Re-scheduled Snail of Approval Kickoff Roast at Poste

Time: Wednesday, November 3 · 5:30pm – 8:30pm

Location: Poste Moderne Brasserie, 555 – 8th Street, NW, Washington DC

At the kick-off event guests will enjoy samples of assorted roasts (pig, lamb and goat) provided by Eco-Friendly Foods and prepared by chefs Rob Weland, Barry Koslow, and Drew Trautman. The ticket price includes a tasting plate and 2 drink tickets for wine or beer. Tickets cost $25 in advance or $30 at the door cash only. Tickets can be purchased in advance by following the link below. Additional drink tickets will be available for purchase for $5 and all proceeds will go to Slow Food DC.

The DC Slow Food Snail of Approvals aim to:
• Recognize and celebrate eateries and artisans that serve/provide good, clean, fair food to our community.
• Spread awareness of the Slow Food philosophy and the establishments that support it.

For more information on the Snail of Approval check out:
http://www.slowfooddc.org/snail-of-approval/

To buy advance tickets:
http://www.mycommunitytickets.com/event_info.asp?eventid=27575&frame=

Welcoming Griggs to the World Of Food!!!!

My sister had a baby! My first nephew! I am heading down to Atlanta to spend a week with them..and I cannot wait. Welcome to this wonderful world of food baby Griggs! We are so happy you are here! I cannot wait to spoil you and take you out to eat and teach you all the enjoyable things about food. I cannot wait to hear about the first thing you eat...the first thing you help your momma cook..etc. All the new things I can blog about: baby food! You have a wonderful life time a head of you...please remember take in every moment, live life to the fullest and promise you will enjoy the good things in life (of course food).

I LOVE YOU!

Dine Out for Farms

Being on the board of Slow Food DC - I am able to go to fun and interesting seminars, events and press conferences around town. I spent my morning with American Farmland Trust and talking with them about their Dine Out for Farms campaign. Next week (October 10th-16th) you can dine out to help save American Farms when you go to a participating restaurant. A week long effort to bring together restaurants and consumers together across the country to support a sustainable future for America's farms. Did you now that the US has lost nearly one million acres of farmland each year? Did you know we lose more than an acre of farmland a minute in America? We need 13 million more acres growing fruit and vegetables for everyone to meet the minimum recommended dietary guidelines.

At the press conference there was an interesting talk amongst: Jon Scholl (President of American Farmland Trust), Al Nappo (Executive Chef of Founding Farmers/Farmers & Fishers), Dan Simons (Principal of Founding Farmers/Farmers & Fishers) and Andy Little (Executive Chef with Sheppard Mansion in Hanover, PA). The main point everyone made was that everyone is starting to ask where their food comes from...and its the restaurants duty to get involved in the effort to tell people about the food and get them interested. - If customers demand it - then restaurants will be able to provide it.

I think it is important for people to know where their food comes from...knowing the story behind it. Its just fascinating. So much love and dedication comes from these farmers that planted the seeds and worked hard in the fields. I love going to the markets and knowing which farmers I trust. Cooking a meal from fresh ingredients is so satisfying. What a wonderful movement...I hope everyone starts asking questions and learns more about what is put on the plate in front of you everyday.

Next week in the DC/VA/MD area support the movement and go to:
Farmer & Fishers, Founding Farmers, American Flatbreadm Clyde's of Reston, Clyde's Willowcreek Farm, Cock & Bowl, Equinox Restaurant, Open Kitchen, Salt Air, Wildfire (McLean VA), Tabard Inn and The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm.

D.C. Farm to School Week is coming October 12-15, 2010!

Did you know that there are 44,275 students enrolled in DC Public Schools? - On average, 70% of students participate in the school lunch program, and about 30% participate in the school breakfast program. Of those 44,275 students: 63% receive Free Lunch and 6.3% receive Reduced Lunch which will be FREE to students in the 2010/2011 school year - which is 70.2% of the students are either on Free or Reduced Lunch. I feel that these kids should receive healthy, fresh good food. Many organizations (and the Healthy Schools Act) are making a difference in what children eat in schools...which is helping their health and educations.

Support area kids, schools, and farms while celebrating the local October harvest during D.C. Farm to School Week. Participating D.C. schools will serve and highlight healthy, locally-grown foods in their school meals to increase student exposure to the joys of eating farm-fresh foods. Additionally, the D.C. Farm to School Network will help a number of schools coordinate both educational farm field trips where students can harvest local produce and interactive chef demonstrations where students can prepare and taste local produce!

Check out DC Farm to School website - with all this great information:

How can you celebrate at home?

Taste the season!

• Discover what fruits and vegetables are currently in season the mid-Atlantic region.

• Shop for locally-grown food at the Farmer’s Market – many take WIC/EBT. Use DC Food Finder to find a market near you.
  

• Cook local, seasonal food at home with your kids. Try some of these some family-friendly recipes using seasonal produce.

• Visit a restaurant that supports local growers and the D.C. Farm to School Network, like Bar Pilar, Bread and Brew, Busboys and Poets, Eatonville, Cafe Saint-Ex, Clyde’s Restaurants, Farmers & Fishers, PS-7, ris, Coppi’s Organic, Blue Ridge Restaurant, or any that are a part of the Neighborhood Restaurant Group.

Get out to a farm!

• Visit an urban garden or farm in DC, such as Common Good City Farm, the Washington Youth Garden, or the Neighborhood Farm Initiative. Find a comprehensive list of community gardens HERE.

• Take your family on a day trip out to a farm to harvest or volunteer; there are a great number of working farms just outside the city:

Claggett Farm

Great Country Farms

Butler’s Orchard

Sharp’s Waterford Farm

The Farm at Sunnyside

The Mount Vernon Farm

Hollin Farms

Check out other food/farm educational events around town

• Participate in D.C. school garden week events http://dcschoolyardgreening.org/dcschoolgardenweek.html
• Fruit Trees Workshop. Thursday October 14, 5:00-6:30 pm Washington Youth Garden, US National Arboretum. Suggested donation of $10 to cover refreshment, garden bags and tool. Click here
• 7^th Annual Fall Schoolyards Tour. Saturday, October 16, 9:00am to 3:00pm. Meet at Tyler Elementary (1001 G St, NE) Click here to download the registration form.
• School Garden Bike Tour. Saturday, October 16, 9:00am to 12:30pm . Meet at Tyler Elementary (1001 G St, NE). Ten-mile bike loop on city roads throughout Southeast, Northeast, and Northwest, DC. Click here

• Check out the Spuds Unearthed Exhibit at the US Botanic Garden until Monday, October 11 http://www.usbg.gov/education/events/Spuds-Unearthed.cfm

• Learn the makings of apple cider- Saturday, October 9 at Water Penny Farm http://www.waterpennyfarm.com/visit/

• Engage your senses with a day about Chile Peppers – October 9, 1- 4 pm at the National Herb Garden at the National Arboretum http://www.usna.usda.gov/Education/events.html#October

• Visit the National Arboretum’s Fall Fruit and Foliage Exhibit- October 23 – November 7, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm http://www.usna.usda.gov/Education/events.html#October

Dine Out for Farms

Dine Out for Farms™ is a national, weeklong event that will bring together restaurants and consumers across the country to support a sustainable future for America’s farms. From October 10-16, 2010, participating restaurants across the country will raise funds for AFT’s programs that support farms and help save the land that sustains us. Support your farmers! Check out what restaurants are getting involved in your area!

The “Founding Circle” restaurants kicking off AFT’s Dine Out for Farms™ are:

• Red Devon Market Bar & Restaurant, Bangall, New York
• Alder Wood Bistro, Sequim, Washington
• Galletto Ristorante, Modesto, California
• Sheppard Mansion, Hanover, Pennsylvania
• The Market Restaurant, Gloucester, Massachusetts
• Farmers & Fishers and Founding Farmers, Washington, DC

New Bakery Opening This Fall

New Orleans native and former executive pastry chef at Passion Food Hospitality David Guas plans on opening his new Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery in Arlington in November! Bayou Bakery, Coffe Bar & Eatery will focus on Louisiana favorites: muffalettas, boudin, jambalaya, porKorn, beignets, chickory coffee, pralines, cakes, pies and much more! Check out his spot next to the Courthouse (around the corner from the Metro).

OUTDOOR GRILLING BONANZA to Kick-Off the Slow Food DC Snail of Approval Program

Sunday, October 3 from 3 - 7 p.m.
Poste Moderne Brasserie's Courtyard
555 - 8th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004

Slow Food DC and Poste Moderne Brasserie join together to host the kick-off of the new program, the "Slow Food DC Snail of Approval" that will involve members and non-members to identify local food establishments and artisans that exemplify the Slow Food mission: good, clean, and fair food.

At the kick-off event guests will enjoy samples of suckling pig, lamb and, goat provided by Eco-Friendly Foods and prepared by chefs Rob Weland, Barry Koslow, and Drew Trautmann.

After October 3, nominations for Slow Food DC Snail of Approval can be made by members and supporters using a simple form on Slow Food
DC's website www.slowfooddc.org. Slow Food DC will give out the first round of Snail of Approval stickers in 2011.

The Slow Food DC Snail of Approval's aim is to
· Recognize and celebrate eateries and artisans that serve/produce good, clean, fair food to our community.
· Spread awareness of the Slow Food philosophy and the establishments that support it.
A panel comprised of chefs, culinary professionals and industry representatives will judge the award submissions.

Advanced tickets sales click here.

The $25 ticket price for the tasting will include 2 drink tickets for wine or beer. Additional drink tickets will be available for purchase for $5 and all proceeds will go to Slow Food DC.
At the door tickets will be $30 pp. FOR CASH ONLY .

Slow Food DC would like to thank

Poste Moderne Brasserie
Eco-Friendly Foods
Chefs Rob Weland, Barry Koslow,

and Drew Trautmann

And all of you who'll be there

on Sunday, October 3 from 3 - 7 p.m.