The first organic Italian restaurant outside Italy, Escopazzo in South Beach has been the place to go for upscale and delicate Italian food since it opened in 1993. But its new weekly organic wine tastings “We do it Thursdays” are making the experience more accessible for those of us in a low budget.

Every Thursday from 7-9 p.m., you can try four wines -and these are full glasses, not small samples – and get a plate of fine cheeses, olives and other appetizers for $20, plus a knowledgeable sommelier will explain a little history of each wine, its geography, grapes, origins and more. (I couldn’t take pictures of my cheese plate because it emptied before I could even take out the camera).

While not everything at the restaurant is certified organic, everything comes from local as well as Italian family-owned farms and wineries that have been using environmentally-friendly practices for generations. Remember that getting certified can sometimes take years and be costly, so many small farmers choose to instead continue doing what they believe is the right thing without stressing about certifications.

The restaurant has a full menu of Italian plates -pastas, risottos, antipasti and more- as well as raw and vegetarian selections that include a vegetable lasagnetta with pinenut ricotta and pesto; and a flaxseed wrap filled with marinated vegetables, lemon cashew sauce and grape chutney.

If you go:
What: “We do it Thursdays” organic wine tasting
When: Every Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m.
Where: Escopazzo, 1311 Washington Ave
More info: www.escopazzo.com

I’ve known about BunnieCakes for a while, but I finally made it to Juice & Java on the Beach last weekend and got to try these delicious vegan and organic cupcakes (see a video of my interview on the side video).

There I met Mariana, the baker behind BunnieCakes, who explained that she began looking into vegan baking after not being able to find sugar and gluten-free food for her children. After some experimentation in the kitchen and some tweaking of her grandma’s cupcake recipe, she developed her own recipe, which substitutes butter, wheat flour, sugar and eggs for things like apple sauce, agave and sugar cane.

Her vegan cupcakes come in mini and regular sizes ($1.50-$2.75) and in 15 flavors including red velvet, vanilla ginger, passion fruit, key lime and espresso. They are currently available at the natural food and juice emporium Juice & Java in South Beach and in Aventura, at Garden of Eat’in, and very soon at the Saturday Doral Farmers Market. You can also place orders online and delight your friends at your next get-together, or send your mom a yummy animal-cruelty-free treat for Mother’s Day.

For more information visit www.BunnieCakes.com continue

Can you remember what you were up to when you were 16? Local high schooler Becca Medvin probably will: She started a vegan cupcake company and now distributes her delicate treats around town.

Vegan since she was 14, the only thing she missed from the omnivore life were the desserts, so voila!… after a few trials in her kitchen, Becca developed the perfect vegan cupcake recipe. Her chocolate and vanilla cupcakes are now available at the Bookstore in the Grove for $2.65 -yes, I know, but vegan desserts are famous for two things: they veer towards the pricey side and they are extremely delicious.
continue

Don’t miss the Food & Garden Festival this weekend.

Stop by to learn about sustainability, urban agriculture, and to hear what local non-profits are doing to make the Magic City greener. Plus, pile up on edible seedlings for the summer months, buy organic produce, and learn a few tips to incorporate in your kitchen from the culinary demos.

Also… I’m very excited to announce that The Ecozine has been invited to participate in the blogger’s table, so I’ll be there taking pictures and blogging live from the event!

With the urban agriculture movement growing so fast in Miami, this festival seems even more promising than last year’s Edible Garden Festival. There will be dozens of tables from non-profits including the Urban Oasis Project, Save Earth Miami andFertile Earth Foundation.

The schedule is up already and the program includes lectures from recognized local agriculturists, gardeners and permaculturists.

Here’s my personal list of what you shouldn’t miss:

1-One of the problems with growing veggies in South Florida is that not all plants will sustain the warm months. That’s why you don’t want to miss Carolyne Coppolo’s “Keep Your Garden Growing Over the Summer” lecture (Sat. 10 a.m.).

2-No matter how much you know about agriculture, mycology is a whole new world. As someone who failed at growing shiitake from a mushroom log, I definitely won’t be missing Paradise Farm’s Gabriele Mariewski’s lecture, “Local Mushrooms in South Florida” (Sat 12 p.m.).

3-There’s a lot written about the problems with modern commercial fishing, however, it’s refreshing to hear it from someone who has been doing extensive research on it. Don’t miss Lisa Krimsky and Brian Fleuch’s lecture on “Seafood Safety and Sustainability” (Sat. 3 p.m.).

4-If you are interested in learning more about Miami’s sustainable food options but don’t know where to start, don’t miss “Local Food in Miami: Where we are headed,” a discussion with local food bloggers Trina Sargalski from Miamidish; Bill Jacobs from Tinkering with Dinner; Ellen Kanner from Edgy Veggie; and Caroline Hatchett from Occasional Omnivore. Paula Nino from Mango & Lime will moderate. (Sat. 3 p.m.)

5-Earth-n-Us Farm, a farm in the middle of Little Haiti has been gaining more and more recognition as a sustainable urban agriculture model that could be replicated in other parts of the city. Be inspired by the farm’s manager Marcus Thomson, who will be presenting “Permaculture for South Florida” (Sun. 10 a.m.)

6-Learn about community garden projects going on in your city and across South Florida, and find out how to be part of one. “Community Gardening,” will be presented by Dr. Marvin Dunn from Roots in the City (who recently launched a weekly fresh market in Overtown), CC Holloman from Legacy Initiatives/Roots of the Grove Garden; and Fairchild’s Alison Walker. (Sun. 12:30 p.m.)

7-And for more inspiration, learn what Ben Thacker from Gardens of Troy is doing to keep teens out of the streets in Little Haiti. Don’t miss “Empowering Miami’s Inner-city Teens by Growing Food.” (Sun. 2 p.m.)

Besides the lectures, there will be a spring plant sale, food demos, tons of vendors serving organic, vegetarian and/ or healthy food, plus you’ll be able to stroll the gardens and explore some of Florida’s wildest vegetation.

If you go:
What: Fairchild’s Food and Garden Festival
When: April 24-25, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: 10901 Old Cutler Road Coral Gables, FL 33156
Admission: $20, but click here to print a $5 off coupon
More info: Visit Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Don’t miss the Food & Garden Festival this weekend.

Stop by to learn about sustainability, urban agriculture, and to hear what local non-profits are doing to make the Magic City greener. Plus, pile up on edible seedlings for the summer months, buy organic produce, and learn a few tips to incorporate in your kitchen from the culinary demos.

Also… I’m very excited to announce that The Ecozine has been invited to participate in the blogger’s table, so I’ll be there taking pictures and blogging live from the event!

With the urban agriculture movement growing so fast in Miami, this festival seems even more promising than last year’s Edible Garden Festival. There will be dozens of tables from non-profits including the Urban Oasis Project, Save Earth Miami andFertile Earth Foundation.

The schedule is up already and the program includes lectures from recognized local agriculturists, gardeners and permaculturists.

Here’s my personal list of what you shouldn’t miss:

1-One of the problems with growing veggies in South Florida is that not all plants will sustain the warm months. That’s why you don’t want to miss Carolyne Coppolo’s “Keep Your Garden Growing Over the Summer” lecture (Sat. 10 a.m.).

2-No matter how much you know about agriculture, mycology is a whole new world. As someone who failed at growing shiitake from a mushroom log, I definitely won’t be missing Paradise Farm’s Gabriele Mariewski’s lecture, “Local Mushrooms in South Florida” (Sat 12 p.m.).

3-There’s a lot written about the problems with modern commercial fishing, however, it’s refreshing to hear it from someone who has been doing extensive research on it. Don’t miss Lisa Krimsky and Brian Fleuch’s lecture on “Seafood Safety and Sustainability” (Sat. 3 p.m.).

4-If you are interested in learning more about Miami’s sustainable food options but don’t know where to start, don’t miss “Local Food in Miami: Where we are headed,” a discussion with local food bloggers Trina Sargalski from Miamidish; Bill Jacobs from Tinkering with Dinner; Ellen Kanner from Edgy Veggie; and Caroline Hatchett from Occasional Omnivore. Paula Nino from Mango & Lime will moderate. (Sat. 3 p.m.)

5-Earth-n-Us Farm, a farm in the middle of Little Haiti has been gaining more and more recognition as a sustainable urban agriculture model that could be replicated in other parts of the city. Be inspired by the farm’s manager Marcus Thomson, who will be presenting “Permaculture for South Florida” (Sun. 10 a.m.)

6-Learn about community garden projects going on in your city and across South Florida, and find out how to be part of one. “Community Gardening,” will be presented by Dr. Marvin Dunn from Roots in the City (who recently launched a weekly fresh market in Overtown), CC Holloman from Legacy Initiatives/Roots of the Grove Garden; and Fairchild’s Alison Walker. (Sun. 12:30 p.m.)

7-And for more inspiration, learn what Ben Thacker from Gardens of Troy is doing to keep teens out of the streets in Little Haiti. Don’t miss “Empowering Miami’s Inner-city Teens by Growing Food.” (Sun. 2 p.m.)

Besides the lectures, there will be a spring plant sale, food demos, tons of vendors serving organic, vegetarian and/ or healthy food, plus you’ll be able to stroll the gardens and explore some of Florida’s wildest vegetation.

If you go:
What: Fairchild’s Food and Garden Festival
When: April 24-25, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: 10901 Old Cutler Road Coral Gables, FL 33156
Admission: $20, but click here to print a $5 off coupon
More info: Visit Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Located at the heart of the Grove, The Last Carrot is the perfect stop for vegans, vegetarian or health foodists looking for a quick and light lunch in a casual ambiance.

The menu consists of just three options: pita sandwiches, salads and spinach pies. However, what makes the restaurant a regular for locals is the variations you can order of each.

I ordered the hummus pita sandwich ($7) consisting of the classic chickpea and tahini sauce over crunchy bean sprouts, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber and carrots, carefully wrapped in a crispy wheat pita bread. Try it with their homemade tomato tofu dressing or their mushroom and lettuce vinaigrette (my favorite), or combine both for extra flavor.

You can also order the wheat pita sandwich with spicy tofu, homemade veggieburger, chicken or tuna.

If you prefer something lighter, try the pita sandwich as a salad, or order the Israeli-type spinach pies with tomato and cheese melted on top, and side it with the daily veggie soup.

The Last Carrot also specializes in natural juices, including fresh orange, papaya, carrot, wheatgrass, pineapple and acai berry juices ($2-3.50) and apple, mango, strawberry, banana and papaya smoothies ($3.50).

Like at all vegan or vegan friendly-restaurants, dessert is the best part. The Last Carrot is not behind. A vegan strawberry and chocolate cake welcomes patrons to the restaurant. You can also order banana or apple sandwiches with peanut butter. Not of a very sweet tooth? Try the vegan cookies, including the delicious vegan espresso that I took with me for the road.

Have you been to The Last Carrot? What do you think of it?

IF YOU GO:
THE LAST CARROT
3133 Grand Ave.
Coconut Grove, FL 33133
www.lastcarrot.com

Previously on Weekly Indulgence:
Weekly Indulgence: living edibles at Lifefood Gourmet

“Weekly Indulgence” is a weekly healthy restaurant review. Visit regularly for the latest organic, vegan, vegetarian or natural restaurant reviews.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to watch some of the best and latest food-related documentaries, which will be screened locally as part of the Earth Month film series Let’s Re-take our Plates, organized by Whole Foods.

I’m particularly excited about No Impact Man, the documentary based on the Brooklyn family that decided to reduce their waste to the minimum for a whole year (I couldn’t drop the book). Other films include Fast Food Nation, Food. Inc, What’s on Your Plate? and The Garden, all very politically-charged films making strong arguments against the state of the food industry.

Here is the schedule:

Fast Food Nation
4:45 p.m, April 17
Cinema Paradiso
503 SE 6th Street, Ft. Lauderdale
$7

King Corn/ Big River
2:30 p.m. April 17
Cinema Paradiso
503 SE 6th Street, Ft. Lauderdale
$7

Food Inc.
2 p.m., April 18
Cinema Paradiso
503 SE 6th Street, Ft. Lauderdale
$7

The Garden
12 p.m., April 18
Cinema Paradiso
503 SE 6th Street, Ft. Lauderdale
$7

Food Inc.
5 p.m., April 19
Cobb Theater
11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Avenue, Palm Beach Gardens
$5

No Impact Man
7 p.m., April 19
Coral Gables Congregational Church
3010 De Soto Blvd., Coral Gables
$5

What’s on Your Plate?
5 p.m. April 20
Cobb Theater
11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Avenue, Palm Beach Gardens
$5

Fast Food Nation
5 p.m., April 21
Cobb Theater
11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Avenue, Palm Beach Gardens
$5

The Garden
8 p.m., April 21
Miami Beach Cinematheque
512 Espanola Way, Miami Beach
$10

End of the Line
5 p.m. April 22,
Cobb Theater
11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Avenue, Palm Beach Gardens
$5

Food Inc.
7:30 p.m., April 23
Temple Bet Shira
7500 SW 120th Street, Miami
$5

Visit the Let’s Re-take our Plates site for more information

Still not sure what to plant in your spring garden?

Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden is getting ready for its 31st Annual Spring Plant Fair April 24-25, only that this time it’s going to include the best from last year’s Edible Garden Festival, making it even more interesting.

This is the best opportunity to get your supplies of edibles before the summer is here.

The event will include culinary demos, a farmer’s market, lectures on composting, gardening, recycling and organic pest control, plus it’s your chance to check out dozens of local vendors.

More details will be coming soon.

Still not sure what to plant in your spring garden?

Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden is getting ready for its 31st Annual Spring Plant Fair April 24-25, only that this time it’s going to include the best from last year’s Edible Garden Festival, making it even more interesting.

This is the best opportunity to get your supplies of edibles before the summer is here.

The event will include culinary demos, a farmer’s market, lectures on composting, gardening, recycling and organic pest control, plus it’s your chance to check out dozens of local vendors.

More details will be coming soon.

If experienced farmers across Florida had a hard time protecting their crops , you’d probably guessed there was little us rookie home gardeners could do to protect our plants. Gone are my peppers, tomatoes, herbs, jalapenos, radishes, carrots, lettuce… Within days they were all frozen.

After mourning for a few weeks, last weekend we finally spent time fixing what was left and planting new crops.

I stopped by Home Depot and discovered that they are doing a great job with Bonnie Plants to promote edible gardens. I had seen this a few months ago, but the edibles selection is getting bigger and bigger, which means more people are opting for edibles instead of ornamental plants.

They also have neat home garden handouts in English and Spanish with information on creating your own raised bed and on how to grow your own container edible garden when you don’t have a lot of space.

They also have a pile of organic soil bags next to the veggies, making people opt for the healthier soil.

I also noticed new plants this trip, including strawberries and yellow peppers, which makes me excited about what they’ll continue adding to the selection.

Home depot can be a little expensive if you are easily tempted like me, but here are a few tips:

-Broken soil bags sell at a discount, sometimes up to more than 50% off, so just ask where they keep them (and be sure to bring tarp or something to protect your car).

-When selecting plants, carefully inspect them. Pick the ones that have two or more plants in the same pot… you are actually getting one or two free plants.

-Cashiers are allowed to give a 10% discount for ceramic and plastic pots that are damaged, even if it’s minimal. Just ask for it, and if the damage is more severe, don’t be afraid to ask for a higher discount.

-Don’t buy seeds or seedlings for things that are easy to grow from home leftovers. It’s really easy to grow tomatoes, peas and peppers from the seeds of the veggies you already have in the fridge.

-Compost. You save on soil, fertilizers, and recycle our resources.

There’s the pasta machine… and then there is a cleaner, easier and even more delicious way to have fresh pasta at home. No, I don’t mean the processed, packaged type of pasta, but the Italian fresh market type of pasta that comes in dozen flavors, colors and aromas

I’m talking about Pappardelle’s handcrafted tomato basil penne, spinach garlic fettuccine, lemon basil fettuccine and a dozen other flavors, which I recently discovered at the the Grove’s Wednesday farmers market for $9 the pound.

The market has been going on for a few months now, but only recently I had a chance to check it out and discovered this fresh pasta stand that makes the drive there worth it.

Another interesting booth is Elhadj’s, who sells African shea butter, a natural moisturizer made from the African shea tree, and African black soap, which is used to clear the skin from acne and blemishes.

You can also shop for honey, fruits, juices and jewelry at the market.

If you go:

Mayfair Green Market
2311 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove
Every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.