Author: lisa

Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2012,  6:30 – 8:30 pm
Location: Clear Point Wellness, 2001 S. 1st Street, Austin, Texas 78704
RSVP: Not required but helpful. Please email Chelsea Staires at chelsea@slowfoodaustin.org.

In the US, and especially here in central Texas, there is perhaps no time more brimming with culinary tradition than the holidays.  If you’re like us, you look forward all year to this time of revisiting the foods that make you feel most at home. The  comforting sense of place and belonging that comes with preparing food that tastes and smells like home is one of the most powerful aspects of our individual cultural identity.

So, we want to know, what are your family and personal holiday cooking and baking traditions?  What is the dish that the holiday season or special meal just can’t exist without?  Use this Slow Session as the perfect excuse to whip up a batch of one of your favorites and then bring it on down to share, along with the story of your tradition and how you came to love it.

Please bring any dish, savory or sweet, that you would like to share.  Slow Food Austin will provide drink refreshments to accompany our delicious potluck dishes as well as disposable plates and utensils, but please bring your own plate and silverware if you can.

Date: Wednesday, October 10th, 2012, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Palm Square Community Center, 100 N Interstate 35, #1000, Austin, TX 78701, Suite 1000
(The entrance to this conference room can be accessed from the north side of the building; however, all attendees will need to check in at the security desk which is located at the main entrance of the building facing IH-35.)
RSVP: Limited seating available!  Please email Chelsea Staires at chelsea@slowfoodaustin.org

Did you know that the City of Austin, just a few years ago, commissioned an entire Sustainable Food Policy Board to advise City Council?  When I learned this, my immediate thoughts and questions were, “Wow, that’s awesome!! What do they do?  What are their top agenda items?  How can I help??”

The City’s website states: “[The Sustainable Food Policy Board is an] advisory body to the City Council and Travis County Commissioners’ Court concerning the need to improve the availability of safe, nutritious, locally, and sustainably-grown food at reasonable prices for all residents, particularly those in need, by coordinating the relevant activities of city government, as well as non-profit organizations, and food and farming businesses.”

Luckily for us, a few key members of the (all volunteer) panel are giving their time to talk with us about their work with the SFPB and give us the scoop, including current Board Chair, Paula McDermott.  At this Slow Session, we’ll talk about:

• The SFPB commission formation
• The SFPB mission
• SFPB Operations, month to month happenings, roles of board members
• Biggest challenges for the SFPB in completing goals
• Top goals for 2012/2013
• Strategic future plans for the SFPB
• How we can support/volunteer for/advocate for the SFPB and help the City of Austin improve our food quality and sustainability

Slow Food Austin will provide appetizers and refreshments for the meeting.

More about the Sustainable Food Policy Board: http://www.austintexas.gov/sfpb

Check out these links to learn more before the Slow Session!

§ 2-1-170  SUSTAINABLE FOOD POLICY BOARD
SFPB 2011 Report
SFPB Meeting Agendas