Foodview: Turkey Tango

Encapsulated in crunchy toasted wheat bread, the Turkey Tango sandwich was an excellent balancing act of hearty, flavorful turkey and whole, crunchy vegetables. Accented by the spicy Chipotle Mayo sauce on both breads and the delicious taste of provolone cheese, the adjectives I would knight this valiant sandwich with are firey, lean, and healthy.

If you're wanting to get your veggie on with the healthiest selection on the menu, I'd recommend the Hummus Wrap. If you want to satisfy the carnivore within you with a good serving of red meat, I'd recommend either the West of "Philly" Beef or, even better, the Harvest Beef Burger. But if you're wanting a mix of the two, getting a satisfying serving of meat without skimping out on the veggies, go for the stately stride of dancing with the Turkey Tango.

Shredded turkey thickly stuffed in between the bread, tomato and cucumber bringing a touch of freshness to the meal, spinach and sprouts christening the platter with nutrition, and Chiptole Mayo spicing up the dish make the Tango a well-rounded sandwich. I know you've heard of a well-rounded person, but a well-rounded sandwich? Yes! It's flavorful, healthy, filling, and spicy. It's the kind of sandwich you'd want asking your daughter to prom, if sandwiches could talk that is. :)

~The Harvest Crier~

6 Kinds of People

In the very first post done for HM, I outlined the attitude and ambiance of this place, calling it The Culture of Harvest Moon and the Garden Herb Shop. I would like to expound upon that culture a little more by describing the different kinds of people who come into our humble brick building.

Understand that we're not writing negatively about anyone. In fact, we're not writing about anyone specifically. Instead we're writing about the groups of people that come traipsing into our shop and restaurant. If you take time to watch people, you'll notice that they have a lot of similarities. You may read this and start laughing, only to stop and think, "Hey, that's exactly what I do!" Don't worry, we're not keeping tabs on you, people are just funny in the sense that they can be categorized into groups that transcend the parameters of ethnicity, age, gender, religion, and social status. So check this out and ponder which one you may be.

The Dr. Oz Disciple: "Dr. Oz said," is usually how your conversations begin in the Garden Herb Shop. You've made a point to listen to professional opinions pretty regularly, like the morning news. You like to keep up with Oz as well as other professionals because you know that he's done more studying than you. Your personality is more trusting of authority than others, enabling you to follow the rules with great ease and delight.
And no, we do not carry Raspberry Ketone. :)

The Athlete: You usually stroll into the Moon some time mid morning, wearing one of four things: running shorts, short running shorts, tight running pants, or some sweats. You grab your supplements, food, and drink with a quiet confidence of, "Oh yeah. I'm awesome," and everyone can see it on your face. Nothing feels better than pushing yourself on the trail or in the gym and then grabbing some food. And if you can mention the number of reps you did this morning while telling the cashier your order, that's a plus.
Because you're awesome.

The Blur: You're in and out with your cup of coffee faster than it takes to read this sentence! :)

The Usual: "Just gettin' the usual," you say placing your quart of dairy-free milk-like beverage on the counter. You enjoy frequenting Harvest Moon multiple times a week, maybe even a day, because of its relaxed environment where people can sit around and talk freely. Because you're so relational, you prefer to come here, and may even go out of your way making sure to pick up your regular dose of socializing. You're cool. See you in about 5 minutes.

The Newby: The delicate look on your face as you hesitantly stand in the middle of the Herb Shop gives you away as a newb almost immediately. You've just recently turned over a new leaf and have firmly decided to eat right henceforth. But you don't know what you're doing and would prefer it if someone came over, put their hand on your shoulder, and filled you in. Hilariously, you could be told that you need to supplement your diet with organic bumble-bee elbows, and you'd probably believe it. It's okay. We were all there at one point. You're fine. :)

The BOTTOMLESS Bottomless Mugger: Just a bottomless mug is apparently all you're sustaining on. You're probably too cool for normal people food, paying no attention to the steaming hot platters others are enjoying. You've discovered the secret to living off of the bean, enabling you to work on your laptop or smart phone unhindered. Who needs to chew when you've payed for a bottomless mug? I'm sure there's an app for that. :)

So there you go. Think about it an see which one you are. Perhaps you're a whole different animal not mentioned in this post, or perhaps you're a blend of two different ones described here. But then again, perhaps I've just described you perfectly! Now wouldn't that be funny?

~The Harvest Crier~

Health and Creativity

It seems that the times have come where the individual needs to, on a daily basis, sift out truth from the lie-laden advertising bombarding them at every moment. Being healthy doesn't mean eating like a weight-conscious rabbit or anything. Nothing is as easy and simultaneously as depressing as settling with the lie that the best nutrition comes in the form of a bland pill. But the possibilities are endless as to how you can make nutrition and deliciousness into best buds. It comes via the road of creativity. You just have to set your foot on the path and see how far you can go!

An example of this I learned about a year ago:

We know that cocoa is rich in antioxidants, which are good for us, I mean, really good for us! We also know that chocolate, though it contains cocoa, is not good for us because it also contains processed, bleached sugar. Bad news! But what to do? Chocolate is irresistible, and it's not like people walk out of the office after a stressful day and think to themselves, "Man! I just need a mouth-full of cocoa powder right now!" If only there was a way to get the sweetness of sugar and combine it with the cocoa taste, thus making a chocolate sensation! Is there a way?

Yes! There is a way! Here's where creative thinking comes into play. All you need to put in the blender for a genuinely healthy chocolate smoothie is,
-1 banana,
-Oats (Quaker oats works fine),
-Peanut butter (optional),
-Almond Milk,
-Pure Cocoa,
-Ice.

You'll have to measure out the ingredients by trial and error, but the cocoa's taste and the sweetness of the banana will throw you for a very pleasant loop. I've given it to people who aren't very health-conscientious, and even they liked it, except for when I put too much cocoa in it accidentally. :)

The first step is to become knowledgeable as to what your body truly needs, and not what the freezer-food box says you need. The more knowledgeable you become of  nutrition, the more accurately you'll be able to make your own concoctions that both taste great and provide the nutrients your body may be starved of. The second step is to experiment and see what tastes good; just make sure you're using non-processed, whole foods. Lastly, don't box yourself in. Outside of Harvest Moon, I never heard of someone making brownies out of black beans, but it tastes good for being something outrageously weird!

Be creative, be slightly eccentric, be nutritiously experimental. It's what all the cool kids are doing these days. :)

~The Harvest Crier~

Foodview: South Western Chicken Panini With Potato Salad

With chicken breast prepared to the point of perfect tenderness, a knife-spread full of cilantro pesto, a smothering of red onions and green peppers,  and a layer of melted provolone and cheddar cheese, the South Western Chicken Panini had a lot of kick behind its "just another sandwich" look. "Just another sandwich, boys," the panini says to the ever watchful eyes. Then blammo, it manhandles the taste-buds with crazy flavors!

Spicy is one of the first words that blazes into mind, followed by delicious. Don't get me wrong, it's not a run-home-and-cry-to-your-mother kind of sandwich, it just bites back a little when you bite into it. It's got spice, but not by sacrificing flavor. It appears that the dominant flavor of the sandwich comes from its cilantro pesto, which has a little bit of jalapeno in it, creating the kick.

The thick strips of juicy chicken breast were perfectly blended with the peppers and onions. The cheese was fantastic in its consistency. I wasn't a runny mess but held together in the sandwich quite well, providing stringy goodness in every bite. Sandwiching the cheese, peppers, onions, cilantro pesto, and chicken were two slices of toasted sourdough bread with what seemed to be a sprinkling of parsley on them.

If you like spicy food, go for the South Western Chicken Panini. The recommended side for this entree is the thickly diced potato salad, an excellent calming agent that brings balance to the meal and cools the tongue.

Spicy, unique, crisp, and mouth-watering. Give this innocuous-looking panini a try. :)

~The Harvest Crier~

Long Life Starts With...

Activity and nutrition, my friends. It doesn't get any simpler than that.

When it comes to being active, one doesn't need to train as if they're planning on climbing Mt. Everest like, tomorrow or anything. Simply getting out there (or in there, for you gym membership holders) is the first step. It could be as strenuous as developing a workout routine with weights, or as leisurely as going for an evening walk. Remember that consistency always beats out quantity, so don't try to force yourself into becoming a gym rat that spends 25 hours of the day working out. In fact, unless you love pumping iron or running out the miles on a treadmill, trying to force yourself into the mold of Captain Bulging Neck Muscles may put negative stress on your body. But positively stressing your body can happen through doing some kind of physical activity, especially when it's something elating such as going for a hike, playing football, or riding your bike.


The question that everyone needs to ask is this: What is something that I enjoy doing and will also benefit my physical fitness?

When you find the answer, go bananas, even if it's something as simple as calisthenics or walking around the block. This is something the Garden Herb Shop wants to strongly emphasize: consistency always beats out quantity. So enjoy yourself in your physical activity. Life seems to go well when you learn to faithfully do little consistencies such as drinking plenty of water, getting the proper nutrients, and taking time to stay in motion.

~The Harvest Crier~

Foodview: West of Philly Beef with Rosemary Chicken and Artichoke Salad

The renown lunch item around here is easily the West of Philly Beef. I've heard many a people talk about it, and so it was an easy selection when it became lunch time at the Moon.

Warm and juicy shredded beef sandwiched between toasted bread that flaked crisps when I bit into it. On top are plump strips of green peppers tucked under a blanket of delicious melted provolone.

The way the sandwich was put together made it surprisingly easy to eat, as silly as it sounds. The toasted bread and the melted cheese held the beef in perfectly and did a great job of holding everything together. Unlike the authentic Philly cheese steaks you may have had in the past, this Ohioan replica is not a dripping mess threatening to stain your sleeves and run down your chin. The beef is well flavored, juicy, and hearty without being a mess.

The side that I chose was the Rosemary Chicken and Artichoke Salad. The artichokes dominated the side and were drowned in a slightly sweet flavor. Also in the salad were onions, seasoned chicken, and strips of swiss. It gave a feeling of delicacy to the platter, which was again sprinkled with Parsley before given to me.

Wearing a suit? On your lunch break? Want to tide your appetite over with a little bit more than a Snickers? I would recommend the West of Philly Beef.

I would entitle this meal with words such as clean, beefy, seasoned, and well balanced when it came to the mix of meat, cheese, peppers, and bread.

~The Harvest Crier~

Foodview: Chocolate Chip Muffin

I must confess that this sweet morsel caught my eye the moment I walked into the warmth of Harvest Moon. Before sinking my teeth into the fluffy goodness plumply encapsulated in a dark brown wrapper, someone gave me the strong recommendation to have it with milk. "Sure," I said  and they poured me a tall glass of almond milk.

Despite it's dark, cocoa induced complexion, the muffin itself tasted a lot less like cake and a lot more like, well, muffin! The soft dough wasn't packed with as much sweetness as my eyes imagined, which is good in light of how big it is (bigger than the average muffin). It's still sweet though; the sweetness was found in the chocolate morsels found not only on top of the muffin but all the way through to the bottom, definitely making it a dessert item.

 The tall glass of almond milk came in quite handy halfway through this delectable treat. It wasn't so much because it was dry, but more because it was a lot of bread. One of these plump pick-me-ups is $2.00.

I've come to see that there are two kinds of people in the world: those who eat their muffins cold and those who eat their muffins warm. I'd recommend this muffin warm for the full experience.

~The Harvest Crier~   

Foodview: Turkey Burger with Kettle Chips

"Turkey Burger?" you query with strange images of Thanksgiving and Uncle Bob's grill-out amalgamating in your mind. Yes my friends, Turkey Burger. Layer by layer, the turkey burger starts off with a crisp and warmed top bun. Fresh tomatoes cut into thick slices top the burger patty which held no hint of being processed in shape, taste, or texture. The top of the Turkey was covered in melted swiss cheese which seeped warmly into the meat resting on a bed of fresh green lettuce. Complementing the lean meat taste of the turkey and fresh garden texture of tomato and lettuce is a sweet tasting cranberry spread. :)

Not as dense as the last meal I had here, which was the Pulled Beef Ranchero, but the kettle chips finished off the meal with potatoes to spare. Before handing me the dish, parsley was sprinkled on top, adding a nice touch to the plate.

Adjectives for the Harvest Moon Turkey Burger are: lean (turkey), seasoned (patty), warm (bread), simple (design), and complete (portion).

~The Harvest Crier~

The Tea in HisTory

Said to have originated in China some time during the 10th century BC, tea's native cradle was in the lush foliage of East and Southeast Asia. It became popular in China during the Qin Dynasty in the 3rd Century BC, and then, during the Tang Dynasty, spread to Korea and the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan.

Here is a snapshot of tea's continuing popularity and expansion throughout the centuries:

10th Century BC- Earliest recorded consumption,

3rd Century BC- Common drink (Qin Dynasty),

1st Century AD- Became widely popular and spread to Korea and Japan (Tang Dynasty),

16th Century AD- Imported to Europe (Portuguese expansion),

1660- Tea reached Great Britain

19th Century AD- Tea became widely consumed in Britain, and spread to western nations. From there it spread to many other nations.

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea)

Everyone acknowledges that they need to live healthier, but there is a fine line between agreeing with something and walking according to it. An excellent first step to making lip service into life-praxis is to start with small consistencies. Small consistencies make a bigger impact than flash in the pan resolutions to do a 180.

A first step I would recommend is in the form of a simple cup of tea. Teas offer a wider variety of benefits than coffee, effecting everything from your memory to your digestive track. A psychology blog proposes that one's mind is also effected by tea consumption. It's also my personal opinion that tea has a great effect on emotions, and more than just relieving levels of stress.

At one point I learned this life-principle that the simplest answer has the tendency of being the right one. How much simpler can it get than tea?

~The Harvest Crier~

Foodview: Pulled Beef Ranchero

Pulled Beef Ranchero

As I sat down to this steaming dish, someone told me that the meal of my choosing was also known as, "The man's meal", but my taste buds were crying like little girls as they beheld the richness of flavor known as the Pulled Beef Ranchero.

This is a food review on one of Harvest Moon's breakfast items. At the tail end of the A.M., I asked one of the employees if they could whip up this entree that I saw a customers order earlier. This was my experience:

As I plunge my fork into the meal, I stirred the sour cream, black beans, and green onions into the generously portioned mouthwatering beef that tenderly pulled apart with the effortless twist of a fork. Underneath, at the base of the platter, were the fluffy scrambled eggs and skillet potatoes which went perfectly together with the other ingredients. This made for a flavorful and filling meal rich in enough protein to put a Madison firefighter into a food coma. And for those of you who want even more flavor, add the zippy salsa on top. It wasn't my favorite aspect of the meal, but still very worthy of recognition.

Keywords to describe this meal would be: filling, seasoned, flavorful, and possessing a slightly spicy quality.

~The Harvest Crier~

The Culture of Harvest Moon and the Garden Herb Shop

Upon stepping into the old brick buildings of historic Canal Winchester, one cannot help but feel the palpable sense of small-town culture created by the folks in these-here parts. Harvest Moon is no different. Tucked into the heart of Canal, this cafe and its herbal shop counterpart are sheltered by the corner building across the street from the chiming clock of the Town Hall. This location used to be a sleepy little grocery store by the name of Conrad’s Market, but time has exchanged Conrad’s for a corner cafe which now serves delicious and health-conscientious delectables.

The culture here in Harvest Moon and the Garden Herb Shop is to serve drinks, snacks, supplements, and meals with a heart for health. One doesn’t need to stay long to notice the plethora of nutritional knowledge the servers here possess, especially when it comes to the Garden Herb Shop. “It’s like an educational experience,” one told me as I was learning about Ph levels in water. I never knew that water had Ph levels until I started working with these guys! The store shelves are stacked not only with food for the body but also for the mind with a library of nutritional reads, ruminations on how to be more health-focused and how to possibly revive that New Year’s resolution you left in the dust a couple of weeks ago. 

It’s places such as Harvest Moon and the Garden Herb Shop that I would recommend in these pessimistic-riddled days of bad economy. You can’t change the nation, but you may be able to improve your hometown by getting a delicious Turkey & Apple Sandwich and a Chai Latte from Harvest Moon, or maybe some local honey from The Bee Man. Not only that, but you’ll be able to eat from a much healthier menu, and who would feel guilty about that? Helping the local economy and eating healthy are happily married in these quaint settings.

~The Harvest Crier~