Slow Food Tampa Bay - Latest Blog Entries

Field to Feast March 2 @ Gateway Organic Farm

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:18:00 -0500

Slow Food Tampa Bay is excited to welcome Pam Brandon, Katie Farmland and Heather McPherson, authors of Field to Feast: Recipes Celebrating Florida Farmers, Chefs and Artisans, for a discussion of the book and book signing beginning at noon on Saturday, March 2, 2013, at Gateway Organic Farm, 600 150^th Ave. N, Clearwater 33760. Educational opportunities and a local lunch are also being offered. Suggested donation is $8, and the cost for lunch is $10. To reserve your lunch, you must purchase a ticket in advance or in person at the Saturday Morning Market in Saint Petersburg beginning Feb. 23.

Noon-2:30 p.m. - Local Lunch and Education Opportunities

Box lunch featuring farm-fresh produce and other local ingredients. Prepared by Art Institute of Tampa Director Chef Michael Lynch and his Cook’s Club based on recipes from Field to Feast:

Half of a pulled pork banh-mi sandwich*
Tomato panzanella salad**
Seasonal fruit
Rosemary-pecan short bread cookie
* double-sized panzanella salad can be substituted
** whole banh-mi sandwich can be substituted

Stop at one of the stations below and learn from Gateway owners Pamela and Hank Sindlinger and other experts:

Herb and produce growing practices

Bee keeping

Raising chickens

Worm farming

Childrens gardening project

2:30 - 4:00 p.m. - Pam, Katie and Heather tell the inside story of writing Field to Feast—and, of course, they’ll sign your copy!

Foodopoly Presentation/Discussion @ Inkwood Books, Feb. 23, 2 p.m.

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 10:53:00 -0500

Attend a presentation and discussion of the new book "Foodopoly" by Wenonah Hauter on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. at Inkwood Books, 216 S Armenia Ave, Tampa. Slow Food Tampa Bay is co-sponsoring the event. Members receive a discount on the book.

Wenonah is the executive director of Food & Water Watch, the D.C.-based non-profit organization focused on sustainable agriculture, family farmers, corporate and government accountability relating to our food and water. She has worked and written extensively on food, water, energy, and environmental issues at the national, state, and local levels and owns a working farm in The Plains, Virginia. Food and Water Watch is currently involved in the multi-state "Let Me Decide" Campaign to get genetically engineered food labeled.

Steve Gliessman, Professor Emeritus of Agroecology, UC-Santa Cruz says, "Foodopoly is a meticulously documented account of how we have lost control of our food system, as well as a roadmap for taking it back. We must respond to this call to action."

In "Foodopoly," she presents the shocking account of how agricultural policy, has been hijacked by lobbyists, driving out independent farmers and food processors in favor of the likes of Cargill, Tyson, Kraft, and ConAgra. She demonstrates impacts rippling far and wide including economic stagnation in rural communities at home and famines in poor countries overseas. Wenonah presents a solution everyone needs to hear -- solving this crisis requires a complete structural shift and a grassroots movement to reshape our food system from seed to table.

Foodopoly's Trailer and Website

Wenonah's Facebook page

Tampa Bay Food Producers Featured in Blu Magazine

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:40:00 -0500

Curious about the farms around Tampa Bay? Check out gorgeous pics in Blu Magazine's feature "Farm to Table: A Guide to Organic and All Natural Farms and Markets in the Bay Area" of 3 Boys Farm, Sweetwater Organic Community Farm, Urban Oasis Hydroponic Farm, Providence Cattle Company, Pasture Prime Wagyu Beef and Gateway Organic Farm, owned by our very own founding board member and Florida Innovative Farmer of the Year Pamela Sindlinger! Plus photos from Jensen Bros. Seafood and Frenchy's Seafood Company. Our local food system is truly growing!

Snail of Approval Nominations

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 11:33:00 -0500

Slow Food Tampa Bay is developing a directory of the restaurants that, because of their contributions to the quality, authenticity and sustainability of the food supply of Tampa Bay, have been awarded the SFTB Snail of Approval.

Please complete a short nomination form between Jan. 17-27, 2013, and let us know which restaurants should be recognized. We'll post the results here. Check back to see if your favorites made the cut. We're also seeking volunteers for the Snail of Approval selection committee. Email info@slowfoodtampabay.org to get involved, or if you have questions on the Snail of Approval. Visit the Snail of Approval page for more info.

Evaluating Olive Oils and Vinegars - Jan. 17, 6-8 p.m.

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 13:51:00 -0500

How can you tell a high-quality extra virgin pressed from olives grown in a particular zone from an industrially made oil of mediocre quality? Do you know how balsamic or red-wine vinegar is made?

Get the answers Thurs., Jan. 17 when Slow Food Tampa Bay hosts an Olive Oil and Vinegar Workshop and Guided Tasting at St. Pete's Kalamazoo Olive Oil Company. Learn about methods of making olive oil and traditional balsamic vinegar, how to spot fraudulent oils, culinary uses of oils and vinegars, and professional tasting methodology. Available for tasting are over 30 oils and vinegars, ranging from sweet to savory, from several world regions.

When: Thurs., Jan. 17, 6-8 pm

Where: Kalamazoo Olive Oil Company, 449 Central Ave., St. Petersburg

Cost: $10 per person covers the program plus munchies and red or white wine.

Reservations are required—the store is small. Online reservations are closed. To hold your spot, email toni@tonilydecker.com if you would like to attend and pay at the door.

Note: Wear comfortable shoes. No seating will be available at this event.

Pizza Party!

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 19:38:00 -0400

Artisan pizza chef Dan Bavaro talks about his craft

Join us on Monday, October 15th for a talk and pizza-making demo by Dan Bavaro, owner of Bavaro’s (formerly Pizzaiolo Bavaro)

More Details on our Events Page!

Today Starts Dine Tampa Bay!

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 07:38:00 -0400

Dine Tampa Bay is a yearly event where Tampa Bay restaurants put together special pre-fixe menus to encourage folks to come out and taste their delicious food. From now until August 17th you can get a multi course meal a local restaurant for a very reasonable price. Tons of local favorite are on the list! Let us know in he comments if you take advantage!

Our August Meeting!

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 08:45:00 -0400

Our next general meeting will be August 13th at The Studio@620 and focus on seasonal eating! Check out our Events Page for all the info. Hope you see you there!

In the meantime check out this fantastic video about seasonal eating.

2012 Florida Innovative Farmer awarded to Gateway Organic Farm!

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 16:28:00 -0400

Gateway Organic Farm owners Pamela Sindlinger, founding Slow Food Tampa Bay board member, and her husband Hank received the Florida Innovative Farmer Award at the Small Farm and Alternative Enterprise Conference in July 2012 in Kissimmee. The certified organic farm in Clearwater has a CSA and provides fresh, local produce to area restaurants. They call their 3.19 acre farm a little piece of paradise! Congratulations!

Pictures from Sweet Fruit & Savory Spice

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 08:23:00 -0400

Thanks to eveyone who participated in our fabulous cooking demonstration with Mindful Meals Chef Emily Golden! Stay tuned for out next event!

“Sweet Fruit and Savory Spice”

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 08:38:00 -0400

Slow Food Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg’s Savory Spice Shop will co-sponsor a talk and cooking demo by Chef Emily Golden called “Sweet Fruit and Savory Spice” on Mon., July 23, 6:30-8 p.m. The presentation will be followed by a tasting of dishes prepared by Golden, proprietor of Mindful Meals, a whole-foods delivery service.

It is $10 to attend, all proceed benefit Slow Food Tampa Bay

Check out our Events page for all the info!

Natural Probiotic Soda / Water Kefir Workshop

Mon, 28 May 2012 12:59:00 -0400

From a member of the SFTB community! Natural soda y'all!

Thursday, May 31st, 7-9 pm in Redington Shores

Join us to learn how to make your own refreshing, bubbly soda containing over forty strains of probiotics (over 6 times more than yogurt) using water kefir. Water kefir is a traditional probiotic culture, grown and cared for by many generations who used it to ferment sweet liquid into a healthy, hydrating drink – the precursor to modern day soda. In the class we will taste different recipes including ginger ale, bottle a fermented batch, and you will start a batch of water kefir to take home and ferment your own healthy drinks. Water kefir is self propagating so once you have the basics you can make your own sodas indefinitely. *Please bring to class a glass quart jar with lid for your first batch of water kefir.* Workshop is $25 per person. Contact me at rebeccabeekeeper@yahoo.com or 727-688-9069 to register or with questions.

Thank you,
Rebecca

http://learningtobeenatural.wordpress.com/calender/

Next General Meeting Feb 13th

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:47:00 -0500

Join us at The Studio @ 620 in downtown St. Pete for our next meeting!

Join Us For TEDx: Changing the Way We Eat!

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:49:00 -0500

This Saturday, January 21st 2011, TEDx: Manhattan will be hosting a world class lineup of speakers to talk about what we eat and why it's important. Slow Food Tampa Bay will be hosting a simulcast viewing at The Roosevelt 2.0! . Come down and spend all or part of the day with us to listen to amazing speakers such as:

Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch

Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States

Mitchell Davis, Executive Vice President, the James Beard Foundation, cookbook author and food journalist

And many more! Hope to see you there!

Click here for more info from TEDx!

Slow Food General Membership Meeting

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:02:00 -0500

To begin the new year, Slow Food Tampa Bay will have our first general membership meeting this Monday, January 9th at the Studio@620 in St. Petersburg. There will be a potluck, beginning at 6 p.m., followed by a short meeting and then our featured speaker, Willow LaMonte, a local expert on indigenous herbs. Remember to bring your own resuable utensils for the meal!

Click here for more info!

It's Food Day!!!

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 07:40:00 -0400

Hope folks has a good time at the food truck rally, or the Planter's Ball, or at one of many are markets this weekend!

But today...today is FOOD DAY! This celebration of good food has sparked a nationwide movement! And here in Tampa Bay area there are two awesome ways to celebrate! On Tampa side you can check out the film Urban Roots being presented by Tampa Urban Food Forum and Going Green Tampa Bay down at the Roosevelt 2.0. If you're over in St. Pete check out the showing of FRESH being presented by your very own Slow Food Tampa Bay at the Studio@620 and get a coupon for a free burrito! Check out our event page for more details!

Also...if you happen to need to do some food shopping cuz you didn't get everything you needed at market this weekend, a little birdie tells me that you can support the good folks over at Sweetwater Farm by shopping at the Tampa Whole Foods today!

Eat well all and have a great Food Day!

The Planter's Ball!

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:16:00 -0400

After you're done stuffing your face full of food truck deliciousness...you can have a very veggie time at the Planter's Ball!

Sweetwater Farm's market doesn't start up again until Nov 6th, but you can come out to support them tomorrow night! And get an early start on Food Day!

Food Day Is On Its Way!

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:18:00 -0400

There are 2, that's right 2, fantastic events happening this Monday for Food Day! Check out our events page to get more information on Slow Food Tampa Bay's showing of Fresh in Sat. Pete, and Urban Food Forum's showing of Urban Roots in Tampa!

Do you know of any other Food Day events happening in the area? Let us know and we'll help spread the word!

Become a Slow Food Member with ANY donation!

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 07:52:00 -0400

Hello Tampa Slow Food Friends and Fans! We would like to share a message from Slow Food USA membership manager, Amiee Campbell:

I know you've heard a lot from us lately. The reason I'm writing again is because we have a fantastic new opportunity to tell you about.

We waived our membership fees in September because we wanted everyone to be able to join our movement, and it generated an amazingly positive response.

In fact, Slow Food USA board member Lynne Frame and her husband Rick Hoskins liked the idea so much that they asked us to continue it for another two weeks - offering to match every new gift dollar-for-dollar, up to $25,000.

How could we pass up that kind of an offer?

So, for another two weeks, you can join Slow Food with a donation of any amount – and your gift will have double the impact!

That's twice as much ability to:

Plant school gardens and teach children about healthy, fresh food
Advocate for food and farm policy that serves farmers, eaters, and the earth
Fight for real, sustainable food to be more accessible for everyone.

Help us take advantage of this incredible opportunity. Every gift has double the impact, from now through October 15.

Thank you for being a part of this food fight,

Aimee Campbell
Fellow member (and Membership Manager)
Slow Food USA

How You Doin' Puddin'?

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 08:34:00 -0400

The last of the 3 recipes provided by the Ruskin $5 Potluck. Looks pretty tastey to me!

If out community has any more awesome recipes that can be prepared as part of a $5 meal please send them our way! (Extra cool point if you send a pic of the finished product!)

Chocolate Banana Pudding

12 servings

8 oz. chocolate chips

¼ c. butter (half stick), cut in pieces

2 tsp vanilla

4 cups milk

6 egg yolks

1 c. sugar

½ c. corn starch

pinch of salt

3 bananas, sliced

Put chocolate, butter and vanilla in a large bowl and set aside.

Heat milk in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Meanwhile, beat egg yolks in a mixer, gradually adding sugar until light and lemon-colored. Add the cornstarch and beat (it will become stiff). Temper the egg mixture with a few ladles of milk, then pour into the pot and whisk constantly until the custard thickens, about 6-8 minutes.

Pour over the chocolate and whisk until blended. Place plastic wrap over the custard to prevent a skin forming. Refrigerate when cooled.

Mix in the bananas before serving.