Opportunities to Support Coit Road Farmers' Market

This message from the nice folks at Coit Road Farmers' Market just arrived in our inbox. We thought we'd pass it along to our Slow Food friends.

Coit Road Farmers' market is working on a couple of food and cooking education programs for this season.

The first is a "Chef at the market'" cooking program. The plan is have people submit requests to learn how to cook a certain dish or how to use a certain ingredient and we would find a chef or other qualified person who would give them a one-on-one lesson at the market. We are seeking a volunteer (or volunteers) to be chef coordinators. Basically, help hook the requests up with the right teachers and make sure everything is in place for the demo (ingredients utensils and such). If this is something you are interested in participating in (either as a teacher and/or a coordinator) please let me know.

The second one is a cooking and food education library. We are accepting donations of books about cooking, gardening and food related issues in general. These will be available for people to read at the market. We will also have a copy machine available so people can go home with a copy of any recipes they may want to try. We also have a computer program with over a million recipes searchable by ingredient. This will give people another opportunity to learn how to use the local produce that comes through the market that they may not have tried before. Any suggestions or donations will be greatly appreciated.

If you're interested in volunteering or donating, please email Market Manager, Kevin Scheuring at spicehound1@yahoo.com.

Food on Film

This might be the final weekend for the the Cleveland International Film Festival but don't despair, there are more great films right around the corner and these are all about our favorite subject, food!

Whole Foods Market is presenting the “Let’s Retake Our Plates” Film Series, a collection of films about our food supply and the environment – and the visionary people (and companies) who are making it better, one bite at a time.

Timed to coincide with April’s Earth Month and hosted at Lakewood Public Library (15425 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood) and Solon Cinemas (6185 Enterprise Parkway, Solon), the series includes a quality array of recent independent documentaries, several of which have been shown in Cleveland previously, to popular response. All screenings are FREE and open to the public, with contests, prizes, free samples and guest-hosted discussions planned for every show.

“The intention is to support a community aware of the ‘life’ of the food on our plates,” explained Whole Foods Market’s John Kucinski, associate store team leader at Cedar Center. “From farm to store to table, there are opportunities for us as consumers to become more engaged in the process and make mindful choices that best support our values. Step one is making the information accessible and encouraging a dialogue.”

Tickets (free of charge) will be available first-come, first-served at the specified screening location, beginning one hour prior to each show.

The complete schedule is as follows:

April 3rd, 12:00 p.m. at Solon Cinemas
“Food Fight” (2008) – A fascinating look at how American agricultural policy and food culture developed in the 20th century and how the California food movement has created a counter-revolution against big agribusiness. (73 minutes)

April 9th, 7:00 p.m. at Lakewood Public Library
“Food, Inc.” (2008) – Filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, revealing a food supply controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. (94 minutes)

April 10th, 12:00 p.m. at Solon Cinemas
“What’s On Your Plate” (2009) – A chronicle of food systems in New York City that discovers innovative sustainable food system practices that both help struggling farmers to survive and provide affordable, locally-grown food to lower-income urban families. (76 minutes)

April 16th, 7:00 p.m. at Lakewood Public Library
“Nourish: Food + Community” (2009) and “Homegrown” (2008) – A double feature, “Nourish” traces our relationship to food from a global perspective and suggests steps for creating a more sustainable food system, and “Homegrown” is an intimate human portrait of a family who runs a small organic farm in the heart of urban Pasadena, Calif., living like "Little House on the Prairie" in the 21st Century. (78 tot. minutes)

April 17th, 12:00 p.m. at Solon Cinemas
“King Corn” (2007) and “Big River” (2010) – A documentary and its follow-up companion, chronicling the subsidized crop that drives our fast-food nation, and the troubling questions about food and farming practices that accompany its abundance. (88 tot. minutes)

April 23rd, 7:00 p.m. at Lakewood Public Library
“The End of the Line” (2009) – A harrowing examination of the fishing industry and the troubling effects of careless fishing practices and overfishing on our oceans. (85 minutes)

April 24th, 12:00 p.m. at Solon Cinemas
“Fresh” (2009) – A celebration of the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are forging healthier, sustainable alternatives and a practical vision for the future of our food system. (72 minutes)

April 30th, 7:00 p.m. at Lakewood Public Library
“PolyCultures: Food Where We Live” (2009) – Locally produced, “PolyCultures” portrays the diverse communities around Greater Cleveland coming together to grow a more sustainable and equitable food system. (56 minutes)

Complete film descriptions and information on associated store programs can be found at http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/cleveland/.

The “Let’s Retake Our Plates” Film Series is sponsored by Whole Foods Market, Lakewood Public Library and Solon Cinemas with community partners including EcoWatch Ohio and the Cleveland Metroparks.

Call Senator Sherrod Brown Today!

Slow Food USA is urging its Ohio members and friends to call Senator Sherrod Brown's office to encourage his suppport of the Child Nutrition Act which will be debated on March 24.

Anyone can make calls but those that come from leaders, school officials, teachers, foodservice workers, parents and students are especially influential.

Below is a phone script including contact information and a few talking points.

Make your call now!

Calling Senator Sherrod Brown’s office in D.C.

Key messages to get across:

*I’m asking Senator Brown to help schools serve healthier food by supporting the full $1 billion investment in Child Nutrition.

*Thank you for co-sponsoring Senator Leahy’s Farm to School bill. Please support the full $50 million in funding during committee mark-up next week.

Phone number for Senator Brown: (202) 224-2315

When the receptionist answers, say you’re a constituent (“I live in Cleveland, etc.”) and ask to speak with the staff member who works on child nutrition.

When you get through to the child nutrition staff member, say your name, where you’re from and whom you represent. If you’re calling on behalf of a Slow Food chapter, mention the size of your membership and mailing list – and feel free to mention that our network has sent 284 emails to Brown’s office in the last few weeks.

Thank the Senator for co-sponsoring Senator Leahy’s Farm to School bill. Then, ask the staff member if the Senator supports:

*Helping schools serve healthier food by making the full $1 billion investment in Child Nutrition.
*Advocating for the full $50 million for Farm to School when the committee marks up the bill next week.

If the Senator’s position is the same as yours, thank the staff member and let him/her know you’re happy to be a resource for information in the future.

If it’s not, explain why you believe in healthy school food. Offer to send the staff member more information and encourage the legislator to re-consider the issue.

*If the staff member wants more information, ask for his/her email address and follow up immediately. This is a great opportunity to become someone on whom the staff relies for information.

If you don’t get through to anyone and you’re leaving a voicemail, state your name and phone number, where you’re from and whom you represent. Encourage the Senator to support our policy goals (listed above).

That’s all. Please report back on how it goes. It’ll help us strengthen our messages and learn more about the best ways for Slow Food leaders to advocate.

If you have questions, contact one of the Slow Food USA staff. (If you don’t know who to contact, try Gordon Jenkins at gordon@slowfoodusa.org or 718-260-8000.)

Dante Artist Series March 28

DANTE ARTISTS SERIES kicks off featuring Photography by Dan Morgan!

Please, come to join Slow Food members and friends for a cocktail party to preview the art work and to enjoy good food and wine --$35 - includes private reception with the artist, select appetizers, cocktails, fine wine and cheese in collaboration with Slow Food Northern Ohio.

RSVP 216.274.1200 (Mon-Sat). Limited to 100 guests.

For additional informatin please visit: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=368159806940&ref=mf .

Celebrate Spring at the Cleveland Int'l. Film Festival & Greenhouse Tavern Event

March 21, 2010

Celebrate spring and learn about and eating local foods!

The Cleveland International Film Festival presents Ingredients, a food documentary that features local foods and farmers, including The Chef's Garden. Join other Slow Food members for the showing on Sunday, March 21st at 11:45am. Tickets are on sale now. After the film we'll be meeting for food and drink at The Greenhouse Tavern, who will be featuring their Happy Hour menu all day! The Greenhouse will even be creating a special 360 Vodka spring cocktail just for us!

If you'd like to attend you can purchase your film ticket on your own. Then just let us know if you'll be attending The Greenhouse Tavern after the film. Please RSVP by Friday, March 18th to SlowFoodNorthernOhio@gmail.com.

Slow Food Northern Ohio Advisory Board

Slow Food Northern Ohio is seeking applications from its membership to serve on the newly formed Advisory Board. The Advisory Board will assist Slow Food Northern Ohio leaders in planning programs and events and will offer guidance in matters pertaining to the Slow Food Northern Ohio activities.

Members of the Advisory Board will serve as volunteers and commit to a term of one year.

The Advisory Board will be made up of six (6) active members of the Slow Food Northern Ohio convivium and include the following: 1-2 farmers; 1-2 chefs or food industry representatives; and 2-4 members at large.

Duties and Expectations for Advisory Board Members:

• Advisory Board members must be or become members of Slow Food USA in good standing;
  Commit to serving a one-year term;
• Attend quarterly meetings throughout the year and special meetings as required;
  Contribute to building Slow Food’s “Good, Clean, Fair” philosophy in the Northern Ohio community;
• Collaborate with other like-minded organizations as required;
• Contribute time, ideas, and effort in creating and implementing at least one Slow Food Northern Ohio event within a calendar year;
• Support Slow Food Northern Ohio’s effort to recruit and maintain an active and diverse chapter membership by creating inclusive and balanced programming and;
• Be actively involved in Slow Food Northern Ohio activities and programs.

Selection Process: The Slow Food Northern Ohio leadership team will evaluate all Advisory Board applications, interview prospective nominees, and select members based on the attributes they would bring to the Advisory Board. Advisory Board members will be selected and announced by March 31, 2010.

Please submit application forms to slowfoodnorthernohio@gmail.com no later than Tuesday, March 23, 2010.

Advisory Board Application Questionnaire: To apply please copy this section into a word document or email, respond to each question and email to our Leadership Team.

1. Contact and personal information.
2. Are you familiar with Slow Food and if so what aspects of the organization have been of most interest to you?
3. Which volunteer or professional organizations have you been a member and what was/is the extent of your involvement?
4. Slow Food Northern Ohio is dedicated to activities that promote the Slow Food mission of a food system that is “good, clean and fair” and foster appreciation of Northern Ohio's foods, farms and culinary traditions. Please provide a brief description of your interest and activities related to such objectives.
5. What attributes/skills would you bring to the Advisory Board and what roles would you see yourself contributing to on the board.
   
   Questions? Please contact Kari Moore, Slow Food Northern Ohio at slowfoodnorthernohio@gmail.com or 216.225.6311.

Slow Food Membership Meeting

Thank you to all who participated in our March 2 membership meeting at the Happy Dog!


Special thanks to Eric Williams and the fabulous Happy Dog crew who took such good care of us with excellent dogs and icy cold Dogfish on tap.