Day 243 - What I've Been Up To

I have some exciting things coming up in the next few weeks! Exciting foor me and exciting (I hope) for you, my readers : )

I am in class with some amazingly talented and intelligent people. And we all think about the same main thing most days---food. It's the reason we're at The Culinary Institute of America. We get to know each other's viewpoints before too long; we understand where people come from what their 'angle' is. So I've asked to tap into their opinions.

A handful of fellow culinarians will be guest writing on my blog during the next few weeks. They have different focuses on food, different viewpoints, and different topics that matter deeply to them. Everything from where our food comes from, weight loss, and fun cocktails. I think this is a win-win situation seeing as food affects us all and getting a different perspective on something we may take for granted can only better the world.

The first guest writer i will be featuring will be Fareez Dosani. Fareez is the founder and President of Fair Trade @ The CIA. Haven't heard the term 'fair trade' before? You will be hearing much more about it in the very near future as the food and hospitality industry is becoming more acutely aware of who is responsible for bringing commodities such as coffee and chocolate to America, and how the growers are compensated for their labor. To make it wonderfully easy to understand, let me quote one of my two new favorite chocolatiers: Theo Chocolate.

Our founding principle is that the finest artisan chocolate in the world can (and should) be produced in an entirely ethical, sustainable fashion. We believe that every gold medal we win is a testament to both our commitment to excellence and to the people and families who grow and harvest our cacao. The social benefits of Fair Trade are far reaching. The child who gets adequate nutrition and access to healthcare and education today also gains access to a world of opportunities. Fair Trade enables farmers to take their livelihoods to the next level in sophistication, blending the benefits of modern techniques with artisanal practices, while participating in greater social change through the democratic Fair Trade cooperative organization.

Stop by tomorrow to get familiar with my first guest blogger--I promise, you'll never look at chocolate or coffee the same : )