People Behind the Blogs and ELC 2007

Phew, orientation week at Syracuse University is over and I get back to blogging.  Actually, this means that the crazy life I lead during the academic year is back in gear but this place really isn't the same without the students so it's worth it.  My work life heats up just as things are heating up around the food blog world. 

First, after more than a year of conversing via email and blog comments, I finally got a chance to meet Jill--an amazing woman who often comments on this blog.  Actually she is also a great source for new food and restaurant suggestions.  Jill has several blogs (alas, not about food--though she may want to think about that!) and knows more about the digitization and the virtual world of the internet than I ever knew existed.  We had set up a time to meet at Freedom of Espresso on Monday but as luck would have it, actually, finally, met at the Stones Throw stand at the Regional Market. 

I am more convinced than ever that the food and wine bloggers of Central New York need to get together.  There's already been a suggestion of meeting prior to the Alice Waters lecture on October 9--I like that idea, but wouldn't be able to be there (though I'll be at the lecture).  I've long thought that at meet up at the NY Wine and Culinary Center in Canadaigua would be nice, fun, and central for the folks coming from Rochester and points west.  But then again, what better way for food and wine bloggers to get together than to have a potluck?  What do you all think?

Meanwhile, the 2007 Eat Local Challenge begins on Saturday!  During the rest of this week I'll be posting about some other local producers and farmers that I have been made aware of--there are so many options available to us that this challenge should be a breeze!  Check out this post on the ELC blog site for more information on participating. 

Comments

[Kathleen]

Please let me know if you do have a get together. I'll drive up from Albany to meet everyone!
Kathleen

[Jill Hurst-Wahl]

Now that we've met, I think we'll run into each other all the time. I actually passed you today on Catherine St!

I'd enjoy meeting at a potluck or at the NYWCC. Meeting at the NYWCC means we could just come and not worry about preparing anything. And there is good food in that area.

BTW had sushi downtown yesterday at Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar. Excellent! (And in case you hadn't figured it out, I love sushi!)

[Heather McCoy]

Jennifer I thought you might want to post this, it's an invite we got from Sustainable Table and their eat well tour finaly dinner. We just attended the event here in KC and it was awesome. If we were in Syracuse alreayd we would be attending this too. Maybe a group could get together and make the drive, it would be well worh it.

Calling all foodies and farmers! (Please distribute widely!)

Farm Aid is joining Sustainable Table for the Eat Well Guided Tour of America's grand finale event at Greig Farm in the Hudson Valley. Join us for an unforgettable night under the stars: a gathering of upstate New York's local farmers, artisans, and musicians. Celebrate the harvest and enjoy a gourmet BBQ with homegrown ingredients and local brews, art installations, and live music.

Highlights include:

* Berkshire pork, heirloom vegetables, and local cheeses
* Wilfredo Morel's Steel Imaginations exhibit
* World renowned chef Laura Pensiero
* Video clips from the Eat Well Guide Tour of America

Everyone is invited and it's only 90 minutes from New York City! Can't make it? Join in the action via our LIVE WEBCAST, featuring on-the-ground interviews with chef Laura Pensiero, Farm Aid representatives, Food & Water Watch's Patty Lovera, and Sustainable Table's Diane Hatz.

Tickets are $20 but it's free for all farmers. And bringing a homemade pie made from sustainable local ingredients also gets you in for free. All pies will be entered into a tasting contest -- the winner gets 2 tickets to the Farm Aid concert on September 9th!

To RSVP, purchase tickets in advance, or for more information, please contact Gigi Market at (845) 758-1999 or [email protected]. Read more about the Eat Well Guided Tour of America at www.sustainabletable.org/roadtrip.

The event will be located at Gigi Market at Greig Farm, 227 Pitcher Lane, Red Hook, New York 12571.

This summer barbeque marks the grand finale to Sustainable Table's Eat Well Guided Tour of America, a 38 day, coast-to-coast, tour of farms, farmers' markets, and other sustainable outlets en route to Farm Aid 2007.

For members of the media who wish to join the daytime bus tour highlighting sustainable farmers and vineyards in the Hudson Valley, please contact Denise Hughes at (917) 549-2621 or [email protected], or tune in to view the live event from your computer on the eve of 9/7 at www.sustainabletable.org/roadtrip.