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Slow Food O'ahu News

Number 2013-17
Mailed December 28, 2013
Table of Contents
2014 Food Policy Forum - January 7
Roundup and GMO Foods Discussion - January 9
Brooklyn Bagel Class - January 12 (Slow Food O'ahu event)
Chinatown Food Tour - January 19 (Slow Food O'ahu event)
Slow Food O'ahu Annual Meeting - January 26 (Slow Food O'ahu event)
A little bit of this and that ...
Happy New Year,

This is our last newsletter for 2013.  As the year draws to a close, we salute the community effort and progress that has been made in political arenas towards transparency in food labeling and production.  There's still a long ways more to go.  We thank our many community partners who have participated in Slow Food O'ahu educational and outreach efforts as well as our food share and preparation events. We encourage you to become more active by coming to our Annual Meeting on January 26, 2014 (see article in this newsletter) and look forward to 2014.
  
Your Executive Committee

2014 Food Policy Forum 2014 - January 7, 2014  

Hawaii State Capitol  Room 329, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

  

Please join the 2014 Food Policy Forum to kick off the 2014 Legislative Session. The event will be moderated by the National Farmers Union.  The panel at 3 p.m. will highlight the legislative priorities of different community advocates, how policy fits into their work, and leaving us with a clear call to action for participants. During the small groups - folks will be working directly with the Ag Committee members to vet the agenda for the coming year and get feedback on specific bills that advocacy groups are proposing.   

 

The tentative is as follows (click here for more details regarding speakers):   

 

8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Local Coffees and Teas available (BYO mug)

 

9:00 - 9:30 a.m. Increasing Local Food Production, Promoting the Family Farm Economy & Farming Practices That Improve Soil Health.  Governor Neil Abercrombie opening remarks. 

Session Led by House Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Rep. Jessica Wooley, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Sen. Clarence Nishihara, HFUU President Vincent Mina, HFUU VP & Legislative Chair Simon Russell.

 

9:30 - 10:15 a.m. GAPS Good Agricultural Practices Panel 

 

10:15 - 10:30 a.m. Break 

 

10:30 - 11:15 a.m. On-­--Farm Mentoring Centers Panel 

 

11:15-12:00pm: Origin Products Act Panel 

 

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (please RSVP) Lunch, Room 329, "ʺChange you can taste"ʺ. Local chefs will provide samplings of locally prepared food that is 'ʹono and pono.

 

1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Food Policy Panel, featuring local community advocates.  

 

3:00 - 3:15 p.m. Break 

 

3:15 - 4:30 p.m. Policy Discussions. (Rooms TBA)

Invasive Species 

Food Policy Legislation 

Land Use and State Management Opportunities 

 

4:30 p.m. Movie: Bringing it Home ­-- A Documentary film on Industrial Hemp by Linda Booker and Blaire Johnson (Room 329). The producer and director of the film, Linda Booker, will be available for questions after the movie.


(This is not a Slow Food O'ahu event but may be of interest to our members)
Roundup and GMO Foods - A Threat to Our Daily Diet - January 9, 2014
Church of the Crossroads Weaver Hall 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

You are invited to a discussion sponsored by Down to Earth Organic and Seeds of Truth with Dr. Stephanie Seneff, Senior research scientist, MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, and Dr. Hector Valenzuela, Extension crop specialist, University of Hawaii CTAHR, on  Roundup, a.k.a. the New D.D.T and GMO Foods. 

The presentation is open to the public.  The Church of the Crossroads is located at 1212 University Ave. near the H-1 on ramp.  For more information contact Dr. Melissa Yee, Seeds of Truth, at 292-1179.

(This is not a Slow Food O'ahu event but may be of interest to our members)
The Brooklyn bagel made fresh in Hawai'i
Sunday, January 12, 2014  10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Private residence in Kahala
 
Slow Food O`ahu is excited to present a hands-on workshop to make the best-tasting bagels west of New York.  Our instructor, Milton, was a sociology professor at UH; after his retirement, he moved to Ashland, Oregon, and opened a coffee shop, where he perfected the art of bagel. He and his wife have returned to Hawai'i and he's happy to share his vast experience with a small group of our members. Our trial run yielded fantastically yummy bagels the likes of which can't be found anywhere else in Hawai`i.
 
We will provide the instructor and all the baking ingredients in a lovely private home in Kahala. You may bring whatever accoutrements you like to have with your bagel--lox, cream cheese, preserves, tomatoes, onions, the works; wine/Champagne, whatever strikes your fancy. Bring enough to share, and we'll have a bagel fest.
 
The cost is $20 for members; $25 for non-members.  Participation is limited to ten people ; please send your reservation to sfo.reservation@gmail.com.  Deadline is January 7 (or earlier, if full).
 
Please note:  Due to the nature of this event and the necessity of arranging details beforehand beforehand, if cancellations are required after the RSVP date and we are unable to fill your spot, you will be responsible for payment.   Payment information will be sent to you following your RSVP and the meeting location will be sent to all confirmed guests a few days prior to the event.
Chinatown Food Tour by Slow Food O'ahu
Sunday, January 19, 2014: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Slow Food O'ahu is offering an exciting Chinatown walking tour focusing on the history, cultures, and food traditions of this vibrant district of Honolulu. The tour will explore open markets where local residents purchase seafood, fresh produce, and traditional foods.  We will visit bakeries, a noodle factory, specialty shops, and several historic sites.   There will be samples of typical foods for tasting along the way such as manapua and exotic fruits.  The planned walking tour will last 2 hours.

Participants should wear good walking shoes and provide their own sunscreen and drinking water. 

The cost is $30 for members; $40 for non-members.  Space is limited to 12 people.  The deadline to register is January 12.  To reserve a spot contact sfo.reservation@gmail.com  The meeting location will be provided after registration and payment.
Slow Food O'ahu Annual Meeting
Sunday, January 26 - 11:00 a.m. followed by potluck
Waldorf School in 'Aina Haina

The Waldorf Upper Campus (5257 Kalaniana`ole Hwy. in `Aina Haina) welcomes us once again for our annual meeting on Sunday, January 26, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. We'll have a brief recap of our 2013 activities and a look forward into the new year. As always, we don't only share information with you; we are planning a potluck for all to share in the bounty of our island-grown produce. We encourage you to buy local--or if you have a home garden--to share your harvest with us; to cook a favorite dish, and to bring your own reusable eating and serving utensils.

The parking at the school is very limited. There's street parking across the highway and in the `Aina Haina Shopping Center. Be mindful of jay-walking fines and be careful crossing the highway. We look forward to seeing you at the annual meeting if not earlier at either the bagel-making class or our newly -minted Chinatown tour.

Slow Food O`ahu is your organization, please join us and participate in planning and shaping the activities for 2014. Please R.S.V.P. regarding your attendance at sfo.reservation@gmail.com
A little bit of this and that ...

* Mahalo to Ed Kenney for an absolutely fabulous Terra Madre dinner on December 10 at town Restaurant .  He and Dave Caldeiro prepared a sumptuous selection featuring six courses, each starring kalo i mouthwatering adn creative ways.   Guests were treated to a demonstration of poi pounding (to taste fresh pa'iai) with Daniel Anthony of Mana Ai as the attendees milled through the silent auction.  Mahalo to former Terra Madre participants Dean and Michele Wilhelm, Paul and Laurie Reppun, and Ed Kenney for sharing their experiences at prior Terra Madre events.  The dinner and auction helped us raised some of the funds to assist two as-yet-selected Slow Food O'ahu delegates attend Terra Madre in Torino in 2014.

*  Save the date, February 15, 2014 for  an exquisite post-Valentine's-Day celebration with Nepalese food. Chef Sanjeev is putting together another outstanding menu, which will include the hands-on making of roti, that delicious South Asian version of unleavened bread. Limited attendance.  We will announce formally with reservations in the next newsletter.

Slow Food Leadership

 

Slow Food O'ahu Officers: Mae Isonaga and Rike Weiss, Co-leaders;  David Bangert, Treasurer; Michelle Phillips, Events Coordinator; Francine Wai, Newsletter Editor; Nina Bermudez, Membership and E-mail correspondent.

Slow Food Regional Governor: Laurie Carlson

Facebook manager: Brilana Silva

Slow Food Membership

Membership to Slow Food USA (and our Slow Food O'ahu convivium) is only $25 with the base membership.  To join, go to the https://secure3.convio.net/sfusa/site/Donation2?df_id=2862&2862.donation=form1

Quick Links 

Slow Food O'ahu Convivium website  

Slow Food Hawai'i Convivium website  

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