Oxbow Public Market celebrates Earth Day with Earth Night this Saturday, April 21 from 5 to 8 pm. Earth Night features merchant specials, an elementary school student art show titled "In Season," Oxbow composting and recycling information, and music by Johnny Smith. Earth Night at Oxbow follows the Earth Day Celebration in Veterans Park in downtown Napa. The art show features artwork by elementary school students in Napa, depicting their favorite fruits or vegetables and highlighting when the foods are in season. Merchant specials (more details below) include:

• Anette's Chocolates: Sample Mayan nibs in support of the Cocoa Livelihoods program
• Ca' Momi Enoteca: 10% off all food items from 5 to 9 pm
• Kara's Cupcakes: Sweet vanilla cupcake proceeds support Save the Bay
• Hog Island Oyster Bar: Dine & Donate supports Friends of Napa River
• The Olive Press: Be kind on Earth Day -- recycle and fill up! 
• Pica Pica: Green arepas are on the menu!
• Tillerman Tea: 10% off 100 grams of any tea if you bring your own tea tin for your purchase. 

This Tuesday, April 17 at 5 pm, Ritual Coffee Roasters will be offering special flights of coffee. Every coffee is unique, because of variables such as the origin, altitude, processing method and many other factors. A coffee flight is a great opportunity to taste three coffees side by side and talk to a barista about the differences, why you might like one vs. another, or answer any other questions you might have about coffee. The flight will include 4oz pours of three coffees, served with a tasting menu for your own notes...just $10 for 1-2 people, so bring a friend and split the cost! 

This Tuesday, April 17 from 5 to 7:30 pm, Ca' Momi Enoteca is hosting a complimentary wine tasting This is a fantastic opportunity to sample Ca' Momi wines and chat with a member of the Ca' Momi family! 

Join Pica Pica this Thursday, April 19 from 5 to 9 pm for a special Brewer's Night featuring Blue Moon Brewing Company. Featured brews include Belgian White, unfiltered Belgian white wheat ale; Spring Blonde Wheat Ale, lemon and orange peel, light-bodied, refreshing, citrus finish (through April); and Summer Honey Wheat, a peek into the summer release, crafted with clover honey for a hint of sweetness (April through September). Pints are $5, or $7 with branded glassware to keep for your collection.

Sweet for a great cause! This week, Kara's Cupcakes will have festive Earth Day cupcakes available through Sunday, April 22 and will donate a portion of the proceeds to Save The Bay foundation. Just look for the "Save The Bay" and blue raindrop decorations to know you are sweeting for a great cause! And on Saturday, April 21, before Oxbow's Earth Night celebration, the 

KaraVan will be in downtown Napa from 11 am to 4 pm for the Napa Earth Day celebration. Sweet!

Pica Pica will again serve up its green arepas (tinted with basil and other spices) to commemorate Earth Day on Sunday, April 22. Green arepas will also be available on Saturday, April 21 during Oxbow's Earth Night celebration. 

Ca' Momi Enoteca celebrates Earth Day every day and night, and uses only the freshest and organic ingredients grown locally or in Italy. All of their packaging is 100% recyclable, including their innovative Novatwist screw-cap house wines, which are awesome for Mother Earth! As huge supporters of sustainability, Earth Day and green practices, Ca' Momi Enoteca will happily offer 10% off all food items during Oxbow's Earth Night celebration, this Saturday, April 21 from 5 to 9 pm. To welcome spring, Ca' Momi Enoteca has made another great addition to its menu: Pizza Primavera with asparagus, egg and parmigiano reggiano. To complement the experience, try it paired with Ca' Momi's refreshing 2011 Pinot Grigio.

Although Earth day only comes once a year, every day is Earth Day at The Model Bakery, where they use only the finest natural ingredients and all of their breads and pastries are made with 100% organic flour. In honor of Earth Day, stop by any time this week when The Model Bakery will be featuring specials on its harvest wheat bread. And if you're coming to Earth Night at Oxbow on the 21st, don't forget to stop by after 3 pm for the late bake and bring home some warm, fresh-out-of-the oven bread for dinner!

In celebration of Earth Day, on Saturday and Sunday, April 21 and 22, The Olive Press invites you to bring in your own clean bottles to fill up on bulk extra virgin olive oil for 25% off! With the discount, your olive oil will be only 75 cents per ounce (regularly $1). The Olive Press will fill any bottle you bring (just make sure it's clean and dry): Your favorite wine bottle, a decorative cruet, or a used, clean olive oil bottle, whatever you have (be sure to know the ounces though). If you forget your bottle, you can still receive 15% off on extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegars and tapenades.

Seen from space our planet appears blue because the oceans overshadow most of the earth's surface and comprise nearly 97% of our water. Kanaloa Seafood has developed a certified Environmental Management Plan to help protect our ocean's resources. Kanaloa has advanced an ongoing and continuous effort to improve its environmental practices; a certified program overseen by ISO's 14001 directives. Kanaloa has been setting the benchmark in sustainability and environmental management for nearly 30 years in keeping up with the traditions set by the first earth day on April 22, 1970. 

Anette's Chocolates is celebrating Earth Night this Saturday, April 21 by offering samples of their Mayan nib chocolates. Anette's will present for viewing cocoa nibs, candied nibs, whole cocoa beans, shells, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter and chili -- all the wonderful ingredients nature supplies. Anette's Chocolates supports the World Cocoa Foundation through its purchase of ingredients from suppliers that support the Cocoa Livelihoods Program. This program helps to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers in Cameroon, Cote d'l voire, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria. 

The flat iron comes from the shoulder of the animal and is typically well marbled. Five Dot Ranch loves this cut for its versatility and the lower price point for a steak that is very comparable to a higher end steak, such as a New York. Five Dot Ranch recommends this recipe for the perfect flat iron.

Ingredients

1 (2 lb.) Five Dot Ranch flat iron steak

2 1/2 TB olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp chopped fresh parsley

1/4 tsp chopped fresh rosemary

1/2 tsp chopped fresh chives

1/4 cup Cabernet Sauvignon

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 tsp ground black pepper

1/4 tsp dry mustard powder

Directions:

Place the steak inside of a large resealable bag. In a small bowl, stir together the olive oil, garlic, parsley, rosemary, chives, wine, salt, pepper and mustard powder. Pour over the steak in the bag. Press out as much air as you can and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the steak in the hot skillet for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or to your desired degree of doneness. Discard the marinade. These steaks taste best at medium rare. Allow them to rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

With the arrival of Earth Day, take some time to think about the amazing healing qualities of spices, easily accessible at Whole Spice. It is surprising how many spices can help aid in relieving arthritis pain, colds and even diabetes. For example, cayenne contains capsaicin, the active ingredient in many prescription and over-the-counter creams, ointments and patches for arthritis and muscle pain. Over time, it short circuits pain by depleting nerve cells of a chemical called substance P, which helps transfer pain signals along nerve endings to the brain. It's also used for treating shingles pain and diabetes-related nerve pain. Another healing spice is basil, rich in antioxidants, which helps boost immunity. It's also an antimicrobial, which fights the germs that can cause colds. So if you feel a cold coming on, be sure to stock up on basil, let mother nature do the work and have a Happy Earth Day! 

Heritage Culinary Artifacts

Main Entry: ar·ti·fact

Pronunciation: \ˈär-ti-ˌfakt\

Function: noun

1 a: something created by humans usually for a practical purpose; especially: an object remaining from a particular period

This weighty crystal decanter and stopper was produced by Baccarat Crystal in France in the mid-1900s. Signed and in very fine condition, this is the perfect vessel to house and serve sherry, port or liquors. It measures 8.75" tall x 5" in diameter at its base, and weighs a mighty 2.71 pounds. This decanter is available at Heritage Culinary Artifacts for $435. 

Established in 1764 in the Lorraine region of southern France, Baccarat's original production consisted mainly of window panes, mirrors and stemware until 1816, when the first crystal oven went into operation. Baccarat received its first royal commission in 1823, thus beginning a lengthy line of commissions for royalty and heads of state throughout the world. In 1855, Baccarat won its first gold medal at The World's Fair in Paris.The crystal company first began marking its work with a registered mark in 1860, with the mark affixed to the bottom of the work. The crystal production expanded its scope throughout this period, and Baccarat built a worldwide reputation for making quality stemware, chandeliers and barware. In 1936 Baccarat began marking all of its works via acid or sandblasting.

Purchase 150 g of Whole Spice Chai packed in a Tillerman Tea tin for $30 this week at Tillerman Tea. Filled to order, this attractive and authentic Chinese tea tin will provide 50 individual servings -- all of which are re-steepable. One of Tillerman's in-house proprietary blends, Whole Spice's Chai blend is combined with Tillerman's Yunnan Black Needle. Enjoy the full-bodied maltiness of the tea with the lovely aromatics of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, clove and nutmeg. This cup of tea will definitely keep you warm through this late rainy season!