all photos: Aineki Traverso
One would expect to find former restauranteur, Jeffrey Mills' fridge packed with bizarre, exotic foods, and although there was some level of bizarre resent, the amount of fresh produce was the more prominent of the two. As of March, 2010, Mills took the leap to becoming the new Director of Food Service for D.C. Public Schools, and from what we heard, he seems pretty adamant about providing kids with a nutritious diet. If you had any doubts about his healthy eating habits, just take a quick look around his kitchen. To the left sits a juicer where he makes fresh fruit smoothies (every morning), and to the right are the remnants of homemade peanut butter. If the new meal plans are anything like the way Mills eats at home, students of D.C. public schools might just turn into Jolly Green Giants.
In the fridge: Strawberries, Mozzarella Cheese, Eggs, Maple Syrup, Peter Luger Steak Sauce, Spicy Pickles, Homemade Blackberry Brandy (from Dad, the love of food obviously runs in the family), Lactaid Milk,
Drinks: Saison Dupont Belgian Beer, Vernors Ginger Ale (he sent us home with a can of both the ginger ale and green tea, on a hot day it really was like winning the lottery), Green Tea
Farmers market finds: Swiss Chard, Sugar Snap Peas (which he made us try, and yes, they tasted just as good as they look)
Odds n' Ends: Cinnamon Raisin Spread, Rosemary Thyme Almond Cashew Spread (sister makes homemade spreads), Stony Man Cheese, and Blue Bottle Coffee from San Francisco (which he swears is the best)
Freezer Items: Tahitian Vanilla Gelato, Sicilian Blood Orange Gelato (everyone has a weakness, Mills' seems to come in the form of frozen italian treats), Edamame, and Shrimp Potstickers
Like what you saw? Check out previous “What’s in You Fridge? ” posts
- DC Vegan’s Amnber McDonald
- Josh Sisk, photographer, author of “Under the Strobe Light”
- Todd Kliman, food & wine editor of “Washingtonian”
- Josh Short, pastry chef of BUZZ Bakery
- Robb Duncan and Violeta Edelman of DOLCEZZA Gelato
- Miriam’s Kitchen
- Scott Drewno, of The Source
- Tim Carman, food columnist “Washington City Paper”
- DCVegan’s Amber McDonald
- Billy Klein, executive chef of Cafe ST-EX
- Spike Mendelsohn of TOP Chef and Good Stuff Eatery
Is there a fridge you’d like to see in here? Let us know in comments or at info@brightestyoungthings.com
Previously in What's In Your Fridge?:
- 4/10: What’s in Your Fridge? Talyor Gourmet's Casey Patten & David Mazza
- 2/28: Doron Petersan of Sticky Fingers Bakery - What's In Your Fridge?
- 8/4: Barton Seaver's Fridge
- 5/16: Mike Isabella's Fridge
- 12/28: What's In Your Fridge 2010: A Selection
- 12/27: Matthew Lesko: To the Fridge and Beyond
- 8/6: Whats In Your Fridge?: King Buzzo of the Melvins
- 7/7: Eating with Caution: Tittsworth's Fridge
- 6/3: What's In Your Fridge? Warren Brown of CakeLove
- 6/2: What's In Your Fridge? Washington Post Food Editor Joe Yonan
God loves a cheerful giver.
One of my favorites
aww!
Glad to see he's supporting the city's farmers' markets! Stoney Man cheese is tasty.
Any idea where to buy the green tea from?
Great fridge! This guy's got taste, I'm a fan.
Sorry, that's nothing like what kids are eating in D.C. schools. If you want to see pictures of that, go here:
http://betterdcschoolfood.blogspot.com/
I remember reading Mr. Mills has been on the job 3 months and is trying to feed 45,000 kids? But already they are looking for two pilot programs to improve foodservice next year? Mr. Bruske; nice promo for your blog but come on! Combined with the Healthy Schools Act and Mr. Mills, and Mr. Tata's drive and passion I feel better about the food for next year. The past is the past; I will judge them this time next year, too early in the game to nitpick now.
Here is a piece that describes the DCPS food service pilots slated for next year under Mr. Mills' direction, with links to the RFPs themselves. The piece also - justifiably - commends Mr. Bruske for his excellent investigative journalism around these issues:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/all-we-can-eat/sustainable-food/next-steps-for-healthful-food-in-dcps.html
We are all hopeful that these new pilots are the beginning of big change in the District's school food system.
I think Jeff knows I like to give him a little ribbing because he apparently has time to show a blogger around the inside of his fridge but months later still has never returned a more probitive Q&A interview with The Slow Cook about his vision for D.C. Public Schools food services. I am still happy to give him as much space as he needs to explain where school food in the District of Columbia is headed. We all know it won't be easy.
Yeah, it's good, very useful, thanks
FAKE!!!!
Vernorsssss. Where did he get it here?