” coming from various parts of the store. One guy came jogging from an isle—just to say, “Welcome.” 

New Orleans Food Coop has a Hands-on Owner program. I get to volunteer for MY coop and then I get a discount for the month. 12 hours gets me 15%. This kind of incentive invites the members to participate in the store and its financial health. Also- it builds a sense of community. Members aren’t anonymous folks who merely consume what the coop has to offer, they are the people IN the store helping out. 

My share in this new cooperative is $100. Membership is half of that at MVM. And if $100 is still too steep? They have a $25 low-income share. I think this is utterly brilliant. Members who are on food stamps have already admitted to being in a financial situation in which they have difficulty providing nutrition for their households. Why charge them $100? How does that benefit the health of our community? 

A cooperative should be about building up communities. Not building up barriers. Of any kind. If that attitude makes me spicy granola.... then so be it.

In other news, New Orleans Food Coop… still carries JOLLYBEANS. 

Word.