It’s all about the crunch | Big Size Pumpkin Seeds

After our grub and ways down a busy freeway aiming for Arizona with the city silhouette in the rearview, I remember thinking to myself in a proud state of mind, one day every city in the Americas will have an establishment like Tocabe serving the people.

The record-breaking, cream-colored monstrosity checked in at a plump 2,528 pounds Thursday night, with the pumpkin resting on a pallet and the numbers registering on a digital readout. Geddes’s creation is the second heaviest pumpkin ever grown in the world, a mere 96 pounds less than the giant produced in Belgium in 2012.

“I knew going in (the fair) I would have something special,” Geddes said. “Pumpkin growers can measure them in inches and use a chart that gives you the weight within 5 percent. By late July I knew it would be a state record and possibly a U.S. record, and there would be a smaller chance it would be a world record.”

You can turn to these seeds for a good dose of magnesium, a nutrient most of us could more of. As a result, pumpkin seeds have been referred to as a diabetes superfood. And since they contain antioxidants, zinc, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids, pumpkin seeds could bring a combination of health benefits for the heart and the liver.

Geddes is understandably proud of his accomplishment, and gratified that it has been recognized by the community.

Clean lines, concrete floors and a contemporary feel unite both floors of this Asian-inspired eatery in Kendall Yards. The menu is mostly Japanese with plenty of sushi options. But culinary influences include Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese as well as classic French and Italian. Along with rainbow, caterpillar, California and Spokane rolls, find tempura, noodle dishes, grilled and skewered meats and vegetables, chow mein, tempura and more. Dark-stained board-and-batten walls in the main dining room pay homage to the traditional Japanese method of wood preservation. Shou sugi ban preserves and finishes wood through the use of fire. Downstairs at Umi Den, a lounge with an emphasis on craft cocktails with Asian-inspired flavor profiles, the mood is modern and a little more masculine. Dark leather and other accents are balanced by natural light from oversized windows offering sweeping views of the Spokane River, Centennial Trail and downtown skyline. 1309 W. Summit Parkway. (509) 368-9372. umispokane.com.

"They’re acting like it’s a hotel, not a hospital," Gossip Cop reports a source saying. The outlet did, however, reach out to the Kardashians, who reportedly slammed the claim as "nonsense." Oh, the drama never ends with this lot. While this may not be the same as the other entries, we’re counting the birthing room as a dressing room!

Nuts. Walnuts, pecans, and almonds are natural, nutritious, high-energy foods for woodpeckers, jays, chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches. Many seed packagers now offer mixes that include nuts, but they’re expensive. Peanuts are less expensive and provide an excellent source of protein and fat for nut lovers.

As the year winds down, let’s not reflect on the pounds we gained during the past 12 months. Instead, let’s recognize the restaurants that opened in 2018.

Flax seeds or linseeds belong to the family of linaceae, and the textile made from flax is popularly known as linen. They are a store house of omega 3 fatty acids. Crushing the flax seeds a bit will make it easy to digest. It can increase the level of good cholesterol called HDL and reduce bad cholesterol called LDL. Cancer, blood pressure, and heart ailments can be effectively prevented by including flax seeds in the daily diet.

Alcove, 50 Lovejoy Wharf, Boston (617-248-0050) alcoveboston.com; Hours: Lunch, Mon.-Sat., 11:30 am-2:30 pm; Dinner, Mon.-Thu., 5-11 pm (bar till midnight), Fri.-Sat., 5 pm-midnight (bar till 1 am), Sun., 4:30-10:30 pm (bar till midnight); Liquor: Full; Reservations: Yes; Parking: Nearby lots and garages (one validated)

The outdoor seating area at Confluence in Carefree on Dec. 3, 2018. (Photo: Patrick Breen/The Republic)