Slow Food Austin reconnects people with the food they eat. Our
educational initiatives, social activities, fundraising events, and
community volunteer projects inspire respect for where food comes from
and awakens true pleasure in eating. To learn more about Slow Food
Austin and become a member, visit our website!
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| Sorry this newsletter is coming in late.
When I originally considered what to write about in this newsletter I planned to highlight the drought and I had an optimistic tone- droughts are tough yet they can provide an opportunity to consider the delicacy of our food system as it relates to water. Then the fires came! I got a message from my mom late Sunday, 9/4..."we are safe." I was on vacation and my hometown (Bastrop) was burning to the ground. Ironically I was in Yellowstone and I got to see how forests can recover after a devastating burn (1988). Bastrop is not a famous national park but it has always been special to me because I recognize the magic of Loblolly pines- "the lost pines." I haven't gotten to see the "war zone" as people are calling it in Bastrop but I expect it will be emotional when I do. Whether I am thinking about the pine trees, the people, the livestock, the farms, the homes, or the economic health of this region, I wonder how Bastrop (and some Austin communities) will recover.
My mom lost everything. We have spent the last few days replaying the events- they had just enough time to get out of the house with the clothes on their backs. We are in awe at the generosity of community members, friends, and family. I feel fortunate. My mom or I will sometimes suddenly think of something that was in the house- pictures, antiques, etc. She and I were sitting quietly and she said abruptly, "my mom's recipes." My grandmother had passed down recipes to my mom and mom had added to the collection. I expected I would inherit these one day to share with my children. Now we will begin our family collection of recipes from scratch. It is odd what seems to matter at times like this but the recipes were the focus of our grief for that moment. The optimistic part of me sees this as an opportunity for my mom, me, and my son to gather in the kitchen and try to remember all those family recipes together- cooking and eating together.
If you want to help with people who have suffered from the fires, please see this list of ways to give:
Benefit Concerts
Other options:
http://www.kvue.com/news/Austin-area-wildfire-donations-129263013.html
http://www.austinchronicle.com/blogs/news/2011-09-07/wildfires-update/
http://www.co.bastrop.tx.us/site/news/82
Austin Bakes for Bastrop: Saturday, October 1st Bake Sale
New Farm Institute Fundraiser at Green Gate Farms, Urban Farm, Oct. 1, 5-10pm: Community potluck, bluegrass, farmer panel+discussion about fire, drought and what you can do to help. Organized by local food artisans and farmers Split Rail Ales and Wanderlust Ice Cream. More details here!
On a lighter note, we had an amazing Quiz Bowl last month and I enjoyed the fun-filled learning experience with almost three hundred people at the Highball. We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who helped make it happen and everyone who attended. Check out our website for a more in-depth list of our supporters.
We are hosting some great events this month so read on for news about everything we have on the menu. We will be collecting donations for the next few months at various events and online to be distributed to local organizations that are supporting fire victims like Capital Area Food Bank and for farmers who have lost their livelihood in the fires.
With hope,
Sara Weber
President
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Slow Food Austin's Quiz Bowl - Thank you!
On Sunday August 14th, Slow Food Austin hosted the 1st Annual Quiz Bowl at The Highball. The Sold Out Event featured local foodies vying for the honor of being the official "Food Geeks" of Austin. The competition was stiff, to say the least, and the questions covered a wide gamut, including, pop food culture, Slow Food History and artisanal product trivia. Addie Broyles, the food writer for The Statesman, diplomatically emceed an ever excitable competition of Austin foodies there to prove and show their worth. Observers nibbled on delicious food from some of Austin's premiere "slow" restaurants and artisans, including, Wink, BC Tavern, Confituras, Cuvee Coffee, GoodPop, Parkside, Olivia, La Patisserie by Luxe Sweets, Salt & Time, Contigo, Thai Fresh and the Highball and sipped on happy hour beverages provided by The Highball. Participants and observers alike were able to partake in an impressive raffle featuring items from Slow Food approved local businesses, including cooking classes at Whole Foods Market and Central Market, a night's stay at W Austin and breakfast at Trace, a stock the bar with Texas Spirits basket, wristbands to SXSW, an Uchi/Uchiko gift card, a Barley Swine gift card, a makeover package from Sabia just to name a few.
The entertainment included a Texas style half-time show. Bryan Butler of Salt & Time, recently named one of the Cochon 555 best butchers in America, dressed a Richardson Farms' hog, while Peter Remington auctioned off the cuts of meat.
The fast-paced, ruthless, all-in-good-fun, competition was ultimately a showdown between the old and new, Whole Foods Market and Barley Swine. Ultimately, Barley Swine took the first ever Snail Trophy home, but it was not without a fight. Teams and observers alike learned something new and in the end, Slow Food Austin and Urban Roots were the big winners. Slow Food Austin took home proceeds from the raffle, auction and door and Urban Roots was the recipient of the team pot of $1200. It was a great day for Slow Food Austin, for Urban Roots and the Austin Food Community. We are already looking forward to next year! Thanks to everyone for your participation and support! See you at Slow Food Austin's 2nd Annual Quiz Bowl in 2012! |
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Slow Food Austin - Happy Hour
Location: The Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel
98 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
Date: Thursday, September 15th
Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm
Join Slow Food Austin in the Lounge at the Four Seasons for our Monthly 3rd Thursday Happy Hour, September 15th, 6pm-8pm as we people watch, munch on yummy seasonal food and sip on "slow" drinks. The Happy Hour will feature a $10 or less locally sourced slow food appetizer menu (see below) from TRIO whipped up by Chef de Cuisine, Todd Duplechan. And the bar will be serving a $5 "slow" drink Happy Hour Menu to get you ready for all that ACL weekend has to offer you. This is sure to be a fun and festive Slow Food Austin Happy Hour! A big thank you to our sponsors Treaty Oak Rum and Duchman Family Winery.
Check out this amazing menu:
Beaman farm crispy beef shortribs
Blue cheese, pickles
Richardson farm spare ribs
Grape chutney,garam masala
Squash blossom
Smoked eggplant, basil puree
Mac and cheese
Texas gold cheddar
Shrimp toast
Chilies, arugula
We look forward to seeing you there! |
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Slow Food USA's $5 Meal Challenge
Date: Saturday, September 17, 2011
Slow Food USA has invited everyone to take a $5 Meal Challenge on September 17th. By joining friends and family for a slow food meal that costs no more than $5 per person, we'll be taking back the 'value meal.'
And, we'd like to hear about your meals. If you prepare a meal at home or a dish for a potluck for this event, we'd like to hear your story. Send us a description of your dish or meal and how you kept the cost below $5 per person, a photo if you have it or a link to an online photo gallery, or send us a link to a post if you blog about the event. We'll post a round-up of all the $5 meals one week after the event. We're looking forward to collecting this list of affordable slow food meals, so take the challenge and then tell us what you did.
Send info about your meal by noon on Friday, September 23 to:lisa@slowfoodaustin.org
Round-up of $5 meals will be posted on Monday, September 26.
"slow food shouldn't have to cost more than fast food." |
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Taking time to say thank you...from Slow Food Austin.
Slow Food Austin is an organization rooted in a simple, but profound and rippling philosophy, Good. Clean. Fair. Good food is not only delicious food but it is created with care from healthy plants and animals. Food that is clean has been grown and harvested with methods that have a positive impact on our local ecosystems and promotes biodiversity. Food that is fair should be accessible to all, regardless of income, and produced by people who are treated with dignity and justly compensated for their labor.
This is a philosophy that we are mindful of in every event we produce, from our monthly slow sessions, to our farm tours, our happy hours and the various other activities we produce in a given year. In the past year alone we held more than 30 events/activities with an average attendance of 50 people. Our chief goals are to cultivate and educate a not only thoughtful food community, but a sophisticated community who demands quality over quantity and embodies the philosophy of Good. Clean. Fair.
Obviously, this is not a simple or easy task. To be able to do this Slow Food Austin relies on our existing and generous food community. We would like to take this time to give special thanks to those businesses whose continued support have allowed Slow Food Austin to educate and cultivate our ever burgeoning community. Those business include: The Highball, Pioneer Wine Company, Glazer's, Republic, Antonelli's Cheese Shop, Bandol Wines, Republic, Ambiente Wine, ToGoCo, Whole Foods Market, Break it Down, Richardson Farms, W Hotel & Trace, Daniella Floeter Design, Wink Restaurant & Wine Bar, Treaty Oak Rum, Dripping Springs Vodka, Balcones Distilling, Maker's Mark, 2Dine4 & SWOOP House and (512) Brewing Company.
We also would like to thank all of our volunteers who generously donate countless hours to help produce a busy and educational activity calendar; we could not do it without you. Thank you.
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October Farm Tours
Richardson Farms
Date: Sunday, October 2nd, 2 - 4 pm
Ticket Price: $20
Location: Rockdale, TX
If you've had a pulled pork burger from Blackstar Brewery, a pork belly taco from Taco Deli or house-made sausage from Dai Due Butcher Shop, you've eaten Richardson Farms meats. The family-run farm has established itself as one of the best suppliers of locally raised, pastured meats in the Austin area.
Come with Slow Food Austin to learn first-hand what it takes to bring these delicious meats to your table. Jim and Kay Richardson raise cattle, pigs, chickens, heritage turkeys, ducks and rabbits on their 200-acre family farm. The animals are raised on pasture and grains the farmers grow and grind themselves on-farm.
The ticket price covers an equal value of meats or a deposit for your holiday turkey. Tour attendees are welcome to make additional purchases, so bring your cooler. Children of all ages are welcome if under parental supervision. To RSVP and purchase tickets go to slowfoodaustinrichardsonfarms.eventbee.com.
Tour questions? Email Grit at email@gritramuschkat.com.
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Slow Food Austin Farmer's Corner
Don't forget to support your Local Farmers!
What's worse than shopping at a farmers' market in 100 degree heat? Fighting to keep plants and animals alive during a summer where it's hotter than 100 degrees for more than 100 days. Now is the time to thank your local farmer and ensure they keep feeding us despite record heat. Be sure to direct your grocery budget to farmers markets and CSAs. Every penny counts now, especially given that urban farmers pay the same rate for water as you do (Can you believe urban farmers do not receive an agricultural rate for water? Even during a drought? Tell your elected officials and Austin Water Utility this is nuts!)
To find a farm near you, check out localharvest.org.
Mark your calendar, Seasonal Plant Sales Coming Soon
After the battering of this summer, many of our gardens will need a fresh start. So, get your plant starts from a local business: Green Gate Farms will host its certified organic fall plant sale, Saturday, Sept. 17, 10-2. Get delicious varieties of cool-weather vegetables, flowers and herbs. And bring seeds for swapping! A percentage of sales to benefit New Farm Institute community education programs. You can check around at various local stores for your fall plant starters just make sure the starters come from a local farm.
Green Gate Farms launches New Farm Institute
After six years of hosting dozens of events and workshops, Green Gate Farms has created a non-profit organization to expand its community education programming. The New Farm Institute, which cultivates farmers of all ages for Central Texas, will soon post its fall schedule. Here is a sneak peek:
Farm Camp for Adults
You get to be a professional farmer on a Sunday morning as you go behind-the-scenes to: learn about tractors, tools, irrigation and caring for vegetables, flowers, 150 rare-breed hogs, sheep, goats, chickens and other critters on our 5-acre, urban farm. Held Second Sundays, 9-1. ($50 per camper; limited to 12 campers). Reserve your spot today email greengatefarmsevents@gmail.com.
Farm Camp for Children
Does your child have a farm in their life? If not, then come enjoy ours! Our Kids Farmer for a Day Camp is a condensed version of our weeklong sessions.Young farmers may get to seed plants in the greenhouse, feed animals, collect newly laid eggs, groom a horse, set up our farm stand, and play in the hayloft. Space limited to 8 campers. Sessions will be held the third Saturday of the month from 9:00am to 1:00 pm. Prices for CSA Members: $30 camper, $25 per sibling. Prices for Non-Farm Members: $35 per camper, $30 per sibling.
A new weeklong session of Farm Camp has been created for charter school students and homeschoolers, Oct. 3-7, 9-3:30 (Pre/after care available upon request). Camp limited to 15 participants ages 6-14. |
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Slow Food Austin Membership Drive
Here at Slow Food Åustin, we're committed to creating every opportunity to get you more involved and connected with the Slow Food movement in our community. One of the easiest and most powerful ways is through membership. We're inviting you to join Slow Food USA during our September campaign, when your donation (in any amount) will make you a member and a portion of your membership donation will come back to the local chapter. Click here to join now.
There are a variety of membership benefits, but I think you'll find the best part is knowing your contribution plays a critical role in bringing our community together to support our local farmers and food traditions, teaching the next generation about good food, and transforming laws to make a healthy meal as affordable as fast food.
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