One June 26^th, 2010 Slow Food Austin hosted a historic educational event.  The Texas Showcase was an opportunity to meet local food artisans, chat with them about their craft, and taste their delicious food.  We envisioned an event where guests could slow down and mingle with food artisans and develop a new appreciation for the local foods of Central Texas.

Many people commented about how “intimate” the event was and raved about the benefits of such a “personal” encounter with food artisans and their products.  I overheard conversations about tastes, textures, and production methods.  There was lively discussion, wonderfully simple foods & drinks, and intriguing demonstrations.

Our mission is to “reconnect people with their food” and we are proud to say that this showcase did exactly that by educating them about food in the context of taste, pleasure, laughter, and community. We hope to continue offering taste education events like this.

We’d like to offer a special thanks to our co-sponsors, supporters, and artisans.  This event couldn’t have happened without their generous contributions.

Date: Monday, July 12th
Time: 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Location: Habitat Suites
500 East Highland Mall Boulevard
Austin, Tx 78752

Join us July 12th at 7 pm for a special session with French chef and Nutritherapist for People’s Pharmacy, Alain Braux.  Alain Braux grew up in Southern France where he learned to cultivate a SLOW FOOD lifestyle that laid the foundation of knowledge shared in his award winning book, How to Lower your Cholesterol with French Gourmet Food. We will learn how to choose, prepare, and enjoy foods in ways that preserve their nutrients and healthy benefits as Alain reveals the nourishing qualities of French cuisine and lifestyle.    He will also cover gluten food allergies and the discoveries he has made writing new gluten free cookbook.  Best of all, everyone will get to sample and take home one of Alain’s tres bonne gluten free recipe in time to celebrate Bastille Day with your friends.

Date:           June 17th
Time:          5pm – Sunset
Location:  Boggy Creek Farm, 3414 Lyons Creek Rd.  (map)

Enjoy beautiful wines under the trees and spirited creations from Bill Norris of Fino and David Alan, the Tipsy Texan.  Delicious appetizers made with produce sourced directly from the farm will be served al fresco by Jesse Bloom of Ecstatic Cuisine… Don’t forget it is tomato season!

Suggested $10 donation covers food and beverages.  Lawn chairs and closed-toed shoes encouraged.

RSVP to karlal@slowfoodaustin.org

A special thanks to our audio providers, Ideal Productions. Make your next event an IDEAL event.

photo courtesy of marshall wright, eatthislens.com

Date: June 6th
Time: 12:30 – 2:30pm
Location: Green Gate Farms
Tickets: $16 (includes farm produce)

Skip Connett and Erin Flynn have become local farming stalwarts in the four short years since they moved into the historic Bergstrom farmstead and launched their CSA (community-supported-agriculture) farm, just off Decker Lane. “We’ve dedicated the farm to healthy food, and community,” explains Erin. The couple hosts a kaleidoscope of community events and kid-friendly activities, and collaborates with other farmers to bring pastured beef, pork and dairy to their Austin customers. And this summer, Green Gate will offer Austin’s first kid’s farm camp!

Slow Food Austin’s tour of Green Gate will be family-focused and kid friendly. Meet 400-lb. pigs, pet baby goats, see this spring’s crops going gang-busters, collect eggs, learn about worm composting, and take home an equal value of farm-grown vegetables in exchange for your ticket. Pastured pork, chicken and beef will also be available to purchase.

Contact Betsy Levy with questions.

Buy tickets

Date: Saturday, May 29th
Location: Coyote Creek Farm

Slow Food Austin is supporting a farm tour at Coyote Creek Farm/Texas Best Organic Feed Mill in Elgin.

This tour is a fundraiser for the Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (TOFGA) and therefore there are no take-home food items; instead, you’ll take home a wealth of information about the hardworking people who are the infrastructure necessary for our vibrant local agriculture system. Proceeds go to support TOFGA programming.

The tour will be led by mill owner and farmer Jerry Cunningham, and TOFGA President Sue Beckwith. Tickets are $10; proceeds go to TOFGA.

Email levyb@slowfoodaustin.org to RSVP; spaces are limited.

photo courtesy of coyote creek farm.

Date: Thursday, May 13th
Time: 7:00-8:30pm
Location: Habitat Suites

Filmmaker Scott Hamilton Kennedy’s politically charged, Oscar-nominated documentary follows a group of low-income families struggling to protect a 14-acre urban farm in the middle of South Central Los Angeles from bureaucratic real estate developers. A lightning rod for controversy in 2004, this cause célèbre drew the attention of numerous activists and politicians, including Dennis Kucinich, Joan Baez and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigoisa.

There will be some light snacks available, bring some along if you’d like to share – and any friends you can bring along with you. See you then!

RSVP

Date: May 20th
Time: 5:00pm ’til sunset
Location: Green Gate Farms

Slow Food Austin invites you to join us for a special happy hour at Green Gate Farms. We will enjoy wines from family owned Viu Manent Winery and spirited creations from our special guests Bill Norris, the master mixologist at Fino, and David Alan, the (in)famous Tipsy Texan. Delicious appetizers by Cake & Spoon and El Locavore will be served al fresco using farm ingredients so fresh, we don’t even know what they are yet! We request a $10 donation to cover the cost of the gnosh, while all the proceeds from the wine and cocktails will go to Slow Food Austin.

Lawn chairs and closed-toe shoes are encouraged.

You don’t want to miss this fantastic happy hour featuring food, toddies and tunes at Green Gate Farms so put it on your calendar and let us know you’re coming!

RSVP to karlal@slowfoodaustin.org

A special thanks to our audio providers, Ideal Productions. Make your next event an IDEAL event.

Date: Sunday, May 16th
Time: 11:30am – 2:00pm
Location: Eiler’s Park (Deep Eddy)

Want to eat some good grub and meet the Slow Food Austin board?

We have an annual general membership meeting to launch our volunteer board into action for the coming year. Come enjoy a delectable potluck and say Hi to the board as well as other Slow Foodies.

Bring a dish to share and please provide your own plate & utensils (we’ll have back-ups- we’re just trying to make the event low impact). In addition to beverages, fun conversation, and some educational activities about Slow Food, we’ll have a few fun awards to hand out such as the most local dish, the simplest slow dish, the funniest named dish, etc.

Enjoy a beautiful afternoon with friends, food, and fun. We’ll be meeting and eating at Eiler’s Park (Deep Eddy), so if you are inclined to take a brisk swim wear your suit- it costs about $3 to swim.

Non-members welcome.

Contact Sara Weber, Slow Food Austin President, for more info.

Date: Thursday, June 3rd
Time: 7pm-8:30pm
Location: Habitat Suites

The Breakdown on Composting

Join us June 3rd for our Slow Session at Habitat Suites. Jeff Paine of Break It Down will be dishing out the dirt on what is happening on the local compost scene. Learn about how you can get involved in composting at home and what’s on the horizon in the field of composting. Plus, everyone who comes will get to take home some wiggly workers to do the grunt work in your compost pile!

RSVP

Join Slow Food Austin, Resolution Gardens and The South Austin Food Co-op for a local pot-luck feast, Saturday April 17th, 6-9 pm at Marigold, 2200 S. Lamar.

Bring a dish to share made with ingredients from a local grocer or farmer, your neighbor, or your own backyard! We’ll have fabulous door prizes from local businesses, live music and a chance to share the local food love. A special prize will be awarded for the “most local” dish. This event will be outdoors, weather permitting. RSVPs appreciated but not required – info@resolutiongardens.com

More info @ www.resolutiongardens.com