Natasha Bourlin
Award-winning freelance writer Natasha Bourlin is a native Nevadan with a fervor for food, globetrotting, and the environment. Find her stories at Passportandplume.com.
Stories by Natasha Bourlin
The Bitter Truth
When researching bitters, youโll discover that these palate-punching liquid spices have been critical libation components from the inception of the…
Cup oโ the Irish
Grinning and warmth come naturally when clutching an Irish coffee. Hands wrapped around a glass vessel filled with steaming coffee,…
Coffee Talk
Decoding your morning brew.
Staple Soups of Asia
Across Eastern and Southeastern Asia, soups composed of layers of distinctive-yet-subtle fresh flavors are culinary staples reflective of the diverse…Right on Target
From the thicketed banks of the Truckee River to the meandering alpine creeks atop Mount Rose, plump, ground-dwelling quail skitter…
Raw Food’s Sweet Side
Years of rebellion led Angรฉlia Aquarian down an Ayurvedic path. The Hawaii-born yoga practitioner sought to reverse the damage done…Fighting Food Insecurity
One in seven Nevadans faces hunger daily. One in five children in Nevada doesnโt know when their next meal will…
Taught by Nature
On April 3 of this year, Alyce Taylor Elementary School students, teachers, volunteers, and school administrators gathered to plant a…
Restoring the Walker River Basin
Long before state lines existed, the Walker River Basin watershed provided sustenance for the Walker River Paiute Tribe. Today, the…
Leveling the Playing Field
We all come to the kitchen via our own path. I personally never dreamed of any greatness as a cook…
Fish Preserves
Northern Nevada is a haven for freshwater fishing. Myriad lakes and rivers teem with trout ready to be caught then…Fruit Forward
Discover the Monument to Sharing at Nevada Museum of Art. Within Renoโs urban center, a botanical wonderland has emerged. A…
From Refuse to Muse
Kyle Karraschโs art opens eyes to environmental issues. For native Nevadan and artist Kyle Karrasch, creative inspiration emerged from his…
Meals that Reshape Lives
Reno is not widely known by its residents as a resettlement community for refugees, but with the help of the…
Aprรจs Snow Play
When the caramel hues of autumn transform into sugar-dusted wintry hills, thoughts turn to carving through fresh powder on bluebird…Chefs to the Scholars
Gone are the days of relying on vending machines and ramen for sustenance at the University of Nevada, Reno. Like…
Sub-stantial Sandwiches
Everythingโs bigger in Tahoe โ the mountains, the snowpack, the lake โฆ and the sub sandwiches.Dirty Secrets
In 1892, the Witt family started dairy farming in Minden. A fifth-generation Nevadan, Cody Witt, co-owner and manager of Full…Soil Warriors
Those wriggling invertebrates in your garden bed may look unappealing, but they actually are working hard to help your plants…
Sumptuous Strawberries
If summertime had a flavor, it may be the sweet juiciness of strawberry. Its color? Shades of red polka-dotted with…
Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs)
Connective roots grow deeply when you purchase your food from local farmers.
Freshly Minted
Cooling, refreshing mint abounds in gardens each summer. A prolific perennial, the species menthais cited in one of the worldโs…Reno-Tahoe Area Farmers’ Markets 2024
Vote for a local Reno-Tahoe farmersโ market to be recognized in Americaโs Farmers Market Celebrationโข (AFMC).From Boom to Bust
Hemp. Americaโs founding fathers grew it. Ancient societies cultivated it for fiber, fuel, and food over millennia. Unlike marijuana, hempโs…Cultivating Farmers
Imagine a social media site, such as Facebook, just for Nevada farmers: a free, user-friendly, interactive social media platform through…
Evolution of the Alturas
How do you keep a bar in business for more than a century? Ask the folks at Alturas Bar at…Wild Holidays
Itโs almost a Pavlovian response. A turkey tops the holiday table, and, naturally, eyes widen, hungry bellies rumble, and saliva…
What is the Future of Local Farming?
Farmers and ranchers face abundant challenges within their industry.
Reno Retro-spective
Food lovers may have noticed a resurgence of retro-style finger foods and cocktails recently. Certain snacks and libations regale days…Reno-Tahoe Area Farm Guide
Shop local Reno-Tahoe farmers markets, CSAs, and farm stands.Immerse Yourself
Have you always wanted to have your own cooking show? Perhaps create a pop-up restaurant and make your familyโs treasured…Tools of the Tolleses
On the first of this year, former Nevada assemblywoman and University of Nevada, Reno professor Jill Tolles stepped into her…Reno-Tahoe Area Farmers’ Markets
Reno-Tahoe farmers’ markets.Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs)
Connective roots grow deeply when you purchase your food from local farmers.Small but Mighty
Vegetables are vital to our diets โ no news there. But did you know that some vegetables, while still in…Wondrous Winter Cocktails
When the seasons change, so do the flavor profiles at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spaโs captivating bars and lounges. Atlantis…Mull It Over
Mulling over what hot beverages to serve while the temperatures are bone-chilling? Perhaps you want something non-alcoholic but fitting for…
Deep Dives
Dive bars. Their windows are optional, yet smoking is permitted, meaning it may take days to get their lingering scents…
Taste the Big Apple
Want to nosh on some flavorful foods typically found in New York City? Craving a mile-high Reuben sandwich layered with…
Celebrating Chestnuts
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire? How passรฉ. Itโs an endearing holiday song, indeed, yet seasonally incorrect when speaking of the…Conservation Advocates
Sportsmen. Huntsmen. Theyโre terms that have been used for centuries, but they need some updating. After all, when it comes…
Good Sports
If you want to watch your favorite team play, hang out with friends, or simply indulge in a fine whiskey…
Keeping the Faith
Over a century ago, in a town called Lubavitch in Imperial Russia, the Chabad House was born to bring people…Setting a Suite Precedent
On the 26th and 27th floors of the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno, guests feel as if theyโre at…Female Farmers Get a Boost
A 2017 United States Department of Agriculture Census of Agriculture report states that of the 3.4 million agricultural producers in…Tough Cookie
Competition was fierce. Five bakers from around the country were pitted against each other on a Food Network stage in…Fresh Food and Friends
As weโve all seen, the pandemic revealed many unmet needs in our community. The Food Bank of Northern Nevada developed…
Pastry Perfection
For the past 10 years, executive pastry chef Kayline Johnson has worked tirelessly with her team to sweeten up the…Spicing Up Your Life
Plain chicken be gone. Simple salt and pepper are too boring. Our food deserves better. Cooking can feel mundane when itโs…Seedling Satisfaction
One major lesson weโve learned from the pandemic is food systems are fragile. A single misstep in the climate, growing…Classically Posh Dining
As winter turns to spring, the shift not only can be seen outside your window โ you can taste it,…Greening Up the Silver State
What do Carson Cityโs Western Nevada College; the University of California, Berkeley; and Arizona State University have in common? They…Forever a 4-Her
As a child, Karen Hinton was immersed in farming and ranching in the Texas panhandle on her familyโs expansive acreage…Sips Worth the Trip
When it comes to the cocktails he concocts for his guests, Steven Sedillos, the Atlantis Casino Resort Spaโs property mixologist,…Crab Apple Concoctions
While winter always brings a plethora of apple-filled treats, from pies to ciders, another smaller variety of the beloved fruit…
Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree
Amid the verdant Sierra Valley, a solitary acre produces joy for hundreds of people each October. Going into its sixth…
Particular About Pasta
Each day, a bustling, pasta-producing shop deep within the Eldorado Resort Casino โ with executive chef and Northern Italy native…
