Electron micrographs of native high amylose starch, ×3000 Shoepeg Corn
The Journal of Nutrition General Mills
Most of the corn grown in the United States is dent corn, 85% of which is genetically modified. There are old heirloom varieties and varieties still grown in remote valleys of countries like Mexico and Bolivia that may hold the key in their genes that will revive the world corn crop in the event of a calamity, such as disease or pest that the current corn varieties have no defense against. These varieties are usually very hardy and can be, through saving the seeds of the best specimens, be acclimated to most growing areas. I myself have always wanted to grow an heirloom corn variety that I can grind myself for cornbread such as a flint corn. After some research I have found one heirloom variety of corn that do all of the above so this year I will try, Roy’s Calais Flint Corn.
According to the website of Slow Food USA’s Ark of Taste:
Roy’s Calais flint corn is an open-pollinated flint corn originally cultivated by the western Abenaki (Sokoki) people in Vermont, and subsequently grown and maintained by pioneer farmers, including Roy and Ruth Fair of North Calais, VT. In 1996 Tom Stearns obtained the seed from local farmers like Mike and Doug Guy, who had received the corn and seed-saving information from Roy Fair.
Roy’s Calais Flint Corn
Slow Food USA, Ark of Taste
Roy’s Calais Flint Corn is also a variety that has come to the rescue once during a past calamity. According to legend, it was one of the few varieties of corn planted in Vermont in 1816 that produced a reliable crop during what was known as the “Year without a Summer”. There were food shortages that year due to the eruption of Mount Tambora in what is today Indonesia. This eruption sent a huge cloud of ash into the atmosphere and crops worldwide were lost that year. Having come from a colder region where most corn varieties do not do well, Roy’s Calais Flint Corn has the genetics for a shorter and colder growing season. Since I am busy in the spring I am not able to get all of my crops planted in time for the length of their growing season. With its shorter growing season (90-95 days) Roy’s Calais Flint Corn is a variety that I can put off planting until later. It is also said that it makes excellent cornbread and polenta. I will try this variety this year and if it turns out to be one that I like I will save the seeds for the future.
Polenta with Wilted Escarole and Olive Oil Fried Eggs
Food52.com
Brigitte Derel of the High Mowing Organic Seed Company wrote a terrific narrative about Roy’s Calais Flint Corn http://www.highmowingseeds.com/blog/a-narrative-on-roys-calais-flint-corn-by-brigitte-derel/ This is where I first became interested in this variety and where I first became informed about its interesting history.
Roy’s Calais Flint Corn is available from:
High Mowing Organic Seeds http://www.highmowingseeds.com/organic-seeds-roys-calais-flint-corn.html
Fedco Seeds http://www.fedcoseeds.com/seeds/search.php?item=682&
Last Saturday at the Green City Market, it was warm enough for little Helena to sit outside and eat her grilled cheese. Inside on the tables, the hoop house greens all went early, there still are lots of root cellar vegetables available, potatoes, beets, sunchokes, radishes. Chief Beet Rob Gardner gives his run down of what is currently in season here. Our friend Dave Nells of Sharpening By Dave is at the Green City Market and other locations throughout Chicagoland. His schedule is here. If you want to eat local, you need to have sharp knives to prepare all the produce!! Let Dave know that you read about him in the Local Beet and you will get one dollar off your next knife sharpening!!! He will be at Provenance Logan Square this Thursday from 4-6pm, Provenance Lincoln Square Friday 4-6pm, the Green City Market Saturday and The Dill Pickle Coop on Sunday from 3-4pm.
Farm dinners are starting earlier this year. We have listed dinners we are aware of so far, with some of the leading sustainable farmers in the area, Mint Creek Farm, Prairie Fruit Farms and Slagel Family Farms. The dinners book up pretty quickly so time to get a-scheduling! There are other “road trip” (RT) opportunities ahead, morel season is soon, ramps will start appearing at the markets, spring is here!!!
Farm Dinners 2013
Mint Creek Farm - Stelle, IL 4/21, 5/11 All meet-up at The Greenouse Bed & Breakfast just down the road from Mint Creek. Dinners are BYOB and include a farm tour. Mint Creek is known for their sheep but ask Farmer & Poet Harry Carr to recite one of his poems or bring a poem of your own to share!!
Outstanding In The Field - National farm dinner tour, has set the bar for farm dinners with their connected tables of white table cloths and stemware. Here are their Midwest dates, go to the links for reservations. 8/4 (Shooting Star Farms, Chef Tory Miller, Mineral Point, WI), 8/5(Pinehold Gardens, Chef Dan Van Rite, Oakcreek, WI), 8/7(City Farm Chicago, Chef Jared Wentworth), 8/8(Mick Klug,Chef Brian Huston, St. Josephs, MI), 8/10(Seedling Farm, Chef Stephanie Izard, South Haven, MI)
Prairie Fruit Farms -Champaign, IL 5/18, 5/25, 6/1, 6/15, 6/29, 7/13, 7/27, 8/10, 8/24, 9/7, 9/21, 10/26 The Prairie Fruit site describes the chef, theme and menu. Here is brief description of what to expect. Reservations can be made on the Showclix site, only 40 seats available per dinner and only 4 tickets can be purchased per person, the price incudes tax, tip not included BYOB. Prairie Fruit is known for their goats and cheeses but they ,also, make some killer gelato!
Slagel Family Farms - 5/18, 6/8, 7/20, 8/10, 9/14 The Slagel Family has teamed up with some well known Chicago chefs who have supported farm to table food for a long time. For each of these dinners, transportation is included in the price from Chicago to the farm, and its BYOB. Slagel pork among their other meats has been a sought after menu item at some of the top restaurants in Chicago and Farmer Louis John Slagel has been a leader in sustainable farming.
We try to keep up on events but miss some, some sites to check out for further detail on sustainable food/urban ag are the Illinois Stewardship Alliance out of Springfield and the Advocates for Urban Agriculture here in Chicago as well as WeFarmAmerica which has tons of weekly events. The Peterson Garden Project has lots of information and workshops for the urban gardner, Matt Kirouac described their Victory Garden they showcased at The Chicago Flower and Garden Show. Now on to the very busy week ahead.
WHERE TO FIND LOCAL FOODS
These stores specialize in local foods:
Artisanal Wilmette – 414 Linden Ave. Wilmette
Butcher and Larder 1026 North Milwaukee in Noble Square, Chicago
Dill Pickle Food Co-op – 3039 West Fullerton, Chicago
Edible Alchemy Foods Co-op - Located in the near-SW Pilsen neighborhood, the co-op has grown to five locations in, including Hyde Park, River North, Lakeview, and Logan Square
Green Grocer 1402 West Grand Ave in West Town Check out their produce share January 9th through May 4th. You can still subscribe even though the share has started already.
Marion Street Cheese Market 100 South Marion St. Oak Park
Provenance Food & Wine - 2 locations Logan Square 2528 N. California Lincoln Square 2312 W. Leland Ave.
Publican Quality Meats – 835 W. Fulton, Chicago
Sauce and Bread Kitchen - 6338-40 N. Clark, Chicago
Standard Market – 333 East Ogden Ave., Westmont Be sure to say hi to Rockstar Butcher Joe Parajecki!!!
This Week’s Calendar And Beyond In Local Food:
April 3
Andersonville - C & D Family Farms delivers 4-7pm Ashland at Berywn
Chicago - Soup and Bread at The Hideout - 1354 W. Wabansia 5:30pm -8pm We are counting down the remaining weeks of Soup & Bread, as spring is finally upon us. This week’s theme is “Chicago vs. Chicago” — and it is going to be GOOD. Bring on the Cubs vs. Sox soup, the Pilsen vs. Albany Park stew, and the Midway vs.O’Hare bisque. Our soup cooks include Chicago Reader food writer Mike Sula, baker Allison Stout, Ravenswood Events Andy Kalish, and a crew from the Gapers Block “Drive Thru” site, along with Perry Kim and Nikki Way. Our DJ is Carrie Weston, and pay what you can donations benefit Ravenswood Community Services. Bread donated, as ever, by Publican Quality Meats.
Chicago – “Lecture “A Future With Fruit Trees” Dave Snyder CROP(Chicago Rarities Orchard Project) sponsored by the ILASLA (Illinois Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects) Bartlett Seminars 5:30pm – 8pm Uncommon Ground 1401 West Devon
Chicago – Book signing by Kirstin Jackson “It’s Not You, It’s Brie“ Provenance Wine and Spirits – Lincoln Square
Chicago - “The Weight of the Nation” Market Movies The Experimental Station - 6:30pm 6100 South Blackstone Complimentary popcorn will generously be provided by Mother Butter’s Popcorn and Confectionary
Chicago – Wine Wednesdays at Province – Seasonal farm to table 5 course tasting menu with pairings $49 159 North Jefferson A Gold level LEED certified restaurant with 3 stars from the Green Restaurant Association.
April 4
Chicago – Uptown Market Uptown Farmers’ Market is year round. Every Thursday from 7-1 inside Weiss Memorial Hospital or in the parking lot during the warmer months. 4646 N Marine Drive This is an appropriate day to stock up on Spark of the Heart Soups
Chicago - Fete Night Market 5:30pm – 10:00pm Room 1520, 1520 W. Fulton St. (at Justine St.) Ring in the weekend with a lively nighttime market featuring two floors of food and design. Come hungry: Grab dinner at pop-up restaurants. (the vendor list). A portion of the night market’s proceeds benefits Fresh Moves. Tickets here…
Evanston – ”Preserving the Family Table: The Founding of Evanston’s Community Kitchen“ Evanston History Center lecture & discussion. Learn about the woman-run cooperative housekeeping venture, the Evanston Community Kitchen, founded as a canning kitchen during World War I. $10 for non-members, reservations recommended.
Hyde Park - C & D Family Farm delivers 7-11am Harold Washington Park
Lincoln Square – C & D Family Farm delivers 4-7pm Lincoln & Leland
April 5
Chicago - Fete Chicago - Adopting Cuisine: A Conversation with Matthias Merges (Yusho) and John Manion (La Sirena Clandestina) Led by Chandra Ram of Plate Magazine 4:30pm – 6pm La Sirena Clandestina, 954 W. Fulton Market (at Morgan St.) Admission: $20 (Ticket includes a variety of Brazilian, Argentine, and Japanese snacks from Yusho and La Sirena.)
Chicago - Fete Chicago - Process and Raw Materials: Gillion Carrara, Kristin Mariani and INDO’s Linsey Burritt and Crystal Grover Friday 5:30 – 7 p.m. INDO, 1008 W. Randolph St. (at Morgan St.) Come join a discussion led byPitchfork/Nothing Major Creative Director and Show ‘N Tell Show host Michael Renaud about the artists’ processes of transforming organic materials into works of art. Admission: $12 (Ticket includes beer and bites.)
Chicago - Fete Chicago - 2nd Story Presents: Tales from the Table, featuring Ina Pinkney, Mike Gebert, Molly Each, and Jessica Young 5:30pm – 7:30pm na’s, 1235 W. Randolph St. (at Racine Ave.)
Admission: $20 (Ticket includes appetizers prepared by The Breakfsat Queen herself; cash bar.)
April 6
Chicago – Green City Market at The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum 8:30- 1pm 2430 North Cannon Drive The market runs indoors through April 27th Bring your children to Club Sprouts at 9:30 – 10:15am. Chef Janet Kirker of Foodease in Nature’s Lunchbox.
Chicago – 61st Market sponsored by Experimental Station – 6100 North Blackstone 9am – 2pm Connie Spreen of the market sends out a great weekly letter with some inspirational thoughts and excellent info as to what will be available. Go here to sign up for it.
Chicago - Fete Chicago continues - Discovering the Plant: An Inside Look with Founder John Edel 10:30 a.m. – noon The Plant, 1400 W. 46th St. (at Bishop St.) Admission: $12 (Ticket includes samples and snacks from The Plant’s tenants.) BUY TICKETS HERE , Bridgeport Rising: A Conversation with Arthur Jackson (Pleasant House Bakery) and Ed Marszewski (Maria’s, Co-Prosperity Sphere, Proximity Magazine, Mash Tun Journal, Lumpen) Led by Chuck Sudo of Chicagoist, 2 – 4 p.m. Co-Prosperity Sphere, 3219-21 S. Morgan St. (at 32nd St.)Admission: $10 (Ticket includes pastries from Pleasant House Bakery and Maria’s ginger beer.) BUY TICKETS HERE, Studio Tour: A Rare Glimpse into the World of Crucial Detail aturday 3:30 – 5 p.m. Crucial Detail, 2000 W. Carroll Ave. (at Damen Ave.) Admission: $10 BUY TICKETS HERE SOLD OUT.
Chicago - Think Global, Drink Local: A Cocktail Party at Kendall College for the Kendall Charitable Trust 5pm – 7pm Take a tour of Chicago through unique and delicious cocktails! Created by some of Chicago’s best mixologists from local hotels and restaurants, each signature drink will feature a local, sustainable ingredient. $35
Elgin - Winter Market at Habitat for Humanity ReStore Elgin - 800 North State St. 9am – 3pm (thru May) Their mantra is “Keepin It Local1″ As such, their intention has always been to supply the local community with local products and crafts.
Chicago – Chicago Fair Trade – Global Activist Expo – 12pm – 6pm 725 West Roosevelt Rd.
Evanston – Winter Evanston Farmer and Artisan Market at the Ecology Center 9-1pm 2024 McCormick Blvd. The market will be at this location for the next 5 months, today and every Saturday through April 27, 2013. Spark of the Heart Soups and C & D Family Farms will be there
Evanston – TreeKeepers Work Day
La Fox – Heritage Prairie Saturday Farmer’s Market 9am – 1pm 2N308 Brundige Road
Woodstock – Woodstock Winter Market – 9am – 12pm McHenry County Farm Bureau Building 1102 McConnell Road
April 7
World Heatlh Day marks the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948. Each year a theme is selected that highlights a priority area of public health concern in the world. The theme for 2013 is high blood pressure
Chicago - Chicago Food Swap - Local Goods Chicago - 5354 West Devon To register go here. Curious as to what the Food Swap is about? Read Emily Paster’s account here on The Local Beet of the February swap at Katherine Anne Confections.
Chicago - Fete Chicago continues with more events here…
Portage Park – Portage Park Indoor Winter Farmers Market – 10am – 2pm Portage Theater 4050 N. Milwaukee
April 9
Chicago - Re-Thinking Soup Jane Addams Hull House UIC 12pm – 1pm Chef Keizo Shimamoto will be joining us via video conference. Ramen will be served Tsukemen style Screening the documentary “Ramen Dreams” starring Chef Keizo Shimamoto
SAVE THE DATE
April 10
Chicago - Pig Butchering Demo Butcher and Larder 5pm 1026 North Milwaukee
April 14
Chicago - Bread Class at Floriole - 3pm 1220 West Webster Complimentary glass of wine and pizza dinner, $75
April 17
Chicago - ”We Can Change The Food System” Hosted by Food Tank 5:30pm – 7:30pm Piazza Bella restaurant 2116 W Roscoe St.(About a 10 minute walk from the Brown Line Paulina Station) A very special evening bringing together the Chicago food movement hosted by Food Tank: The Food Think Tank
April 20
Chicago - BACONFEST - UIC Forum It is Sold Out but there are creative ways to win tickets here...
Chicago - Pinot Days Navy Pier 2-5pm
Chicago - Red Meat Market Spring Lamb Butcher Class - With Ben Harrison Master Butcher Whole Foods Lincoln Park and a cooking class with Ryan Hutmacher of Centered Chef Studios. 10am – 1pm 177 North Ada Learn, eat and take some some good meat! $150
Chicago - SEE FOOD: // graze issue three release party 8pm Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art 756 N. Milwaukee Hop on board with Graze as we celebrate the release of issue 3 Your ten dollar ticket gets you: // one free copy of issue three // the music and tapping of Sidewalk Chalk (!)
April 21
Chicago - Calling all kids!!! Earth Day at Sandwich Me In - 11am – 7pm 3037 North Clark(near Halsted) All day event with snacks and guests, sustainable farmers, learn how to make bread, music, arts and crafts.
Stelle - Mint Creek Farm Sunday Brunch & Farm Tour 11am Meet-up at The Greenhouse Bed & Breakfast 3606 N 1700 E Rd. $50 For more information contact Julie at Jlarsen@mintcreekfarm.com There will be plenty of time to visit all the animals living on the 200+ acre farm including cows, chickens, pigs, sheep and goats. Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather. See the 3 minute short film on Farmer Harry Carr by Storybuzzmedia here.
April 22
EARTH DAY! Food Day is only 5 months away! Like the Food Day Chicago 2013 Facebook page here. Every day can be Good Food Day!!
Chicago – Monthly Dinner at Floriole Bakery and Cafe - 7pm 1220 West Webster 3 Course Farm to Table menu this month includes rabbit. $49
April 23
Chicago - Great Lakes Sustainable and Invasive Species Dinner Dirk’s Fish & Gourmet Shop 2070 N. Clybourn 7:30pm – 9pm $65 Celebrate the Great Lakes distinctive seafood bounty including the controversial Asian Carp. Sponsored by Lake Michigan League of Women Voters For further information and reservations email LWVFood@gmail.com
April 25
Evanston - ”Can Meat be Truly Sustainable?“ NU Sustainable Food Talks 6:00PM – 8:00PM Technological Institute, Room LR4 Northwestern University
April 26
Chicago - Whiskyfest It sold out pretty darn quickly last year!! Better get your tickets now!
April 27
Chicago - Third Annual Pastoral Artisan Producer Festival Chicago French Market Go to the link for tickets, although it is free, there still is a maximum capacity and I think this year they will reach it!!! Meet+eat+shop w/ 90+ culinary producers. GO here for the full press release. It is bigger, butchering demonstrations with Rob Levitt of the Butcher and Larder and Brady Lowe of Cochon 555, artisanal beverages and more!!
Evanston – TreeKeepers Earth Day events
April 28
Chicago - Michael Pollan lecture at Elmhurst College “Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation”
Chicago - Cochon 555 Four Seasons Hotel
April 30
Chicago – The Stew Supper Club presents a Foraged Feast with Pete Kelly. 7pm - Sauce and Bread Kitchen 6338 N. Clark Pete is a Midwest charcuterie pioneer and foraging expert who works with the Underground Food Collective and Promega. $45
May 4
Chicago - Bull Breakdown Class & Tasting 10am – 1pm Red Meat Market 10am – 1pm Cut, Cook & Carry Toro, Toro, Toro hosted by Centered Chef Studios.
May 7
Chicago - 11th Annual Growing Home Benefit 6pm Salvage One 1840 West Hubbard Chef Tony Priolo of Piccolo Sogno and Food For Thought Order tickets online here...
May 11
FD!! Stelle- Mother’s Day Eve and Farm Tour - Mint Creek Farm BYOB $60 3pm Meet-up at The Greenhouse Bed & Breakfast 3606 N. 1700 E. Rd. For more information contact Julie at Jlarsen@mintcreekfarm.com
May 16-26
Chicago – 1o day celebration Chicago Craft Beer Week
May 16
Chicago – A Chef’s Playground - Terzo Piano – At the Art Institute A fundraiser for the Academy for Global Citizenship 6-9pm Purchase tickets here $225
May 17
Chicago - Half Acre Brewery Anniversary Party - Hee hee!! Stay tuned!
May 18
Champaign - Celebrate Spring! The start of Farm Dinner season at Prairie Fruit Farms in Champaign. 4pm 4410 North Lincoln Ave. This is our first dinner of the 2013 season. As has become our tradition, expect an explosion of spring flavors such as Caveny Farm Katadin lamb, ramps (wild leeks), spring greens, sweet turnips, asparagus, rhubarb and strawberries. Purchase tickets here. (FYI, they make some killer gelato!!)
Fairbury - Slagel Family Farm First Farm Dinner of the Season! Transportation included from Chicago to the farm and back. $125 BYOB The dinner will be prepared and served by Guest Chef Nicole Pederson of Found Kitchen and Guest Chef John Asbaty of Panozzo’s. Please BYOB, lemonade and water will be provided and of course includes a tour of the farm, butchering class on sustainable meat practices and lots of food!!
Very definitely, the early buyer gets the greens! By the time I got to the Green City Market on Saturday morning, some of the producers, like Randy Roberts of Majestic Nursery, had sold out of his greens already. Nichols Farm which has upgraded their storage facilities to maximize the moisture in their vegetables had plenty of root vegetables on their tables, brussel sprouts, beets, radishes to name a few. Wheat grass is back as well, grown by Chicago Indoor Garden. I had to include the picture of smoked whitefish salad in the case at Dirk’s Fish, as I much as the local calendar tends to focus on farmers markets, you can’t forget the other local options available for foods like fish.
We try to keep up on events but miss some, some sites to check out for further detail on sustainable food/urban ag are the Illinois Stewardship Alliance out of Springfield and the Advocates for Urban Agriculture here in Chicago. Now on to the week ahead including The Chicagoist’s Benton House “Ramova Room” Soup Kitchen event on Thursday, Alex Poltorak of the AUA, has been posting each day more of the music, demos and workshops going on at the Young Aggies Gathering Saturday at Benton House, and 60 days until “ramp season” starts!
WHERE TO FIND LOCAL FOODS
These stores specialize in local foods:
Artisanal Wilmette – 414 Linden Ave. Wilmette
Butcher and Larder 1026 North Milwaukee in Noble Square, Chicago
City Provisions Deli 1818 West Wilson in Ravenswood, Chicago
Dill Pickle Food Co-op – 3039 West Fullerton, Chicago
Edible Alchemy Foods Co-op - Located in the near-SW Pilsen neighborhood, the co-op has grown to five locations in, including Hyde Park, River North, Lakeview, and Logan Square
Green Grocer 1402 West Grand Ave in West Town Check out their produce share January 9th through May 4th. You can still subscribe even though the share has started already.
Marion Street Cheese Market 100 South Marion St. Oak Park
Provenance Food & Wine - 2 locations Logan Square 2528 N. California Lincoln Square 2312 W. Leland Ave. Here is a link to their blog of “the best things our staff ate and drank in 2012“.
Publican Quality Meats – 835 W. Fulton, Chicago
Standard Market – 333 East Ogden Ave., Westmont
January 23
Chicago - Wine Wednesdays at Province Restaurant - Seasonal farm to table tasting menu 161 N. Jefferson
Chicago - Soup and Bread at The Hideout - 1354 W. Wabansia 5:30pm -8pm Theme “The ocean” Bread from PQM and La Farine.Pay-what-you-can donations benefit a range of Chicago-area food pantries and hunger relief agencies; to date we have raised more than $30,000.
January 24
Chicago - C & D Family Farms Hyde Park 7am – 10am Harold Washington Park at 53rd & Hyde Park Blvd.
Chicago – Uptown Market Uptown Farmers’ Market is year round. Every Thursday from 7-1 inside Weiss Memorial Hospital or in the parking lot during the warmer months. 4646 N Marine Drive Spark of the Heart Soups will be there.
New!! Chicago - The Chicagoist presents Benton House Ramova Room” Soup Kitchen” 6-9pm 3052 S. Gratten St. They managed to put together an amazing lineup of chefs who grew up, live or work in the neighborhood. Mark Mendez (Vera) grew up in Bridgeport. Kevin Hickey (Allium) actually attended pre-school at Benton House and still lives in the neighborhood. Pleasant House Bakery’s Art Jackson readily said yes, as did Jay Sebastien and Carrie Clark of Bridgeport Pasty Co. Maureen Sullivan got Zaytune Mediterranean Grill’s Daniel Sarkis to participate. Even though Nightwood is in Pilsen, it’s close enough to Bridgeport that they got Jason Vincent to come aboard. All proceeds benefit the Benton House food pantry. Suggested donation is $10
Chicago - The Publican – Hundred Horse Release Dinner 5:30pm – 10:30pm $65 reservations are by telephone only at 312-733-9555
Chicago - First Bites Bash 2013: Official Kickoff to Chicago Restaurants Week 6-9pm Union Station First Bites Bash is the official kick-off event for Chicago Restaurant Week, produced by Choose Chicago. Dirk Flanigan, Executive Chef of Henri and The Gage will host this year’s event, from which a portion of the proceeds will benefit Bear NecessitiesPediatric Cancer Foundation.
January 26
Chicago – Green City Market at The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum 8:30- 1pm 2430 North Cannon Drive The market runs indoors through April 27th
Chicago - C & D Family Farms 8:30am – 10:30am Northcenter On Belle Plaine off Lincoln across from the CVS 11:30am – 1:30pm Division St. at Clark
Chicago - Young Aggies Gathering 12pm – 10pm Benton House - 3054 S. Gratten Ave What do you think about these Workshops? Raw Vegan “Cooking” Make your own Kombucha, Yogurt, & Kefir How to can your own fruits/veggies, Make a Mushroom kit, Start your own garden (kid friendly) Want to share in one of these Skillshares? Pick up pointers on basic winter bike maintenance Composting basics Thai Massage Share in some Yoga
Chicago - The Red Meat Market presents “The Whole Hog – Butcher Breakdown Class” Centered Chef Studios 177 North Ada St. 2 sessions 10am – 1pm 3pm – 6pm $150/class
Evanston – Winter Evanston Farmer and Artisan Market at the Ecology Center 9-1pm 2024 McCormick Blvd. The market will be at this location for the next 5 months, today and every Saturday through April 27, 2013. Spark of the Heart Soups and C & D Family Farms will be there.
La Fox – Heritage Prairie Saturday Farmer’s Market 9am – 1pm 2N308 Brundige Road
Park Ridge – Faith In Place Indoor Winter Farmers Market at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church 9am -1pm 205 N Prospect Ave.
January 27
Beverly - C & D Family Farm 8:30am – 10:30am In the parking lot at 95th and Longwood
Chicago – Andersonville C & D Family Farm 9am – 12pm St. Gregory parking lot on Ashland across from Jewel
Chicago - Winter Farm and Wine Dinner West Town Tavern 1329 West Chicago Ave. 6pm Join them for a warming mid-winter celebration of food and wine featuring meats, cheeses and produce from our local, Heartland bounty. Tickets are $79.00 per person including tax and gratuity. Purchase tickets by calling 312-666-6175.
January 28
Chicago - Choucroute Garnie at Floriole with Butcher and Larder - Monthy dinner $45 does not include tax/gratuity 1220 West Webster 7pm
Chicago – 2013 Chicago Farmers Market Forum - Co-hosted by the Green City Market – Kendall College 10am – 4pm Market managers, volunteers, and vendors are encouraged to attend this information-packed forum.Expert panel discussion topics will include: Facilitating EBT, WIC and SFMNP acceptance and improving redemption at your market, Demystifying Health Department Regulations and the Cottage Food Law, Producer- Only Standards and Market Rule Enforcement $20
New!! Chicago - CSA Night in NorthCenter hosted by Beguyle Brewing, Tomato Mountain, and Northcenter Neighborhood Association. 7-9pm 1800 West Cuyler More than 15 CSAs will be participating!!
SAVE THE DATE
February 1-2
Chicago - Growing and Marketing Asian Medicinal Herbs - Pioneers in Ecological Medicine(PEM) Co-sponsored by The Land Connection A 2-day workshop open to farmers interested in diversifying their business with specialty crops. The workshop will introduce growers to the basic strategies of producing domestic East Asian medicinal herbs. 9am-6pm Jane Addams Hull House
February 3
Chicago - Farmacopeia - Purchase your tickets online today at the early bird rate. Invite your loved ones to be there too to celebrate and support the farmers who will be the pioneers in Midwestern cultivation of Chinese medicinal plants! 3-6pm Jane Addams Hull House Museum
Morton Grove - Winter Farmers Market - 9 am – 2 pm right next door to our regular season site, at the Morton Grove American Legion Civic Center (6140 Dempster St.) These indoor markets will feature over two dozen vendors selling foods, gifts, and decorations for the winter holidays.
February 5
Chicago - Publican Quality Meats - 7pm Sean O’Keefe Chateau Grand Traverse Midwestern Wine Dinner $75 plus tax and gratuity
February 8
New!! Chicago - Tickled Pink for Bright Pink - The dynamic group at Tickled Pink are behind this event where proceeds support Bright Pink’s breast and ovarian cancer prevention and early detection programs for young women. 7-12pm River East Arts Center 435 East Illinois
February 9
Chicago – A Cider Summit – At Navy Pier 11am – 7pm Over 60 Artisanal Hard Ciders Buy tickets here $20
Common Threads World Festival March 4
March 14-16 Good Food Festival 2013!!!! The festival bringing good food and farmers to Chicago!
Pinot Days - Saturday April 20th Navy Pier 2-5pm
Whiskyfest Friday April 26 - It sold out pretty darn quickly last year!! Better get your tickets now!
They’re back!!!!!!!!!! After a holiday weekend break, the stalwart “fall/winter” markets are back. I use the term “fall/winter” because as we all know, the weather in Chicago can be fall-like one day and wintery the next, it doesn’t matter what the date is on the calendar! From a look at the farmers’ tables at the Green City Market last Wednesday, there is still plenty of local produce available, so get to the markets this weekend and stock up!!
Edible Chicago’s Quarterly Carousal with Brooklyn Brewery is tonight at High Dive Bar in Ukranian Village. It is the start of holiday market season, Ms. Mint’s 3rd Annual Holiday Bazaar is this Tuesday, December 4th at Goose Island Clybourn from 4pm to 8pm. Kate Gross, aka Ms. Mint, specializes in unique agricultural products from all over the midwest, so come by, have a tasty Goose beer and meet the farmer’s and purveyors of some hard to find products like elderberry juice from Missouri and Wild Blossom Mead, made from fermented honey.
We try to be inclusive of events but miss some, some sites to check out for further detail on sustainable food, urban ag, workshops/events are the Illinois Stewardship Alliance out of Springfield, their facebook page is here, we “like” them, and the other group is here in Chicago, Advocates for Urban Agriculture, we “like” them as well.
Now on to the week ahead at the markets!!
These stores specialize in local foods:
Artisanal Wilmette – 414 Linden Ave. Wilmette
Butcher and Larder 1026 North Milwaukee in Noble Square, Chicago
City Provisions Deli 1818 West Wilson in Ravenswood, Chicago
Dill Pickle Food Co-op – 3039 West Fullerton, Chicago
Edible Alchemy Foods Co-op – Located in the near-SW Pilsen neighborhood, the co-op has grown to five locations in, including Hyde Park, River North, Lakeview, and Logan Square
Green Grocer 1402 West Grand Ave in West Town, Chicago GG has weekly wine and beer tastings check their website or twitter for details. 12/7 Wine tasting 5-7pm with Erica from Fine Vines
Marion Street Cheese Market 100 South Marion St. Oak Park
Provenance Food & Wine - 2 locations Logan Square 2528 N. California Lincoln Square 2312 W. Leland Ave. The Slowbots will play in the Logan Square store Sat. 12:30pm followed by a wine tasting and Suckerpunch Gourmet Pickle and Ketchup Tasting 3-6pm.
Publican Quality Meats – 835 W. Fulton, Chicago
Standard Market – 333 East Ogden Ave., Westmont
Sugar Beet Co-op - a new kind of co-op that works to provide access to and programming on local, sustainable food for the Oak Park and Austin Communities.
November 28
Chicago – Edible Chicago partners with Brooklyn Brewery for the Quarterly Carousal at High Dive Bar 1938 West Chicago Avenue near Damen.6-9pm
Chicago – Wine Wednesdays at Province Restaurant – Seasonal tasting menu $49 161 N. Jefferson
November 29
Chicago – C & D Family Farms Hyde Park 7am – 10am Three Pepper Burgers and Ground Pork 30% off Harold Washington Park at 53rd & Hyde Park Blvd.
Chicago – Uptown Market Uptown Farmers’ Market is year round. Every Thursday from 7-1 inside Weiss Memorial Hospital or in the parking lot during the warmer months. 4646 N Marine Drive
Crystal Lake – Screening of Doctored -Featuring Crystal Lake’s Dr. Tony presented by Premier Wellness Chiropractic 6pm Raue Center for the Arts 26 N. Williams St. 6-8pm After the movie enjoy appetizers and 2 drink tickets at Duke’s Ale House. $20
December 1
Chicago – 7th Annual Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Market 11am – 6pm Pulaski Park Fieldhouse 1419 W. Blackhawk 11am – 6pm They’ll have hundreds of today’s greatest indie makers along with tasty local food + booze, workshops, a photobooth, DJs + more. Soup & Bread will be one of the participants!
Chicago – Green City Market - Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum 8am – 1pm 2430 N. Cannon Drive The chef demonstration is going to be Matthias Merges, Yusho !!! There will be markets 12/8, 12/22. No market 12/15
Chicago – 61st Market sponsored by Experimental Station – 6100 North Blackstone 9am – 2pm Connie Spreen of the market sends out a great weekly letter with some inspirational thoughts and excellent info as to what will be available. Go here to sign up for it. From 10:30am until supply runs out, Chef Nick Daloia from the Washburne Culinary Institute will be offering a tasting of his butternut squash ravioli with a fresh cranberry sauce, reduced to perfection…. Recipes will be available. Don’t forget to ask Nick how he makes his ravioli.
Chicago – Faith in Place Winter Markets - 12 pm – 4pm Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church 9147 S. Jeffery Blvd.
Chicago – Logan Square Holidays On the Square – Participating businesses will be celebrating the season with sweets, treats, tastings, delicious pop up shops, trunk shows, cupcake food truck, Santa, a tree lighting and more! Provenance Food and Wine will be participating, check it out!
Chicago – Scrumptious Pantry Holiday Open House 3230 West Fullerton -10am – 4pm As part of the Logan Square festivities, Lee Greene of Scrumptious Pantry is hosting a holiday Open House. Come to Heirloom HQ and make ornaments out of beans, lentils, apples, cloves. Plus, this event is kid friendly!!
Chicago - Co-op Image Holiday Bazaar Ignite Glass Studios 4-11pm 401 North Armour Live glass blowing demonstration music and food!
Chicago – C & D Family Farm 30% off Three Pepper Burgers and Ground Pork will be at 3 locations today: 1) 8:30am – 10:30am On Belle Plaine off Lincoln across from CVS 2) Division St. 11:30am – 1:30pm Just east of Clark 3) Evanston The Evanston Winter Market 9am – 1pm
Elgin - Elgin Farmers’ Market @ Habitat for Humanity ReStore 800 North State Street, 9Am-3PM-Every Saturday Open All Year Long
Evanston – Opening Day of the Winter Evanston Farmer and Artisan Market at the Ecology Center 9-1pm 2024 McCormick Blvd. The market will be at this location for the next 5 months, today and every Saturday through April 27, 2013.
Geneva – Geneva Winter Market 9am – 1pm 27 N. Bennett (Geneva Place)
La Fox – Heritage Prairie Saturday Farmer’s Market 9am – 1pm 2N308 Brundige Road
Morton Grove – Morton Grove Winter Farmer’s Market Event - 9am -2pm Featuring over 2 dozen vendors at The American Legion Civic Center 6140 Dempster St. This is the only market for December the next market event will be February 2nd.
Woodstock – Woodstock Winter Farmers Market 9am – 12pm McHenry County Farm Bureau Building 1102 McConnell Road
December 2
Beverly - C & D Family Farm 30% off Three Pepper Burgers and Ground Pork 8:30am – 10:30am In the parking lot at 95th and Longwood
Chicago - Glenwood Winter Market 9am -2pm The Glenwood Bar 6962 N. Glenwood
Chicago - 7th Annual Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Market Continues for another day! 11am – 6pm Pulaski Park Fieldhouse 1419 W. Blackhawk 11am – 6pm They’ll have hundreds of today’s greatest indie makers along with tasty local food + booze, workshops, a photobooth, DJs + more. Soup & Bread will be one of the participants!
Chicago – Logan Square Winter Market – 10-2pm Congress Theater Lobby 2135 North Milwaukee
Glencoe – Chicago Botanic Gardens Winter Farmers Market – 10am – 1pm 1000 Lake Cook Road 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month.
December 3
Chicago – Chicago Women in Green – Monthly gathering 5:30pm Uncommon Ground 3800 N. Clark St. A social event group where women working to make the world a greener place come together and come together to see old friends, meet new friends, relax and enjoy great company.
December 4
Chicago – Re-Thinking Soup Jane Addams Hull House 12pm – 1pm 800 S. Halsted
Chicago – Ms. Mint’s Local and Fair Trade Holiday Bazaar – She is back and this time it is at Goose Island Clybourn. Kate Gross, who carefully curates the artisans that are part of this unique event, is bringing. Ms. Mint’s Trading Post provides gift baskets of small batch local and fair trade products of the midwest all on one site.
Northbrook – Prairie Grass Cafe Hosts the Prairie State Winery Dinner presented by Evanston Cellars and the Midwest Wine Press. 601 Skokie Blvd. 6:30pm $85
SAVE THE DATE
December 6
Chicago – Fete Chicago - Room 1520 1520 W. Fulton St. (Enter at Justine St.) 312-952-1520 She is at it again, organized by Heather Sperling of Tasting Table, formerly of Dose Market, this holiday shopping event includes amazing food, fashion, music, a mix of everything and entry is only $5. The best thing ever though is that all gate proceeds and a percentage of sales goes to Fresh Moves, the bus that brings fresh fruits and vegetables to food desert areas in the city.
December 7
Glenview – Screening of “FRESH The Movie”, Glenview New Church 74 Park Drive 7:30pm Sponsored by Faith In Place and The Glenview League of Women Voters.
December 8
Glenview – Faith in Place Indoor Market- 9 am – 1 pm Glenview New Church 74 Park Dr.
December 10
Chicago – The Stew Supper Club - “Breakfast for Supper” 6338-40 North Clark 7:30pm $45 and you can purchase tickets here.
Springfield – Illinois Stewardship Alliance – Annual Meeting 10:00am – 4pm Southwind Park ISA is the group that is trying to support, promote, facilitate, create all things local in the food system in Illinois.
December 11 and December 18(Tuesdays)
Chicago – The Hideout Annual Holiday Sale – 6pm-9pm 1354 West Wabansia Each year The Hideout invites a number of talented Chicago artists to display their wares for the holiday season. The quality of work shown is fantastic. The sale will be held in the backroom of The Hideout. Crowds are expected as they have had at least 100 patrons come through on each night in past years.
December 15
Logan Square – Holiday Bizarre: A Story Slam Featuring Festive Food Fiascoes 8pm – 11pm 2385 N. Milwaukee Gaslight Coffee Roasters Join Graze magazine for a free, BYOB story slam! Five-minute tales of kitchen woes will be shared; Letherbee, Gaslight, and Paper Moon Pastry will provide food and drinks.
December 17
Chicago – Cafe des Architectes Holiday Rock & Roll 6-8pm 20 E. Chestnut - Indulge in modern interpretations of the classic French holiday dessert, the Bûche de Noël. Enjoy tasting each pastry chef’s creation and cast your vote for the best Yuletide dessert. Benefits Share Our Strength Tickets $35
I was fortunate to attend an “uber-local” Michigan event at Hickory Creek winery this week. Who knew, when I saw a northern Michigan gelato truck, Palazzolos in the field and they were serving a gelato made out of verjus, that the juice was made from the discarded green grapes from prunng the vines. It seems Palazzolo’s is made in Fenville, Michigan but distributed all over the country. Their gelato, that they make in many, many flavors, was mighty tasty!
Lots as usual going on in the blogsphere this week, with the Midwest drought taking front and center in the headlines. Grist.org tackled “Farming without water“. Nourishing the Planet talked about “12 innovations to Combat Drought, Improve Food Security and Stabilize Food Prices” ABCnews reported “Obama authorized $30mm more in Drought Aid” Motherjones has a pictorial of how the drought will affect food prices on certain items. In case you missed it, Draughts for Drought is happening at Farmhouse Chicago to help out Harvest Moon Farms. The New York Times just published “US sees Corn Yields Hitting 17 Year Low Raising Prices”
Motherjones reported that “Biotech Giants are Bankrolling a GMO Free for All” Grant Kessler at The 100 Meal Project commented on “GMO Labeling is More than the Label” Grist.org ran a piece, “Food Inc. Chicken Farmer is Free as a Bird” within this link they point out a new site started by the director of Food Inc. Robert Kenner, Fixfood.org.
Grubstreet Chicago did a review of Janine Maclachlan’s book, “Farmers Markets of the Heartland“, “Eat Food You Can Visit“.
There are so many incredible Chicago food blogs, but here are just a few… Sky Full of Bacon, Beauty and Her Feast, Stockyard Palate, MargesNextMeal for just a very few…..
@Redmeatmarket flashed by on Twitter a few weeks ago or was it Facebook? The social media highway runs at warp speed that I can’t remember which one I saw first. I did read, “Great meat from good people. Local, Natural, Sustainable” Their twitter description says “Red Meat Market is a social community and ecommerce marketplace for Meat Buyers to easily source and purchase Local Organic/Grass-Fed Beef, Pork and Lamb.” One of their recent facebook posts ” What if there was a Social Network for #foodies who want #GrassFed Meat? There’s one coming! Red Meat Market” Okay, now my curiousity was piqued, what exactly is Red Meat Market? “We’re forming a community of #Meatlovers who like fun & only want to purchase #Meat that’s raised #Local“ Then of course the post that signed the deal, a Red Meat Market “Meat Up” Launch Party at Goose Island Clybourn, Thursday June 14 from 6-10pm(sorry folks I think it is already sold out but they have a Meat-Up coming soon) Party, beer, food, good meat, they had me!! But like always there is a back story to why I am so excited about the launch of Red Meat Market and their social distribution of good meat!
At a conference during this past winter sponsored by the Chicago arm of the USDA, which I wrote about on The Local Beet, I heard Bartlett Durand of Black Earth Meats (the meat behind Red Meat market) speak and the best description of him is a “meat evangelist”. Bartlett has been working over the last few years to increase his production and distribution network. My best take-away from what he said is that basically our current systems of production are not working and that good food will change the world and he is working to do that. As with most things, the more I learn the more I realize there is more of the onion to peal. Michael Gebert of SkyfullofBacon, and referenced in the Weekly Harvest here on The Local Beet from time to time, did a fantastic video on Bartlett called “The Zen Butcher“. On the Black Earth Meats website you will see that Bartlett takes raising, feeding and slaughtering his animals seriously and consciously. I cannot do justice in how 360 Bartlett is in keeping the circle closed in nurturing his farmers, animals, his workers and his customers so that the system is sustainable in a way that takes care of the earth, and the animals and that the meat produced is good and healthful for all.
Although I am not a big meater, I have somehow gotten involved in meat issues. In the recently released Graze Magazine, I have an essay, “My Mutton Given For You:Thoughts on Merciful Meat Consumption”. The general theme of my meandering essay is conscious meat eating. Red Meat Market is in some ways doing a head fake, they are making meat buying and eating fun but at the same time they are bringing consciously raised food to the table.
Fun, I did say fun and that is what the key element of Red Meat Market and I think more will be revealed at the Launch Party but the person bringing fun to the table is Mark Wilhelm who is the glue holding the social angles together and the “Meat-Ups” to Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison.
Follow Red Meat Market on Twitter, on Facebook and go to their website.
They will be hosting multiple events that involve Meat! We’re taking Meat social! Local, sustainable and All-Natural that is! We are going to be hosting events in Madison, Milwaukee and of course Chicago. We’ll be having an event a week and some will involve Meat-Ups! We create events around Meat! Like “Meat ups” in bars where people pick up orders, trade cuts and have fun, We hold farm dinners, and butcher parties. We’re taking the meat industry to a new level and reinventing the Butcher shop! We make Meat buying an Experience! We’ll also be selling Meat from multiple local providers all in one place online. Its like a Farmers Market Online for Meat, delivered via truck or picked up in various fun locations. Its almost like a CSA with drinks and apps included!
More will be revealed as Red Meat Market rolls out their Meat Ups. The best thing to do is “to get” social with them and “Like” them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. Some good meat is coming to Chi-town soon!!!!!!!!!!
A lot going on today on the Global Food Front, Slow Food Chicago’s Cortney Ahearn has been tweeting from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs annual symposium, Advancing Food and Nutrition Security at the 2012 G8 Summit. Nourishing The Planet has a live feed and commentary on it here.
The Huffington Post produced a piece on 16 Great Under The Radar Food Magazines.Congrats Edible Chicago of the Edible Communities group of magazines and the recently published Graze Magazine.
Chicago Craft Beer Week is starting here is the schedule.
A sad event happened this week, Zina Murray announced the closing of Logan Square Kitchen here. I am sure I am not alone hoping that her announcement was premature and something will happen to cause her to keep it open, wishful thinking I admit. Grubstreet Chicago weighed in here. (After I hit the Publish button) More from Zina Murray here.
Ecomyths continues to publish great ideas about greening your home and your life.
A week can’t go by without checking in with Ben Hewitt farmer, writer, philosopher.
Some of the other usual and always insightful suspects , Grist.org, Monica Eng at The Stew Chicago Tribune, The Salt at NPR.
Locally, The Backyarditarian, Lottie and Doof, and Food on the Dole who is taking a hiatus and will be posting on his adventures (hopefully!) in Montana. The Chicagoist has a slide show of the produce they found at the Green City Market.
The Green City Market Junior Board had their reading club last night and they focused on the speech by HRM Prince Charles of Britian on the Future of Food. Watch and listen to his speech here.
Another “after I hit the Publish button” post. Shout out to Wendy Aeschlimann, Associate Editor of The Local Beet for being quoted in this Chicagoist piece, and she is in quite fine company I will say, “Should Chefs Care About Sustainability?“
Well, if you didn’t read it last week, Ellen Malloy at The Backyarditarian wrote about large farmers rebranding themselves as small, “Just Because the Canary is Alive“. This week, she and Grant Kessler, a friend of the Beet, announced their intention of “One Hundred Meals – Building Community at America’s Table” which sounds like quite an eating adventure!!!
Another blogger from last week, who had renewed his Food on the Dole manifesto has a new post out, “Grumpy Cats and Pleasant Houses“. I still need to adventure out myself and I have decided to do it by bike and train, but he got out to Three Floyds brew pub and then swung by through Bridgeport and did the classic Pleasant House/Maria’s Packaged Goods stop and his adventures did not end there….
Our friends at The Chicagoist and at Grubstreet Chi have never ending content and always worth a daily check if you haven’t already! Chief Beet Rob Gardner is featured in the Grubstreet post.
The Salt’s latest post at NPR is always salient, interesting and provocative!
If you have been reading the weekly harvest, you know that one of my weekly favorites is Nourishing The Planet, they produce content daily on positive changes going on around the world relative to food, farmers and agriculture.
One of my other favorites that has lots of great ideas and thoughts is Nourishing Words by Eleanor Baron.
Finally my other personal favorite is Ben Hewitt, the Vermont farmer, author, philosopher.
Since I just came back from a planning meeting for Food Day, October 24th, The Center for Science in the Public Interest is the sponsor and their blog is here.
The Illinois Stewardship Alliance is a great “go to” site for anything related to news, information on this “infamous” Farm Bill.
If you need information on something to do with food policy, grants, organizations working on good food, the Goodgreens.org website has SO MUCH information, you just have to dig through it.
Can’t finish this post without a recipe for asparagus since it is that asparagus time of year. This recipe comes from Chowbella and was recommended by the Spice House on their Facebook page. Have any asparagus recipes that you love? Add them to the comments section below.
In the “blogs I came across after I hit the PUBLISH button”, Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm put up a post how their Facebook page and blog are connecting with farmers and people from all over the world. I guess it truly is a “Buy Local, Think Global” world.
And I noticed that my favorite local, kosher, distillery, Koval, now has a blog going with video posts, and those truffles with chrysanthemum liqueur sound fantastic!
That’s it for me for this week! There is so much content out there on the web, what did you find insightful, provocative, empowering, reinforcing, informational, timely this week???? Let us know in the comments below!!!!!!!!
Gosh, where have I been? I discovered some local blogs this week that I am assuming many of you at The Local Beet are aware. The roundup is truly a roundup and a mixture of all things here and yonder!
Greensug.blogspot.com “Deathly Hallows, Part Deux” about her meal celebrating all things British. “Trading pork bellies and coffee by day, then roasting them all up at night, Joanna is a commodities broker by trade, urban farmer/food adventurer at heart. She writes about her steep learning curve in Kendall College’s culinary certificate program, the tails of Old Town hens and her eco-loving, sweet-living at Green Sugar.” Joanna links to a lot of other great food blogs!
Okay, here is another local blog, They call it, Fed Up but the blog address is Filleduporfedup.com Food is supposed to nourish us, to keep us alive and thriving – and yet lately the way we feed ourselves is having the opposite effect. This blog asks are you getting filled up or fed up with what you eat. They happen to be sponsoring a fundraiser on March 28th for the NPO Fresh Moves at the Greenhouse based at the Chicago Green Exchange. . Go to the blog link for further details.
Here is another, the blogs just keep floating out of the Twitter/Facebooksphere…Lilgirlbigcam did a great piece on The Bedford, the pictures are beautiful and chef Mark Steuer is a true friend to the farmer.
The City of Chicago now has a section on their site for the Environment and Sustainability here...
The USDA just came out with a site, Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass which shows regional food projects and programs across the country!
Leah Douglas on the site Serious Eats does a great job keeping track of food issues and recapping them in a very easy to read, easy to process way. Here is her recap for the week.
Here is a great brussel sprout recipe from Terry Walters and a great site to know about The Institute for Integrative Nutrition…
The Salt post on NPR always has interested items about the food world, here is one on what’s going on in the world of cheese in Wisconsin.
And for me, a week can’t go by without reading a post from Ben Hewitt.. Who seems to be involved with a new publication Taproot.
Of course, after I hit the “Publish” button, an email comes in my box of a great blog post, here is Eleanor Barron of Nourishing Words just published this post titled, “Caring About Food” which has a lot of great thoughts, information on a course she is involved with “Hungry for Change, Food, Ethics and Sustainability” (sorry it is on the east coast) but you can go to the site to at least see the topics for discussion.
And another weekly stalwart, Nourishing the Planet....
And can’t forget local blogger Hugh Amano and his salons, Hugh just posted a new piece on Food on the Dole here, “I’d Love For You To Come, But You’ve Gotta Stay Here and Cure”
Finally, speaking of the local in local chefs, Nellcote the new restaurant with chef Jared Van Camp at the helm has gotten a ton of press but it is really well deserved, Jared is putting the big L in LOCAL. Here is a video by Grub Street/Sky Full of Bacon on the The Smell of Flour and how Nellcote is grinding their own flour... and if you want another view of Element Collective at play go here to see how the restaurant was put together . What I like to people taking care over what they are doing and enjoying it!
I am sorry if I missed your favorite weekly read, let me know in the comments section below and I will add insert it above!
