Dija Know… Joe’s Restaurant Newsletter -128 July 2016

Dija Know… Joe’s Restaurant Newsletter -128 July  2016

Independence Day 2016

 

Joe’s is open regular hours all through the Independence Day weekend from 7:30am to 9pm.

Speaking of Independence Day, those of us here in the United States and for that matter, on Earth today are delighted or angered or scared to death or something in between, to witness unprecedented (to my knowledge) challenges, upheavals and restructuring of every human institution – education, food production, justice, social equality, immigration, governance, diplomacy, finance and banking, health, disease and healthcare. What did I miss? Hold on to your hat. We’re on a bumpy ride!
Friday July 1st and August 5th from 7:30 – 11am, Richard Eeds returns to Joe’s, broadcasting the Morning Show live on Hutton FM 101.5. Richard does a brilliant job of keeping New Mexicans abreast of the times. And each 1st Friday of the month he does it live from Joe’s. During the broadcast get a surprise discount on your breakfast! Just ask.

 

Enjoy the music of the approximately 36 member Santa Fe Concert Band right here in your neighborhood. This Santa Fe institution since 1983 will entertain you here at the Rodeo Plaza Block Party Saturday evening July 23 at 7pm.

 

We welcome new artist, David Marks and his acrylics on wood panels – – “ancient splendor decaying over time.” They are displayed and for sale in the Red Room.

 

Ok, here I go again on the topic of artificial sweeteners. There is new information on their hazard to us and specifically how that hazard comes about. This new information confirms the importance of protecting your micro biome – that is the probiotics in your gut. For years researchers have puzzled over the fact that non-caloric artificial sweeteners sold for weight loss and diabetes prevention, likely do the opposite. According to this startling new study they actually hasten the development of glucose intolerance and metabolic disease. And they do so by, are you ready? . . changing the composition and functioning of the (beneficial) gut bacteria; all those teensy weensy microbes that are working hard to keep our gut and our entire body functioning and in balance. It has long been my theory that chemicals, additives, artificial sweeteners, flavor enhancers, GMOs (etc – you get it) are substances that the body does not recognize and cannot therefore metabolize. It simply does not know what to do with them. So it processes them in weird ways. Storage as tumors (benign or otherwise) is one way. Another way, found in this new study, was that artificial sweeteners passing thru the gut would actually change the (good) microbial functions into the opposite functions – creating a propensity to obesity, diabetes and glucose intolerance! What!!?? I pretend surprise, but my somewhat limited experience with drugs and chemical food additives has led me to conclude the ultimate irony. That is – quite often the very condition targeted by the drug or chemical “food” behaves in just the opposite manner – expressing as the disease or exacerbating symptoms meant to be mitigated. Hmmm. Researchers at the Personalized Nutrition Project, conducted the largest human trial to date looking at the connection between nutrition and the micro biome. A group of volunteers who did not generally eat or drink artificially sweetened foods were instructed to consume them for 7 days. In tests that followed, many – but not all – of the volunteers had begun to develop glucose intolerance after just one week of artificial sweetener consumption!   Dr. Mercola (mercola.com) calls aspartame “the most dangerous substance added to foods today.” Aspartame is sold as NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful and Equal-Measure and is added to countless OTC medicines, processed foods and children’s medications.
What is our take on sweeteners at Joe’s? Well, when we have asked customers about removing diet sodas, the opposition has been vociferous. So we did not. We are, after all, a business and must make decisions judiciously in order to stay in business! However, there is no sucralose or aspartame in our sugar bowls. Nor do we cook or bake with it. We believe real sugar is not a horrible culprit. It has its place. But we use cane sugar because it is not GMO. We also use honey in our baking and cooking. Beet sugar, much more commonly offered commercially, is now genetically modified, so we have avoided it for several years. I do anticipate a time when aspartame and sucralose will not be allowed for consumption. That is if the FDA is able to stand up to lobbying by Monsanto and the ilk.

 DancingBones will be opening nearby in a few months. Very briefly, this is a remarkable non-drug approach that addresses bone loss (osteopenia and osteoporosis), muscle wasting, balance and insulin resistance. It uses a device that safely and precisely engages the bones in osteogenic loading. In less than 10 minutes once a week (yes, you read that right!) this triggers the same beneficial effects of high-impact exercise but without the risk of injury. Results are measurable and trackable. There are many additional client-reported benefits. For more info, pick up a flyer right here or go to DancingBones.us.
A case for grass-finished meats. There is more than one reason to select grass-fed-and-finished beef and other meats for your diet. Even the USDA has testified there is a clear link between the use of antibiotics in livestock and drug resistance in humans. In 2010 testimony to a House committee, the Agriculture Department, backed the idea of a link between animal use of antibiotics and human health. USDA “believes that it is likely that the use of antimicrobials in animal agriculture does lead to some cases of antimicrobial resistance among humans and in animals themselves,” said John Clifford, the USDA chief veterinarian. And DiJa Know? The CDC in 2016 reported 47 million unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions annually. (cdc.gov) We simply must find our way back to natural, traditional, balanced ways of maintaining our health. Antibiotics are a miracle to be used when miracles are called for. Selecting grass-finished meats is one small choice to make in avoiding unwanted antibiotics.

 

Joe’s fresh dark French chocolate truffles are a perfect gift for any and all of your loved ones, especially when gift boxed in our 4 or 6 truffle boxes. Mocha or hazelnut? Ask your waiter.

♦ One of Sheila’s favorite summer desserts is a recipe Roland developed when he was Executive Chef for Orso Toronto. Campari Grapefruit Granita. A light refreshing and elegant finish to a summer meal. We make it here at Joe’s when I can convince Roland to do so! If you’re wondering, there is an Orso in NYC, Milano and London – exquisite restaurants. Don’t miss them when you travel.

Some of the farmers & ranchers who supply Joe’s: They get their seeds from heirloom seed banks, family and friends, their fertilizer from animals and compost and their agronomic advice from tradition: Monte Vista Organics, Jacona Farms, Green Tractor, Camino de Paz, Synergia Ranch, Romero Farms, Shepherd’s Lamb, LaMont’s Buffalo, Eve’s Ranch, Susan’s Sprouts.

 

Why are we at Joe’s so annoyingly persistent about this “buy local” stuff? Many factors are out of our hands when it comes to our food supply. Most of what ends up on the American dinner table derives from a shockingly few giant agribusinesses. Their reach is long- from designing the (GMO) seeds to planting, fertilizing, processing and shipping. We as consumers cannot with confidence hand over the entire stewardship of our food to these few multinationals.

Our passion here at Joe’s is for a local sustainable food supply – food produced by growers who are accountable for what they grow. KYG – Know Your Grower. We are able to look our local farmer in the eye and ask him about his growing practices or even visit his operation. This gives us the confidence that we are eating food that is healthy, wholesome, non-genetically engineered, often better than organic, humanely treated and minimally processed. It is grown with a smaller energy-use footprint and transported short distances. We cannot divorce human health, the economy, ecology, personal (perhaps spiritual) satisfaction or honorable work from food. Food is fundamental. What we eat, where it comes from, the stewardship of food animals, the nurturing and building of soils – all these factors affect us at a cellular and visceral level. Santa Fe is fortunate to have one of the very best Farmers Markets in the nation. Here at Joe’s we offer this bounty to you, keeping dollars in the community. In the interest of transparency, in 2008 Joe’s spent $30,000 on local foods. In 2009, $60,000. Each year since 2012 we have far exceeded $100,000 per annum (over 30% of our purchases).
Land, economy, health – inseparable.

Joe’s gives you $10. What’s the catch? Well the way we figure it, if you cut out the middleman by NOT using a credit card, we can give that back to you and then some. Credit cards costs the retail merchant about 3-5% and extra time & paperwork. Now let’s be real – in today’s world one cannot function without a credit card, but there are still (legal) alternatives that reduce our dependency on the Big Banks and actually save us all money. We have a couple of suggestions: (1.) Joe’s Check List – If you are a “regular” and wish to pay by check, please ask your waiter to get you on the list. (2.) Joe’s gift card – purchase a $100 gift card with cash or check or silver or gold coin, get a $10 free bonus! Yup your $100 gift card will actually buy you $110 worth of meals at Joe’s.

 

Giggles is back . . . with another blonde joke:
A lawyer boarded a plane in New Orleans with a box of frozen
 crabs and asked the blonde flight attendant to take care of them for
 him. He advised her that he was holding her personally
 responsible for them staying frozen, threatening in an arrogant manner what would happen to her if she
 let them thaw out.
 She promised to take care of them properly. Shortly before landing in NY, she announced on the intercom
 to the entire cabin, “Would the lawyer who gave me the crabs in New
 Orleans, please raise your hand?”
 Not one hand went up. She took them home and enjoyed them for dinner that night.

Joe’s Dining
2801 Rodeo Rd (at Zia Rd) Santa Fe, NM   87507
505-471-3800       www.JoesDining.com
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