AudgePodge

  When I left the country for the first time, it changed my life. I flew into Ecuador’s capital, Quito , on April 10, 2023, with my mom at my side. She had visited before; 18 years prior, before I came into her life. She was reminiscing about her time spent in Ecuador — the people, the landscape, the food, the experience — and wished to share that same experience with me. Quito currently has a population of over 2 million people and is the world’s second-highest administrative capital sitting at 9,350 feet. Here, the elevation plays its tricks on you. Quito is approximately 16 miles away from Cuidad Mitad del Mundo (or, Middle of the World City) where the altitude is, extraordinarily, 0 feet exactly. We’ll touch upon this monumental place in a moment, but first, our attention lies on Quito. Art Plaza Hotel , Quito Photo Credit - Audrey Linder One of the most prominent visual takeaways of Quito is the persistence of graffiti throughout the city. Art is quite populous and holds gr...

ALBANY –  A spicy and sharp aroma filtered through Deluxe Brewing 's industrial building as guests lined up with small bowls in the entryway, eagerly waiting to try a variety of homemade chili. Country music played while the impeccably decorated room buzzed with lively conversation at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, some visitors focused solely on the tables promising palatable samples. Twenty chilis were on full display across multiple tables adorned with pepper-themed napkins, with a variety of toppings such as shredded cheese, corn chips, jalapenos , and freshly baked cornbread. Around 100 people attended, mostly older guests; an occasional child ran by, syphoning samples, and Coop the cat made his appearance on occasion.  This is the thirteenth chili cook-off that the brewery has organized, as well as their contributions to Fish of Albany , a local organization providing food and clothes to people in need. Chili scorecards were provided for optional evaluation. These cards featu...

Life is always gouda with cheese! LBCC’s Cheese Club met Jan. 21 in room 208 of Madrone Hall. Here, the club leader (or head cheese) Georgie Jensen, provided the other club members with a delectable array of cheeses, crackers, and fruit.  The club was trying something new by meeting in a different building that week, however, typically you can find them in the Student Union at 11 a.m. every Wednesday. Here, you may expect to try a variety of cheeses and snacks, and participate in friendly conversations, as well as educational information about food insecurity and cheese.  On the table that week was: Reypenaer, a Dutch gouda-style cheese with a subtle crunch and strong flavor A sharp yet soft, buttery Irish cheddar cheese aged nine months Caramella, aged 12 months and imported from Holland, with a dry, nutty and sweet taste Beecher’s Jerk Spice cheese, which encompasses full flavor and spice with a smooth texture Baked bread cheese, capable of hot or cold enjoyment A French Br...