Slowfood Sacramento

Slow Food Yolo Farm to School Connection

Rice, Rice Baby!

Tickets are now on sale for the 2008 SushiMasters State Finals Competition, which will be held on June 10, 2008, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Sacramento Convention Center.  Tickets are $50 each, and a portion of proceeds will benefit the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Colony Project, which seeks to preserve the first Japanese settlement in California. Tickets may be purchased through the Convention Center Box Office, tickets.com or charge by phone at (800) 225-2277.

Six of California’s best sushi chefs emerged victorious from regional competitions throughout the state and will participate in an intense, 45-minute live competition for the coveted title of SushiMaster and other cash awards.

The evening festivities will also feature a reception-style sampling of sushi and various popular Japanese dishes. There will be sake tasting available for guests 21 and older, as well as cultural entertainment.

Every piece of sushi in the United States is made from California rice – a premium medium-grain variety found only in the Sacramento Valley.

More detailed event information and a history of sushi in California can be found at www.sushimasters.com 

Every ticketholder receives a free SushiMasters tote bag filled with goodies, including California Rice.

Slow Down on the Delta — A Smashing Success!

Photos by Larry Conlin and Barbara Haven

What a perfect day — perfect weather, food, wine and camaraderie! The day started with a variety of farm, winery, orchard and wildlife Delta tours lead by experts in their respective fields. 

The evening activities started with a silent auction accompanied by beer tasting from Rubicon, wine tasting from Muir-Hanna and appetizers from our four chefs. 

Dinner started around 6:00 where we took pleasure in sharing — family style – fresh seasonal and local ingredients in our salad, ravioli, massa brown rice and vegetables, pork, lamb, bourbon-cherry tart with homemade ice cream and Ginger Elizabeth’s chocolate (full menu can be found below.) 

Anya  Fernald shared the vision of Slow Food Nation’s Labor Day event to the 200+ diners.  A lively auction was conducted by professional auctioneer Dan Macon, and the generousity of  the participants was overwhelmingly moving– with their help, we were able to raise nearly $10,000 for Slow Food Nation.

We were all blown away by the incredible menu the chefs from each county created, but we were ecstatic to learn that the chefs were contributing $2,000 toward the Slow Food Nation efforts — we bow to you!!

We could not have accomplished this great event without the remarkable participation of our Slow Food colleagues from Yolo, Solano and Placer counties — we love you guys!  (I know, corny, but hey, we really do love them!)  A very warm and special thanks to all of the farmers who contributed their wonderful produce, the tour leaders who opened their ‘homes,’ the chefs who shared their passion and talents, our sponsors who share our values, and to all of you who contributed to the concept of slowing down on the Delta ~ Cheers!

SLOW DOWN ON THE DELTA May 31, 2008 Presented by Slow Food Placer, Sacramento, Solano and Yolo Convivia

We are pleased to announce that our speaker will be Anya Fernald, CEO of Slow Food Nation and longtime program director for California Alliance of Family Farms. Her husband, Renato Sardo, head of Slow Food International, will also be attending.

DINNER ON THE DELTA: Talented chefs from each region will prepare a four-course meal from each county’s seasonal agricultural products — Patrick Mulvaney (Sacramento), Molly Hawks and Michael Fagnoni (Placer), Daniel Bell (Solano) and Pru Mendez (Davis). The chefs are sourcing locally grown food, such as spring lamb, endive extravaganza, local cheeses and nuts, and appetizers and desserts using fruits and vegetables sourced from the four counties. Wines from each county will also be served.

This gathering will be a wonderful opportunity to meet the chefs and farmers and enjoy the ambience of the Delta with friends under old valley oaks on the edge of the Sacramento River. Food-themed silent and live auctions will raise funds for Slow Food Nation.

WHEN and WHERE: Saturday May 31, 5:00 p.m. at Vino Farms, 51375 S. Netherlands Road, Clarksburg, CA 95612 Driving Directions

TICKETS: $85 General Public; $75 Slow Food members available at Brown Paper Tickets.

Special Thanks to our Event Sponsors:

Corti Brothers

FIELD TRIP MENU: From field to feast, enjoy savory glimpses of Delta farming to whet your appetite before dinner! We are pleased to present some very special field trips that will provide a variety of opportunities during the day for behind-the-scenes exploration of our richest farmland, as well as to understand the challenges facing farmers in this complex environment. Max 30 persons per field trip - Min 10 people. By reservation only at Brown Paper Tickets.

*PLEASE NOTE* The Delta Ecotour tour requires direct registration at Delta Ecotours.

Tickets: $25 covers all tours except the Delta Ecotour. Our map and two suggested “flights” will help you plan your Slow Day in the Delta. You should be able to enjoy at least three or four “appetizers.” Available online at Brown Paper Tickets.

Where to meet: Each tour meets at the point designated on the schedule and map. In most cases telephone numbers are provided in case you get lost; however, tours will begin on time unless the leader, in his or her sole discretion, agrees to wait.

What to bring: Be prepared for sun and wind. Bring comfortable shoes that can get dirty, water, hats, sunscreen, and binoculars.

Transportation: Because our tours are spread around the Delta, you are on your own. If you can arrange to carpool with friends, that would be good too.

Lunch: If you want to eat locally grown food, consider bringing picnic fare from your Co-op or CSA. If you want to eat with the locals, consider Al’s Place or the Locke Garden Restaurant in Locke. In Walnut Grove consider Mel’s for sandwiches or the Pizza Factory, both on the River Road on the east side of the Sacramento River. Between Walnut Grove and Thornton are Giusti’s and Wimpy’s Marina, each a venerable institution.

Tours
Early Bird Special: Endive World - Tour California Vegetable Specialties in Rio Vista, the only U.S. producer of endive, selling nearly four million pounds of endive each year. Endive is the second growth of the bud at the top of a chicory root. The first growth takes place in the field, where the chicory plant grows from seed. The second growth takes place in the precisely controlled conditions of the facility’s dark, cool, and humid forcing room. Get to the heart of it with tour leader Rich Collins. Meet at 15 Poppy House Road, Rio Vista, at 9:30 a.m. Phone 707-374-2111. Driving Directions.

*Delta EcoTour: Explore the Delta on the Tule Queen II - Learn about the geological origins, early human history, Gold Rush era, early settlement, reclamation for agriculture, plant and animal life as well as current resource and environmental concerns, habitat restoration and proposals to enhance the natural and human environment of the Delta. The Sutter Island two-hour loop will take you down Steamboat Slough, up along Sutter Slough and back down the Sacramento River. Tour leader and boat captain Jeff Hart. Please sign up directly with Delta Ecotours - $35/adult; 30 person minimum. You will want to tour Hartland Farms native plant nursery and botanical displays as well. Meet at Hartland Nursery parking lot 13737 Grand Island Rd, Walnut Grove, CA 95690 at 10:30 a.m. Phone: 916-775-4021. Driving Directions

Nursery, Organic Farm and Garden Tour – explore Hartland Nursery and grounds and learn about California native plants ideally suited for beautiful, drought tolerant, low maintenance landscapes attractive to birds and wildlife. Tour leader Toni Hart will give special attention to the nursery’s heirloom vegetable varieties as well as plants used by Native Americans for food and art. Plants will be available for sale. Meet at Hartland Nursery parking lot 13737 Grand Island Rd, Walnut Grove, CA 95690 at 12:30 p.m. Phone: 916-775-4021. Driving Directions

Steamboat Acres Organic Pear Orchard, Sutter Island – Tour a 300-acre orchard of organic pears with Tim Neuharth whose Delta farming roots extend by marriage back to 1848. Learn what it takes to get organic pears from farm to table in one of the hidden beauty spots of the Delta. Meet at 15819 Sutter Island Rd. at 11:30 a.m. Phone: 916- 417-1706 (Tim’s cell). Lots of people get lost, but we’ll get you there! Driving Directions

Carvalho Family Wines - For more than 100 years, starting in Portugal, winemaking has been a Carvalho family tradition. Today, Carvalho Family Wines continues that tradition as an ultra-premium winery, dedicated to the production of small-lot, hand-crafted California wines using grapes from the Clarksburg appellation and other high-quality vineyards throughout California. The family pairs their old world approach to winemaking with the best available viticulture and enological tools. Learn about this premium winery and taste its wines with tour leader John Carvalho. Meet at 1:00 p.m. at the historic Old Sugar Mill Galeria do Vinho in Clarksburg 35265 Willow Avenue. Phone: 916-744-1625, Ext 234. Driving Directions

Ning Hou Gallery in Locke 13964 Main St., Locke. Delta artist Ning Hou will welcome Slow Fooders to his gallery in Locke from 1 to 4 p.m. Meet the artist and hear him speak about his paintings celebrating Delta farmscapes. “My goal is that through my paintings, others will see, hear, feel, and most importantly, live the beauty that makes up the natural world that we live in.” Working in both Impressionist and Photorealist styles, the artist aims to capture Locke’s people, produce, and “unique golden sunlight.” Ning Hou’s paintings are bold, vibrant, and thickly layered with paint. His work is on permanent display at the Crocker Museum in Sacramento and the Sacramento Convention Center. Driving Directions

Wildlife Friendly Farming on the Cosumnes River Preserve – Tour farming operations behind the scenes on the Cosumnes River Preserve and learn how The Nature Conservancy, with state, federal, and nonprofit partners, has managed 1,000’s of acres of organic rice and traditional corn, tomato, and wheat crops to protect and preserve habitat for migrating waterfowl and sand hill cranes, creating a national model for farming with the birds. The Preserve itself is a Delta jewel. Tour leader Mike Eaton will give an overview of the Preserve to orient visitors to areas open to public access as well. Meet at the Preserve Visitor Center, 13501 Franklin Blvd. (Between Twin Cities Road and Walnut Grove Thornton Road) at 2:00 p.m. Mike’s cell phone number for day of tour: 209-810-8388. Driving Directions

North Delta Conservancy Duck Hatchery — A group of concerned farmers organized the Conservancy in 1991 to conserve, sustain and enhance the cultural, agricultural, recreational, wildlife and natural habitat resources of the River Delta region. Area farm employees gather the eggs of nesting waterfowl to prevent their destruction by farm equipment and take them to be incubated and brooded. Since 1991, over 10,000 birds have been hatched, banded, and released to join the Pacific Flyway. Tour leader Mark Van Loben Sels will visit the duck pens to see eggs incubating and hatching and observe ducklings aged 1-25 days old. Meet at the Bank of Rio Vista, Walnut Grove Branch, 14211 River Road, Walnut Grove at 3:00 p.m. Driving Directions

Delta Cross Channel and Delta Meadows State Park – Water is the lifeblood of California agriculture and fisheries. The Delta Cross Channel diverts water toward the Central Valley and State Water Projects, away from the San Francisco Bay, to San Joaquin Valley farms and others. Learn about Delta fish at the cross channel gates in Walnut Grove and then walk down the levee road into Delta Meadows State Park, for a glimpse into the historic Delta. A half-mile walk will introduce you to the slough, native vegetation, some great birding, and the abiding challenges of managing our State’s most precious resource. Tour leader Peter Moyle is a preeminent expert on the environmental challenges facing the Delta. Meet at 4:00 p.m. at the Delta Meadows Parking lot – drive onto Railroad Slough Levee from the River Road between Walnut Grove and Locke, via a small gravel road just north-east of the cross channel. Driving Directions

Bios of tour leaders
John Carvalho is the owner of Carvalho Family Winery and owns and has extensively renovated the Old Sugar Mill complex in Clarksburg. With a rich family and cultural heritage of homemade wine making dating back to Madera in the old country, John has strong ties to the passions and joys of wine. In the family tradition, John bottled several of his own homemade vintages, always with the thought of some day opening his own winery. Clarksburg Wine Company not only fulfills his dream, but his label, Carvalho Family Wines, honors his family, their Portuguese roots, and historic ties to the Sacramento Delta region.

Richard Collins, a Sacramento native and graduate of the Agricultural and Managerial Economics program at UC Davis, founded California Vegetable Specialties in 1983 as Rebel Farms. He chose the name in response to the many naysayers who deemed him foolish for trying to grow endive for the U.S. market. Twenty-five years later, his company dominates the market west of the Mississippi.

Mike Eaton is the Executive Director of the Resources Legacy Foundation and a Delta resident. Mike was the Project Director for The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Delta and San Joaquin Projects for a dozen years and instrumental in TNC’s acquisition of Staten Island, a working farm providing critical habitat for sand hill cranes.

Jeff Hart, naturalist, history buff and owner of Hart Restoration, Inc., with his wife Toni, holds a U.S. Coast Guard Master’s license and conducts a variety of Delta Ecotours aboard the Tule Queen II, a 40′ Corinthian Catamaran built in Tarpon Springs, Florida in January 2006.

Toni Hart is a Delta native trained as a forester and biologist. She manages Hartland Nursery and is Executive Director of Hart Restoration.

Ning Hou, born and raised in Shanghai, China, Ning Hou earned his B.A. degree from the Shanghai Art Institute. Hou arrived in the United States in 1983, at the age of 27, to pursue his career in art at the Academy of Art College, San Francisco, where he graduated with his MFA in 1986. Although Hou maintains studios in other parts of the country, his primary residence is in Locke.

Peter Moyle is the Associate Director of UC Davis’s Center for Watershed Sciences and has been studying the ecology and conservation of freshwater and estuarine fishes in California for over 35 years. He is co-author of the controversial UC Davis/Public Policy Institute of California report on “Envisioning futures for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta” (2007) and is working on restoration of the San Joaquin River. He has also served or is serving on diverse committees associated with managing the San Francisco Estuary. He is author/coauthor of over 160 peer-reviewed scientific papers, 5 books, and many other publications and a frequent resource for journalists seeking to explain the complex challenges facing the Delta ecosystem.

Tim Neuharth’s farm on Sutter Island is known as Steamboat Acres and consists of approximately 300 acres located in the upper Sacramento River Delta near Courtland, bordered by the Sacramento River and Steamboat Slough. The Peck family (related to Tim by marriage) settled there in 1848 and started building levees and farming shortly thereafter. The river was the highway of its day between San Francisco and Sacramento and all points in between. Bartlett pears are the primary crop, which were converted to certified organic production in 2001. Some of the trees are over 100 years old. Tim also grows grapes, cherries, alfalfa and Tritacale (a small wheat-like grain). Tim’s new enterprise is Agri-tourism, including Agri-tainment, Agri-education and Agri-nature.

Mark van Loben Sels is the president of the North Delta Conservancy (NDC). He is an owner of Amistad Freight Services, Inc. and Sels Best Boer Goats. He has farming roots in the Delta area reaching back five generations. His father, who still serves on the NDC Board, was one of the founders of the NDC and farms corn, wheat, safflower, red and green Bartlett pears, alfalfa, wine grapes and processing tomatoes in Courtland, Walnut Grove, and Clarksburg.

SAVE THE DATE!

Dinner on the Delta:  A Four-County Slow Food Feast Celebrating the Bounty from the Heart of California

We are excited to announce a unique gastronomic experience presented by Sacramento, Yolo, Placer and Solano counties’ Slow Food chapters.  Well-known chefs from each region will prepare a four-course meal from each county’s seasonal agricultural products.  This gathering will be a wonderful opportunity to meet the chefs and farmers and enjoy the ambience of the Delta with friends under old valley oaks on the edge of the Sacramento River.  

Food-themed silent and live auctions will raise funds for Slow Food Nation, Labor Day Weekend in San Francisco at Fort Mason and the Civic Center.

Optional field trips will provide a variety of opportunities during the day for behind-the-scenes exploration of our richest farmland, as well as to understand the challenges facing farmers in this complex environment.

WHEN:   Saturday May 31, 2008

WHERE: Vino Farms, Clarksburg

Stay Tuned!  More details coming soon ….

Dinner and field trips will be by reservation only. Information on reservations will be posted on slowfoodsacramento.com. Sign up for e-mail notification at www.slowfoodsacto@comcast.net.

About Slow Food Nation:  Slow Food Nation is a subsidiary non-profit of Slow Food USA.  Slow Food Nation’s inaugural festival in San Francisco on Labor Day weekend will offer activities for all ages, including a marketplace, tastings, dinners, talks, forums, workshops, field trips, films and a music festival, all geared to provide experiences that transform our perception of food and engage us in Slow Food’s work to build a food system that is sustainable and just and produces healthy and delicious food. It will engage leaders from the fields of agriculture, retail, food service, the arts, environmentalism, social justice, energy, immigration rights and sustainability in an approachable, friendly setting where each participant can enjoy the experience and a broadened understanding of the Slow Food movement. Watch the Web site for information about reservations and participating.

Slow Food Sacramento Presents a Chocolate, Port and Coffee Tasting Soirée

Saturday, February 23 ~ 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Old Soul Coffee Company

1716 L Street (rear alley)

$25 Slow Food Members, $30 General Public

Tickets available at Brown Paper Tickets 

Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.  We at Slow Food Sacramento echo American writer Ernestine Ulmer’s sentiments and are pleased to partner with three local treasures: Old Soul Coffee, Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates and Bogle Winery. This educational seminar is a tremendous opportunity to learn about the dynamics of chocolate, coffee and port pairing, and to meet some of our area’s finest food and beverage artisans. And, after dessert, port and coffee, why not have dinner at one of Midtown’s excellent eateries?    

Photo from the Sacramento Bee

Chocolate.
Ginger Elizabeth Powers, purveyor of Ginger Elizabeth Chocolate in Midtown Sacramento, will discuss the different kind of cacao beans and the trees they come from, as well as how chocolate is made and how fine chocolate differs from regular chocolate.

Port.
Winemaker Eric Aafedt from Bogle Vineyards and Winery in Clarksburg will share his port-making approach as well as the family’s history and winemaking style. Eric is responsible for crafting Bogle’s unique Petite Sirah Port, sourced from the Old River Vineyard, directly across Elk Slough from the Bogle homestead. 

Coffee.
Jason Griest, expert coffee roaster and co-owner of the Old Soul Coffee Company, will host the educational seminar and talk about his philosophy of community, using only fair trade and organically grown beans.

A Whole Lot of Activities with Whole Foods

Chef-of-the-Month Cooking Classes 

Lynn Gowdy, Slow Food member and the new supervisor of Whole Food’s Salud! Cooking and Lifestyle School, is introducing a series of cooking classes featuring prominent local chefs who are affiliated with Slow Food.  Gowdy’s goal is to use as much locally grown ingredients as possible and to introduce great things artisan food producers are creating without additives and hormones in Sacramento and Northern California.  

The first session is with one of our favorite chefs, Matt Woolston from the Supper Club (if you haven’t had the great pleasure of dining with Matt, check out a review on a recent visit.) 

Tuesday, February 19th

Chef of the Month: Summer Down Under Food and Wine with Guest Chef Matt Woolston of The Supper Club

HANDS-ON STYLE CLASS; Wine will be served; Must be 21 to attend.

6:00 p.m.

$70 general public; $65 for Slow Food members

Space is limited, call 916-488-2800 to sign up

It is currently summer in Australia… If you’ve ever visited, you know there are world-class cafes and restaurants on every corner. The infinite variety of foods reflects the diversity of its land and its people.

Menu

Picadillo Black Bean Empanadas with Key Lime Crèma and Tomato Salsa

Uruguayan Skirt steak Pinwheels stuffed with Red Chili Pesto

New Zealand Green Lip Mussel Soup Billi Bi Style

Baby Spinach Salad, Hibiscus infused Citrus vinaigrette, Papaya, spiced Pepita

Main #1:  Short Ribs braised in Guajillo Chili, Negra Modelo beer & acacia honey on Marbled Mashed Potatoes and braised dinosaur kale

Main #2:  Pink Peppercorn and Cumin Crusted Escolar with Tomatillo Avocado Salsa on Sweet Corn Pudding and Tomato Broth

Dessert:

Caramelized Mango in Pate Brisee with Lime Zabaglione on coconut caramel with Reed’s Ginger Ice Cream

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Monday, March 17th

Chef of the Month: A Dinner Party with Guest Chef and Owner, Dennis Kercher of The Hidden Kitchen  

DEMO-STYLE CLASS; Wine will be served; Must be 21 to attend. 

6:00 p.m. $70 general public; $65 Slow Food membersSpace is limited, call 916-488-2800 to sign upJoin Chef Kercher, proprietor of The Hidden Kitchen and Slow Food member, for an amazing savory, simple and seasonal spring dinner party. The Hidden Kitchen is about culinary adventure, engaging in conversation about food, wine, and life. Come by yourself, bring a friend, or two, learn, enjoy and eat!

Menu

Olive tapanade rustica on crispy flatbread

Spring Birds nest of mixed greens in Meyer lemon vinaigrette with goat cheese eggs

Hidden Kitchen bistro onion soup with cave aged gruyere

Leg of Lamb in a dry rub of Herbs de Provence, cauliflower puree, asparagus tips

Meyer lemon souffle with strawberry jus

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Whole Foods Presents a Special Screening of “King Corn“

Thursday, February 28th

The Crest Theater 

5:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. 

Tickets are available in advance at the Crest (limited seating) $10 general admission; $8 Slow Food members (must present card)

All attendees will receive Whole Food’s “the better bag” made from recycled materials.  Proceeds will benefit Soil Born Farms.

King Corn is a feature documentary about two friends, one acre of corn, and the subsidized crop that drives our fast-food nation.

In King Corn, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis, best friends from college on the east coast, move to the heartland to learn where their food comes from. With the help of friendly neighbors, genetically modified seeds, and powerful herbicides, they plant and grow a bumper crop of America’s most-productive, most-subsidized grain on one acre of Iowa soil. But when they try to follow their pile of corn into the food system, what they find raises troubling questions about how we eat—and how we farm.

For more information contact Lynn Gowdy with Whole Foods, 916-488-2800 lynn.gowdy@wholefoods.com or Melinda McRae with Slow Food Sacramento, melindadmcrae@yahoo.com or 916.717.1621.

Soil Born Farm Event

Soil Born Farm Fifth-Annual Autumn Equinox Celebration 

Slow Food Sacramento Heirloom Event — Black Prince wins!

Or maybe it was Tigarella. But then there was Costulato Genovese and Striped German and . . .

Soil Born Farms provided roughly 15 varieties for our Aug. 4 tasting with others coming from Del Rio Farms and Ray Yeung Farm. Dazzling variety.

Great event and yet another that the attendees said we should do again next year. Soil Born representatives gave an informative and inspiring
presentation about their programs. The Web site is great, but the energy and spirit behind the project really showed through the staff and interns who attended our event.

We hope it’s the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership — both with Soil Born and with the Sacramento Co-op. Janet Zeller, SB Board President and Co-op staffer certainly made our job easy — managing set up and clean up, not to mention providing chefs, food, wine, and program! Thank you Janet! 

Chefs Terese and Dionisio Esperas provided sumptuous tomato-based gazpacho, salad, and phyllo tart. And they have given us permission to post the recipes on our Web site. Plus attendees got a two-for-the-price-of-one coupon for one of their classes at the Co-op. Thank you Terese and Dionisio!
P.S. - did I mention organic ice cream for dessert?
-Charity Kenyon

Heirloom Tomato Tasting

August 4th 4:30-7:30pmCo-op Community Learning Center and Cooking School

1914 Alhambra Blvd.

~Taste an array of flavorful organic heirloom tomatoes from local farms

~ Special presentation about Soil Born Farm Urban Agriculture Project

~ Guest Chefs Terese and Dionisio Esperas, A Healthy Kitchen

~ No host wine bar featuring local and organic wines

$25.00 Slow Food Members - $30.00 Non Members (You must show your slowfood card)

Proceeds benefit the Soil Born Farm Agriculture Project

Please pre-register at the Co-op Customer Service Desk

Corner of Alhambra Blvd. & S Street

916-455-2667