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Back to Basics
Episode FLBTB-104

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Indian food prepared by Ruta Kahate, owner of Ruta's Kitchen in San Francisco, Calif.

Adventurous Living (104)
Head for the hills with Kirsten Poulin and the enthusiastic members of the Santa Monica Trail Runners Club. Find out how they've found a way to exercise far from the traffic and commotion of Los Angeles.

Then, meet Ruta Kahate, an Indian food aficionado from Oakland, Calif. She has parlayed her passion for the food of her homeland into an enterprising cooking school, which she operates out of her home.

Finally, we'll see how trash can become treasure—especially when it comes to home decoration. Join Barbara Drake for a visit to a Los Angeles store called Scavenger's Paradise, and learn how you can transform your home for next to nothing.


Trail Running Facts:

  • Sunburn and dehydration are risks all year round. Use sunscreen and drink 5-12 ounces of water for every 15 minutes of running.

  • Stay on the trail to avoid disturbing natural habitats.

  • Trail running clubs offer the benefit of safety in numbers.

Contact Information:

Santa Monica Trail Runner's Club
Stan Swartz, Director
1035 Anoka Place
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
310-459-3757
www.trailrunnersclub.com

Resources:
Trail Running : From Novice to Master
by Kirsten Poulin, Stan Swartz & Chris Flaxel M.D.

The American Running Association
303-499-8410
www.americanrunning.org

Track and Field News
www.trackandfieldnews.com

Runner’s World Magazine
www.runnersworld.com

AATRA (All American Trail Running Association)
510-787-1060
www.trailrunner.com


Indian Food Facts:

  • According to Ruta Kahate, a typical Indian meal includes a dal (a pulse dish usually served with rice), a flatbread, a vegetable sauté, a raita (salad), a meat dish flavored with masala, and perhaps a chutney—all served at the same time.

  • Running a cooking school out of a private residence typically requires municipal approval and permitting.

  • These dishes are from the western coastal regions of India.

  • Parchment paper can be substituted for banana leaves when steaming fish or other meats.

  • Kahate teaches Indian cooking by region. Three classes make up each regional series.

Contact Information:

Ruta's Kitchen
www.rutaruta.com

Resources:

The Spice is Right: Easy Indian Cooking for Today

by Monica Bhide

Indianrestaurants.com
Find an Indian restaurant anywhere in the United States.
www.indianrestaurants.com


Scavenger Facts:

  • Almost every decoration, fixture and piece of furniture in Drake's home began its life elsewhere--often serving a different purpose.

  • Recycling, recovering and re-purposing furnishings is a growing trend in home décor. Adding old and interesting objects to the mix can bring substance to otherwise ordinary surroundings.

  • Scavenger's Paradise is located in a recycled building that used to be a church.

  • The store specializes in architectural salvage.

  • Be adventurous about your own treasure hunting and find some amazing bargains outside of shops by reclaiming other's discards. But do as Barbara Drake does—ask, don't assume—if it is ok to rescue these finds.

Contact Information:

Scavenger's Paradise
5453 Satsuma Ave.
North Hollywood, CA 91602
323-877-7945

Architectural Salvage Experts, North Hollywood, CA
323-877-7945 (phone)
818-985-5554 (fax)

Barbara Drake
1-877-decorum (1-877-332-6786)
bdrake@decorum.com

Resources:

Recycled Elegance: Decorating With Secondhand Treasures

by Don Bingham, Joan Bingham

Style on a Shoestring : Simple Ideas for Fantastic Rooms

by Anne McKevitt, Shelly Warrington, Shelley Warrington

Furniture Wizard
Online community to discuss furniture repair and refinishing.
www.furniturewizard.com

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