Monday, September 1, 2008

The Bon Vivant Calendar ~ September

What's in season?
Get out to an organic farm and pick bags and bags of sweet corn, apples, pears, plums, squash in all colors, shapes and sizes, onions, leeks, eggplants, carrots, beets, chard, ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, garlic, nectarines, peaches, spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, artichokes, fresh horseradish, lettuces, bell peppers, rose petals, mint, potatoes, sorrel, cress, basil, scallions, ornate romanesco cauliflower and great glistening clusters of grapes.

The forests are still jeweled with blackberries, blueberries, elderberries and wild mushrooms - especially plump ceps, delicate oyster mushrooms, and fragrant chantrelles. Feast on autumn delicacies from land and sea this month, especially wild duck, grouse, partridge, rabbit, venison, crayfish, oysters, lobster, crab, mussels, scallops, shrimp, trout, wild salmon, bass and eels.

Our kitchen is stewing with big batches of applesauce, carrot soup, corn chowder, and mushroom risottos. The freezer is full of newly picked corn. And I am experimenting with my rather ambitious purchases of pumpkins and squash by filling ravioli, enchiladas and lasagnas, and planning to consume unseemly amounts of squash tempura, veggie pizzas, squash frittatas and rich, moist squash bread.

Great excuses for celebration
Monday, September 1st: Labor day for all Americans and Canadians ... unfortunately they don't celebrate here in Sweden so I am off to work. But they can't stop me from barbecuing tonight!

September 6th & 7th:
Ekorundan is here again! Fourteen organic farms around my home province (Skåne) hold open house.

September 5th to 12th
is the annual New York Fashion Week that reveals the designer's spring collections. This year that even includes eco-fashion houses (HOORAY!) like John Patrick ORGANIC, Ekovaruhuset and EKO-LAB. On the 4th, The Natural History Museum is hosting the BeEcoChic launch party for the latest organic, recycled and/or vintage based collections from Carmen Marc Valvo, Chado Ralph Rucci, Christian Cota, Del Forte, DKNY, Edun, FORM, Laura Bennett, Nicole Miller, Red Carter, Sean John, Levi’s, Thread Social, Maggie Norris Couture, Vena Cava and more.

On September 13th, 30 Danish wineries around the country will hold open house and tastings and both Lars Hagerman's winery Domain Aalsgaard and Sven Moesgaard's winery Skærsøgaard Vin are worth a special trip. If you haven't tried Danish wine before you will be pleasantly surprised by these two.

September 13th & 14th
: Sofiero Castle hosts the annual Sofiero International Dog Show in Helsingborg. Toto (my JRT) will be in heaven.

Also on September 14th, honor the Asian Autumn Moon Festival by gathering with loved ones to eat pomeloes and mooncakes by the light of the moon and your colored lanterns.

September 20th: Oktoberfest opens in Munich today so don your best dirndl, break out some beer steins, tap into a keg of organic dunkel or weissbier and fry up some organic bratwursts to celebrate.

September 22nd marks the autumnal equinox this year and the official start of the fall season, heralding harvest festivals, shorter days, fall colors and time to gather with friends to share the bounty of the harvest, to open a bottle of wine together and toast to the summer now past and the jolly times ahead. Here in Helsingborg, we will welcome the last ship of the summer cruising season, The Black Watch and her 800 passengers, for a day of sightseeing.

On September 27th & 28th head straight to Kivik for the annual Apple Market for a weekend of live music, apple tasting, apple identification, tours of the cider press and unveiling of the world's largest apple "painting" which will stand on view in the town until circa mid October.

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