New Slow Food Header

April 2013 Newsletter

 



In This Issue
Chair's Message
Volunteers Welcome
Urban Chicken Coop Tour and Egg Tasting
Green Scene Volunteers needed
April Book Club Meeting
Carlsbad Aquafarm Tour and Tasting
Tender Greens Member Mixer
Join the Slow Food Movement!
We invite you to join the Slow Food movement! Slow Food Orange County is working hard to preserve and protect local foods and food traditions. Our convivium plans events and programs in places across Orange County-anything from community gardens, taste education dinners, and farm tours-join the network and become active in planning and participating in these diverse initiatives.  Click here for Benefits of Membership,  here to join or send us an email if you have questions.

 



News from the Chair

Chair Linda Elbert

  Dear Slow Food Orange County,

 

As Chair of Slow Food Orange County, it is probably not surprising that I often have the opportunity to talk to  people about Slow Food. The most common question I am asked "What is Slow Food?" My other experience is that people commonly think that our events and activities are more or less exclusive "members only" activities.  This happens so frequently that as Chair, I want to take time in this newsletter to clearly communicate that our events and activities are open to the public.  Feel free to sign up & participate in any event on our calendar and introduce yourself when you arrive - we want to meet you! That said, if you find yourself participating on a regular basis and want to make a donation to support the work that Slow Food does throughout the county, we encourage you to join. Membership is through Slow Food USA, and then you may choose a local chapter to become affiliated with. Additionally, we are considering giving special benefits to those in our area who are members of SFUSA.

On another note, I am happy to announce that we have elected a Steering Committee for the coming year. Check out the Slow Food Orange County website to see photos and "bios" of the newly elected committee.  We have decided to make some changes to the way our Steering Committee works which we hope will encourage more participation from chapter members. First I want to clearly state that Steering Committee meetings are open to SFUSA members.  Rather than a monthly administrative meeting the Steering Committee with meet on a bi-monthly basis.  On the alternate months the various Committee Chairs will meet with their own subcommittees to work on specific projects.  Specifically the Events, Special Events/Fundraising, Outreach, Communications and Membership chairs are in the process of building committees and selecting projects for the coming year.  I want to encourage anyone(member or not) with ideas and interest to contact a Committee Chair and get involved! Slow Food Orange County is looking to become a chapter that is a significant force in creating a clean and fair food system in Orange County and in California. We continue to enjoy gathering around the table to share wonderful meals & camaraderie but also see the necessity of becoming activists areas of food policy, health and wellness education and food justice.  We are looking to partner with organizations, chefs, farmers and artisans  who share this passion.

The spring calendar is full of events! I hope to see you there!

 

Linda Elbert
Slow Food OC Chair 



Slow Food Needs Help
We are looking for active participants for our Events and Outreach Committees. Now is a great time to get involved as we will be setting the calendar for the coming year. No experience necessary, just a desire to effect positive change in our community and, of course, a hearty appetite for good food!

EVENTS COMMITTEEBring your ideas to promote good, clean and fair food such as tours, dinners, workshops, and/or classes. Take the lead on one specific event or or work on several throughout the year. Our next subcommittee meeting is Sunday April 14th at 2:00 p.m. Please email Stacey at stacey.blaschke@gmail.com if you'd like to attend the meeting or be included in future events subcommittee meetings.

OUTREACH COMMITTEE: School gardens, community gardens, food security, food policy - if you are passionate about taking action in these areas, we need you on this committee. Interested, email Gillian at [email protected].

Upcoming Events 



Urban Chicken Coop Tour and Egg Tasting

Date: Saturday, April 20, 2013

Time: 12 - 3PM

Location: Various yards in the city of Orange
Open to the public 


It's springtime, the days are growing longer and backyard chickens start producing a lot of eggs! If you are an urban chicken keeper or are thinking about getting chickens of your own, this tour is a great way to see how your friends and neighbors have designed their coops. Several homes in Orange will open their backyard coops to visitors on this self-guided tour sponsored by Slow Food and Orange Home Grown

 

Stop by anytime between 12-3pm, meet the chickens, and enjoy an egg dish at each home prepared by Slow Food volunteers. This event is free; RSVP to [email protected] in order to receive a map of the participating homes.



Green Scene Event Help Needed

Date: Saturday & Sunday April 20-21

Time: 10AM - 4PM

Location: Fullerton Arboreteum

Open to the Public

We need your help! Slow Food will be taking part in the Fullerton Arboretum's annual Green Scene April 20th and 21st. The Green Scene is a wonderful event with plants, local artisans and much more. If anyone is interested in volunteering to help staff our table please email Diana Tierney at [email protected]

 



April Book Club Meeting

Date: Friday, April 26th

Time: 7 PM

Location: Corona del Mar house

Open to the Public

We will be reading John Saturnall's Feast by Lawrence Norfolk. To RSVP, contact Diana Tierney.



Carlsbad Aquafarm Tour and Tasting

Date: Saturday, May 4, 2013

Time: 11AM - 1PM

Location: 4600 Carlsbad Boulevard ▪ Carlsbad, CA 92018

Open to the Public

Carlsbad Aquafarm is Southern California's only shellfish aquafarm growing eco-friendly mussels, oystes, clams, abalones, scallops and culinary seaweed since 1990 in Carlsbad, California.

 

Join Slow Food OC for a tour of the Carlsbad Aquafarm located on the Aqua Hedionda Lagoon and discover the wonders of the lagoon. The five acre business has been sustainably raising oysters, mussels, abalones, brine shrimp and different species of algae. The aquafarm's products go nationwide to chefs, restaurants, and wholesalers; the aquafarm also raises seahorses, seaweed and octopuses for aquariums.

 

Enjoy a tour of the facility and afterwards a tasting of some of the delicacies the farm harvests. The tasting will be prepared by Chef Linda Elbert and chapter member Michael Millar and will include freshly prepared mussels and smoked oysters, served along with a salad and bread.

 

A photo ID is required to enter the facility. Please bring your own chair to sit and enjoy the tasting after the tour, along with non-disposable, if possible, plates, utensils and napkins, to keep our footprint to a minimum.

 

There is a maximum of 21 participants and you must be 16 or older to attend.

Tickets must be purchased by Thursday April 25th 2013.

Cost: $35.00

 

Ticket URL: http://slowfoodocaquafarmtour.eventbrite.com

Slow Food contact: Stacey Blaschke [email protected]

Directions and parking info: On I-5 from Orange County, exit on Cannon and take a right, then a right onto Carlsbad Boulevard and the entrance is on the right. Alternatively exit at Carlsbad Village Drive and turn right, then a left onto Carlsbad Boulevard, drive a couple of miles along the ocean with the lagoon and the farm on the left (speed limit is 30 so beware) and the entrance to NRG will be on the left. The guards at the gate will stop everyone, show them where to park, and check photo IDs against the guest list.



May Book Club Meeting

Date: Friday, May 24th

Time: 6PM

Location: Duck Club, Irvine

Open to the Public

We will be reading The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister for May. Instead of at someone's house, the meeting will be held at the Duck Club in Irvine.



Member Mixer

Date: Wednesday, June 19th

Time: 6PM

Location: Tender Greens, Irvine Spectrum

Open to the Public

Join Slow Food for our first ever member mixer; you will be able to join SFUSA while there. We will be joining with Tender Greens located at the Irvine Spectrum 6pm, June 19th. The chef at Tender Greens will be preparing a wonderful selection of appetizers for us free of charge (full entr�es and alcoholic beverages will be available for a charge). Space is limited, RSVP is free but a must at http://slowfoodoctendergreensmixer.eventbrite.com/



Like Us? Check Out Our Facebook Page!    

Facebook Logo
Please, go "like" our new Slow Food Orange County Facebook Page to keep up on the latest news and events if Facebook is your social networking site of choice!