07/24/2026
**New Blog Post Alert**
A big shout out to the folks behind the scenes at OOTF.
The Mighty Pollinators
Recently Colleen commented about how concerned she was that we weren’t seeing a lot of pollinators in the garden at Out of the Fire. She is a keen observer of nature since she spends a lot of time in observation with her husband, Jim Brighton who founded the Maryland Biodiversity Project along with Bill Hubick. I became concerned as well until the bumble bees were spotted buzzing around in the purple flowers of the cardoons. It is as if she conjured them up to pay us a visit. Below is a picture of a bee who is busy exploring the cardoons. In the picture you can see the tiny specs of the pollen attached to its legs and body which are the tools to spread the wealth. Since I had just written a piece about the cardoons in the garden I became curious about their role attracting certain pollinators. It turns out that they are pollinated by honey bees, bumble bees and other solitary bees. The purple flowers shape and abundant nectar make them a popular stop for bees foraging throughout the summer. I was pleased to discover that cardoons provide an excellent source of food over an extended period of time (from June to September). I also learned that bumble bees are one of the most prolific gatherers and distributors of pollen. They have a large surface area and the intense vibration of their flight shed the pollen ubiquitously.
Like bees I like to think of us as pollinators. I recently sold a piece of Katherine Allen’s artwork and sent her a note that read: “I love being the pollinator of your artwork!”
That made me rethink the restaurants role in the community. We provide an intimate gathering place, offer our walls to artists and offer a space to savor and enjoy creative and honest food. Food that is inspired by the love of the alchemy of ingredients, passion and curiosity. You can taste the inspiration, appreciation and respect for the ingredients in every thoughtful creation. The experience acts as a pollinator. As I write these words, I check myself. Does this sounds arrogant or egotistical? No, because I am merely complementing the artistry of the process and ex*****on. I am not creating the menu. Chris (The Chef), Jed (The Sous Chef), along with Mitchell, Jonathan, Peyton and Devin are the artists that pollinate the kitchen. They are leading with their hearts and passion for food with the intent to pollinate your palate with every bite!
