Slow Food Hamilton

Chef's Night Out: Local Food -- Local Heroes

2009-07-01T21:10:00.000-07:00

Chef's Night Out: Local Food -- Local Heroes

This mouth-watering event was a co-presentation of Hamilton Eat Local and Slow Food Hamilton.

It was a relaxed night featuring a friendly reception with delicious local food prepared by Tapestry Bistro; an amazing Canadian documentary film called "Tableland"; a fascinating panel discussion led by local food industry insiders, followed by a vibrant question and answer session. Live acoustic music during the reception was provided by singer-songwriter and guitarist Ian Reid. Guests went away with market bags full of local goodies and assorted local food resources.

The event was funded by Friends of The Greenbelt Foundation (www.greenbelt.ca) and was create to be a chance for farmers and chefs (food producers and "co-producers", in Slow Food parlance) to meet in a conversation-fuelling atmosphere. Guest panelists gave everyone a lot to talk about, and they included:

*Executive Chef Jeff Crump of the Ancaster Old Mill
*Food and Travel Writer Barbara Ramsay Orr
*Farmer Chris Krucker of ManoRun Farm
*Daniel Speck, Co-Owner of Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery

The panel was introuduced by Lori Stahlbrand, founder and president of Local Food Plus, and Slow Food Niagara's Karen LaVigne (of Selections de la Vigne) introduced the film and had copies available for purchase, and they sold out fairly quickly after the screening. Hamilton Eat Local's new "Local Food Resource Guide for Chefs" is now available, just contact Project Manager Karen Burson for your copy: kburson.eatlocal@environmenthamilton.org.

Fresh local Delphiniums were provided for the occasion by Joanne Feddes of LaPrimavera Farms. Seed packets and other items were donated by local food businesses. Fantastic above-and-beyond service was provided by the Chef and staff of Tapestry Bistro.

Rain on our parade... or should I say garden party?

2009-06-20T09:56:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

The threat of rain plus the lack of strawberries mean that we'll need to find another date for our "Slow Food Hamilton's Old Fashioned Strawberries and Ice Cream Summer Solstice Garden Party at Whitehern on Father's Day 2009". It definitely will not take place this fathers' day. Stay tuned for a new date! We should know in the next few days or so.

With regrets,

*karen b

Read about this upcoming event in The Hamilton Spectator : http://thespec.com/go/food/article/581463

Katrina Simmons puts Slow Food Hamilton and Strawberries in the Spotlight

2009-06-11T22:40:00.000-07:00

The Spectator's dedicated reporter on The Hamilton Spectator's local food beat, Katrina has been writing entertaining, thought-provoking, and sometimes even moving articles for years now. She has kept fans of her "Eat Local" column well-informed about field-to-fork issues right across our region with humour and intelligence. People and places come alive for her readers in her weekly profiles.

Enjoy Katrina's article about Hamilton's celebrated food writer for Hamilton Magazine and The Globe and Mail, Slow Food Hamilton's Co-Leader Barbara Ramsay Orr. The article also announces our upcoming event at Whitehern -- the historic McQuesten family estate, which stands quietly nestled behind aging yet grand stone walls in the heart of downtown Hamilton:

http://thespec.com/go/food/article/581463

See you at this year's strawberry event!

*karen b

Katrina Simmons accompanies The Ancaster Old Mill's Chef Brian Gibson

in appraising the amazingly fresh local food selection at the Ontario Food Terminal

Celebrate Strawberries, Songs and the Summer Solstice -- and Learn How to Make Homemade Ice Cream!!!

2009-05-28T17:05:00.001-07:00

Slow Food Hamilton presents…

An Old Fashioned
STRAWBERIES & ICE CREAM

Summer Solstice Garden Party @ Whitehern
Father's Day 2009 - Sunday June 21, 1 to 4 pm

Live Acoustic Guitar and Songs by

IAN REID

Whitehern’s Famous ICE CREAM MAKING WORKSHOP
and
A “MAKE-OUR-OWN” LOCAL ORGANIC STRAWBERRY SUNDAE TOPPING TABLE

Croquet and Guided Tours of historic Whitehern are also included!

$15 per person for adults, $5 per child 12 and under
***With 10% off for card-carrying members of Slow Food***
TO RSVP – kcburs@yahoo.com, remaining tickets at the door – SPACE IS LIMITED!

Looking for Lovage In All The Wrong Places? Join us for a FORAGING expedition with a local expert!

2009-05-09T13:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, that is Jeff in the picture above, and yes, he was one of the "Toronto" chefs who took part in May 1st's Slow Food Canada "Do It Slow" Banchetto.

Join Slow Food Hamilton for an adventure in foraging led by Jeff Crump, the Executive Chef of The Ancaster Old Mill! Learn how to find wild foods as the chef leads us over the grounds of the historic Old Mill and taste the best, freshest foods imaginable... perhaps you'll discover these same wild foods in your own backyard. But first learn to choose the right plants and know how to harvest (or not harvest) them safely and sustainably, too.

Date: May 20, 2009, 6-8 pm

Location: The Ancaster Old Mill

Topics: Foraging, local ingredients, sustainability, delicious gourmet treats!

This event is offered FREE of charge, but please do RSVP -- donations to Slow Food Hamilton are welcome. You don't need to be a member to participate, but memberships has many benefits. Come learn about them!

PLEASE reserve by May 19, as space is limited: kcburs@yahoo.com

For a primer on foraging in our region visit Barbara Ramsay-Orr's blog:

www.chefdumonde.wordpress.com

click on the most recent "slow food meetings" entry to the right

for our latest updates

The "Do It Slow" Banchetto Launches the Slow Food Canada Convivium Leaders' Meeting in Toronto

2009-05-09T11:39:00.001-07:00

Toronto's Slow Food chef extraordinaire Jamie Kennedy led a team of 25 of the city's hottest chefs in creating one of the most unique and memorable banquets that this country has ever seen. Hosted by Slow Food Toronto, the event kicked off an amazing four-day meeting of Slow Food Convivium Leaders from across the country, from Vancouver Island to Nova Scotia and points in between.

Saturday was a day of workshops held at The Chef's House facility at George Brown College, Sunday included a breathtaking tour of the Niagara Wine Country and ended with yet another celebratory dinner. To mark the induction of the Tamworth Pig into Slow Food Canada's Ark of Taste, Executive Chef Jeff Crump hosted a very special Sunday Supper Pig Roast at The Ancaster Old Mill.

The Slow Food movement is about more than fancy banquets, a point hammered home by it's founder, the passionate, charismatic and articulate Carlo Petrini

For me personally one of the highlights of the weekend was the opportunity to hear Carlo Petrini speak (once at the Banchetto, again at our Saturday workshop, I missed him on Saturday night but there was another time that I heard him, for the final occasion, at dinner on Sunday night -- sounds like he's the James Brown of the food lecture circuit, making him the hardest working man in Slow business, right?). Petrini is the internationally famous founder of the Slow Food Movement. His impassioned call to us to remember the principles of Slow Food renewed my commitment to wanting to engage our community in the promotion of food that is: Good - Clean - Fair.

Read the superb interview with Signor Petrini in this Globe and Mail article:

http://http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090506.wlpetrini06art1831/BNStory/lifeFoodWine/

For photos, stories and more about those amazing days please visit The Eklectic Kitchen blog:

http://eklectickitchen.blogspot.com/

Sailing Into The Harbour Diner

2009-04-08T22:06:00.000-07:00

This day's sandwich special featured grilled chicken with salsa, sour cream and other astoundingly fresh ingredients.

Slow Food Hamilton's meeting at The Harbour Diner was a delightful mix of good company, great food, and lots of food talk. Personally, I had the best sandwich I've ever had in my life, and I'm looking forward to returning soon. My sandwich was made of chicken, bacon, brie, avocadoes, tomatoes and mayo served on soft whole grain ciabatta. Oh man, I want another taste right now... too bad it was only the special of the day.

Thanks to Chef Chris Preston for taking a few minutes from his busy night's work to tell us about the restaurant's history, the changes, the menu and the outlook for a part of Hamilton that doesn't get all the credit it deserves for the strong sense of community and the natural beauty that can be found there, steps away from the waterfront.

Some of us got together for more talk over Americanos and pasteis de nata at Ola Bakery -- imagine the smile on my face as I was told that those delightfully creamy custard tarts with incredibly flaky pastry were still very warm from the oven. They were blissfully crispy-sweet.

Slow Food Canada and The Ancaster Old Mill Present... The Tamworth Pig

2009-04-02T23:13:00.001-07:00

Click on the link below for event details. Dirty Harry (above) is definitely invited!

Celebrate with us as we induct the Tamworth Pig into the Slow Food Canada Ark of Taste, a means of preserving and promoting this tasty breed. You'll be dining with Slow Food convivium leaders from right across the country, and certain international visitors are expected to be there, too!
Sunday%20Supper%20Tamworth%20Pig%20Roast.pdf

Food and Climate Change with Dr. Wayne Roberts of The Toronto Food Policy Council

2009-03-26T21:13:00.000-07:00

Our food supply has become one that places convenience before taste, cosmetic appeal over nutrient value, and worst of all profits before people.Awareness of the impact of climate change on our current unsustainable global food system is growing, while the cheap resources and economic conditions that have supported it are abruptly shifting. Our food security isn't something that we can take for granted anymore.Can our individual food choices and habits make a difference -- and a siginficant one -- before climate change reaches that certain 'critical' point and becomes permanent climate disorder?Add your voice to the growing global, national and community-wide conversations about the future of our food.

Wayne Roberts has a wealth of community organizing, administrative, and academic achievements to his credit, including having been a Professor of Labour Studies at McMaster from 1978 to 1982. Together with Lori Stahlbrand (Local Food Plus) and Rod MacRae he co-wrote the inspirtational and insightful "Real Food For A Change" (1999), which promotes a food system based on the four ingredients of health, joy, justice and nature. His most recent book, The No-Nonsense Guide to World Food will be available for purchase at our event.

Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: McMaster University Campus, MUMC, Meeting Room 1A1
City/Town: Hamilton, ON

This event is brought to you by: Slow Food Hamilton, Hamilton Eat Local, The Sky Dragon Community Development Cooperative, The Eklectic Kitchen, Revolution Wear, and OPIRG McMaster.

Doors open at 6pm so that you may visit our sponsor tables!

Visit the event's facebook page for more: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=55118024729&ref=mf

From Earth to Table to... fatherhood?

2009-03-17T17:47:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to proud new papa Chef Jeff Crump. Shown on a much needed break for a quick meal, we somehow coaxed Jeff into bringing out whatever he was willing to show us of his new book, "Earth to Table"... which fortunately for us was pretty much everything! Thanks for the sneak peek.

click on the most recent "slow food meetings" entry to the left for our latest updates

Slow Food Meetings

2009-02-24T08:40:00.000-08:00

Slow Food Hamilton - New Structure and Schedule

Our meetings have finally found a regular time and date, although we still plan to hold our meetings in regularly changing venues. Meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of the month, September to June, so please circle that day in your calender. We will be meeting from 6-8 pm, sometimes with food provided by the host, sometimes as potluck, and sometimes pay-as-you-go, depending on the venue and the topic. We'll let you know well in advance about the food details. Come out, get involved and enjoy the company of friends in food.

Here's the schedule, for the next few months:

March Meeting

Date: March 11, 2009
Time: 6-8 pm
Location: Mex I Can, 107 James Street North, Hamilton , tel 905-527-1554
Topics: Looking Forward, Outreach, and Youth in the Slow Food Movement

April Meeting
Date: April 8, 2009
Time: 6-8 pm
Location: The Harbour Diner www.harbourdiner.com - 486 Jamest St. North;
with optional after-dinner coffee at Ola Bakery - 230 James Street North, Hamilton
Topics: TBA

May Meeting
Date: May 20th, 2009
Time: 6-8 pm.
Location: Ancaster Old Mill
Topics: Foraging: Ramps, Fiddleheads and other Edible Gifts from Mother Nature: Speaker: Executive Chef Jeff Crump

June Meeting
Date: June 21th, 2009
Time: 1 -4 pm
Location: Whitehern
Topics:

"Slow Food Hamilton's Old Fashioned Strawberries and Ice Cream Summer Solstice Garden Party at Whitehern on Father's Day 2009" -- Everyone's invited to attend -- from 1-4 pm -- ticket price and other details TBA!

We'll be making our own ice cream from scratch, topping them with fresh, local organic strawberries for a naturally tasty topping that we'll prepare ourselves. Join us for tours of Whitehern, croquet, live acoustic music and more.

And what a schmooze it was...

2009-01-24T21:41:00.000-08:00

Even though we all had busy holiday schedules we made the time to slow down and chill out with other "eco-gastronomes" from across Hamilton

Thanks for coming out to celebrate our local food scene in December of last year. It seemed like attendance doubled compared to last year's first ever Eco-Schmooze. We had to take over a good part of the Tapestry Bistro's dining room to fit bring everyone into the party. Thank you to Chef Robertson and his genial staff members for their attentive service, hospitality, and deliciously unique local-ingredient based fare. Thanks also to Slow Food Hamilton Co-Chair Barbara Orr for helping to organize the event, and for lending us her gorgeous punchbowl so I was able to serve a special Jamaican holiday drink called Sorrel (it's not made with the green herb, it's made with deep red hibiscus flowers, ginger and other island spices). Photos by Convivium Co-Chair Karen Burson.

Our 2nd Annual Slow Food Hamilton HOLIDAY ECO-SCHMOOZE! Wednesday December 17, 7 - 9 pm

2008-12-08T18:09:00.000-08:00

Join us for good company, delicious local nosh and holiday cheer as our convivium presents its second annual SLOW FOOD HAMILTON HOLIDAY ECO-SCHMOOZE. It's an opportunity to meet and mingle with sustainability-minded food-lovers from all over the city.

We will be holding our Second Annual Slow Food Hamilton HOLIDAY ECO-SCHMOOZE on Wednesday December 17 at Tapestry Bistro 7-9 pm. Join us for complimentary appetizers, holiday punch and a chance to meet and network with people who care about good food and a healthy planet!

It's an opportunity to share stories and strategies; successes and suggestions; mishaps and media contacts... or just chill out and enjoy relaxing in one of Hamilton's most unique dining establishments.

Members of eco-friendly organizations are all invited to attend, such as supporters of Hamilton Eat Local, Environment Hamilton, Food Not Bombs and more, so please feel free to share the news with folks who like to live on the green side. :-) Meet us on the mezzanine level of The Tapestry Bistro, located at the amazing Staircase Theatre at 27 Dundurn Street North. Please RSVP if you can, but feel free to drop in! Space is slightly limited, so come early!

*karen b

Tableland: a Film Screening and Discussion You Can Sink Your Teeth Into

2008-11-19T21:33:00.000-08:00

TABLELAND: Presented by Hamilton Eat Local and The Hamilton Chapter of Canadian Organic Growers (film screening)

Friday November 28, 7pm

Tableland by Pixel One Productions is a new and thought-provoking film. It is a culinary expedition in search of the people, places and tastes of North American small-scale, sustainable food production. From the orchards of the interior of BC, to the Napa Highlands, rural Quebec and everywhere in between, Tableland showcases the successful production of local and seasonal food from field to plate. Guest speakers for the event will include farmer Inge Crowther of Clover Roads Organic Farm, writer and urban poultry enthusiast Yuki Hayashi, and Karen Burson of Hamilton Eat Local. Doors open and organic popcorn at 7 - film begins at 7:30pm – the speakers and Q & A at 9pm. Please make a $7 donation at the door (2nd floor).

Pressure Cooker Gets Cooking!

2008-10-31T20:14:00.000-07:00

At long last, the much-anticipated debut of "Pressure Cooker" will go to air this Sunday, November 2 on SunTV.

This series was produced by Hamilton's own Forevergreen Productions. The nine one-hour episodes are loaded with unpredictable turns and frenzied discord. The ‘Pressure Cooker’ is nothing less than a marathon testing culinary talents, emotional fortitude, mental agility and physical stamina. To monitor stress levels, competing Chefs were equipped with MyPulse wireless heart monitors to provide real time readings. Prominent figures from Canada's top culinary institutions, organizations and restaurants are taking part as judges, including much-lauded gourmet chef Marc Picone.

Check out the trailer...

Pressure Cooker premiers Sunday, November 2, 2008 from 10 – 11pm on SUN TV with a national broadcast commencing Monday, November 3, 7 – 8 pm on MEN TV.

Mother Earth - Terra Madre: A Celebration of First Nations Cuisine

2008-10-29T20:46:00.000-07:00

Slow Food Hamilton volunteer Liz Millar promoting the event back in September -- your efforts are appreciated!

Thank you for attending our Mother Earth - Terra Madre event, which was held at Green Venture on the evening of Saturday October 25.

Ken Parker of Sweetgrass Farms, the first native-owned Native Plant landscaping firm in North America was a delightful and interesting speaker. Accompanied by his wife Linda, the couple shared tales of the previous Terra Madre event in Turin in 2006. This was a great experience for those of us unable to attend this year! Jazz guitarist Nick Bastian's music provided a smooth and yellow musical backdrop to our conversations over dinner and dessert.

Our "partial potluck" seemed to offer the best of both worlds: some gourmet-calibre snacks, alongside the diverse and delicious dishes brought and shared by the convivium's members. Why am I shocked that so many of us are superb cooks? I think that as party-goers, we were all winners in the "Battle of the Butternut Squash Soups" and the "Clash of the Apple Crumbles". Bannock, locally made flour tortillas with dips, a beet salad with flower petals... these were just a few of the delicious dishes.

Thanks to Ken and Linda; to Anise Docherty of Slow Food Halton Peel and her gift to us, the excellent work of enthusiastic student chef Matt Thompson; to Hamilton Eat Local's volunteers Elyse Giosi, Julia Delio, and James Beloshesky; and to Michael Gemmell and Sapphire Singh of Green Venture.

Photo and article by Karen Burson, Slow Food Hamilton Co-Chair

A Westdale Village World Food Day Farmers' Market Morning

2008-10-14T20:44:00.000-07:00

Join our one-day-only World Food Day Farm Market

Presented by Hamilton EAT LOCAL SLOW FOOD Hamilton & MY DOG JOE
THURSDAY October 16th, 2007 9am to NOON in the parking lot near 1020 King Street West, rain or shine!

Visit My Dog Joe for:

· Home-made Muffins, Soup and More

· Superb-tasting Organic/Fair Trade Teas, Coffees, Espresso and Cold Drinks

Live Acoustic Music by riot nrrd 10–11 am

Fantastic Fall Farmers’ Market:

ManoRun Farm, Carluke Orchards, Bestow Bakery & Farmer Joanne Feddes

Field fresh flowers, pumpkins, cider, loads of organic potatoes and more!

Food Donations will be accepted for Hamilton Food Share

The IYP Mission: Celebration of the International Year of the Potato (IYP) will raise awareness of the importance of the potato - and of agriculture in general - in addressing issues of global concern, including hunger, poverty and threats to the environment.

photo by *karen b

A Local Food Feast of Autumnal Fun

2008-10-07T20:37:00.000-07:00

The Sunday Supper at The Ancaster Old Mill on October 5 was an amazing and enjoyable event! The work of featured artist Guennadi Kalinene was snapped up by eager bidders, for obvious reasons -- his landscapes evoke a sense of the mystery and meaning of nature -- and the scenes are local. How perfect for this special occasion. The colourful murals painted by young kids and presented by The Dundas Valley School of Art provided a colourful backdrop to the celebration.

This annual fundraiser for the Hamilton Eat Local Project (an initiative of Environment Hamilton) has always raised a significant share (half) of the cost of printing he Eat Local's "Buy Local, Buy Fresh" map in its first two years of production, and this year's contribution will be just as vital.

Thanks to our gracious host Executive Chef at The Mill Jeff Crump and his talented team for presenting a spectacular meal by the falls. Pastry Chef Bettina Schormann and The Mill's John Bullock must be singled out for praise for their efforts. Ingredients from ManoRun Farm, Carluke Orchards and other area producers tasted of unaparalled freshness and flavours ably teased to a peak -- Bettina Schormann's strudel was a crunchy-sweet and tender conclusion to the meal. Yowza! :-)

***
Contact Bread & Roses Cafe regarding their current Job Postings if you're a potential prep cook or cafe staffer. Send e-mails to margann@skydragon.org or leave a message at 905-777-8102 ext. 3
***

Sunday Afternoon's Seed to Scrap Bus Tour was superb. Its organizers at PEAS (an OPIRG working group based at McMaster) did an impressive job of smoothly orchestrating a sophisticated event that was at once thought provoking, spirited, and just plain enjoyable. I hope they'll be able to organize similar tours in the future.

***

Link to Edible Toronto Online, then select "Current Issue" once you get to their home page:
http://www.edibletoronto.com/content/

***

Coming up: A One-Day Mid-Week Farmers' Market Morning to celebrate World Food Day and mark The International Day of the Potato -- Chris Krucker and his bumper crop of potatoes will be there, along with other local food producers and at least one busker (10-11 am) and we're looking for more! Thursday October 16, 9 am to noon. Details TBA, and pending approval of Hamilton's Public Health Department!

***

I'm not sure how many attended in the end, but I was amazed by the turnout to my presentation entitled "Living La Vida Locavore: A Year of Eating Sustainably" at the Convention Center tonight. Thank you for those from these lists who were in attendance. I had a blast, and from the sounds of it I'll be sharing it again. Let me know if your group or organization might be interested in my presentation? Juby Lee, Project Manager of The Fruit Tree Project, is an enthusiastic public speaker as well, so contact us at 905-549-0900 or kburson.eatlocal@environmenthamilton.org or jlee.eatlocal@environmenthamilton.org.

***
Ready for some cultural food fun???

Mother Earth - Terra Madre will be a potluck, but with a twist: we encourage everyone who attends to find and create a dish that exemplifies both seasonality and First Nations' cuisine! Learn the story of their classic ingredients and volunteer what type of dish you'd like to make: salad, side, meat, or bread -- we are providing dessert. Any suggestions as to what item you'd like to see in a prize draw? A CSA? A customized cake for the holidays? Send me your suggestions...

Eat well, be well.

*karen b

Stay tuned!

Farm to Table to... Canvas??? The Ancaster Old Mill and Hamilton Eat Local Present a Truly Artistic "Sunday Supper"

2008-09-16T21:30:00.000-07:00

On Sunday October 5th, Sunday Supper guests at The Ancaster Old Mill will gather for a dinner set in the comfort of its stunning main dining room. Farmers, chefs and artists from both town and country will savour an outstanding presentation of foods celebrating our local harvest in order to raise funds for Hamilton Eat Local.

For More Information and a Sneak Peek at the Menu, please click HERE!

The Sunday Supper promises to spark conversation and stimulate awareness of the bounty of food and vital role farmers and artists play in the life and nurturing of our community. Jeff Crump, executive chef of The Ancaster Old Mill, will prepare an abundant meal inspired by locally grown, sustainable foods that highlight the finest of the Greater Hamilton Region. The Sunday Supper’s featured farms include Monforte Dairy, Shady Lane Farm, ManoRun Farm, Blackbow Farms, and Carluke Orchards.

Seasonal cocktails will refreshingly usher in a luxurious eight course dinner, along with our chef’s hint that surprises could be in store!

Sunday Supper Menu

Seasonal Cocktail Reception

Bread service with Red Fife Whole Wheat Bread with House-made Cultured Butter

Heirloom Tomato & Ricotta (made fresh daily) Panzanella

Parsnip and Pear Puree with Monteforte Dairy Toscano Cheese & Toasted Nuts

Honey Glazed Spit-Roasted Berkshire Pork — House cured and Smoked

Buttermilk Mutsu Apple Fritters

Wild Mushroom & Potato Gratin

Apple Wood Roasted Squash — with Maple and Sage

Carluke Golden Delicious Apple Strudel

— with House-churned Sour Cream Organic Ice Cream

There will be a small art exhibit by one of this area’s best-regarded fine artists, Guennadi Kalinine. His inspiration is the natural wonder of our region and The Ancaster Old Mill commissioned Kalinine to create an original painting especially for this event.

There will be a silent auction bid on and purchase this exceptional work of fine art as well as other paintings by local artists. This past summer, the children’s mural painting class at the Dundas Valley School of Art produced four outstanding "Earth to Table" murals. "Our desire often is to reach out beyond the classroom, to the community, and become a part of the greater good,” says Arthur Greenblatt, Executive Director of the Dundas Valley School of
Art. “Projects like this one give us a presence beyond our limited borders, and make us a part of the rest of the world." These paintings are wonderful, big and beautiful. Best of all, they’re also for sale by silent auction.

All proceeds raised by this convivial evening will be donated to Hamilton Eat Local, for the 2009 production of the organization’s much-loved “Buy Local, Buy Fresh!” maps – an important way that Hamilton Eat Local brings together dedicated food producers and appreciative consumers.

For reservations or more information please call The Ancaster Old Mill: 905-648-1827.

www.ancasteroldmill.com info@ancasteroldmill.com

About Hamilton Eat Local

Hamilton Eat Local was formed in 2005 by Environment Hamilton and other community partners to support programs that encourage Hamiltonians to buy food grown from local farmers and harvest food that would otherwise go to waste. Hamilton Eat Local aims to increase the consumption of local food in Hamilton through two major initiatives: their map (soon to become interactive online) and the Hamilton Fruit Tree Project. The Eat Local project would not be possible without the generous support of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation.

Our Next Slow Food Hamilton Meeting

2008-09-10T23:44:00.000-07:00

We will gather at The Bread & Roses Cafe (27 King William Street between James St. North and Hughson) fon Wednesday September 17 from 5 - 7 pm to talk about the events we would like to put together for the Fall and Winter seasons. Please bring your ideas for our Mother Earth - Terra Madre event set to take place in October. Also please let us know if you're willing and able to provide support for our Slow Food Hamilton Membership Drive table at the second annual Straight From The Garden at Dundurn Castle on Saturday September 27.

As always, please feel free to let me know if you have any SFH comments, questions or concerns.

kcburs@yahoo.com

Thanks for coming out to our Second Dundurn Potluck Picnic!

2008-08-22T10:20:00.001-07:00

The weather was gorgeous as the sun set on the grounds of the Castle by the lake. Simon Taylor, Heritage Gardener at Dundurn Castle, led us on a fascinating and colourful tour of one of the city's most inspiring vegetable plots. Using traditional techniques and the best of modern sustainable gardening practices, Simon proudly describes to members of both Slow Food Hamilton new farmer Ian Graham and supporters of his Dundas Sustainable Lifestyles Project just how his garden grows.

Thanks for joining us!

Slow Food Hamilton's Second Potluck Picnic at Dundurn Castle

2008-07-23T20:56:00.000-07:00

Join us on Friday July 25 from 5 to 7 pm 'rain or shine' as we enjoy this popular event for the second year in a row. We'll start with a tour of this amazing urban garden by Simon Taylor, Dundurn's Heritage Gardener, and enjoy a delicious potluck meal. Be sure to bring your own plate, cutlery and drink, plus enough of whatever food you bring to share.

Immediately following our gathering will be a meeting of The Dundas Sustainable Lifestyles Project. Expect to hear a few words from Ian Graham as he talks about his personal ourney from gardener to farmer, the role of his Old 99 Farm in how he puts his beliefs into action, and explains what the DSLP is all about.

For more information contact convivium leader Karen Burson at kcburs@yahoo.com

"Pressure Cooker" reality TV

2008-06-30T11:48:00.000-07:00

Above: "Pressure Cooker"'s American cardiologist checking a cast member's heart monitor; setting up Kitchen Four for some furious culinary action; team members sizing up one another's skills and personalities as crew members prepare for the next day's shoot.

Hi Slow Food Hamilton:

Recently I was asked to attended the first day of orientation and rehearsal for a new 'reality based' tv show called "Pressure Cooker" created by Hamilton's own Forevergreen Productions. Evergreen is known for its The TV Wine Guy and Extreme Golf series. As a 'stand-by' cast member, I was on hand in case anyone couldn't make it.

Location: Niagara College Culinary School, Sunday June 29, 2008

Here's the story in words and pictures, as posted on our Slow Food Hamilton Facebook page. Just follow the link and double-click on the first picture to scroll through the enlarged pictures and captions:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=127600&l=4bc95&id=783545701

The show is expected to air the Fall, so watch your tv listings and this newsletter for updates.

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The Strawberry Summer Solstice co-hosted by Slow Food Hamilton and Canadian Organic Growers was a tremendous success according to all accounts. I'd like to take a moment to offer hearty thanks once again to Ian Graham of Old 99 Farm for his generosity in hosting the event; Ann Lanigan of Simpler Thyme Organic Farm for her donation of scapes, herbs, free range eggs and more; Bryan Prince Bookseller for bringing copies to sell at a special price; Carrie Watson of COG for her enthusiasm, hard work, and ability to keep pace with me in all of our prodigious e-mail correspondence, which made the event come together so well.

Thanks also go to members of our respective groups for their enthusiastic support, and numerous individuals for their hands-on help. See our Facebook site for a few of Ian's pictures and please feel free to add your own, or use this link if you`re not on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=127784&l=1a489&id=783545701

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Slow Food Hamilton and Slow Food Halton-Peel are working on finalizing dates for our Annual Dundurn Castle Potluck Picnic and a very special "Terra Madre - Mother Earth" event where we will learn about Native North American culinary traditions and wild crafted foods.

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Don't forget about the Sunday Supper at Carluke Orchards: Presented by Eat Local and The Ancaster Old Mill, Sunday August 17 at Carluke Orchards. Contact The Mill for reservations and information.

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The Slow Food Niagara Convivium invites you to join us in events that:support initiatives in sustainable agriculture, showcase locally-producedartisanal products and share knowledge about various food cultures.
Sunday, July 6 Slow Bar-B-Que, Roots and Blues night
5 p.m. - 9 p.m.Farmstead of Natalie Spytkowski and Darryl FieldsTwenty Road, PelhamBYOB and Bring your dancing boots!
$ 40. Non-members $ 30. Slow members $ 20. 11-16 yrs. old Kidsunder 10 yrs. free
Pre-registration required. Contact (905) 562-0142 or email
vinestovintages@sympatico.ca
Alternate contact: (905) 973-9391 or email delavigne@sympatico.ca

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Friends!
Slow Food Guelph is pleased to announce a fabulous summer dinner at Artisanale Restaurant with accomplished chef and restaurateur Yasser Qahawish and his partner Allison Mitchell.
This dynamic and passionate duo have long been living the Slow Food Mandate and we are thrilled to be finally experiencing their wares.

Sunday, July 6th, at 6pm Chef/Owner, Yasser Qahawish will present 5 thoughtfully composed and locally sourced dishes while his partner Allison Mitchell pours consciously paired wines from the Artisanale cellar.

Tickets will be available at Artisanale or on line. Sales are restricted to 40 seats, so buy soon!
$90.00 per patron (taxes and gratuities included)

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Be well and please bring me your Slow Food news, support and suggestions for events to keep them alive. This is OUR convivium, not MINE!

Thanks and take care,

*karen b

The STRAWBERRY SUMMER SOLSTICE with author and journalist MARGARET WEBB

2008-06-17T20:14:00.000-07:00

Saturday June 21, beginning at 4pm... there will be copies of Margaret's book available for purchase from Brian Prince Bookseller and she will be signing them after the reading and discussion.

Thanks so much for your support... our event is now sold out. We will proceed rain or shine (there will be shelter in case of rain).

I can hardly wait!

*karen b

Go to: Margaret%20Webb-11x17-100%20for%20e-mail.pdf

Special thanks go to Peter Ormond for hosting our late May meeting of Slow Food Hamilton

2008-05-23T22:27:00.000-07:00

Hi Slow Food Hamilton:

There's a great deal going on in our own community and beyond!

(The above photo of Old 99 Farm is courtesty of Ian Graham)

First: our next organizing meeting will be on Wednesday March 28, 5 - 7 pm. It will be pot luck style and coffee will be provided. This month's kindly convivial host will be Peter Ormond, inviting us to visit his enivironmentally progressive home at 56 Ferrie Street West -- recently featured as part of this year's "Doors Open Hamilton".

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The very active Slow Food Niagara Convivium will be hosting a number of events, so please note the great happenings in the attachment.

There's still room in what promises to be a fascinating one:
Sunday, May 25 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Slow Bake with ARVA Organic Flour

An educational workshop on various types of flours and their uses and “hands-on” artisanal bread and pastry making session featuring Bernhard Sauter, an internationally-awarded pastry chef. Learn to discern quality vs. commercial flours, taste a variety of organic and non-organic products from ARVA Flour Mill (recently feature in Toronto Life) that employs a unique milling process. Niagara College, Hospitality and Tourism, NOTL campus.$ 40. Slow Food members $ 50. Non-members (pre-registration required)

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STRAWBERRIES AND SUMMERTIME UNDER THE STARS: This special event is sure to appeal to all of your senses. a very special evening with author and journalist Margaret Webb, whose recent book Apples to Oysters: A Food Lover's Tour of Canadian Farms has inspired the first ever co-presentation of Slow Food Hamilton and the local chapter of The Canadian Organic Growers. Brian Prince Booksellers will be on-hand providing books for purchase and signing by the author!

Our STRAWBERRY SUMMER SOLSTICE takes over where Margaret's early morning book-signing at Oakville's Kerr St. Organic Market leaves off. At 4pm sharp Margaret will introduce her book, do a reading and lead a Q&A and discussion session for a lucky 30 guests. This late day event will unfold on the idyllic grounds of Ian Graham's OLD 99 FARM near Copetown.
An exciting buffet-style meal made with bountiful locally formed organic produce will be prepared by Bread & Roses special event department (me) and served at a leisurely pace from 5-7 pm. There will be musical entertainment from 7 - 10, with plans for a bonfire to take us into the late evening if weather permits.

Details, ticket prices and directions will be sent out to the list and to ticket holders closer to the day of the event. This celebration will be widely promoted. With seats being very limited please buy yours early to avoid disappointment! Contact me at kcburs@yahoo.com for more information.

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Please note that COG will be hosting a plant sale at Sky Dragon centre tomorrow, please see their websites for details.

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Spreading the good news and the good foods: enjoy this Toronto Star write-up

about Plan B Organic Farm -- thanks to Sarah.
http://www.thestar.com/article/427970
"Great coverage on a great group of farmers!" - Sarah Megens

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We've been talking with Denise from Manorun Farm about a possible pick-your-own-pizza night; Simon Taylor and Molly MacDonald from Dundurn Castle about a Second Annual Potluck Picnic; and Anise Docherty of Slow Food Halton Peel about a Terra Madre-inspired look at (and taste of!) Native North American Cuisine; please bring your ideas to the table during our meeting on on Wednesday May 28. We'll let you know more as details firm-up.

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Eat well, be well!

*karen b