Slow Food Cincinnati

Cooking with Whole Grains - Sep 10th, 10AM - 1PM

2011-09-05T10:06:00.003-04:00

Do you want to expand your use of whole grains but find the bulk bins bewildering? Join me as we discuss the following:

o Cooking techniques and recipe ideas
o Types of whole grains and seeds (physical examples will be provided)
o Levels of grain processing and how it affects the cooking process
o Buying and storing tips

We will then move into the kitchen to make an entire meal based on whole grains and seeds – salad, fritters and a dessert. You will leave with the knowledge to incorporate more than just wheat and rice into your everyday cooking!

Classes are held at the Meshewa Farm, 7550 Given Road. The cost of the class is $40. Sign up on the "cooking classes" tab of www.dandelionchef.com. Email Laura with any questions: laura@dandelionchef.com.

Charcoal Grilling Class : July 16th, 10AM-1PM

2011-07-05T13:12:00.001-04:00

Charcoal grilling is simple in theory – light the coals and cook until “done”. Why then is it so hard to get perfectly cooked food from the grill? Join me to learn the essentials of charcoal grilling:

What to consider when purchasing a grill

Proper tools and equipment

Building/starting a fire based on the food being grilled

Preparing the grill for cooking

Grilling techniques and tips for consistent results

Turning your grill into a smoker

We will then fire up the grill and start cooking! Everything will be cooked on the grill: bone-in, spice rubbed chicken, farm fresh vegetables and more. You will leave with the skills and knowledge to take the guesswork out of grilling! Cost of the class is $40. The class is held at Meshewa Farm, 7550 Given Rd. Sign up on Laura’s website at http://www.dandelionchef.com/ and send any questions to Laura@dandelionchef.com.

Slow Food happy hour Thursday June 16th

2011-06-12T23:15:00.000-04:00

Join Slow Food Cincinnati for our next happy hour at the Northside Tavern on June 16th from 6-8PM! This time we will be starting off with local and organic snacks in the front courtyard from another Northside favorite, Picnic and Pantry. You can also enjoy drinks specials like $3.50 draught beer, $3.25 well drinks and $4.25 wine until 8PM!

If you missed the first happy hour, it was not only fun and social, but also a really great opportunity to talk to the leadership of Slow Food Cincinnati and let us know what you think.

Whether you are looking to get involved, have an idea for an event or just want to have a drink with other like-minded people, the happy hour is your opportunity!

RSVP on facebook if you plan to make it! We hope to see you there!!

Chicken Class : June 11th, 10AM-1PM

2011-06-06T13:20:00.000-04:00

Buying a whole chichen is an economical alternative to buying pre-cut parts. However, “breaking it down” and properly cooking each piece can be intimidating. Join Dandelion and Turner Farm in the kitchen for step-by-step, hands-on instruction on how to safely and efficiently break down a whole chicken into breasts, wings, thighs and drumsticks. You’ll learn the best cooking procedures for each piece and then end the class by preparing a few recipes together. Don’t be surprised if you leave with a new “favorite piece.” Visit the cooking classes tab of Dandelion's website to sign up. The cost of the class is $50 which includes a whole chicken from Turner Farm.

Quick Bread Cooking Class : May 14th 10AM - 1PM

2011-05-02T11:08:00.001-04:00

Dandelion, in collaboration with Turner Farm, is holding a class focusing on quick breads - that is, breads made quickly by using a leavener other than yeast. Made fresh and at home these breads are not only "quick", but easily surpass the flavor and texture of any store-bought or pre-packaged option. We will discuss different types of quick bread, mixing techniques and flavor additions. We will also have hands-on experience making two styles of quick bread: 1) biscuits in a savory application and 2) scones in a sweet application. They will be served with various accompaniments from the farm so you won't leave hungry. To sign up, visit the "cooking classes" tab of Laura's website: www.dandelionchef.com. The cost of the class is $35. Contact Laura with any questions at laura@dandelionchef.com.

Risotto Class : April 16th

2011-04-04T12:31:00.005-04:00

Dandelion, in collaboration with Turner Farm, is teaching a risotto making class on April 16th from 10AM-1PM. You will not only have hands-on experience making risotto, but you will also learn why each step in the process is so important. Below is just a sample of the questions that will be answered:

Rice varieties: what properties you should look for in choosing rice

Acidic component: why an acidic component is so important

Stock: why you need to add stock in small quantities

Flavoring: when should you add meat, vegetables and herbs

Ratios: how much uncooked rice, stock and wine is needed per serving

Also, we will be making 3 or 4 varieties of risotto in the class for all to try, including Mushroom, Saffron and Spinach w/ Goat Cheese!

Visit the "cooking classes" tab to sign up: http://www.dandelionchef.com/. We hope to see you there!

Slow Food Happy Hour!

2011-04-01T18:39:00.001-04:00

Slow Food Cincinnati will host their first happy hour at MOTR Pub on April 26th from 6-8PM! Not only is it fun and social, but it’s also your opportunity to talk to the leadership of Slow Food Cincinnati and let us know what you think. Got a great idea for an event? Looking for ways to get involved? Want to learn more about Slow Food? Just looking to have a relaxing drink with other “Slow” minded people? The SFC happy hour is your opportunity! MOTR Pub is located at 1345 Main Street in Over the Rhine. Can't make it this time? Don't worry - we plan to hold these informal get-togethers every couple of months at various locations around the city.

Slow Food and Wine in Porkopolis

2011-03-23T11:21:00.002-04:00

Slow Food Cincinnati and The Party Source host this introductory tasting of heritage pork and handcrafted wine. This is the way pork tasted when Porkopolis ruled the world! We'll try some local wines plus some classics from the Italian home of Slow Food. Meet local producers, farmers, vintners and more in this taste education event of "good, clean and fair" food.

The event will be held on May 11th from 6:30 - 8PM at the Party Source. The cost is $25 and you can reserve your seat here: http://www.thepartysource.com/eq_itemview.php?Id=3031

We hope to see you there!

Matt, Sarah, Krishna and Laura
Slow Food Cincinnati Board

Cooking Class : April 16th

2011-03-18T17:16:00.001-04:00

Turner Farm and Laura Robinson will hold a hands-on, farm-to-table cooking class in the Meshewa kitchen on April 16th, from 10AM – 1PM. This is the fourth in a series of classes that will focus on essential cooking techniques using seasonal ingredients picked fresh from the farm.

Risotto is one of very few dishes that is generally better prepared at home than in a restaurant. This is mainly due to the fact that world-class risotto has no effective shortcuts and is never prepared ahead of time. In this class you will learn proper risotto-making techniques and the science behind each indispensible step. As always, we will integrate food from the farm to create a few seasonal varieties of the dish.

The class will begin in the Meshewa kitchen, located at 7550 Given Road in Cincinnati. After we finish eating (and weather permitting), we will tour the Turner Farm gardens. Please dress appropriately.

To sign up, please visit the “cooking class” tab of Laura’s website: www.dandelionchef.com. The cost of the class is $35. Email Laura with any questions at laura@dandelionchef.com.

Fresh Pasta Making Class : March 12th 3-6PM

2011-02-22T16:32:00.002-05:00

Turner Farm and Laura Robinson will hold a hands-on, farm-to-table cooking class in the Meshewa kitchen located at 7550 Given Rd*, on March 12th, from 3-6PM. This class is focused on making fresh pasta from scratch. We will walk through all step together and finish with a meal at the end of class. Please bring your own rolling pin and dress appropriately as we may tour the Turner Farm gardens, weather permitting.

To sign up, please visit the “cooking class” tab of Laura’s website: www.dandelionchef.com. The cost of the class is $35. Email Laura with any questions at laura@dandelionchef.com.

*Please note the classes are NOT held at Turner Farm. They are held at the Meshewa Farm, which is located next to Turner Farm. The kitchen is in the same building that is occupied by the Cincinnati Waldorf School Early Childhood Center.

Slow Food Cincinnati needs your help!

2011-02-09T14:42:00.001-05:00

We’re calling out to all our members and fans to join us in a discussion for the future direction of Slow Food Cincinnati chapter. We, as a chapter, are undergoing reorganization and we want to hear from you on how we can keep SFC alive. Tell us what types of events you want to have for 2011 and what you want to gain from Slow Food Cincinnati chapter. And finally, for those that want to volunteer your time with the organization, this is for you. Some of the areas where volunteering opportunities are available: Communications (blog, website, emails) and Outreach (start contacting restaurants/farmers, get their support), Finance (bookkeeping, budget, treasurer) and Event Planning.

The meeting will be at Park + Vine on Saturday February 26th at 10 AM.

We look forward to seeing you there,

The Slow Food Cincinnati Board
Matt, Krishna, Laura, and Sarah

TEDx Free live streaming food talks this Saturday

2011-02-09T00:47:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note that TEDx Manhattan's theme this Saturday, February 12th is "Changing the way we eat" and they will be holding a free live-stream of all the speakers from 10:30AM to 6 PM with dozens of awesome food speakers including president of Slow Food national Josh Viertel. Check out the speakers and how to stream on their site here: http://www.tedxmanhattan.org/ its a great chance to catch a number of talks while kicking back after a trip to you favorite farmer's market.

Cooking Class : Feb 12th

2011-01-20T09:42:00.000-05:00

Turner Farm and Laura Robinson will hold a hands-on, farm-to-table cooking class in the Meshewa kitchen on February 12th, 2:30-5:30PM. This is the second in a series of classes that will focus on basic cooking techniques using seasonal ingredients picked fresh from the farm.

Everyone has their favorite soup. For some it's the comfort of a hearty chicken noodle, for others it's the complexity of a classic French onion. Others still prefer the richness and depth of a chowder or bisque. In any case, the success of a good soup depends on both a good stock and the appropriate introduction of any variety of ingredients. In this class we will begin by making an easy and flavorful stock. We will then learn how to best introduce vegetables, starches and meat to build a soup that will convince you homemade really is better!

The class will begin in the kitchen, located at 7550 Given Road, adjacent to Turner Farm. After starting on the stock and weather permitting, we will tour the gardens and pick the vegetables used in the soup, so please dress appropriately. We will then finish back in the kitchen and enjoy a meal together.

Space is limited, so please email Turner Farm if you are interested in joining (turnerfarm@zoomtown.com). The cost of the class is $35 and a check must be received by February 9th to reserve your spot in the class. Checks are payable to Turner Farm.

January Cooking Class at Turner Farm

2010-12-30T15:22:00.000-05:00

Turner Farm and Laura Robinson will hold a hands-on, farm-to-table cooking class in the Meshewa kitchen (adjacent to Turner Farm) on January 8th, 10AM to 1PM. This is the first in a series of classes that will focus on basic cooking techniques using seasonal ingredients picked fresh from the farm.

In this class, you will learn the ins-and-outs of two fundamental kitchen recipes: a pie dough and a custard. Once mastered, these two classic components will become invaluable tools in your kitchen repertoire and work in a variety of applications. In this class, we will combine the dough and the custard to form a lovely quiche!

Weather permitting, we will start by picking the greens that will be used in the dish. We will then make our way to the kitchen to make the dough from scratch and assemble the custard. We will end by enjoying the meal together.

Space is limited, so please email Sally @ turnerfarm@zoomtown.com if you are interested in joining. The cost of the class is $35 and a check must be received by January 5th to reserve your spot in the class. Checks are payable to Turner Farm and can be mailed to Turner Farm, 7400 Given Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45243.

Pumpkin Pie Baking Class at Turner Farm

2010-11-05T10:03:00.000-04:00

Using winter squash, eggs and other ingredients from Turner Farm, participants will leave with an unbaked crust and filling for one fresh pumpkin pie to bake at home. The basics of pie crust making will be demonstrated and then experienced hands on. One pie will be baked and shared with the participants. The class will be held at the Meshewa kitchen (adjacent to Turner Farm) on November 13th from 9:30AM to noon. The cost is $30 per person. Reservations are needed by November 10th. To reserve your spot, email (turnerfarm@zoomtown.com) or call (513 561-7400). This class is co-sponsored by Turner Farm and Slow Food Cincinnati and will be taught by Sarah Anthony.

Participants should bring their own:
Pie pan (glass or metal will do)
Storage container to take the filling home in
Rolling pin
Mixing bowl
Mixing spoon

Optional:
Pastry cutter
Pastry cloth
Measuring spoons and cups
Sharp knife

Nectar Dinner Canceled

2010-10-04T09:26:00.002-04:00

We'd like to thank those that expressed an interest in our Nectar fundraising dinner, but we had to cancel the October 10th dinner because we have not met our attendance goal necessary to go ahead with the event. Keep watching the blog, as we'll have a few upcoming events to get involved with before everyone gets too busy cooking and hosting delicious holiday meals.

Slow Food membership drive

2010-09-23T14:08:00.002-04:00

Now through October 15th, Slow Food USA is running a membership drive with the goal of adding 10,000 new voices to connect into the local and national food scene. A donation of $25 will pay for a yearly national/local membership. This will connect you both to the information and resources of the national chapter but also to the opportunities and discounted event prices through Slow Food Cincinnati.

Go here to find out more information and to become a member today:

www.slowfoodusa.org/JoinTheFoodFight5

Autumn Blossom Banquet

2010-09-12T17:42:00.002-04:00

We wanted to make local Slow Food supporters aware that the Autumn Blossom Banquet is coming up on September 25th. The dinner is on the organic Blue Sky Farm in Villa Hills, KY and includes the locally made pottery that the meal is served on. Tickets are $100 and some proceeds benefit Slow Food. Go to the website for more information and to order tickets.

August 2010 Newsletter

2010-09-12T17:11:00.006-04:00

Mark Your Calendars for These Upcoming Events:
Sunday, October 10th: Slow Food Dinner at Nectar Join Slow Food Cincinnati for a private dinner at Nectar in Mt. Lookout. Chef/Owner Julie Francis embodies Slow Food ideals year-round, serving local, seasonal, and organic ingredients whenever possible. Dinner will include a fall salad course with wine pairing, a main course with wine pairing, and a dessert course, all served family-style. A vegetarian option will be available. Dinner will begin at 6:30 pm. Tickets, which include three courses with beverages, tax, and gratuity, cost $55 for members or $60 for non-members, and can be purchased online here. Members, please contact Krishna atvolunteer@slowfoodcincinnati.org to receive your discounted pricing.
Saturday, September 25^th: Slow Food Day of Service Join Slow Food Cincinnati as we participate in this National volunteer initiative. We will head to the Anderson School Garden to help them with preparations for next year’s growing season. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Sarah at sarah {at} slowfoodcincinnati {dot} org to sign up.

But Wait, There's More! Keep an eye out for more info on these other exciting events later in the year.
Bread Baking with Blue Oven Bakery Slow Food Cincinnati will travel to Williamsburg, OH to get a lesson from the pros at Blue Oven in how to bake bread.
Cheese Making with Blue Jacket Dairy Angel from Blue Jacket Dairy will be offering a free cheese making demo here in Cincinnati.
Member Meeting All registered Slow Food Cincinnati members are invited to join us for our membership meeting, which will be held in late fall, to discuss the future direction of our chapter. We will be holding a vote for next year’s board positions, so if you are interested in running for one of the open positions, please email Sarah at sarah@slowfoodcincinnati.org to have your name placed on the ballot.

Recent Events
What an exciting month we've had! Thank you to those who came to our Movie Night at UC. We hope to screen more movies in the future-- are there any you're interested in seeing?
Turner Farm and Lidia Hirsh provided the basis for a great canning class! We couldn't have asked for much more than great weather, delicious tomatoes, and a beautiful place like Turner to learn about canning. If you missed out this year, don't worry-- we hope to have another class next year.
We are enormously grateful to everyone who volunteered for, or just came out and ate the great food at Farmers' Fair last weekend. We hope you ate new foods, learned new things, and had a wonderful time at one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. Thanks to the Farmers' Fair board and sponsors for all their hard work, and to Ed Begley, Jr., Jay Denham, Berlin Reed, Josh Durr, and the Comet Bluegrass All-Stars for the entertainment
If you haven't already, please check our Facebook page for pictures from our recent events, and please feel free to add your own photos.

Finally
We'd love to hear from you. If you are interested in volunteering to help with events or if you have event ideas, please email Laura at events@slowfoodcincinnati.org. If you can help out in other ways, please email Sarah at volunteers@slowfoodcincinnati.org. And remember, there is strength in numbers. Please bring your friends who are interested in becoming members of SlowFood Cincinnati, or who just want to learn more about why it's cool to be Slow. And don't forget to keep up to date with all the latest information on our blog.

Saturday Berry Picking Canceled

2010-08-20T23:27:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the late notice, but due to lack of interest and an early berry season with the heat, we will be cancelling our berry trip for tomorrow. Sorry to those planning on attending, if you are still interested call Alpine Berry and check availability: 812-934-6677 . They may still have some berries for picking.

Canning Class with Turner Farm - spots available

2010-07-27T21:31:00.001-04:00

HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO CAN FRESH FRUITS AND VEGGIES BUT THE TASK SEEMED OUT OF REACH? NOW YOU "CAN", AND ENJOY SUMMERS' BOUNTY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR!

Please join Slow Food Cincinnati and Turner Farm in collaboration with Lydia Hirsh to extend the summer bounty through a hands-on tomato canning class. The class will be held at Turner Farm on August 7th from 9:00AM - 1:00PM.

Together we will bring you a memorable, educational experience -- we will begin by picking organic tomatoes straight from the vine; we will then peel, dice, process and pack the tomatoes together. You are welcome to tour the farm and bring snacks or a picnic lunch (or a dish to share) to enjoy afterwards while the cans are cooling.

The cost of the class is $35. We will provide all necessary equipment along with step by step instructions. You will leave with 3 wide mouth pint jars of chopped tomatoes to enjoy well past the summer season.

We look forward to seeing you August 7th at Turner Farm
7400 Given Road - Cincinnati, Ohio 45243
Phone: 513-561-7400
To sign up, please follow this link: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/121644

July, August and beyond

2010-07-21T20:06:00.000-04:00

July 2010 Newsletter

Mark Your Calendars for These Upcoming Events

Friday, July 30th: Movie and Gelato with SFC Join Slow Food at UC's Niehoff Urban Studio for a free screening of PolyCultures, a 2009 film about re-establishing a healthy food system in urban Cleveland. We will have Dojo Gelato, beer, and popcorn available for purchase. Doors open at 8:30, film begins at 9:00. Event is free and open to the public.
Saturday, August 7th: Tomato Canning with Turner Farms Want to learn how to can your own food? Slow Food Cincinnati and Turner Farm are teaming up with Lydia Hirsh to offer this beginners hands-on workshop teaching the basic fundamentals you will need to can tomatoes for enjoyment once summer is long gone! We will start with organic tomatoes we'll pick straight from the vine, and everyone will go home with three pint jars of tomatoes. Details are still being finalized for this popular class.
Saturday, August 21st: Berry Picking Slow Food Cincinnati will head to Alpine Berry Farm in Batesville, IN for a day of berry picking with friends. Admission is free, pay for what you pick.
Saturday, August 28th: Farmers' Fair Come down to the Roebling Entertainment District in Covington for this all-day celebration of local food! The event will feature a Farmers' Market from 10-4, as well as food and wine tastings from local chefs and vineyards, cooking demonstrations, educational activities for the whole family, and featured speaker Ed Begley, Jr. Proceeds benefit Slow Food Cincinnati, as well as CORV (Central Ohio River Valley) Local Food Guide, the Northern Kentucky Chapters of the Future Farmers of America, and the Ohio Valley Foodshed Project. Please visit theFarmers' Fair website for the most up-to-date information or to volunteer for this wonderful event. Admission is free.
Sunday, October 10th: Slow Food Dinner at Nectar Join Slow Food Cincinnati for a private dinner at Nectar in Mt. Lookout. Chef/owner Julie Francis embodies Slow Food ideals year-round, serving local, seasonal, and organic ingredients whenever possible. Once details are finalized, the event will be opened to our current Slow Food members first. Any remaining available spots will be opened to the public.

But Wait, There's More! Keep an eye out for more info on these other exciting events later in the summer.

Slow Food Day of Service Join Slow Food Cincinnati as we participate in this National volunteer initiative.
Bread Baking with Blue Oven Bakery Slow Food Cincinnati will travel to Williamsburg, OH to get a lesson from the pros at Blue Oven in how to bake bread.
Cheese Making with Blue Jacket Dairy Angel from Blue Jacket Dairy will be offering a free cheese making demo here in Cincinnati.
Member Meeting All registered Slow Food Cincinnati members are invited to join us for our membership meeting, which will be held in late fall, to discuss the future direction of our chapter.

Recent Events

Thanks to all those who braved the heat, humidity, and rain with us at Sustainable Sunday-- we had a great time! We shared some great food and conversation, and we can't wait for the next walk, coming up this fall.

We are grateful to Jennifer and Jordan of Fab Ferments, to Turner Farm, and to everyone who came to the fermenting class, for helping to make it such a great evening and a wonderful learning experience. We could all use a little "culture" in our diets!

If you haven't already, please check our Facebook page for pictures from our recent events, and please feel free to add your own photos.

Finally

We'd love to hear from you. If you are interested in volunteering to help with events or if you have event ideas, please email Laura at events@slowfoodcincinnati.org. If you can help out in other ways, please email Sarah atvolunteers@slowfoodcincinnati.org. And remember, there is strength in numbers. Please bring your friends who are interested in becoming members of Slow Food Cincinnati, or who just want to learn more about why it's cool to be Slow.

Upcoming Summer Events

2010-05-28T09:31:00.002-04:00

Mark Your Calendars for These Upcoming Events:

Thursday, June 17th: Fabulous Fermenting 101 Want to learn how to ferment your own food? Join us for a hands-on learning experience at Turner Farm with Jennifer and Jordan from Fab Ferments to learn about the health benefits and culture of lacto-fermented vegetables. This is a beginners hands-on workshop teaching the basic fundamentals you will need to make your own raw cultured veggies! Everyone will go home with three quart jars of fermented food. Jars will be provided, but please bring a harvest basket, cutting board, knives and a pounding instrument. Space is limited so reserve your spot by paying the class fee now! Cost is $30.
Saturday, July 17th: Campbell County Backroads Farm Tour Slow Food Cincinnati will join the Campbell County Farmland Work Group for the Backroads Farm Tour Saturday, July 17th from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. This self-guided driving tour of 17 farms will illustrate the variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, honey, beef, wines, and horse farms that give Campbell County its special character. meet local farmers and experience farm life at its best. Visit their website in June for a map and full schedule. Admission is free.
Saturday, August 28th: Farmers' Fair Come down to the Roebling Entertainment District in Covington for this all-day celebration of local food! The event will feature a Farmers' Market from 10-4, as well as food and wine tastings from local chefs and vineyards, cooking demonstrations, educational activities for the whole family, and featured speaker Ed Begley, Jr. Proceeds benefit Slow Food Cincinnati, as well as CORV (Central Ohio River Valley) Local Food Guide, the Northern Kentucky Chapters of the Future Farmers of America, and the Ohio Valley Foodshed Project. Please visit the Farmers' Fair website for the most up-to-date information or to volunteer for this wonderful event. Admission is Free.
Sunday, September 12th: Cooking Class and Dinner at Granny's Garden Did you know we have the largest school garden program in the Midwest here in Cincinnati? Granny's Garden School serves all of Loveland's K-4th grader's, but when school's out, Slow Food gets to play! Join us for a cooking class to learn new techniques and recipes for seasonal ingredients you may not be used to preparing. After the class, we'll enjoy the fruits of our labor, of course! Details are still being ironed out, but we'll be sure to keep you posted.

But Wait, There's More! Keep an eye out for more info on these other exciting events later in the summer.

Sustainable Sunday Join Park+Vine, Slow Food Cincinnati, and the Miami chapter of the Sierra Club for our next Sustainable Sunday. We'll meet at 11 a.m. at Park+Vine, stop by Coffee Emporium for a fuel-up, then head out on a leisurely stroll along the river to Maribelle's for lunch. We'll plan to be back at P+V around 2 p.m. or so. Check our blog or facebook page, or P+V's facebook page or twitter for final details and to learn how to RSVP.
Berry Picking Spend a day with your Slow Food friends picking fresh, delicious berries. Because berries are so dependent on the weather, this event will likely be short notice, but open to all. We'll send out an email and update our blog to let you know when and where to meet us!
Coffee Shop Talks Let's sit down with a cup of coffee and a local producer or grower to get to know more about what makes their business Slow. Please let us know who you'd like to see featured in these talks.
Member Meeting at Brylan's Coffee Cafe All registered Slow Food Cincinnati members are invited to join us for our membership meeting, which will be held sometime in July at the lovely Brylan's Coffee Cafe in Newtown, where we will discuss the future direction of our chapter.
Event Survey We have some ideas brewing, but we'd like to hear what you think of them. Please take our brief survey to help us plan future events.

We'd love to hear from you. Please take the time to fill out our brief event survey to help us determine what types of events we should host in the future-- we're not having fun unless you're having fun! If you are interested in volunteering to help with events or if you have event ideas, please email Laura at events@slowfoodcincinnati.org. If you can help out in other ways, please email Sarah at volunteers@slowfoodcincinnati.org.

Event updates

2010-05-11T00:31:00.003-04:00

A reminder about some upcoming events:

We still have a few spots left for our Beer and Cheese pairing event that will be hosted at Park + Vine this Friday at 7PM. RSVP with events@slowfoodcincinnati.org if you are interested, $15 for Slow Food members and $20 for non-members

Also, Farm Sanctuary President and Co-founder Gene Baur and will be speaking about his national best-seller, Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds about Animals and Food at Xavier next weekend:

Saturday, May 22, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Albers Hall Room 103, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio
Free and open to the public.

May Events

2010-04-15T16:38:00.002-04:00

May 1st: Mushroom Foraging

Join us for a day of hunting the elusive morel mushroom at Flying J Farm in Johnstown, Ohio (outside of Columbus). The hunt starts at noon with a potluck to follow at 4PM. Please bring a dish with mushrooms in it to share. Contact Katie@slowfoodcincinnati.org if you are interested in carpooling.

May 1st: Cooking Demo at Granny’s Garden Plant Sale

If you are staying in town on May 1st, be sure to visit Brigitte, our Education Chair, at Granny’s Garden Plant Sale as she will surely cook up something tasty! This is also a great way to support a wonderful organization. Visit www.grannysgardenschool.com for more information.

May 14th: Cheese & Beer Pairing – YUM!

We all know that a good wine and cheese pairing can be an eye-opening experience...if done right. Though what about beer and cheese? Abbe Turner from Lucky Penny Farm and Grant McCracken, a Certified Ciceronetm, will tell us why beer & cheese deserves a place at your table and keys to pairing them effectively. The cost is $15 for Slow Food USA member and $20 for non-members which includes 5 beer and cheese tastings. Only those 21 or over are allowed. Space is limited so please email Laura at events@slowfoodcincinnati.org to RSVP by May 1st.

May 23rd: Vista Grande Ranch Buffalo Farm Tour and Cookout

If you want to learn more about the meat that you consume, this is a perfect opportunity. Learn how animals are raised humanely and without the use of antibiotics or hormones. We will meet at a state park beforehand for a delicious cookout featuring Vista Grande buffalo. The cookout starts at 11AM and the tour will last from 1PM – 3PM. There will be a nominal fee to cover the cost of the food and space is limited so please email Laura at events@slowfoodcincinnati.org to RSVP by May 10th.

April Events

2010-03-31T15:36:00.007-04:00

April 10th: Food Congress

Slow Food Cinicnnati will be attending the 2nd Annual Food Congress which will gather stakeholders active in local food related issues to assess the current condition and problems of our metropolitan food system. They also hope to design and implement strategies to address those issues through policy and action. For more information about the project, please contact food.proj@uc.edu.

April 11th: Wendell Berry Speech

Join us as we enjoy "An Informal Conversation" featuring Wendell Berry, a Kentucky author and essayist. For more information, please visit http://www.xavier.edu/ers/Lecture-Series.cfm. Possible meet-up before the speech - more details to come.

CANCELED- April 15th: Slow Food + Wine in Porkopolis

April 17th: Bigg's Organic Fair

Slow Food will be representing at the Bigg's organic fair, which will feature organic food, beer, and wine tastings (in addition to face painting and petting zoo for the kids) from 10AM to 4PM at the Skytop Biggs.

April 22nd: Celebrate Earth Day with Good, Clean, and Fair food!

May 1st (Changed Date): Mushroom Foraging

If you are up for a drive to the Columbus area, join us at Flying J Farm to hunt for the elusive morel mushroom. We will coordinate carpools for those interested. More detail about the farm can be found at http://www.flyingjfarm.com/organic_farm_events.html

For event related questions, please contact events@slowfoodcincinnati.org. We hope to see you soon!

David Montgomery at Xavier, March 14th

2010-03-11T22:52:00.002-05:00

A quick reminder that David Montgomery will give a talk about his book “Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations”on Sunday, March 14 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm at the Schiff Conference Center in Xavier’s Cintas Center. It focuses on the vital importance of soil fertility in the evolution of ancient and modern societies. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Find out more here:

http://www.xavier.edu/news/Xavier-Speaker-to-Address-Role-of-Soil-in-Societies.cfm

March 20th: Civic Garden Center Volunteer Day

2010-03-11T22:47:00.000-05:00

Join us at the Civic Garden Center March 20th from 9am - Noon for their Neighborhood Garden Kick-off meeting.

For more information, visit: http://www.civicgardencenter.org/garden_files/volunteer.htm.

Sustainable Sunday Walk and Dine March 21st

2010-03-02T21:57:00.000-05:00

Join Slow Food Cincinnati, the Miami Group of the Sierra Club and other local foodies for Sustainable Sunday starting 11 a.m. Sunday, March 21 at Park + Vine, 1109 Vine Street. Plan on a leisurely 3- to 5-mile stroll with a stop at Coffee Emporium before heading up the steps of Mt. Adams to The Rookwood Bar and Restaurant for lunch. The walk ends around 2 p.m. or so at Park + Vine. Vegan options abound.

Space is limited to 25. Pay as you go.

RSVP 513-721-7275 or info@parkandvine.com before March 20.

Gardening Clinic at St Susanna Church, March 4

2010-02-23T22:19:00.006-05:00

Slow Food Cincinnati board member Brigitte Cordier will be talking about Slow Food and presenting two 25 minute "cooking with herbs" demos at 7:30 and 8:30 PM. Sessions on "composting", "container gardening", and "worm bins" will also be presented between 7 and 9 PM.

For questions, contact miriam at m.jackobs@gmail.com

Location:
St Susanna Church Undercroft,

616 Reading Road in Mason

2010-02-01T21:08:00.003-05:00

As promised here are the recipes from our 2010 kickoff meeting:

Curried Parsnips:

1.5 lbs parsnips, peeled and chopped
2-3 tbsp butter or canola oil
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1 tsp curry powder (but I used at least twice this much)
1/4 cup yogurt
2 tbsp chopped cilantro
salt and pepper
Steam parsnips until barely tender, about 7 minutes. Melt butter in a medium skillet and saute onion and apple with the curry powder over medium heat, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes. Add the parsnips and season with salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes more. Turn off heat and add yogurt, chutney and cilantro and serve with Dried Fruit Chutney.

Dried Fruit Chutney:

1.5 cups whole dried apricots, chopped
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup currents
1/4 cup dried cherries or cranberries
3.5 cup apple juice or water
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp minced fresh ginger
1/2 tsp fennel or anise seeds (I ground all spices, but you could also add whole)
1/2 tsp black peppercorns
1/2 tsp coriander seeds
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
pinch salt
balsamic vinegar to taste
Put everything but the balsamic vinegar in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until the fruit is soft but not mushy and the liquid is reduced to a syrup, about 45 minutes. Stir in 1/2 tsp or so balsamic vinegar to taste. Can store in the refrigerator for many weeks.

Chard, Shiitake Mushroom, and Brown Rice Salad

4 heads of Chard, stems removed, 1/2 inch julienned
1 pound Shiitake Mushrooms
4 cups of cooked brown rice
1 1/2 cups sesame seeds
1/4 cup sesame oil
1/4 cup pure olive oil
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup shoyu soy sauce
1/2 cup rice wine vinegar
1 T freshly grated ginger
1 T chopped garlic
3/4 cup sliced scallions
red pepper flakes tt
salt tt
black pepper tt

-In mixture pure olive oil and sesame oil, saute shiitake mushroom, sesame seeds, ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, season lightly with salt, and pepper tt
-Toss cooked mushrooms in with chard and scallions. Add the cooked brown rice
-Season to taste with soy sauce, honey, rice wine vinegar. Add more sesame oil, pepper flakes, sesame seeds, etc. if needed. Enjoy!

Parmesan Crackers
by Mark Bittman

1 cup all-purpose flour, more as needed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup finely grated fresh Parmesan cheese
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup cream or half-and-half, more as needed
Coarse salt, pepper, sesame or poppy seeds or whatever you like for sprinkling (optional).

Heat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly dust with flour. Put flour, salt, cheese and butter in bowl of a food processor. Pulse until flour and butter are combined. Add about 1/4 cup cream or half-and-half and let machine run for a bit until a dough forms. If it doesn't come together, add teaspoon of cream at a time until it comes together. Make sure it isn't too wet or sticky.

Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface until 1/2-inch thick or even thinner, adding flour as needed. Cut the crackers at preferred size; I cut mine to 1 inch squares with a pairing knife, docked each cracker with fork, sprinkled ground pepper and bake them 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake until browned, 10- 12 minutes. Cool on a rack; serve warm or at room temperature. Crackers can be stored in a tin for few days.

Local Food Sources:
Fab Ferments: Kombucha and Kraut
Blue Jacket Dairy: Silverlake Chevre and Arrowhead herbed goat cheese
Claddagh Farms (at Findlay Market): Blackberry Jalapeno preserves (was together with the cheese)
Snowville Creamery: for the cream in the parmesan crackers
Backyard Orchard: Apples for applesauce
Turner Farms: Parsnips
Dojo Gelato: Custom 5 spice gelato with orange zest

Kick-Off Thank You

2010-01-27T22:48:00.003-05:00

Just a quick thanks to everyone involved with the kick-off party tonight. Thank you to Park + Vine, who graciously hosted us, to Switch Lighting and Design, who muscled in a gigantic light in a pinch, to everyone who helped make and supplyfood and drink for our crowd, and to all the great people who showed up to connect with good food in our fair city.

We were really glad to see so many people together and excited about supporting a great food culture here. Some of the conversations that were facilitated were great and exactly what we need. We will be posting and sending out some follow-ups about discussions at the meeting, but we just wanted to say thanks again for making the event a success.

2010 Kickoff Meeting for Slow Food Cincinnati

2010-01-25T18:27:00.004-05:00

Sorry about the short notice, but to those who didn't get the evite we are having an event and we want you to come:

When: Wednesday, January 27, 6:00PM

Where: Park + Vine
1109 Vine Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202

Please join Slow Food Cincinnati for our 2010 Kickoff Meeting at Park+Vine downtown! We are excited to meet Slow Food Cincinnati Members and food enthusiasts alike for an evening of delicious local food and beverages, conversation, and information about our group. The event is free of charge, however we welcome any donations to offset the costs of refreshments.

Please bring your appetite, ideas, and interest in supporting good, clean, fair food. We look forward to seeing you soon!

For more information on becoming a registered Slow Food member, please visit www.slowfoodusa.org. We welcome both Slow Food members and non-members to this event.

RSVP here:
Facebook Event Page

Fresh Screening at Civic Garden Center January 17th

2010-01-05T22:35:00.002-05:00

On Sunday January 17th at 2PM
the SW chapter of OEFFA (Ohio Ecological Food and Farming Association)
will be showing "Fresh", a movie that details "new thinking about what we're eating", followed by a panel discussion with local growers , with local popcorn, microgreens and cider being served.

OEFFA members free, $3 for non-members
RSVP by Friday, 1/15/10
Contact: Sally Godschalk at turnerfarm@zoomtown.com or 561-7400

The Civic Garden Center is located at 2715 Reading Rd., Cincinnati, OH. 45206
Across from the old Bethesda Oak Hospital

Learn more about the film Fresh at http://www.freshthemovie.com/

Terra Madre Day Event

2009-11-30T23:50:00.003-05:00

Thursday December 10th,
Slow Food Cincinnati will be hosting a locally based food reception to the Segoe Symposium on Smart Growth at the University of Cincinnati. It will feature a panel discussing the formation of a Food Policy Development group in Cincinnati, and then PhD Kami Pothukuchi will speak on her experiences with sustainable food systems in the SEED program in Detroit.

The event starts at 5:30PM, with our reception following the final speaker (probably around 7:30). We're planning on small bites and local wines. It will be held in the Niehoff Urban Studio just off campus at:
2728 Vine St.
Cincinnati, OH 45219

The event is free, but please RSVP to: foodproj@ucmail.uc.edu

Come and help us celebrate Terra Madre Day!
http://www.slowfood.com/terramadreday/

Thanks Giving

2009-11-25T01:41:00.004-05:00

Hey, just a quick post to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. I wanted to recognize it as one of the few really great American food traditions. It seems like the holidays are when all these great heritage recipes flood back to us, and we concentrate on the making of really good food and the enjoyment of that food with the people we love. That's what Slow Food is all about, but in all times beyond just the holidays.

Remember to keep it good, clean, and fair this thanksgiving, and show those local farmers some love. I'm thankful that we have a great community of citizens here in Cincinnati who care about their food and hope that we can become a solid partner in fostering our food connections in the area through the coming year.

Slow Food Miami

2009-11-18T22:21:00.002-05:00

So we just found out that Miami University has a Slow Food chapter that is active now. Its exciting to see more people getting involved with and caring about food in the region.

Also a little short notice on our parts, but they are screening Food Inc. on Miami's Campus Thursday (tomorrow), November 19th. Here's the info:

Event: Showing of Food Inc
Time: 8pm, Thursday November 19, 2009
Place: Shideler 115 (on Miami's campus)
Cost: FREE and open to everyone
movie website: www.foodincmovie. com

So if you haven't seen the movie yet, or just wanted to get up to the Miami campus and talk food, this is a good chance.

Slow Food Update

2009-10-15T20:29:00.005-04:00

Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to let everyone know that we are still around and actively planning if you are out there searching for us on the web. We are about to launch a new website and will keep you posted on when it will launch.

In the meantime we are planning a few more events. We are looking at hosting a Slow happy hour event to get all the members together and maybe one or two more planned events before the New Year. We are looking to create a local event based on the Terra Madre Day supported by Slow Food national, a day to celebrate local food (Dec. 10th) and the 20th anniversary of the Slow Food movement:

This is also coming off the back of our involvement in the first annual Farmers' Fair at the end of September, which was a big celebration of local food in Covington featuring farmers, chefs, demos, a petting zoo, and educational activities. Take a look at the photos and why you should join us again next year.

Slow Wine

2009-04-09T11:57:00.000-04:00

When: April 16th starting at 5:30PM

Who: Slow Food Cincinnati

What: Happy Hour / Meet & Greet

Where: Tino Vino in Hyde Park

Why: To learn more about the Slow Food organization and our upcoming plans, and to get a tour of Tino Vino's facility and an overview of their winemaking process

Details: Please stop by the back room of Tino Vinos for our first Happy Hour / Meet and Greet event! It will be a great opportunity to learn more about our organization, ask any question you may have and drink some great wine at the same time! There will be light appetizers provided; a $5 donation is suggested to cover the cost of the food.

Hope to see you then!

The Slow Food Cincinnati team

Why would I join Slow Food?

2009-03-16T07:05:00.001-04:00

The Slow Food movement is a reaction to a fast food lifestyle predominant in many modern cultures.
By choosing to become a part of the Slow Food movement, you are making a choice to be a co-producer rather than a consumer; an active, proactive and informed part of the food chain.

Your support is extremely important to our success. If you aren't currently a member of Slow Food, please join or renew your membership and join us in speaking up for a more sustainable future. Please visit Slow Food website

Benefits of being a member:

Discounts to Slow Food events

A personal membership card usable anywhere in the world

Four issues of the international magazine Slow Food Almanac

Four issues of the newsletter The Snail

The right to attend all events organized by the Slow Food movement around the world

Discounts on all Slow Food publications and merchandise

When you join Slow Food, your funds directly contribute to our movement to change the world. Your helping hand makes an enormous difference as we reach across cultures, continents and out to new people to educate the world about the Slow life.

Our economic crisis, our healthcare crisis, our environmental crisis, and our children’s health and education cannot be addressed without addressing the food we eat and the way it is produced.

Help us spread the word in Cincinnati!

Welcome to Slow Food Cincinnati!

2009-03-14T07:15:00.003-04:00

Slow Food Cincinnati has hosted our first event – a free to the public maple syrup tour and tasting – and has several more being planned. Our focus at this time is on membership and we will begin to be seen more around town at local food gatherings. Please come up and meet us. Our goal is to offer our upcoming programs with a reduced or free admission to members only – just as a way of thanking people for becoming part of our group. I hear secrets to bread baking may be unlocked in April!

We have organized around a small board, but are always looking for more people who want to become involved. It is the perfect time to get in on the ground floor with Slow Food Cincinnati. Our next meeting is in early April – for volunteers -- and we’d love to have your support. There are many, many wonderful food projects we would like to get involved with and support as we have more people to participate. In addition, we are always willing to learn more about the projects you would like to champion as part of our group.

Upcoming Events!

2008-12-02T10:42:00.000-05:00

Slow Food Cincinnati will begin 2009 with an event to bring all interested slowfoodies together. Check back for time and place . . .