The spring is my favorite time to cook. The farmers markets are bursting with favas and artichokes, lamb and shell peas. And, of course, spring flowers. Easter is my favorite of the food-focused holidays–chocolate, ham, biscuits, strawberries. As a plus I used to get a new pink dress every year from my grandmother…

The spectacular “Lush” table linens by my friends at Unison remind me of those dresses–though I never had one as tasteful as their orchid and deep-green floral fabric. I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate the season.

Yes, it’s gross, but this slideshow compiled by Grist–”12 Things You Should Never Put In Your Mouth”–is also pretty funny. A culinary tragi-comedy. Worth the trip: grape-flavored apples and adorable Twinkie sushi. Friends, be warned: I’m serving that at my next dinner party. Or maybe Twinkie tacos?

A follow up to my post about The Cove controversy, and dolphin-eating: After a Hollywood-ready sting operation involving marine activists and Cove producers in town for the Oscars, the Feds have charged The Hump (a schmancy sushi restaurant at the Santa Monica airport) and its sushi chef with illegally serving endangered Sei whale meat. Surprisingly, it’s only a misdemeanor to serve endangered species, but it does carry a $200,000 fine and the city’s considering citizen requests to terminate their lease. They’ve admitted to the crime and, given that the chef, Kiyoshiro Yamamoto, reportedly retrieved the plastic-wrapped whale bits from his Mercedes parked out back–they probably knew they were up to no good. One of the sadder details of this story is that, for the sting, the activists went twice for $600 omakase extravaganzas…and they’re vegans!

Spooning’s Califia Suntree and co-editrix Pia Catton present their new handbook to better living, Be Thrifty, at The Good Life: Books for Better Living.

Be Thrifty is not about being cheap — it is about being smart and self sufficient. Drawing on the works of experts in every field, it shows how to cut your food bills, cut your credit card debt, even cut your own hair.  Also! The twenty best bottles of wine under $10, how to make your own mozzarella, negotiate a killer deal on a car, repurpose your wool sweaters, what you should and shouldn’t buy in bulk and much more.

What: The Good Life book events are interactive evenings of conversation with authors on tools for creating “the good life.”

When: Wednesday, April 28, 2010

6:30 PM

Where: Tom Douglas Palace Ballroom

2030 5th Avenue (at Lenora), Seattle
Tickets are $35 and include a book plus appetizers! Click here to purchase.

Perhaps you’ve never heard the name (I hadn’t), but author and activist Joan Dye Gussow has been growing and advocating organic food since the 1950s. Her suburban-homesteader ethic is the subject of her book This Organic Life, and she created a Nutritional Ecology course at Columbia’s Teachers College, where she was a professor of nutrition for years.

Just Food is worth your charity dollars–they do remarkable work in New York City, uniting local small farmers with communities in so-called “food deserts,” which lack access to fresh, healthy food. A delicious win-win!

What: The Joan Dye Gussow Gala to support Just Food. Featuring guests Michael Pollan, Brian Halweil, Dan Barber & Peter Hoffman. Cocktails and lots of New York food after the speeches!

When: Sunday April 25, 2010

7:00 PM

Where: Sotheby’s

1334 York Avenue, New York

Tickets are $175 and up. Click here to purchase or email justfood@dalzell.com