PACS Block Party/Fundraiser

Culinary History Enthusiasts of Wisconsin (CHEW)

August 5, 2009

Come over for dinner … or brunch, or maybe a class.

Dining at School Woods Supper Club

Debra Shapiro, host and head cook at the School Woods Supper Club, a private dining club on Madison’s near east side, will speak about the club and her approach to food and cooking at the August 5th meeting of Culinary History Enthusiasts of Wisconsin (CHEW)

Debra Shapiro grew up wanting to be an artist, and majored in art history in college. This turned out to be the perfect background for years of restaurant work, where she found that cooking was her true art form, or at least people seemed to appreciate it a lot more! Deb calls herself a cook, rather than a chef – she did not attend culinary school, but learned her cooking skills at her mother’s knee, and on the job in restaurants. School Woods Supper Club provides her with the opportunity to do what she loves best – cook for people. At School Woods, she specializes in well-prepared, home-cooked meals, utilizing local and seasonal ingredients as much as possible.

For more about School Woods, see the web site: http://schoolwoods.com/

Meeting Venue:
Goodman Atwood Community Center, Bolz Room A; 149 Waubesa Street, Madison 53704; 608-241-1574. More info: http://www.goodmancenter.org/contact-us

Map to Goodman Community Center

Slow Food for Thought: Food, Inc. Movie next Monday (8/3/09) at Sundance Cinemas

Dear Slow Food enthusiasts,

A thousand thanks to everyone who was able to make it to the Kickapoo Country Fair, and to to Monday’s Slow Food Family Dinner. It was by far the biggest turn out since we started two years ago! We hope you enjoyed the Lebanese food and that you are getting ready to have some delicious Spanish Paella on Monday, August 10th.

In the mean time, we thought it would be fun to take a trip to the theater…

Food, Inc. “Field Trip” on Monday August 3, 2009

Next up, we are going to watch Food. Inc this coming Monday (August 3) at 7:00 pm at Sundance cinema. Join us for a fascinating look at the realities of a highly industrialized food system and to informally discuss how we can bring about meaningful change by looking at our daily purchases from a new angle

We will then hang out at the Hilldale Food Court for a 30 minute group discussion after the movie if you are interested.

It helps if you RSVP to Edmond so we know to look for you, but it is not necessary, if you think you can find us after the movie. You can call 608-698-4656 if you can’t find us.

Bring your friends, bring your enemies, bring an open mind and an appetite for a thought-provoking documentary on the industrialization of food.

When?
Monday, August 3, 2009

Sundance’s 7:15 pm showing

Where?
Sundance Cinemas, at Hilldale Mall’

430 N Midvale Blvd at University Ave. (Map)

How?

You can purchase tickets and reserve seats ahead of time using Sundance’s online ticket reservation system. We recommend you do so as soon as possible in advance as the movie is very popular and might be sold out.

How much?
Sundance tickets for that showing are $11. “Prices are the same whether you purchase seats in advance online, at the box office or at our kiosks at the theatre.” [from the Sundance website]

We hope to see you there!

REAP’s Food Writing Contest!

REAP Food Group Announces Writing Contest

Win cash prizes and publication in Madison Magazine

Inspired by the talents of Michael Pollan, REAP Food Group has announced a writing contest as part of the 2009 Food for Thought Festival, the annual Madison tradition that celebrates local food and sustainable food systems. Pollan, acclaimed author on sustainable food, will be giving the keynote address at this year’s festival on September 26.

With support from Madison Magazine, the contest will solicit entries now through September 4 in the categories of Poetry (500 words or less), Memoir (800 words or less), and Short, Short Fiction (1,200 words or less).

Winners in each category will be announced and invited to read at the festival. Each will receive $100 and have their piece published in a future issue of Madison Magazine. Entrants must be at least 18 years of age and submit a $12 registration fee that will support REAP’s programs. More details and the online entry form are available at www.reapfoodgroup.org.

“In recent decades we’ve become disconnected from our food, but now Americans are beginning to ‘take back the table,’” says Terese Allen, REAP Board Chair. “They’re getting to know food again, paying attention to where food comes from, shopping locally and seasonally, and reconnecting with heritage recipes. All of these things are great fodder for stories about food, and how food connects us to the people and land around us.”

The Food for Thought Festival will be held from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 26 along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard off the Capitol Square. The festival aims to reconnect people with food on a local level through speakers, presentations, and demonstrations; kids’ activities; information booths from more than 60 local vendors and food producers; and more.

Michael Pollan’s appearance scheduled for 10:00 a.m. is made possible in partnership with The Center for the Humanities; Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation; the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies; the Center for Culture, History, and Environment (CHE); the Wisconsin Initiative for Science Literacy; the Bradshaw-Knight Foundation; UW-Madison Libraries; the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

In its 11^th year, the festival is organized by REAP (Research, Education, Action, and Policy) Food Group, with support by Williamson Street Grocery Co-op, Eating Well Magazine, Whole Foods Market, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Fromagination, Organic Valley, MATC Johnson Block & Associates, the Madison Area CSA Coalition, Physicians Plus Insurance Corporation, St.. Mary’s Hospital, and Wisconsin Cheese Originals.

For a festival schedule and more, go to www.reapfoodgroup.org, e-mail info@reapfoodgroup.org or call (608) 310-7836.

Drumlin Fundraiser Dinner

Hello Everyone!

I am posting this in the hopes that you will join me in a fund raising event. As many of you know, Drumlin Community Garden is at a crossroads. Thanks to many supporters like yourself, we have been able to push forward to continue to work to preserving and protecting these 5 acres of pristine land. This community garden has helped to feed 35+ families in the neighborhood and beyond. This is a heritage farm that needs to be preserved and we intend to raise the funds in the attempt to purchase this land with your help.

It is my hope that you will join me in this endeavor and come to the first fund raising dinner of the season. The suggested donation is 10.00 (no one will be turned away from the lack of $) Kids 12 and under eat free!.

Join us at the Historic “Big Pink” at 2849 Oregon Road, Sunday July 26th 5:30-8pm.

Questions? call 320-2419, or 217-0541 www.drumlingarden.org

Thank you for your support.

Family Dinner Night – Lebanese!

Family Dinner Nights just keep getting better! We are very excited to have our own Carole and Houssam Nassif leading our next dinner, Monday, July 27th!

Carole and Houssam are from Lebanon and have been living in Madison for a few years. They joined the slow food movement a year ago, and they love cooking and enjoy sharing their Lebanese cuisine.

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As many of you have noticed, the kitchen can get pretty crowded.  Therefore, we are trying out something different this time.  Check it out!

* We have space for twelve (12) people to come early for the cooking lesson/workshop.  Please let me know if you are interested! You must rsvp for this spot, (and if you do rsvp, please make sure you come)!  The cooking workshop will begin at 5:00.

* Everyone else, please come at 7:30 for a family style dinner and a short presentation on Lebanese Food.  PLEASE RSVP by email (slowfooduw@gmail.com), or on our facebook event page.

When?

Monday, July 27, 2009

Dinner is served ~7:30.

Where?

In the kitchen at the Crossing (in the basement).

1127 University Ave. at Charter St. (Map)

How much?

$5 for members or $7 for non-members will cover the cost of ingredients and supplies.

Drinks and dessert will be available for purchase.  You are also welcome to bring your own non-alcoholic beverages.

***Please note, we are looking for 3 volunteers to stay late to make sure all of the cleaning is finished.  Dinner will be free for volunteers!  Please let us know if you are interested.

Kickapoo Country Fair Volunteering/Camping Trip

Hello food lovers,

You’ve heard me talk about it before.  The time has finally come for the Kickapoo Country Fair!  This is one of the most fun events we take part in, and last year people had so much fun, some called it one of the best experiences of their lives!  This year is bound to be even more exciting, as we are more involved in the programming of the festival, and hope to bring an even bigger group.

Here’s a chance for you to help out at a really fun food/entertainment festival in July. Slow Food UW will be co-managing the two food-related tents at the Kickapoo Country Fair on Saturday July 25 – Sunday July 26. This means we have a lot of great (and easy) work to do and opportunities
for you to volunteer for a good cause.

We are seeking volunteers for both days to help with various tasks around the two food event tents. Besides being a fun event, you get many freebies and meet awesome people.  And to make it even better, for each hour your volunteer, Organic Valley will donate $7 to Slow Food UW, and we’ll be that much closer to being able to open our cafe!  All of the details and sign-up forms are here: http://kickapoo.slowfooduw.org/

The fair is in La Farge, WI – about a 2 hour drive from Madison – located at the edge of the Kickapoo Reserve in one of the state’s most beautiful river valleys.  Volunteers also have the opportunity to camp on-site at the fair with us (if you sign up early!). Again, see all the details at the website above.

We are also arranging ride-sharing for volunteers and others looking to attend the fair.  We hope to have carpools going out to the Festival on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings, and returning to Madison on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

To sign-up to drive or get a ride go to: http://kickapoo.slowfooduw.org/

For any questions or to just let us know you’re interested via email, please email kickapoo@slowfooduw.org.

Thanks and we hope to see you there!

More info about the Kickapoo Country Fair:
http://www.organicvalley.coop/kickapoo/

Highlights include: Demos with Sandor Katz (Wild Fermentation), Brett Dennen, Nanda, farm tours, and much more.

A Review in the Onion Decider

Belly Up: Slow and steady

by Jessica Jones July 9, 2009

The “slow food” movement is an easy enough concept: Food should take more than two minutes to cook, not come in a paper bag shoved through a window, or ever appear in colors that don’t occur in the natural world. Beyond the obvious artery-clearing benefits of slow food, followers are encouraged to support local producers, organic farming, and fair practices for farm workers. Slow Food UW, the local chapter of Slow Food International, makes sure this mission is always tasty for campus crawlers. On Monday, July 13 at 7:30 p.m. at The Crossing, Slow Food UW will hold a Family Dinner Night featuring Thai recipes. Newbies to the movement will learn about the main principles and receive tips on how to become a slow-food devotee, while diehards will discover new ways to turn their farmers’ market finds into masterpiece dishes. Everyone is invited to pitch in early; just show up at 6 p.m. ready to clean, chop, and dice. Bring $5 if you’re already a Slow Food UW member, or $7 if you’re not—either way, it’s a great deal for homemade Thai.

Fatsometer: 5. This isn’t the place to stuff yourself silly—you won’t make any slow food friends eating too much, too fast. But you will get the chance to take in some new flavors and a fresh way of looking at your three squares a day.

A Taste of Thailand

At our next Slow Food UW Family Dinner Night, special guest Quincy Tanner, who is visiting from Stanford for the summer, will show us how to make his favorite Thai dishes.  Pad thai, curry, galangal soup, spring rolls – it’s going to be delicious.  Don’t miss it!

When?

Monday, July 13, 2009

Dinner is served ~7:30.

Come at 6:00 if you want to help cook.

Where?

In the kitchen at the Crossing (in the basement).

1127 University Ave. at Charter St. (Map)

$5 for members or $7 for non-members will cover the cost of ingredients and supplies.

PLEASE RSVP by email (slowfooduw@gmail.com), or on our facebook event page.

Just Coffee Presentation

Join Just Coffee for a Presentation & Discussion of our recent Just Coffee Delegation to La FEM, all-women’s cooperative, in Nicaragua!

Monday July 6th, 2009
7-9PM

Java Cat
3918 Monona Drive
Madison, WI
http://www.javacatmadison.com

Presenters will include:
Colleen Coy – Just Coffee Delegation Coordinator  & Producer Relations
Susan Bacher – Just Coffee Group Sales Coordinator
Brenda McKee – Nicaragua Delegation Alumni
Mark Dohm – Nicaragua & Guatemala Delegation Alumni

This event will feature delicious coffee gelato made by Java Cat with coffee from La FEM that was roasted by Just Coffee!

$5 suggested donation.
Money raised will go to a fund to build farmer to farmer connections between La FEM & another Just Coffee producer group.

This is a co-presentation of Just Coffee and Java Cat. Call Just Coffee at 608-204-9011 or Java Cat at 608-223-5553