Boston Flora

Tag: Slow Food

  • Sunday, February 7, 3:30 pm – The End of the Line

    Slow Food Boston’s 3rd Annual Film Series continues with a screening of The End of the Line at the Tufts University Friedman School, 150 Harrison Avenue, on Sunday, February 7 at 3:30 pm.

    Grilling beautiful tuna steaks. The ubiquitous shrimp cocktail. Polluted fish farms. Mercury. Omega 3 fatty acids. Fishing quotas. Ouch – purchasing & consuming seafood has never been so rife with conflict.   This somewhat unnerving documentary The End of the Line explores issues like those above in what the LA Times called a “…crisp, informative and convincing way…” The NY Times says, despite some flaws, that it “…subverts our ancient faith in the ocean as an inexhaustible resource, offering a persuasive case that the major species of edible fish are headed for extinction.”

    Join Slow Food Boston for this in-depth look at current research and thoughts on our oceans, the fish that populate them and the people whose livelihoods depend on them. Oh, not to mention the effects all of it has on those of us on the other end of the chain: the consumers!  Cost is $5, payable at the door by cash or check.

  • Saturday, February 6, 5:00 – 9:00 pm – Earth Dinner

    The First Parish Church, 3 Church Street in Cambridge will host an Earth Dinner potluck on Saturday, February 6, from 5 – 9 pm, which will feature local foods, with a Slow Foods Boston representative, local farmers, and food producers discussing the local food movement.  For more information, log on to www.slowfoodboston.com, or call the church at 617-876-7772.

    http://cubedtv.com//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/slow_food_cubed_tv.jpg

  • Friday, November 13, 5:30 pm – Urban Farming

    Slow Food Boston will sponsor an evening called “Urban Farming Discussion with Two Experts” on Friday, November 13 beginning at 5:30 pm at the Fort Point Artists Community Store, 12 Farnsworth Street in Boston.  You may reserve your spaces by logging on to www.slowfoodboston.com/events.cfm.
    Novella Carpenter lives in Oakland. I mean, really IN Oakland. As in downtown. But that certainly hasn’t stopped her from farming – and she has now written a memoir chronicling the transformation of her backyard from bare land to full-blown animal & veggie paradise!

    The book, Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer, is newly released, and Slow Food Boston coaxed Novella out of sunny California to cool New England to read from it and talk more about her experiences. By doing so, they hope you will be inspired to make a little more out of available space on rooftops, outside windowsills or in yards.

    In order to tie Novella’s work back to local issues, they’ve invited Belmont resident (& resident chicken expert) Joan Teebagy to join Novella. More people are opting to raise their own hens for eggs, and Joan teaches classes on the subject at Codman Farms in Lincoln. But be sure to check your town laws! As many of you may have read, there is an on-going battle in Arlington about residents rights to keep backyard chickens.

    So come on Friday, November 13th at 5:30pm.  There will be some light nibbles, a little cider, and then enjoy the reading & discussions that commence. Advance RSVPs and a $10 donation to the Slow Food fund that supports local agriculture are duly requested!

    Directions:
    Made in Fort Point, the FPAC Store is located at 12 Farnsworth St, just off Congress Street and next to the new Flour Bakery.

    The gallery space is a 5 to 10 minute walk from the South Station Red Line T, or the Court House stop on the Silver Line. There is also street parking in the area.

    http://civileats.com//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/farmcity.jpg

  • Sunday, October 25, 3:00 pm – Cider Hard & Sweet: History, Tradition & Making Your Own

    Meet author Ben Watson at the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, Massachusetts on Sunday, October 25 at 3 pm.  He is a Yale alumnus, Slow Food proponent and farm activist living in Francestown, New Hampshire, and will speak about his new book, Cider Hard & Sweet: History, Tradition & Making Your Own.  Ben provides instruction, recipes and background on cider and cider-making in his work.  Localvores will delight in the idea of preserving apple essence for year-round consumption and historians will enjoy the thought of John Adams drinking hard cider for breakfast. Free with museum admission.  For directions and more information, log on to www.fruitlands.org.

    http://www.seasonalchef.com/watsonbook.jpg

  • Thursday, October 22, 7:00 – 9:30 pm – Land’s Sake Supper Club

    Join Land’s Sake and Slow Food, Boston on Thursday, October 22, beginning at 7 pm at the Josiah Smith Tavern Barn, 358 Boston Post Road in Weston, for a gourmet dinner prepared by chef Sam Hunt. From our farm to this table, Land’s Sake’s Supper Club dinners feature produce from Land’s Sake and other area farms. A portion of the proceeds support the educational programs of Land’s Sake, so please come for a great meal and support the farm! They look forward to sharing a meal with you.  Sam Hunt, a Weston native, is the Executive Chef and Co-Manager at Indigo Bistro in Hamilton, MA. Prior to joining Indigo, Sam was the Executive Chef and General Manager at the West Side Lounge in Cambridge. After switching careers from graphic design and moving back to Massachusetts, Sam spent two years cooking with Barbara Lynch at No. 9 Park in Boston, MA. Cost (includes tax, tip and corkage): $40 for Land’s Sake Members, $50 for non-members (cash or check only) RSVP (required): Please email supper@landssake.org. Kindly include the number of people in your party, their first names and any dietary restrictions (if applicable). Cancellations: Because seating is limited and food is purchased in advance, full payment is required for cancellations made within 48 hours of the event date. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this policy. Special thanks to the Women’s Community League of Weston, the stewards of the Barn, for letting Land’s Sake host this event at this historic landmark.

    Land’s Sake (www.landssake.org) combines ecologically-sound land management practices with hands-on environmental education to model how public open space can be used and enjoyed by the community.

    A 501c(3) nonprofit corporation, Land’s Sake runs a public farm, hosts educational programming for all ages, maintains the town forest for recreational and production uses, and cares for both public conservation and private land.

    Their efforts are centered on three themes:

    • Environmental Education
    • Sustainable Land Management and Open Space Preservation
    • Community-Building and Caretaking

    Bringing people onto the land as visitors to the farm, as volunteers or youth workers, and through active educational programs, they directly connect people to their local ecology. Their work uncovers the intrinsic value of the land around us and the importance of treating the land with respect.

    Land's Sakehttp://www.bottomofthegarden.com/botg/images/newsletter/logosmall.gifLand's Sake

  • Sunday, September 20, 3 pm – Preserving the Harvest: Kimchi

    Fall has officially begun; cooler temps, the kids back to school — and definite, if subtle, changes at the farmers markets. Alongside the later tomatoes and peaches, apples & root vegetables have arrived, and the winter greens are making a re-appearance, too.

    So what’s next in Slow Food’s Preserving the Harvest series? Fermentation! The staff at Slow Food tempted chef Didi Emmons and her trusty assistants into teaching  two kimchi preparations: a chunky, traditional-style kimchi and a more delicately cut local Macomber turnip version.

    Kimchi is simple to learn and incredible delicious (especially when homemade). Plus, it’s good for you! Fermented foods have topped the headlines over the past few years for their nutritional and healing properties.

    You’ll start class discussing the nutrition side of things, with Didi highlighting the importance of incorporating live macrobiotic foods into our diets, and then use veggies fresh from local farms to prepare the kimchis to take home and ferment.

    And you’ll get to taste some previously made kimchis at the end of class, too! Fee is $40, advance registration required.  Click on to www.slowfoodboston.com to register.

    Directions:
    Haley House Cafe is located at 12 Dade Street (immediately off Washington Street) in Roxbury. Directions can be found on their website.

  • Sunday, September 27, 3 – 6 pm – Farm to Table Event at Cape Cod Organic Farm

    Slow Food Cape Cod could think of no better way to provide a fitting finale for the Cape Land and Sea Harvest (CLASH), a weekend long salute to fishing, farming and all things Cape Cod, than a shared meal, featuring the bounty of  local foods. The setting for such a feast is at the source, outdoors in a field at Cape Cod Organic Farm.  A group of chefs, farmers, fisherman, wine makers, cheese artisans, bean roasters, brewers, and musicians  unite for an afternoon of education and fun. The host farmer is Tim Friary; the date is September 27th at 3:00 PM, till it gets dark.  Profits will be donated to the Food Bank, in the form of real food purchased from local farmers.

    The idea of  Farm to Table is to gain a better understanding of the connection between the earth and the food on our plate. Enjoy a leisurely meal, while meeting local food artisans as they educate us on all aspects of what is on our plate. There will be a 5 course meal, each course paired with local wines:

    – Les Hemmila, Barnstable Seafarms and Laura Scheel from Out of the Blue will set up a raw bar with both Barnstable and Wellfleet Oysters.

    – Joe Dunn, of The Island Merchant will create an amazing soup.

    – Stephen Skelton, from The Glass Onion is going to prepare a pasta dish.

    – Liam Luttrell-Rowland from LunaSoul Foods is the man at the helm for the catch from the sea.

    – Peter Hyde, Blue Moon Bistro, is on the grill for meat, secured from NEFF (North East Family Farm).

    – Veronica Worthington, Pleasant Lake Farm, will create a salad, accompanied by an assortment of New England farmstead cheeses.

    – Paul Olaf Lively, from Chef Paul’s Truffles, will wow you with the finale, followed by coffee from The Beanstock Roasters.

    – You will be tasting wines selected from Truro and Westport Vineyards, and of course be served Cape Cod Beer. And did we mention music? Yes, we have Robertchez playing jazz classics and originals (some written just for Slow Food) to lift our spirits and set the mood.

    For pricing, information, and reservations, call 508-375-9883, or email info@CapeCodCLASH.org.

    Image Collage


  • Sunday, September 20 – Director’s Open House at Tower Hill

    Sunday, September 20 – Director’s Open House at Tower Hill

    Celebrate John W. Trexler’s 25th Anniversary as Tower Hill’s founding Executive Director, showcasing the best of Tower Hill.  Fun activities for all ages, multiple garden tours, demonstrations on organic gardening and Italian slow food cooking demonstrations, wildlife exhibits from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, live birds of prey, hawk watching, wildlife photography, lectures on the interaction of plants and animals, videos, and at 2 pm, a special tree dedication in John’s honor.  For more information log on to www.towerhillbg.org.  Free admission all day.

  • Thursday, August 20, 5:30 pm – From Farm to Table: An Inspired Dinner at Tower Hill Botanic Garden

    Under the setting sun over Wachusett Reservoir, the culinary team of Pepper’s will offer an inspired evening featuring an enticing menu created in the tradition of the Slow Food Movement, with the best local raised or produced ingredients from area farms.  Proceeds from the evening support Tower Hill Botanic Garden.  Crystal Brook Farm from Sterling provides fresh goat cheese for the dessert.  The chefs also collaborate with Keown Farm of Sutton, Massachusetts and with John Lee from Allandale Farm in Brookline, Massachusetts, creating foods made from the best that nature has to offer.  John Trexler, Executive Director, will offer a spirited tour of Tower Hill Botanic Garden and dinner will follow.  The date is Thursday, August 20, beginning at 5:30 pm.  Members of Tower Hill – $100, $125 non-members.  Register on line at www.towerhillbg.org.  You may also call 508-869-6111, ext. 124 to register by phone, or email registrar@towerhillbg.org.

    The Menu

    Heirloom Tomato, Watermelon & Cucumber Stacked Salad

    Roasted Assorted Variety of Baby Fingerling Potatoes

    Pan-Seared Local Striped Bass with Lobster Sauce and Stuffed Squash Blossoms

    Braised Short Ribs of Local Beef with Organic Mixed Mushrooms

    Selection of Artisan Breads

    Goat Cheese Cheesecake with lemongrass-scented stone fruits