Slow Food Santa Fe Blog

31.1.11

ANNUAL FEAST - GOES ITALIAN!

Each year Slow Food Santa Fe has an annual dinner. Everyone brings a home- made something and the talking and eating goes on for hours. And this year's get-together was no exception. It truly celebrated the art of slow food. Between courses the Santa Fe delegates to Terra Madre 2010 - held in Torino, Italy - presented a wonderful slide show about their experience, and Slow Food board members hosted tables and lively discussions on what events to plan during the coming year. Everyone had a grand time. The following photos tell the story so much better than words. First the food. It was endless & delicious -

Oh, did I mention the theme was Italian?

And everything was nicely labeled.

And, yes there were desserts.

Decorations were simple...

Everyone was asked to wear one of these clever buttons for a week to raise awareness about Slow Food Santa Fe.

There was a raffle.

And lots of happy folks.

And we learned all about the extraordinary gathering at Terra Madre.

Photography by C. Whitney-Ward

This wonderful dinner is just the beginning of a fun year of Slow Food Santa Fe events. Make sure you're on our mailing list!

2.12.10

VICTORY FOR CHILD NUTRUTION & SCHOOL LUNCHES

Dear Slow Food Santa Fe:

What a day for American children and parents - today Congress signed into law the first significant improvements to child nutrition and school lunches. I wanted to write to you to say thank you and congratulations - this wouldn't have been possible without a movement mobilized to make our food better for all.

Over 160,000 of you stood up for child nutrition. Whether you signed our petition, emailed or called your legislators, attended one of over 300 'Eat Ins' in all 50 states, donated to the Time For Lunch campaign, or even talked to your neighbors about the issue, your actions will mean children across the country get safer, healthier food. At a time when we know that the food we feed our children will cause one in three of them to develop diabetes, and when obesity levels are at an all-time high, this legislation is an important step towards creating a better future for American children.

This is what happens when people come together to take action on the issues they care about. In the end this Bill is far from perfect, and has involved large compromises, but this is a great achievement towards our end goal of making kids healthier.For months, this law hung on a knife's edge as powerful opponents tried to prevent its passage. In the end, the actions of you and people like you meant Congress could no longer ignore the will of the people, and could stand up to the powerful interests pressuring them to kill this bill.

Today, Congress helped make children healthier. Congratulations to you, and to all our partners in our 'Time For Lunch' campaign. Please share your thoughts on our blog.

Thanks for making it happen,

Josh Viertel, President Slow Food USA

PS - If you'd like to donate to help make sure our movement is always mobilized to stand together to defend the values we share, please click here - none of this would be possible without your support: Donate Here!

18.11.10

A HOLIDAY WINE TASTING AT VINAIGRETTE

Wine tastings are fun. And the tasting held at Vinaigrette last evening for 30 members and guests of Slow Food Santa Fe was no exception. Sommelier Greg O'Byrne chose the wines with Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations in mind. And as we swirled our glasses; whiffed each wine; and madly guessed at the hidden perfume - rosemary? raspberry? butterscotch? grass? - Greg guided us through the tasting with charm, wit and wonderful information.

The Menu of Wines

Juve y Camps Cava Brut Nature - 2205

Champagne Aubry 1er Cru Brut NV

Domaine Wachau Gruner Veltliner - 2009

Brick House Gamay Noir - Ribbon Ridge - 2009

Adelsheim Pinot Noir - Willamette Valley - 2008

Dry Creek Vineyards Heritage Zinfandel - Dry Creek - 2007

The color...

The swirl- releasing the subtle perfume of the wine.

The whiff...

The concentration.

The fun.

Thanks Erin (owner of Vinaigrette) & Greg for a lovely Slow Food Evening!

12.11.10

HERITAGE TURKEYS - THE HEIRLOOM TOMATO OF THE TURKEY WORLD

These beautiful and delicious birds have bloodlines dating back centuries. Their ancestry began in Central America; then the first explorers brought them to Europe; and the first English settlers in turn brought them to America. These Black Spanish Turkeys were then bred with the Wild North American Turkey and the elegant result was The Standard Bronze. Now there are nine Heritage Turkey breeds with romantic names such as - Bourbon Red, Narragansett, Jersey Buff, Slate, Black Spanish, White Holland, Royal Palm, White Midget and Beltsville Small White. All are recognized by the American Poultry Association in its 1874 Standard of Perfection.

Slow Food has adopted four of these breeds for its Ark of Taste Project- the Narragansett, the Bourbon Red, the Jersey Buff and the Standard Bronze.

T h e B o u r b o n R e d

Photo by John Churchman courtesy of the Heritage Turkey Foundation

These handsome birds are the antithesis of industrialized turkeys, which can barely walk and are quickly bulked up to produce birds with abnormally plump breasts. Heritage turkeys freely forage in pastures and can actually fly. As a result their muscles are exercised and they put on layers of natural fat. The end result is a turkey that has a firmer texture and deep, rich flavors - the essence of turkey.

Where can you buy Heritage Turkeys :

Pollo Real - at the Santa Fe Farmer's Market

www.poloreal.com

Gallinas Del Sol Farm

Heritage breed turkeys, guinea fowl, squab, pheasant, geese too!

505-610-8326

Talus Wind Ranch

http://www.taluswindranch.com/turkeys.html

And, if you have a hankering for a divine Heritage Turkey Salad or Sandwich

Stop in at Vinaigrette - November 18th through December

They are featuring Heritage Turkeys on their amazing menu...and ALL proceeds will be split between - SLOW FOOD and the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) - earmarked for Heritage Turkeys!

And they have designed a very cool silkscreened t-shirt and hoodie for this promotion; and all proceeds will go to the ALBC. Good job Vinaigrette!

505.820.9205

And remember, when you buy a Heritage Turkey, you are not only celebrating and preserving magnificent birds, you are also preserving the Heritage of Turkey Farming.