Forward thinking - Editorial

I was asked to give a talk on the subject of holiday cooking. My contact, calling to firm up a date that would suit both of our busy schedules, started the conversation by asking, innocently enough, "So, do you have a calendar handy?"

I had to laugh. Do I ever. How many would you like to see?

Editors live and die by calendars. On the bulletin board over my desk is a monthly calendar I created in MS Word designating manuscript due dates and staff meetings. In the same stack of desk trays I reserve for sorting your much-appreciated emails and letters is a spiral calendar--no, wait, make that two--scribbled with penciled-in production deadlines for the next 18 months. And in the main hallway of the suite that VT shares with sister publication Better Nutrition hang three successive calendars smeared with red, black, blue and green erasable ink. Color-coded for clarity (editors crave order, you know), they announce staff vacations and birthdays, office closings, vegetarian festivals, intern schedules, project deadlines and, always good for a smile, some obscure but noteworthy observances including Respect for the Aged Day, Canada Day and National Boss Day (not in my handwriting, I swear).

This month, in the pages of VT, we throw the spotlight on the December holidays most of us don't need a calendar to remember--Chanukah, Christmas and Kwanzaa--and honor each with a feature article highlighting the holiday's history and food traditions. Before I researched and wrote about Kwanzaa, I knew nothing about this relatively new observance. Now I can tell you that it was created by California professor Maulana Karenga, that it's a cultural--not a religious--holiday and that people who are not of African descent can nonetheless appreciate its themes of community building and cultural respect. At its roots, however, Kwanzaa is a celebration of African heritage and a time for great feasting. In Swahili, Kwanzaa means "first fruits of the harvest." Rich in flavor, Chef Carla Hall's harvest-inspired recipes can be incorporated into any cook's repertoire, even if your holiday traditions lean toward latkes or lemon-chess pie. Learn more about Kwanzaa at www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org.

However you celebrate this holiday season, VT has a gift you can open today: "Carrot & Stick," p. 15. We know you missed it, and, frankly, we did too. We've been keeping our opinions quiet for too long. You don't have to beat us over the head with, well, you know, for us to get the message that "Carrot & Stick"--once the favorite part of VT for many of you--has a relevant place in our pages. Thanks for reminding us that knowledge is power and that a little knowledge goes a long way.

In fact, it's a gift that keeps on giving.

LET'S DISH

Tell us about your best, worst or weirdest veg travel experience. Email me at cdavis@sabot.net.

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