The paleolithic expansion continues to the Napa Valley. Over the next few days the paleo-tribe will be dining, and maybe wining, through some of the nicest restaurants and vineyards in the country.

Which brings us to a good point. The strict paleo-diet is alcohol free. How shall we cope? My position is that it depends on how you view alcohol; as a food, which would be the European perspective, or as nutritionally useless. which might be the view of modern fitness trainers, coaches and hardcore fitness buffs.

I resolved it as so: I am on vacation so I will assume the former.

Over the next few days we will be checking out the French Laundry, Dry Creek, Auberge du Soleil, Ubuntu and many other Napa eateries.

As an hommage to the Napa valley and its contribution to modern gastronomy, we will leave you with a Nape salad recipe, modded out for the Modern Savage.

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We survived the on-slaught of pancakes, french toast, croissants and english muffins by chowing down on paleo-friendly brunchware:

• scrambled eggs
• gravlax (formerly mentioned cured salmon
• Peameal bacon
• strawberries, pineapple and grapes

Brunch was as satisfying and filling for the paleoliths as it was for the neoliths. The problem? What to do with leftovers.

We had 5lbs of leftover gravlax, and a pound of leftover cooked peameal bacon. Having overloaded on proteins for brunch, we felt compelled to feed our bodies something green with the leftovers.

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Mothers Day family brunch, relatives, neoliths and their French Toast… Sound familiar? Any family gathering is destined to challenge the modern savage. Fortunately, my paleo-inspired relatives have come up with paleo-friendly additions to our Mothers Day brunch. Gravlax, Barresi sausages and scrambled eggs.

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Yes, a tasty salad from a few carrots is possible. This carrot salad was inspired by a trip to an Indian buffet, truly the nemesis of the paleo-follower. The average Indian buffet has endless mounds of the classic Punjabi classics. Lots of legumes, yoghurt based curries, vegetable and meat masalas. We will deal with navigating this cornucopia of dishes in another post. In the meantime, enjoy this carrot salad as a tasty side dish or salad.

Sliced Carrots in Simple Masala Dressing

4 carrot sticks, peeled
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 tbsp turmeric
1/4 tbsp cumin
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Slice carrots on a diagonal, about 1/4 inch thick, then place in a glass or ceramic bowl.

2. In a small sauce pan, warm the olive oil. Add the tumeric and cumin to the sauce pan. Heat until fragrant, then let the oil cool.

3. Whisk in the vinegar into the oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.

4. Pour dressing over the carrots and stir to coat. Refrigerate for an hour, up to a day.

5. Serve as a side salad, or eat as a snack.

Serves 2 as a salad or snack. One serving ~ 180 cals

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Sadly, we left paradise in the Mayan Riviera to return to the hysteria of swine flu in Chicago and Toronto. We survived the culture shock and the flu. Courtesy of my paleo-brother, I was greeted with a lean, mean spicy tuna salad upon our return.

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If you plan to visit Playa del Carmen, here are some great places to get your paleolithic fill.

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As I alluded to in my last post, following the paleolithic diet in Mexico, can be quite challenging, The outbreak of a possible swine flu pandemic makes it even more challenging.

The native cuisine here has descended from the “three sisters”, the traditional ingredients of native Indians: corn, beans and squash. The greater emphasis here in Mexico are corn, by way of tortillas, and legumes via refried beans, The Mayan Riviera is ground zero for habanero peppers and the industries built around the it. It is also, according to my local cafe here in Playa, Ah Cocoa, the birthplace of chocolate.

Other than a mighty helping of habaneros, it is tough slogging for the traveling caveman. However, I found my Mayan salvation in a local dish served up at the Kool beach club. Ceviche!

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As I write this, I happen to find myself flying the not so paleo-friendly skies to Mexico. Mexico, land of the corn tortillas, and the “three sisters”, the 3 crops that have sustained the native and modern population for 4 millennia: Rice, beans and corn. Not paleo-friendly! More on this as the trip progresses.

Not to single out any airline, as I am sure they are all equally challenging, but Flight AC 1254 to Cancun is bereft of any purchasable sustenance other than sandwiches. It is a 3 hour and 45 minute flight. What’s a modern savage to do?

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