In honor of Earth Day, celebrated yesterday, I thought I would include some related topics in my column this week.

I had recently read a disturbing article about the major impact something as simple as disposable chopsticks has on the environment — China now produces and discards more than 45 billion pairs every year, cutting down as many as 25 million trees in the process, an article in The Washington Post reported. Japan has come under criticism, too, as most of the 25 billion pairs used annually in that country are made from other countries' trees.

Although the United States certainly doesn't even get close to that kind of chopstick abuse, a simple way to save some trees is to purchase some reusable ones and leave them in your desk or silverware drawer — as many environmentally aware young Chinese have begun to do.

Mu Jing Lau (Mu Du Noodles) offers dishwasher-safe melamine chopsticks to all her dinner guests. To purchase a stylish pair for yourself — or someone who uses then regularly — go to Asian Adobe (310 Johnson St., 992-6846) and check out the fantastic selection. My favorite is the five-pair set, with each set made from a different wood ($30).

For some local restaurateurs, being green is not a special event but an ongoing part of their business practice.

"For us, ecological consciousness is not a reaction to any particular trend," says Tree House Pastry Shop & Café owner Maria Elena Bustamante-Bernal. "It's one of the core ideals on which our business is built." The talented baker is daily surrounded by nature; the tiny café is ensconced in the grounds of Plants of the Southwest (3095 Agua Fria St., 474-5543).

Those "core ideals" Bustamante-Bernal speaks of include a commitment to supporting community and local agriculture, and reducing the shop's impact upon the earth — all while making fresh, organic food that's good to eat and good for those eating it.

Over at the Inn and Spa at Loretto (211 Old Santa Fe Trail, 988-5531) a recent visit by Nobel Peace Prize winner Mikhail Gorbachev, the former president of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, has inspired a clever promotion.

Gorbachev is the founder of Green Cross International, which focuses on the environment. The Drive Green Package, as the promotion is called, gives vacationers a 20-percent discount on lodging rates when they drive a hybrid vehicle to the property, as well as complimentary parking while staying at the inn. To get the discount, guests must mention the type of car they are driving when they make a reservation.


It was an exciting hour watching Santa Fe's own Martin Rios compete on FoodTV's Iron Chef America program. The secret ingredient for the night was the tomato, and Rios and Bobby Flay, the Iron Chef he challenged, cooked at a dizzying speed: The 60-minute-long cook-off is filmed in real time. From the look of the tomatoes, the program was clearly filmed at the peak of their season.

The cool, calm and collected Rios maintained his composure throughout, creating a fabulous menu that featured a plethora of heirloom tomato-based dishes.

Despite Rios' clever play with the popular nightshade, Flay — who I felt abused a freeze-dried tomato product called tomato powder — still won the competition.

Rios is still a winner in my book, and I wish him the best of luck in his next important challenge — assuming the position of chef and partner at Geronimo.