An eco-friendly alternative for your picnic needs.

Peeved at the thought of filling a landfill with plastic picnicware? Fear no more. Aspenware, Inc., a Lumby, British Columbia-based company, produces a line of all natural, ergonomically-designed, compostable wooden forks, soup spoons, knives and spoons designed to take the sting out of “disposable.”

The lightweight, yet strong utensils are manufactured from fast-growing but “short-lived” trees harvested near the end of their lifespan. The packaging, produced from 100 percent plant and wood fiber, is also compostable. After your next barbecue or birthday party, just throw the used utensils on the compost pile and smile. Cleanup is done.

Look for Lustables daily at EcoSalon. 100% gorgeous green finds, and never sponsored. Submit your favorite to tips@ecosalon.com

Image: Aspenware

You corner a tight table for one – for you and who else? Your loyal laptop or other wireless device, of course.

If you haven’t noticed, the Neoprene sleeve is emerging as the new evening bag for an increasing number of singles. Yep, the gadget that has evolved into a fifth limb is perhaps the most accessible date we can score for Saturday night drinks,  Sunday brunch and midweek caffeine rushes in makeshift offices. ”Busy? “No, baby, you can turn me on anytime. Just say the password! Yahoo!”

While the debate rages over whether restaurants should ban or restrict WiFi users, the public display of affliction is everywhere, from chichi downtown bistros in Dallas (a Lemon Drop for you, a refresh button for your Pro) to buzzing coffee bars in Seattle where users can catch up while sipping a skinny something.

Call it a cult phenomenon of a society that has never been more disconnected emotionally. Not long ago, we relied on that soiled paperback in the shoulder bag or crumpled newspaper rolled up in the back pocket to join us at our tables. Nobody threatened to take those away unlike the current climate of cafes taking WiFi off their menus, as noted in the Los Angeles Times.

Is it rude to be glued to the screen and to occupy tables once your meal is through? Well, as far as conducting our business in public, we can agree a gal with her Macbook is much less a social pariah than, say, a dude in a neighboring booth carrying on a painfully audible, one-way, cell phone conversation. ”Oh, yeah, for sure, she stood me up, and like, I’m so hella horny!”

Accepting we are often lost without our laptops to lean on when going solo on the town – it is good to know about happening nodes to hang with our gadgets - apart from the typical coffee house in the hood.

Here are some savvy suggestions:

The Summit, 780 Valencia Street, San Francisco

Showcasing the play of sweet and savory pulled off by noted pastry chefs (such as Gabriel Mitchell known as the “sugar pimp”), this art space in the Mission also attracts like minded connoisseurs who also devour displays of applied arts of industrial, graphic and textile design. “Oy, me and my laptop are getting so cultured!”

Oddfellows Cafe and Bar, 1525 10th Street, Seattle

A hippified 1908 dining hall, this fave watering hole where cocktails come in Grandma’s glassware and where mac and cheese and pork nuggets pass for gourmet is familiar MacBook territory day and night. Hey, it’s Seattle. Enough said.

Intellegtsia Cafe, 1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd.,Venice Beach

Okay, so it does classify as a coffee bar, but this one features few tables but ample open space with stadium concrete steps and cushions to sit on with your device and sip possibly the best cappuccino or coffee-by-the-cup in L.A. (purchased directly from growers), along with tasty croissants and other treats. Described as a cross between a chemistry lab and a high tech Italian cafe, you will enjoy the personalized one-on-one barista service prior to connecting.

Camera Cafe, 44 Museum Street, London

No honey, but in need of a honey latte on a blustery day; then take your laptop to this WiFi friendly and highly quirky cafe in the Bloomsbury area. It serves a variety of cakes, sandwiches and snacks, and plays French music to tourists and regulars. Unlike the typical coffee house, the front room features a shop packed with second-hand cameras lovingly restored. Inside the cafe, photos hung at funky angles cover the walls, adding a bit of Parisian eccentricity to the scene.

Marvelous Market, 1511 Connecticut Ave., Washington DC

Included in a blog on one of the safest places in Washington for meeting other geeks, this epicurean haunt open breakfast through dinner serves up the range from potent coffee and teas to exotic imported cheeses, salamis and olives. You will even find tempting Passover brownies, as depicted by one loyal taker. There are a variety of locations in the nation’s capital, but Dupont Circle seems to attract more of the laptop hounds. “Computer use is part of our business,” one of the managers tells me. “We are just happy to offer a nice place to sit and unwind or do what you need to do.”

Images: Serious Eats, The SummitSF, Tomatogeezer, Intelligentisa, Another Photograph, Wiredwitch

Looking for an unusual wedding banquet? I may have found the answer for you- Marije Vogelzang and her food laboratory.

While contemplating the greater joys of food, I remembered hearing Marije Vogelzang speak at the annual PopTech conference last year. This amazing designer has created her own genre for food as art: Eating Design. After studying product design and worried about the wasteful use of materials, this Dutch designer turned to food. Viewing food as already perfectly designed by nature, she began focusing on creating unique and meaningful eating experiences.

Vogelzang’s edible art projects take on many forms, including installations, performance, and event catering. In every case, she explores cultural preconceptions of food, and attempts to change prior experiences or associations with what’s being eaten. At one catering venue for a large holiday dinner party, the designer took the tablecloth and hung the sides up instead of down, creating slits so diners were encompassed in this tent-like construction, transforming the relationship of the eaters to one another and to their food.

Color often becomes a prominent focus in Vogelzang’s work. In a project working with kids and their food perceptions, she arranged a series of healthy snacks according to color, and each color was associated with a feeling or meaning, such as red=energy or yellow=friends. Children then chose their snacks based on a desire for “happiness” or “energy” as opposed to the food itself, thereby removing their previous hesitancy or negativity toward healthy foods.

Other works include spoons made of sugar that melt into your coffee, candy “guns” that are meant to raise awareness that sugar is bad for you, and garden cress grown on clothing that can be used to garnish cocktails.

The surf’s up as June gloom melts into July fry in Laguna Beach – the wet and rocky Orange County artist colony and funky-swank seaside town. Natural food stands hearkening the 70s granola-happy daze, surf shops and funky mid-fashion boutiques still abound here, setting it apart from the polished corporate chains of neighboring Newport Beach and the vintage frozen banana stands of Balboa Island.

Here are a few tips for a tide and true Laguna getaway:

Where to stay: A good choice is the Pacific Edge Hotel because of the diverse lodging opportunities, from one-bedroom ocean view apartments with full kitchens to beachfront kings with connecting rooms for family and friends. “The people who have been coming here for 30 years always book the junior suites,” shares Carlos, the front desk clerk, who accommodates guests with requests throughout their stays from sending a toaster or microwave to the room or additional yellow Adirondack chairs for the expansive decks.

The food at the property’s Beach House restaurant is very good although a bit pricey, yet upon check-in you’ll receive an Edge Card for discounts at the restaurant as well as local businesses partnering with the hotel. You also get complimentary access to the Laguna Health Club and are invited to join a Code Pink Bootcamp for early morning workouts on the beach. You can score rooms for as low as $169 a night with these perks, and save money by eating many of your meals on your deck. I highly recommend heading to the nearby Orange Inn for morning coffee, muffins and egg sandwiches and to The Stand where people line up for the best smoothies around. Pacific Edge is dog friendly, but the beach is only open to Fido before 8am and after 6pm.

Fun out of the sun: July 5 marks the opening of the Laguna Art Festival’s famed Pageant of the Masters, and the Sawdust Art Festival features booths displaying the crafts, gems and hemp fashions of local artisans. You can walk from the hotel to just about everywhere in good shoes, and there is a free bus service from North to South Laguna. Not to be missed: The new ENC (Environmental Nature Center) a living classroom in Newport offering hands-on interpretive nature program built around the ecology and history of California and its biodiversity. Locals, like Kristen and Tony Petros helped raise money for magnificent LEED platinum modern structure (a former trailer) and park-like grounds now visited by local schools and tourists alike to get closer to butterflies, reptiles, gurgling streams and even a life-size replica of a Coast Live oak tree.

Fun in the Sun: In terms of bumming it, you can buy a good boogie board for $40 (fins are useful too), take a surf lesson (the hotel offers packages) or simply beach yourself on a white chaise under an umbrella and listen to the surf pound while you finish that summer read. Dunk in the pool or hot tub or treat yourself to a healthy pedicure at Queen Nails (OPI Mod About You is the flavor of the month here) or shop second hand at Trash Pretty down the road. You will find life truly is a beach, at least till you are back to work in the fog on Monday.

Image: Kevin Zollman

As we head into summer, you’ve got clambakes, grilled mahi-mahi, and all sorts of other seafood delectables to look forward to. The next time you’ve got a taste for fish, I suggest consulting the free iPhone app Seafood Watch to make sure you’re making responsible dining choices.

The app features a couple of different ways to access the information in its database. If your heart is set on eating a particular kind of fish, you can search it by name and get its status since Seafood Watch lets you know if you’re making a good buying decision and wave you off eating fish that’s overfished or high in toxins.

If you’re open to what types of fish to buy at the store or at a restaurant, check out the apps regional guide that leads you to the most responsibly acquired fish in your area. Got a hankering for sushi? Seafood Watch’s sushi guide lists fish by Japanese and common market name.

Thoughtfully put together by Monterey Bay (CA) Aquarium, Seafood Watch is updated regularly and plans are in the works for new features to be added. Don’t have an iPhone? No sweat. You can access the app’s mobile site, from any cell phone with an Internet connection. And for access to the same information offline, download any of the eight free PDF files that tickle your fancy.

You may be a slave to the stove but you can also be a steward of the planet with new earth-friendly cookware developed by Ecolution.

Day in, day out, we use the stove – and of course, our cookware – to heat our meals and cook our snacks. But a revolutionary company called Ecolution has put green where we are not used to seeing it: in pots, pans and skillets. It has developed a Hydrolon non-stick surface which is made using a water-based process unlike traditional Teflon, which, according to Ecolution, uses harsh solvents to create a non-stick surface. The company claims the Ecolution surface is therefore safer for healthy, earth-friendly cooking and eating.

In fact, Ecolution has put an environmental mindfulness into what is often a routine chore. Let’s face it, we’ve all watched and waited for a pot to boil while letting our mind wander aimlessly, but Ecolution’s emphasis on the environment reminds us to consider that the earth is inhabited by an extended family of cooks, all sharing this great round green (and blue) earth.

The cookware, ranging from saucepans to griddles, are available at retailers like Amazon or Bed Bath & Beyond and suggested retail prices range from $31.99 for a 14-inch fry pan to an 8-piece green-colored (and green-minded) cookware set for $69.99. As part of its mission to promote eco-friendly cooking, the company has suggested some interesting ways to reuse or recycle your old pots, such as using them for camping, for your kids’ play kitchen or as planters. The Ecolution website provides a zip code-based search to find local charities where you can donate your old cookware or a place where the old pots can be recycled.

So vegans, meat-eaters and macrobiotics unite and cook green!

Editor’s note: Article by Anne Driscoll. Originally published by our friends at Tonic.com. Tonic is a digital media company and news source dedicated to promoting the good that happens each day around the world. Tonic tells the stories of people and organizations who are working to make a difference, by inspiring good in themselves and others. Be sure to visit them and say hi, and follow Tonic on Twitter, too!

Image: ginnerobot

Taking an active interest in protecting the environment and appreciating the aesthetic value of its sweeping beauty go hand in hand. So, it’s easy to see why so many of us green gals like to adorn our homes with spectacular scenes from nature. Here’s the catch: many of these patterns are way too busy (or dare I say tacky) for our elegant taste.

Amenity Home designers Nicole Chiala and Kristina de Corpo hit the mark with their simple silhouette bedding. Ever since, their hand-drawn prints have been in high demand, so they created a line of matching throw pillows and wall hangings. Then, came an array of chic totes and zipper bags. And, now, your dining room can share the same eco sophistication with their recently launched table linen collection. (Available at Amenity Home for $25- $99.)

Every morning before settling in with the laptop, I sip a cup of coffee, eat a bowl of cereal and read the paper at my breakfast bar. And lately I’ve had to ask myself: why am I still sitting on these cheap, tacky stools I got from IKEA in college?

It’s time for an eco-friendly (and lumbar friendly) upgrade, and here are some versatile choices I’m liking.

The rustic weave and strong design of the Earthly Rattan stool from VivaTerra (shown at top) make the perfect fit for those of you who model your interiors after the beauty of the great outdoors and need something both practical and stylish. Plus, it provides ample back support, so you can lean back and relax.

If you prefer a kitchen with an old-fashioned appeal, then the European sophistication of the Cocopa counter stool is the epitome of classic, cozy style.

Crafted from post-industrial seatbelts, the clever Arbor barstool from Vivavi has a unique appeal that suits modern interiors with a distinct edge.

You’re not fooling him, sister.

It’s a pairing more common than takeout Caesar salad and two buck Chuck. There’s even a song about it: you’re a vegetarian and your boyfriend isn’t about to part with bacon in this lifetime. It’s not that he hates the planet; it’s just that tofu deeply worries him. The mere mention of a vegetarian dinner brings your old nickname (Chick’n) back to life for at least a week, or on more exciting nights, a spirited debate about whether mock meat nuggets taste more like chicken nuggets than actual chicken nuggets. I’ll save you the suspense: nobody wins.

Help your manly meatatarian out with some veg recipes that he’ll actually love. That means filling, substantial, tasty and preferably hand-held. These recipes are fast, cheap, and easy. Something every man appreciates.

1. The Carl’s Jr. Is Scared of This Sandwich, Sandwich

This is a sandwich everyone loves, and the ingredients are so filling no one notices the lack of meat. The best part is that it only takes 10 minutes to make. Note: this is not a sandwich for someone on a diet.

Ingredients: sourdough or rye bread, 1 large avocado, 4 slices sharp cheddar and 2 slices gruyere cheese, 1 tomato.

To make: this is just like a grilled cheese sandwich, except you’re also adding in avocado slices (half an avocado for each sandwich) and tomato slices (ditto). Each sandwich gets 3 slices of cheese. To make the sandwich really good and greasy – but somewhat healthy – skip butter and lightly coat both sides of each piece of bread in olive oil. Give the oiled bread a tasty treatment of coarse salt and, if you have it, a tiny sprinkling of chopped rosemary. Trust me, this is insanely filling – and good. To rev it up a bit, shake a little Tabasco over the sandwiches while they’re grilling.

2. The Chop

My grandmother learned this recipe while living in Guinea, Africa. Over the years everyone in the family has adapted it in different ways. She always called it Chop, and while her recipe used ground beef and beef broth, you don’t need the meat and you can use vegetable stock.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup red wine (cheap is fine), 1 cup tomato paste, 2 cups chopped tomatoes, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 2 tablespoons olive oil, a few pinches of salt, a handful of chopped oregano (or marjoram), a few dashes of Tabasco, and 1/2 cup vegetable broth. If desired, use 1/2 cup of peanuts or 1 can of chickpeas as a meat substitute.

To make: combine everything in a large sauce pot, stir, and simmer on medium-low for at least an hour (it’s best if you can let it simmer for 2 or 3 hours to help the flavors blend). This is not unlike spaghetti sauce, but the peanut butter gives it more of an exotic flavor – and makes the sauce more substantial. Serve over brown rice. If you want this really chunky and thick, use more peanut butter. You can also include a chopped white or yellow onion and a few fresh minced garlic cloves in the sauce.

3. King Burrito

Men like holding their food.

Ingredients: 2 very large soft flour tortillas, 1 can vegetarian refried beans, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, 1 small diced white onion, 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce, 1 cup leftover brown rice, 1 diced tomato, 1 cup fresh chopped cilantro, 1 small jar verde sauce. Salsa, guacamole and sour cream as garnish.

To make: this sounds like a lot of ingredients, but it all comes together fast. Ready? Heat the refried beans. Spread them on the tortillas. Now sprinkle the cheddar cheese in equal portions. Add all the vegetables, also in equal amounts. Perform classic burrito roll ‘n fold. Place two burritos in an oven-safe dish – choose a small size dish so they’re snug. Lightly coat in olive oil. Cover burritos with the verde sauce, sprinkle with the Monterey Jack cheese. Bake at 400 for about 10 minutes, or until cheese is bubbling and tortillas are beginning to look a little golden. Serve hot with salsa, guac and sour cream on the side. You can use mole sauce or any hot sauce if you don’t like green. Note: please don’t put broccoli or carrots in your burrito. That’s just wrong. Kay ‘n Dave.

4. Magic Pizza

Since we’re being cheap and easy here, you don’t have to make a pizza from scratch. Just buy an organic ready-made cheese pizza.

Ingredients: one cheese pizza, 2 cups extra cheese (any kinds, but go for something stinky if you’re brave), 2  cups grilled mushrooms, fresh basil.

To make: chop and grill 2 cups wild mushrooms for 3 minutes on medium heat (anything interesting and savory, like shiitakes or chanterelles) in olive oil, a few dashes of Worcesteshire, and coarse salt. Add some dried rosemary and sage for extra savoriness. Top pizza with the grilled mushrooms and fresh basil. Sprinkle cheese. Bake as directed and enjoy! You should probably avoid garlic on this one. Note: this is one meal where mock meat won’t be a big deal – add in some sliced spicy faux sausage if you like.

5. “Salad”

There’s no need to “trick” a guy into eating a salad, despite what sexist articles in lame women’s magazines may tell you. Most people enjoy a salad if it’s loaded with good ingredients and has a decent dressing. This salad focuses more on the goodies than the greens, so it’s sure to please everyone.

Ingredients: 1 cup of cubes or crumbles of 2 of your favorite cheeses, 1 cup of candied, salted or raw nuts, 4 cups of your favorite greens, 1/4 cup salted pepitas or other seeds, 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins, 1/2 sliced red onion, 1 can well-drained artichoke hearts (cut hearts in half or quarters to make them bite-sized), 1 chopped green apple or pear, and your favorite dressing. If you want more substance and aren’t feeling lazy, hardboil a few eggs, chill, slice, and add them in to the mix.

To make: you know what to do. There’s really no rule; use whatever you have on hand that you like, from olives to tomatoes to persimmons. Enjoy! P.S. A killer dressing: 1/2 cup minced red onion, 1 tablespoon spicy mustard, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, a splash of red or white, a dash of salt, 1 tablespoon of honey, and 1/4 cup of oil. Orgasmic.

6. Overnight Omelet

Overnight as in, he won’t be hungry for breakfast if he has this for dinner.

Ingredients: 6 eggs, olive oil, 1/2 cup filtered water, 1/4 cup chopped bell peppers, 1 seeded and finely minced jalapeno, 1 cup chopped mushrooms, 1 minced white onion, 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, 1 diced tomato.

To make: it’s a myth that cream makes lighter eggs. Water is far better for the fluff. Prep the eggs for the pan. Chop up all your veggies. The trick to a good omelet is a properly heated pan and plenty of grease – but this will be provided by heart-healthy olive oil. If you’re lazy, add all the veggies – but not the cheese – into the egg and water mixture and fry up your omelet messy style if you’re not good at flipping a loaded omelet. This way you’ll only have to deal with adding the cheese; fold as usual once it starts to melt. Serve sizzling and don’t forget to give it some Tabasco or salsa love. Note: this isn’t the actual omelet, but I’ve included it so you can see that mixing the veggies right in with the eggs is fine.

Loaded Omelet

7. Chow Down Chowder

This is perfect on a cold night when you’re watching the game. Serve with a strong, local microbrew.

Ingredients: 1 cup cream cheese, 3 cups vegetable broth, 1 cup cream (yes, this is a fattening soup), 1 tablespoon olive oil, “Seafood blend” fresh herb pack or, if not available, chopped fresh thyme, tarragon, basil, marjoram. 2 cloves fresh minced garlic, salt and pepper to taste (lots of fresh black pepper is best!). You will also need 12-16 baby red or fingerling potatoes (I prefer to cook these ahead of time; if you cook them in the stew make sure you boil them for a while first and rinse the starch off before adding everything else, or you’ll have a very foamy soup…yuck). What else? 1 whole diced white onion, 1 whole diced large carrot, 1 cup frozen sweet corn, and 1 whole thoroughly washed and sliced leek.

To make: wash and quarter potatoes and boil them in water, NOT your soup ingredients (cream and stock). Drain and rinse the potatoes – they should still be a little hard, because you don’t want a mushy final product. In a small pan, saute the herbs, garlic and onion in olive oil. In your soup pot, melt the cream cheese into the cream and stock slowly – low heat. (This soup does take patience but it really isn’t hard to make.) You can be boiling the potatoes in another pot at the same time. Once all your separate mixtures are ready to go, and the potatoes are rinsed, combine everything, add the leeks (they soften fast) and simmer over medium-low heat for 30 minutes. Serve with crackers or hot sourdough rolls. I like a dash of Tabasco and a squeeze of lime, but I’m a rule breaker.

Make these recipes and he’ll be licking more than his fingers!

Note: use organic ingredients whenever possible – it’s better for you and the earth! All recipes serve 2 (and then some – this isn’t Stick to Your 2009 Resolution fare).

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

One look out the window during meal time, and you’re reminded that Punxsutawney Phil won’t see his shadow for some time to come. So, put those seasonally unsuitable plates and bowls away and embrace the subtle beauty of peaceful pastels. The Serene Sol dinnerware will help you see the more soothing side of winter while adorning your tabletop in versatile sophistication. Plus, these chic pieces are made entirely from recycled glass. Looking for a bargain? Spring for the whole set and save $28. (Available at VivaTerra for $49- $198.)