Slow Food St. Louis is pleased to announce that our annual fundraiser, Art of Food, will be held on Saturday, July 24^th, from 6:00 to 10:00 pm, at Mad Art Gallery (2727 S. 12th Street, 63118). Proceeds from the event will benefit Slow Food St. Louis’ Small Farm Micro Biodiversity Grant, which over the past two years has given more than $12,000 to local farmers.

Art of Food will showcase the area’s top restaurants, serving up delectable hors d’oeuvres using as many fresh, local ingredients as possible, all prepared in the Slow Food tradition. Confirmed restaurants include Farmhaus (Kevin Willmann), Harvest (Stephen Gontram), Local Harvest Café (Clara Moore), Kakao Chocolate (Brian Pelletier), Monarch (Joshua Galliano), Niche/Taste by Niche/Brassiere by Niche (Gerard Craft), Bridge/Rooster/Bailey’s Chocolate Bar (David Bailey), Five/Newstead Tower Public House (Anthony Devoti), Winslow’s Home (Cary McDowell), Companion Bakery (Josh Allen), Franco (Matt Abeshouse) and Annie Gunn’s (Lou Rook III). A cash bar is also available.

Food-themed art by local artists and a multitude of gift baskets filled with specialty goodies from boutiques, wineries, and restaurants are also up for auction. Confirmed artists include Cbabi Bayoc, Mitch Huett, James Ibur, Tommy Lawless, Josh Monken, Marie Oberkirsch, and Lindy Sullivan. Additional artists will be announced soon.

Tickets for the event are $30 for Slow Food members and $40 for non-members in advance; $40 for Slow Food members and $50 for non-members at the door. Sponsors include Mad Art Gallery and Schlafly. St. Louis Earth Day and Replenishing the Earth will be managing the recycling/composting efforts as Art of Food is a low-waste event.

Slow Food is a non-profit, eco-gastronomic, member-supported organization that was founded in 1989 to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions, and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes, and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.

For more information about this event visit www.artoffoodstl.com. To purchase tickets, please visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/114836.

And as promised, the menu…

Annie Gunn’s – Lou Rook III

Roasted Viking Village Sea Scallop with Annie Gunn’s Bacon and Ratatouille.

Companion – Josh Allen

1. Panzanella “Bread Salad”  – Companion Roasted Garlic Fougasse w/ local heirloom tomatoes and cucumbers (working to identify farmer this week)

2. Grilled Bread Station with assorted pestos & tapenades

Five – Anthony Devoti

Benne’s Farm Pork confit, sesame cracker, tomato jam and pickled Claverach Farm baby carrots.

Harvest – Stephen Gontram

Harvest Bread Pudding

Kakao Chocolate – Brian Pelletier

1:Bacon Caramels Made with bacon from Hinkebein Hills Farms and local honey.

2: Chocolate Dipped Double-Layer Pates de Fruits

Local Harvest Café – Clara Moore

Horseradish Pickled Heirloom Tomato Relish on a Prairie Breeze Cheese Biscuit

Monarch – Josh Galliano

Prairie Grass Farms Goat Terrine, eggplant tapenade, Greek yogurt, fennel mostarda

Niche – Gerard Craft

white gazpacho, smoked grape sorbet

Sidney Street Café

Rabbit bratwurst with Companion brioche and house made sauerkraut

Winslow’s Home

Winslow’s Farm Cucumbers and Heirloom Tomatoes with pulled Prairie Grass Farm Lamb

and dishes still to come from…

Bailey’s Chocolate Bar, Farmhaus, Mad Art Gallery, Franco

Slow Food St. Louis is pleased to announce that our annual fundraiser, Art of Food, will be held on Saturday, July 24^th, from 6:00 to 10:00 pm, at Mad Art Gallery (2727 S. 12th Street, 63118). Proceeds from the event will benefit Slow Food St. Louis’ Small Farm Micro Biodiversity Grant, which over the past two years has given more than $12,000 to local farmers.

Art of Food will showcase the area’s top restaurants, serving up delectable hors d’oeuvres using as many fresh, local ingredients as possible, all prepared in the Slow Food tradition. Confirmed restaurants include Farmhaus (Kevin Willmann), Harvest (Stephen Gontram), Local Harvest Café (Clara Moore), Kakao Chocolate (Brian Pelletier), Monarch (Joshua Galliano), Niche/Taste by Niche/Brassiere by Niche (Gerard Craft), Bridge/Rooster/Bailey’s Chocolate Bar (David Bailey), Five/Newstead Tower Public House (Anthony Devoti), Winslow’s Home (Cary McDowell), Companion Bakery (Josh Allen), Franco (Matt Abeshouse) and Annie Gunn’s (Lou Rook III). A cash bar is also available.

Food-themed art by local artists and a multitude of gift baskets filled with specialty goodies from boutiques, wineries, and restaurants are also up for auction. Confirmed artists include Cbabi Bayoc, Mitch Huett, James Ibur, Tommy Lawless, Josh Monken, Marie Oberkirsch, and Lindy Sullivan. Additional artists will be announced soon.

Tickets for the event are $30 for Slow Food members and $40 for non-members in advance; $40 for Slow Food members and $50 for non-members at the door. Sponsors include Mad Art Gallery and Schlafly. St. Louis Earth Day and Replenishing the Earth will be managing the recycling/composting efforts as Art of Food is a low-waste event.

Slow Food is a non-profit, eco-gastronomic, member-supported organization that was founded in 1989 to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions, and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes, and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.

For more information about this event visit www.artoffoodstl.com.  To purchase tickets, please visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/114836.

The Good, The Big, & The Ugly, a celebration of the locally-grown tomato!

Slow Food St. Louis and Farm to Family Naturally, a Missouri Farmers’ Union Cooperative effort, are pleased to announce The Good, The Big, & The Ugly Homegrown Tomato Festival, a celebration of the locally-grown tomato, will be held on Saturday, July 31st, from 12:00 to 4:00 pm, at Sappington Farmers’ Market/Orlando’s (8400 Watson Road, 63119).

At the heart of the event will be a homegrown tomato contest, where tomatoes will be judged on weight, brix (sugar content), and taste, and of course, the best looking and the ugliest tomatoes will be awarded prizes as well. Both conventional and heirloom tomatoes are welcome, as are first-time tomato growers. A $1.00 entry fee will charged for each tomato entered into the contest.

In addition, this event will feature a tomato cocktail contest, where professional mixologists will be paired with local tomato growers–all of whome have received Slow Food St. Louis Small Farm Biodiversity Micro-grants. This year’s pairs include Matt Seiter of Sanctuaria and Justin Leszcz of Yellow Tree Farm, Ted Kilgore of Taste by Niche and Karrie Johnson of Red House Farm, and Nate Selsor of Monarch Restaurant and Gabriel Walbridge of Ozark Harvest Farm.

The Good, The Big, & The Ugly is an event for all ages; seed saving and preservation demonstrations will interest adults, while the children’s booth will provide fun for kids of all ages. Live music will be provided by FolknBluesGrass. This event is sponsored by Absolut Vodka and the United States Bartenders Guild.

Slow Food is a non-profit, eco-gastronomic, member-supported organization that was founded in 1989 to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions, and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes, and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.

Farm to Family Naturally is a Missouri Farmers’ Union Cooperative effort, dedicated to bringing the highest quality, local, affordable, sustainable, organic, and natural foods straight from the farm to your table.

• What: Slow Food St. Louis The Good, The Big, & The Ugly Tomato Festival
• When: Saturday, July 31, 12-4PM
• Where: Sappington Farmers’ Market & Orlando’s, 8400 Watson Road, 63119

Events include:

• $1 Entry Fee for Tomato
• Judged on weight, brix, taste, best looking and most ugly
• Conventional and heirloom tomatoes, and first-time growers, welcome!
• Professional mixologist/grower tomato cocktail contest
• Seed Saving/preservation demos, kids booth… fun for all ages.
• Live music by FolknBluesGrass (folknbluesgrass.com)

The event will take place approximately one and a half hours from St. Louis at Prairie Grass Farms in New Florence, MO.  We encourage guests to arrive early for small talk and snacks at 2:00PM.  A walking tour of the farm with Dave Hillebrand will commence at 3:00PM, and dinner will begin at approximately 4:00PM.  As slow food takes time to serve and enjoy, the ending time of the event is open.

Proceeds from the event will be used to support Slow Food St. Louis’ Micro Grant program.  Started in 2009, the program has given more than $12,000 to area farmers to encourage them to produce heirloom and heritage vegetables and livestock.  It is our hope that by taking on a share of the financial burden farmers are faced with by subsidizing the purchase of the necessary seed, livestock or equipment, that we can foster biodiversity to both maintain and enrich our region’s agricultural heritage.

You can find more information about our Micro Grant program on our website: www.slowfoodstl.org

Please note: Although dinner takes place under the cover of a three-sided barn, this is ultimately an outdoor event, and will take place rain or shine.

As mentioned, with only a handful of tickets still available, we expect the event to sell out fast.  If any tickets remain after May 29th, the cost will increase to $120.

• Monarch – www.monarchrestaurant.com
• Yia Yia’s – www.yiayias.com/stl
• SleeK Steakhouse  – www.fleurdelyssf.com
• Entre Underground – www.entreunderground.com
• Five Bistro – www.fivebistro.com
• Sidney Street Café – www.sidneystreetcafe.com
• Niche – www.nichestlouis.com
• Farmhaus Restaurant – www.farmhausrestaurant.com
• Schlafly Beer – www.schlafly.com
• Les Bourgeois Vineyards – www.missouriwine.com

As they are donating the space, please purchase the book from Puddn’Head Books and mention that you are buying it for the Book Club.  You will receive a 20% discount off the price of the book.

Please read a copy of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle prior to the meeting, and arrive ready to discuss any thoughts or ideas that it inspires in you.

You can also check out the book’s website: http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/

See you there!

• Date: 2010-06-24
• Start Time: 07:00PM
• Location: Pudd’nHead Books, 37 S. Old Orchard, Webster Groves, MO 63119 (in the shopping center that includes Ben Franklin)

Come see a FREE screening of the film Food Inc. Tuesday, June 1, 5pm, at the Life Victory Center, 2922 North Grand, 63107! This event is a part of the national Ingredients for Change Campaign, sponsored by Active Voice and is sponsored by Imhotep Academy and Healthy Youth Partnership.

Featuring:

• Guest Speakers Darvin Green of the Missouri Agricultural Products Cooperative and Ben Graham, Certified Holistic Health Consultant
• Childcare
• Door Prizes

Details:

• Date: 2010-06-01
• Time: 5:00 PM
  
• Location: Victory Center, 2922 North Grand, 63107
• Link out: Click here

Sunday, April 26 Slow Food St. Louis will once again have a booth at the St. Louis Earth Day festival.  If you’ve been wondering who we were and what we’re about, or simply wanted to say hello, come on by.

We’ll be located in the Farmers’ Market area and one of our co-leaders along with our other volunteers will be there all day.

FILMS
Films are shown in the Crown Room at Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Avenue in Maplewood.
7:30 PM. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated.

March 15 – Homegrown

Homegrown is the inspiring true story of the amazing Dervaes family who are living off the grid in urban Pasadena, California. They raise chickens, milk goats and harvest over 6,000 pounds of produce on a tiny suburban plot. This film is an intimate portrait of what it is like to live a Little House on the Prairie lifestyle in the 21st century. They demonstrate just how productive and sustainable a backyard garden can be.

March 29 – Mad City Chickens

Mad City Chickens documents the return of the urban backyard chicken in Madison, Wisconsin. It is a sometimes serious, sometimes whimsical look at the people who keep chickens in their backyards. From chicken experts and authors to a rescued landfill hen or an inexperienced family that decides to take the poultry plunge—and even a mad professor and giant hen that takes to the streets—it’s an informative, humorous and heartfelt trip through the world of backyard chickendom.

April 5 – Dirt! The Movie

DIRT! The Movie, tells the amazing and little known story of the relationship between humans and living soil. The film offers a vision of the critical connection between humans and the six inches of topsoil that sustains us. Dirt profiles global visionaries who are determined to repair the damage we’ve done before it’s too late. If you care about your food, water, the air you breathe, your health and happiness…… it’s time to see DIRT! The Movie, roll up your sleeves for action and Get Dirty.

April 20 – Big River and Farming with Nature

Big River is a documentary about the ecological consequences of industrial agriculture. Follow Ian Cheney and Kurt Ellis (King Corn) by canoe as they trace the path of the residual herbicide and fertilizer used on their Iowa farm. Their journey downstream reveals the environmental impact of these widely used chemicals. Farming with Nature is an exploration of the amazing permaculture practices of Sepp Holzer. Mr. Holzer has transformed an Austrian mountainside into a “food forest” of terraced vegetable gardens, orchards and fish ponds that supplies the local community with sustainable food.

April 26 – The Real Dirt on Farmer John

The Real Dirt on Farmer John is the epic tale of a maverick Midwestern farmer. An outcast in his Illinois community, Farmer John Peterson bravely stands amidst a failing economy, vicious rumors, and violence. By melding the traditions of family farming with the power of art and free expression, this powerful story of transformation and renewal heralds a resurrection of natural farming in America.

May 4 – FRESH

FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a brighter future of our food and our planet.

A Chemical Reaction

Date and location of this St. Louis premier showing to be determined

A Chemical Reaction, explores the effects of pesticides and herbicides on human health. It tells the story of one of the most powerful and successful community initiatives in the history of North America. When Canadian dermatologist, June Irwin makes the connection between ordinary lawn chemicals and her patients’ health problems, her scientific findings persuade the town of Hudson to ban the use of all lawn chemicals. The most mighty chemical companies in North America put their full legal weight on the town to challenge the ban.

WORKSHOPS
All workshops are held on Saturdays from 9:00-12:00 noon
at Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Avenue, Maplewood.
To register call Sue Kaiser at 314 630-5910 or email brickcitygardens@yahoo.com.
$45 per workshop or all six workshops for $210 – a savings of $60.

March 20 – No-till Vegetable Gardening

Mother Nature doesn’t plow the soil to plant her seeds, and neither must you. Learn how to grow a garden using labor-saving, no-till methods that prepare and fertilize the soil simply by adding mulch and compost to the surface. This modern, organic approach has many advantages as it saves time and labor, preserves the life of earthworms and other beneficial soil life, prevents erosion and soil compaction, and greatly reduces weed growth and evaporation of water. In doing so, it more easily grows beautiful, healthy plants. Taught by Patrice Gros. Patrice Gros is a certified organic vegetable farmer from Eureka Springs, Arkansas who has been using no-till methods at Foundation Farm for 12 seasons. He also teaches workshops and trains aspiring farmers at Foundation Farm School.

April 3 – Chickens 101 Raising Chickens in the City

Provide your family with truly fresh, organic eggs by learning how to keep chickens in your backyard. This comprehensive workshop tells you everything you need to know, from coop design and feed formulas to city ordinances governing urban livestock. Taught by Julia Weese Young. Julia is a long-time urban chicken farmer who teaches classes on raising chickens.

April 10 – The Art and Science of Composting

Homemade organic compost is the best thing you can add to your garden. Composting is a living process in which ordinary ingredients are transformed into a magical substance that fertilizes plants, conserves water, introduces healthy microbes and prevents disease. Learn how to recycle your leaves, grass clippings and food scraps into the “black gold” that will grow a healthy, abundant garden. We will cover thermal composting, worm composting, and biodynamic starters. Taught by Frank LeBeau. Frank is an organic market gardener, landscaper, and farm hand.

April 24 – Permaculture – Creating a Backyard Garden of Eden

Permaculture is based on the design of nature. It was formulated by Australians, Bill Mollison and David Holmgren who carefully observed how native plants grew in the wild. By applying their understanding they have created abundant “food forests” in various climates around the world. Their designs bring plants, sun, soil, rain and organic matter together to create self-sustaining, “permanent agricultural” gardens. Once established, these gardens require minimal maintenance and produce a cornucopia of crops for generations. Taught by Bill Wilson. Bill Wilson is the co-founder of Midwest Permaculture in Stelle, Illinois and teaches permaculture courses throughout the United States.

May 1 – Beyond Organic Gardening

Grow healthy, nutritious crops using the most advanced ecological practices. Learn how to create raised garden beds with well-structured soil and a correct mineral profile. Discover how to create a “living soil” with beneficial microbes that provide fertility and protect plants from disease. Triple normal garden yields by using intensive planting design and biodynamic preparations. Taught by Mark Trela and Frank LeBeau. Mark Trela is a biodynamic farmer from Terra Haute, Indiana with 25 years experience growing wine grapes, cut flowers and vegetables.

May 8 – Wildly Abundant Gardening – Controlling Pests and Providing Fertility Naturally

Grow a luscious, healthy pest free garden. Learn how to make safe and effective organic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers from inexpensive household products. Control weeds and prevent plant diseases by using compost teas, companion planting and attracting beneficial insects that eat the bad bugs. You

Download a Printable Good Gardening Good Food Flyer

We’re starting the year with…..

STL Vermicompost 101 hosted by Sara Allin

This kid-friendly workshop will be held on Saturday January 16^th from 10am to 12pm at Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood.  Attendees will learn how to make their own worm bins, learn how super-rich vermicompost can enhance gardens and houseplants, and learn the benefits of keeping kitchen waste out of landfills.  This type of composting is perfect for apartments, condos, and other small spaces.

The cost of the workshop includes:

-One worm bin & construction materials (bin, bedding, use of tools & supervised instruction)

-A resource list for additional help after class

-A discount offer on worms provided by Bob Ingram, owner of www.magicworms.com

The cost per household is $25.  Individuals are $15.

*Up to 4 per household, each additional member is $5.

Class size is limited to 40 people.  Please RSVP to shannon.connelly@slowfoodstl.org by January 10, 2010.

Screening of “Sister Bee” with a Q&A by Eastern Missouri Beekeepers Association President, Bob Sears

Slow Food St. Louis will present Sister Bee at Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood at 7pm on Tuesday January 26^th.   Sister Bee is a lyrical documentary about six beekeepers who find beauty and wonderment in their work with honeybees. Beekeeping is more than a hobby for the beekeepers of Sister Bee. It’s a source of laughter, learning and connecting with the natural world. They follow the arc of the beekeeping year beginning with spring queens and ending with the fall honey harvest.

Running time is 30 minutes, and will be followed by an informative question and answer session with Eastern Missouri Beekeepers Association President, Bob Sears.

There is a suggested donation of $5.  Proceeds will be split between Slow Food St. Louis and the Eastern Missouri Beekeepers association.

Home Brewing with STL Hops’ Mike Sweeney

Join us at 10:30am on January 30^th for a beer-making workshop.  Mike Sweeney is an experienced home-brewer, as well as the owner of the popular St. Louis beer blog, STL Hops.  He also serves as the beer manager for, Brasserie, Niche and Taste by Niche.

Mike will be showing you the ins and outs of brewing your own beer.  Two different methods of homebrewing will be demonstrated and complimentary beer will be provided.

Cost is $15 per person, and space is limited to 15 individuals.  The workshop will be held at the instructor’s home, and directions will be sent to confirmed attendees. Please RSVP to shannon.connelly@slowfoodstl.org.

Urban Livestock Raising with Merryl Winstein

Come watch baby goats, and learn about urban animal husbandry at Merryl Winstein’s farm in Webster Groves.  Merryl keeps goats, chickens, and turkeys on her urban farm.  Merryl’s farm is the only source of truly local raw goat milk in the metro area, and she’s famous for cheese-making.

Urban livestock raising will be held on March 6^th from 10am -11:30am.  There is a suggested donation of $5, and space is limited to 30 individuals.  The workshop will be held at the instructor’s home, and directions will be sent to confirmed attendees.  Please RSVP to shannon.connelly@slowfoodstl.org.

A Slow Taste of Tuscany

St. Louis, MO / November 10, 2009 / www.slowfoodstl.org/sfstl_tuscan_dinner.pdf – Wednesday, November 18, 2009, join Slow Food St. Louis and Welcome Books as they team up with Onesto Pizza & Trattoria to present a celebration and special dinner commemorating the release of Welcome Books’ new book: SLOW: LIFE IN A TUSCAN TOWN.

In the spirit of The Oxford Project and American Farmer, SLOW: LIFE IN A TUSCAN TOWN, by Douglas Gayeton, is a magical and utterly unique portrayal of rural Italian life, and a tribute to the region’s kaleidoscope of charming local characters whose livelihoods and shared culture center on the growing, preparing, eating, and everyday pleasures of food.  Gayeton’s imaginative and interactive portraits are layered with handwritten notes, anecdotes, recipes, quotes, historical facts and sayings that cleverly bring context and color to the subject of each sepia toned image.  The book also features a preface written by Slow Food International founder, Carlo Petrini, and an introduction by notable Slow Food USA member, Alice Waters.

With support from Zagat, in celebration of the book’s release, Welcome Books has contacted leaders of Slow Food and other sustainable food organizations nationwide to host dinners across North America.

As Slow Food St. Louis co-leader, Bill Burge said, “When Welcome Books contacted me about finding a local Italian restaurant doing things ‘Slow’, Vito was the first person I thought of.  Every Wednesday we see him hounding the best farmers at the Maplewood Farmers’’ Market to source the finest products he can for his customers.  He obviously feels it’s the right thing to do, and we couldn’t be more pleased to have the opportunity to have teamed up with Vito and Michele.”

The dinner will feature of a 5 course Tuscan-themed pre-fixe menu at three price points: $40 for the 5 course pre-fixe menu only, $55 for the 5 course pre-fixe menu & wine pairing, and $83 for 5 course pre-fixe menu, wine pairing, and a signed copy of SLOW: LIFE IN A TUSCAN (this represents 44% off the publisher’s retail price). For reservations contact Michele Racanelli (314)802-8883.

A Slow Taste of Tuscany

Gli Antipasti

Appetizer

Gamberetti all’ Agro con sedani in pinzimonio

Marinated sweet shrimp over celery hearts dipped in extra virgin olive oil

I PRIMI

First Course

Pappardelle al salsiccie di cinghiale

Wide noodles tossed with wild boar sausage

I Piatti di Mezzo

Middle Course

Crostoni Uova alla Cacciatora

Hunter’s eggs-Egg poached with tomato and truffle

I Secondi

Main Course

Bracioline Affogate

Veal braised with porcini, red wine and stewed tomatoes

I Dolci

Dessert

Caffe in Forchetta

Coffee on a fork

Onesto Pizza & Trattoria (www.onestopizza.com) is located at 5401 Finkman St., St. Louis, MO.  Owned and run by chef Vito Racanelli and his wife, Michele, the restaurant’s philosophy is that cooking with the freshest ingredients makes the best food and, to that end, utilizes only organically or locally grown/raised fruits and vegetables; antibiotic and hormone-free proteins; and seafood in no threat of endangerment.

Slow Food St. Louis (www.slowfoodstl.org) is an educational organization devoted to promoting fresh, local, and sustainably-produced food, biodiversity, and the preservation of food traditions, as well as celebrating the pleasures of the table.  They are the local St. Louis chapter of Slow Food USA and Slow Food International.