January 2014 Newsletter

In This Issue

Microgrants COming

Wheat & Sons

CA Ranch Needs Help

Volunteers Welcome

Book Club Meeting

Orange County Tet Festival.

Pat Welsh Speaking in March

Past Events

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.

Chair's January Message
Happy New Year to All,

The advent of a new year brings the opportunity to get involved with the Slow Food Orange County Steering Committee. In March we will have openings on our steering committee. We would like to make a change in the way our steering committee works so people begin in a co-chair position for one year, then become chair, mentoring a new co-chair the following year.

Microgrants Coming Soon

Slow Food Orange County is in the beginning stages of developing a Microgrant Program that will distribute small cash awards to local community groups, organizations, and businesses whose programs and products promote the core values of Slow Food. We believe that the food we eat should taste good, that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment or our health, and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work.

Wheat and Sons and the Good Food Awards

Ashly Amador and Nate Overstreet, are two chefs who this March will open Wheat and Sons Butcher/Rotisserie https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wheat-and-Sons-ButcherRotisserie/549790311761028. This has been their long time coming dream, born out of passion for cooking with locally sourced organic meats and produce, prepared in a simple but elegant manner. The shop will provide the community with locally sourced, sustainably grown meat where customers will have no need for concerns with how their meat has been raised, slaughtered, butchered or prepared.

Northern CA Ranch with GMO free 100% Grassfeed Bison needs support
This is a small 2-person ranch in Northern California. They raise 100% grassfed, GMO-free bison in an area where they once were native. Lindner Bison began selling in farmers markets 10 years ago at the Santa Monica and Hollywood Farmer's Markets at a time when almost incredulously, people believed all bison were fed grass. In fact, 80% of all bison today are still placed into feedlots.

Slow Food Orange County Needs You

We are looking for active participants for our Events and Outreach Committees. No experience necessary, just a desire to effect positive change in our community and, of course, a hearty appetite for good food!

EVENTS COMMITTEE: Want to share ideas on how to promote good, clean and fair food? Then take the lead on one specific event or volunteer for the day and help out. To get involved email Stacey Blaschke, Events Chair, at stacey.blaschke@gmail.com.

OUTREACH COMMITTEE: Are you interested in being an ambassador for Slow Food or working on garden projects, food policy or the Snail of Appreciation restaurant program? If so, join the Outreach Committee! Contact Gillian Poe, Outreach Chair, at gpoe@ocfoodaccess.org.

Book Club Meeting

Date: Friday, January 24th

Time: 6:30 PM

Location: Newport Beach

Members and non-members welcome

The January bookclub meeting will be on January 24th in Newport Beach. The book is The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones. RSVP to Diana Tierney at diana.tierney3@gmail.com.

Central OC Food Swap -- Mid-Winter Edition!

Date: Sunday, January 26th

Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Location: The Village, 1505 E. 17th St., Santa Ana 92705

Members and non-members welcome

A Food Swap is part silent auction/part village marketplace/part fun-loving open house where your homemade creations (breads, preserves, special concoctions, canned goods, etc.) become your own personal currency for use in swapping with other participants. What better way to diversify your pantry and network with like-minded friends and neighbors?

Read more

NOTE: You must sign up prior to the event. You may use this link to put yourself on the list.

Orange County Tet Festival

Date: February 7 - February 9

Time: All day

Location: OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

Members and non-members welcome

The Lunar Year of the Horse begins on January 31st , but preparations and festivities start weeks earlier in Little Saigon in the heart of California's suburban Orange County, home to the largest Vietnamese enclave in the U.S.

Pat Welsh's Southern California Organic Gardening

Author and Organic Gardener Pat Welsh presents Growing Great Veggies, the Organic Way

Date: Saturday, March 8th, 2014

Time: 10 AM - 12:30 PM

Location: Tankersley Hall, Laguna Presbyterian Church, 415 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach

Members and non-members welcome

Well known author, and expert on Southern California year round gardening, Pat Welsh, will be speaking on Growing Great Veggies, the Organic Way.

Cost:

Slow Food OC and Laguna Presbyterian Church Members $18
Non-members $20
At the Door members and non-members $25

Purchase Tickets:

Eventbrite - Author Pat Welsh Speaking on Growing Great Veggies, the Organic Way

Past Events

Vitaly Mixer Recap

On Wednesday evening, December 11th, 32 members and non-members of Slow Food gathered together to eat and mingle and ring in the holidays on the lovely patio area at our holiday mixer at the new Italian eatery Vitaly, located in Costa Mesa at The Camp. Vitaly is owned by Maurizio and Barbara Cocchi who were born and raised in Bologna Italy and now transplanted to Orange County. Click Piadina recipe for the bread sold at Vitaly.

Tamale Making Class Recap

A December Tamale Class held in honor of Terra Madre Day, the anniversary of Slow Food was terrific! Terra Madre Day is a celebration of eating locally and celebrating diversity of food traditions. We received many generous donations that unexpectedly allowed this class to serve as a fundraiser for our micro grant program.

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