Cookin' in the 'Cuse

Majora Carter Lecture Tonight!

 
Majora Carter is one of my idols.  A sharp Black woman, committed to justice and sustainability--she has transformed the Bronx and brought the language of "green justice" to communities that have too often been the dumping ground for toxins of all kinds.

She will be speaking at Hendricks Chapel tonight at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Syracuse University Lecture Series--co sponsored by the Syracuse Center of Excellence.  Topic:  Green the Ghetto and How Much it Won't Cost Us.  Hope to see you there!  Oh, and it's free!

From the SU Lectures website:

While the term “green-collar jobs” gains more press and pundits daily, very few people have actually marshaled the resources to get unemployed Americans trained and placed on pathways out of poverty in this growing economic sector. Majora Carter has. Born, raised, and continuing to live in the South Bronx, her work takes her around the world in pursuit of resources and ideas to improve the quality of life in environmentally challenged communities.

Parking at Hendricks Chapel/the Dome is free so come on up.

for more information on the Syracuse University Lecture Series go here.

Healing our Relationship with the Earth--a Conference on September 18

Greenblade--an organization that seeks to integrate creation, faith, and justice--is one of the coolest things going in the Episcopal Church.  They were the ones who took on the challenge of eating local as a community over the course of a year--several years ago.  Their first conference is being held in Camillus this Saturday and with topics like hyrdrofracking, food gardens in faith communities, and Sr. Catherine Grace of Bluestone Farm in Brewster on the agenda--it is something you won't want to miss.  Just as an aside--the community at Bluestone Farm has been working on local, sustainable food issues for a long time and they totally walk the walk. They make their own tofu from soybeans they grow themselves--they are hardcore!

The official press release is included below.  Three other things to note:  the suggested donation is just that--suggested.  Pay what you can--if it is only a couple of bucks--no problem.  And the food is being catered by Abigail Henson--formerly of the Restaurant at Elderberry Pond.  Her food is amazing so count on lunch being spectacular.  Finally, with a nun giving the keynote--there will be God-talk here, Greenblade is about healing the planet from a faith perspective--but people of all faiths, and none, are heartily invited to come--don't let that get in the way.

I hope to see you there!

 

Healing Our Relationship with the Earth: Learn, Reflect Act,  will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Camillus, New York.

We know we must heal our relationship with the earth or the environmental and spiritual legacy we leave coming generations will be grim indeed. In this conference we will explore what healing means, what it requires of us, and how we do it.  Most of all, we will explore how this healing can bring all of us, human and non-human, to a place of fulfillment, abundance, and joy. Greenblade welcomes all who struggle with these questions to bring their thoughts, passions and beliefs and join the dialogue.

The keynote speaker will be Sr. Catherine Grace of Bluestone Farm, an organic farm run by the sisters of the Community of the Holy Spirit, in Brewster, N.Y. Her talk is titled “Grounded in the Cosmos: A New Context for Healing.” Participants will have the opportunity to discuss this talk and then to participate in three afternoon workshops. The topics for these workshops are: “Hydrofracking: Beyond ‘For’ and ‘Against’”; “Landscaping: Listening to the Land”; and “Church Gardens: Food to Share”.

A suggested donation of $40 includes a catered lunch of local and seasonal food. We invite participants to pay as they are able. To register please download and mail the form on the Greenblade site, www.greenblade.org.  Payment is by check.

St. Luke’s is located at 5402 West Genesee St., Camillus, New York. There is plenty of parking and handicapped access.  For further information please email Susan Dixon at [email protected].

Wine, Cheese and Good Food for a Good Cause

Gary Decker is kissing this bottle good bye for a good cause.

Grace Church, Syracuse hosts a Wine and Food Benefit--Friday, March 26, 6-8 pm

Back in December, just days before Christmas, the copper downspouts were stolen from the exterior of our historic sanctuary.  In response, one of our friends in the community, Gary Decker of Vinomania wine shop, offered to host a fund raiser to help us replace them. 

So on Friday, March 26, from 6-8pm Grace Church is hosting a wine tasting and silent auction featuring some incredible wines, gourmet foods made by some of our local culinary stars, and a silent auction.  Tickets are $25.  Far from being just cheese and crackers, we will be serving some incredible food, tasting international artisanal cheeses, and generally having a great time. 

Some of the silent auction items include a magnum of Raymond Cellars 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley, gift certificates from area eateries including bc restaurant in Armory Square, and a gourmet dinner prepared by Steve Kern, director of the Everson Museum and his wife, Josephine.

Please join us for what is sure to be a fun evening. 

To buy a ticket contact Nancy Radke at 491-3211 or [email protected]
Grace Church is located at 819 Madison Street, Syracuse, NY
www.gracesyracuse.org

Stand With Us--Tomorrow at 3:30 at Henninger High School

Tomorrow at 3:30 we hope to have 1200 members of the Syracuse Metro community gather for the ACTS Public Meeting at Henninger High School.  ACTS is the Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse and it is our local inter-faith community organizing group.  Why am I posting about it on this blog?  Because tomorrow we are going to ask our state officials and Syracuse mayoral candidates to stand with us and make some changes around food access.

Maybe I've just been living in my own little world but until recently I didn't know that it is NOT illegal for corner stores to sell unexpired food.  Apparently there are no ordinances on the books that require these corner stores to sell any percentage of actual groceries--lottery tickets, cigarettes and beer make up the majority of sales.  For the South Side of Syracuse these issues are all the more shameful because there is no actual grocery store in that neighborhood. 

I thought the issue was bad enough when I understood that there was a huge food desert in the midst of our city.  It got worse when I understood how few people (children and elderly particularly) have little in the way of transportation to get them to, say, the Wegman's in Dewitt or the Regional Market--not without the trip taking the better part of a day, anyway.  But when I came to understand that the food available to them is more often than not, over a year past date--well I was through.

So if you have some time tomorrow afternoon come and stand with us to show our community and elected officials that we care.  Stand with us to show them that selling cereal that expired in June 2008 is unacceptable.  Stand with us and show them that a supermarket is needed in ALL parts of our city.  Come and support Mable Wilson (of the Newell Street Garden and Syracuse Grows) and show her that she and her community do not stand alone.

ACTS Public Meeting, Sunday, November 1

Henninger High School --600 Robinson St, Syracuse, NY 13206

Harvest Dinners on the Farm--Start Tomorrow

Harvest Dinner prep at Stick and Stone Farm, October 2008

Attending one of the Harvest Dinners (the one hosted at Stick and Stone farm) was a highlight of the year.  These events are a winning recipe of gorgeous location, amazing local chefs, exquisite local food products, and tables filled with people who grow the food and love the food of our region.  The icing on the cake is that the meals are actually fundraisers for Healthy Food for All--making it possible for the economically challenged to participate in CSA programs. 

This year's list of dates, farms, and chefs has been released and the first dinner is tomorrow night at Remembrance Farm.  I think there are still tickets available but if you're looking at the other dates--get your tix soon--one of them has already sold out. 

Liz Karabinakis from the Healthy Food For All program describes the events this way:

Imagine fine dining in the fields with a menu featuring ingredients harvested from just steps away and neighboring farms. Come taste ordinary foods made extraordinary by well renowned chefs cooking right in front of you. Bring out the delicate flavors of the region with wine paired with each course by one of our finest Finger Lakes wineries. Hear the stories from the farmers, winemakers and chefs themselves throughout the evening and peruse the fields that are growing your food.

These truly are unique and memorable culinary experiences not to be missed. All proceeds go to the Healthy Food for All Program, a collaborative effort of local farms and Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County to provide subsidized CSA shares to low-income families in our community.

Tickets are $75.  To purchase tickets and for more information go to www.healthyfoodforall.org. Reservations are required and seating is limited so don't delay.

Remembrance Farm, Trumansburg
Chef Samantha Izzo from Simply Red Bistro
Damiani Wine Cellars
August 23 Click here for menu

Sweet Land Farm, Trumansburg ---SOLD OUT---
Chefs Christina & Jonah from Hazelnut Kitchen
Atwater Vineyards & Billsboro Winery
September 13th  Click here for Menu

Early Morning Farm, Genoa
Chef Sean O'Brien of Serendipity Catering (formerly Chef-Owner of Willow Restaurant)
Bet the Farm Wine
September 20th

Stick & Stone Farm, Ithaca
Chef Hans Butler of Watercress Restaurant
Hosmer Winery
October 11th - Click here for menu

West Haven Farm, Ithaca
Chefs Jen & Stan from Just a Taste
Specialty brews from Ithaca Beer (wine is BYOB)
November 8th

Madison County Buy Local Week--Eat it Up!

 I know you didn't really need a reason to want to eat local but the folks in Madison County are sure making it easy to do.  There is an amazing range of activities and opportunities for discovering local edible treasures all this week.  If you haven't yet had a chance to discover the good food and agriculture of Madison County, or if, (ahem) it's been a while--now's your chance to check out what they have to offer.  See below for a listing of events and check here for more information. 

Event Details:

Buy Local Week kicks off with the Local Food Showcase – five restaurants were invited to prepare either a prix fix menu or an entrée item with all the ingredients
sourced locally. Each day a different Madison County restaurant will take the spotlight and restaurant patrons can expect an epicurean delight.

Participating in the 2009 Local Food Showcase are:

Today--Tuesday, August 18th:  The Copper Turret - 17 W Main St, Morrisville |

Wednesday, August 19th:  Zabroso - 170 Kenwood, Oneida | Chef:  Ruben Lopez
Friday, August 21st:  Circa - 76 Albany St, Cazenovia | Chef:  Alicyn Hart

Saturday, August 22nd:  the Colgate Inn - 1 Payne St, Hamilton | Chef: Kris Angle

Sunday, August 23rd:  The Poolville Country Store - 1245 Earlville Road, Earlville | Chefs:  Roger J. Foster & Charles E. Wilburn

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Thursday August 20th is FRESH! The 2009 Buy Local Gala featuring a full tasting menu, a variety of local microbrews, music by the Julie Falatico Trio, and a silent auction.  Commissioner Pat Hooker, Senator Dave Valesky, and Assemblyman Bill Magee will be on hand to show their support for Madison County Agriculture.

FRESH! promises to be a good time and will be held at Brick Farms in Cazenovia (5753 Rathbun Rd) on August 20th from 6.30 – 10.30. Tickets are $35 per person ($60 per couple) and $20 per person ($35 per couple) if you are a farmer.  Price includes all food and drink.  Tickets can be purchased at the Price Chopper in Madison/Hamilton or Oneida as well as online at this website.
--

Buy Local Week culminates in Open Farm Day on Saturday August 22nd and this year 24 farms and 3 farmers’ markets are throwing open their doors offering a behind the scenes glimpse at what goes into the food you eat.  There will be farm activities and demonstrations, farm animal petting, barn tours, farm-raised products for sale, samples to taste, and much more.  Pick up your passport at any Madison County Price Chopper (Madison/Hamilton and Oneida), outside the Madison County DMV in Wampsville, or look for them as inserts in the Mid-York Weekly and Hi-Nieghbor and visit farms throughout Madison County.

Day Long Ribs That Let You Keep Your Weekend

If you are in the Syracuse area this weekend then you'll know two things to be true:
1.  There are too many fun things going on this weekend.
2.  You have to eat.

To wit:  there's the downtown Arts and Crafs Fair, the new Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival, the Ecofest, the Oswego Harborfest... plus there are chores to do, errands to run, the regular weekend gamut.

With the bounty of produce available, this is also prime time for cooking up delicious food at home.  But who wants to be a slave to the stove on a weekend like this?  Not I.  So here's my game plan:

• Go for a long run--first thing--before the heat and humidity get too high
• Start dinner*
• Check out the markets--CNY Regional Market to stock up on basics and the Greener Bean market in Skaneateles--Home Harvest Organics will have fava beans!  Make a long-overdue visit to the Borodino Schoohouse
• Take care of regular Saturday errands and chores
• Bake and freeze zucchini bread (this will take care of the squash taking over the fridge)
• Check out the events downtown before they wrap up
• Throw together a salad and grill some veggies to go with dinner
• Eat, lick my fingers, collapse, finish reading Three Cups of Tea and off to bed

Okay, its ambitious.  But I guarantee at least four of the items will be checked off by day's end and what will make it possible is dinner.

I am absolutely loving this recipe for sticky balsamic spareribs published in Gourmet magazine last month (and for the record, I do read and cook from other magazines--it's just that Gourmet has been on fire as of late.)  Check out the play by play after the jump.

What are YOU doing this weekend?

I've got some vacation time coming--yay!!!--which means I'll be getting out of town for a few days.  I'm off to bop around the Hudson Valley.  While I"m really looking forward to basking in the beautiful landscape on the banks of that great river and to exploring its culinary hot spots, I'm actually going to miss the 'Cuse.  Especially this weekend.  So if you are sticking around, go check out all the fun stuff I'm going to miss.  And tell me all about it in the comments!

Friday, June 12

University Community Harvest Farmers' Market, 11am - 3pm  Q3 Parking Lot--next to the Quad
I'm so glad to see that Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF and keeping these going.  Vendors include Abdo's Garden Market, Belle Terre Farm, Creekside Meadows Farm, Hafner's and Monarch Farm.  Also committed are Butternut Pottery, Carvel Ice Cream, CSA of CNY, ESF, Ma & Pa's Kettle Corn, Marcy Linsner Jewelry, SpaZend Day Spa, Spud Shack, Sweetrees MapleProducts, Syracuse Soapworks and Watson Greenhouse.

And this won't be the last one.  More markets are scheduled for the Waverly Lot (where it has been held previously) on these dates:  Sept. 11, 18 and 25 and Oct. 2 and 9--mark your calendars!

Saturday, June 12

In addition to the regular goings on at the CNY Regional Market, Cazenovia and Ithaca Farmers' Markets, there will be some new options for getting your produce on:

Greener Bean Farmers' Market.  9am-1pm
This organic market, held in the parking lot of the P&C opens Saturday (this gives Skaneateles an option in addition to the Thursday market).  It features Harvest Home Organics produce and other local farmers and producers. 




Strawberry Picking Opening Day at Cobblestone Valley Farm in Preble.  8am - 4pm.
According to the latest info, strawberry fields aren't forever--they may even be somewhat limited at this point in the season due to farm logistics and weather.  They expect the season to be slower and longer but Saturday will be your chance to get the first pickings.  Keep checking their website for the most up-to-date information.

Have a great weekend and don't forget to drop a comment and let us know how you spent it!

Syracuse First--Think Local. Buy Local. Be Local.

All I can say is, "It's about time!"  I've been waiting a long time to see an organization and campaign dedictad to getting us focused on supporting Syracuse.  I'm convinced that the future strength of our region will rest upon not just local food producers, but thriving and vital independent businesses. 

Come learn more about Syracuse First tomorrow night at Al's Wine and Whiskey Lounge in Armory Square from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.  It is a kind of a launch reception that will feature David Hess, author of Localist Movements in a Global Economy:  Sustainability, Justice and Urban Development in the United States. 

So what is Syracuse First about?  From their FAQ:

Our primary objective is to encourage Syracuse area residents to “Think Local” when they are considering where to make purchases, to “Buy Local” whenever possible and to “Be Local” by supporting businesses that make the Syracuse area unique.

We want to increase market share to independent, locally-owned businesses by increasing awareness about the personal and community benefits of choosing local.

Other goals of the initiative are to provide a platform for local businesses to network and share best practices; devise strategies to help underemployed individuals become more actively engaged in the economy; and advocate public policies that strengthen independent local businesses, promote economic equity, and protect the environment.

Check out their website, come to Al's and meet folks trying to make Syracuse a better place--hope to see you there!

Eating the Landscape--Today at 4pm

Alethea Marie Harper's talk at SUNY-ESF will take place at 4pm in room 409, Marshall Hall on the ESF campus.  She is the Coordinator of the Oakland Food Policy Council and Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy. 

Her toipic is Eating the Landscape:  Landscape Architecture, Urban Agriculture, and Food Systems.

If you have time this afternoon you'll definitely want to check it out.