Send Your Favorite Food Rules to Michael Pollan

Michael Pollan has asked for help from Slow Food members to write his upcoming expanded edition of Food Rules. Here's the message we just received from Mr. Pollan:

Last year I published Food Rules, a short book offering 64 rules for eating well. Food Rules struck a chord with many people, who found that it helped them navigate what has become a treacherous food environment, whether in the supermarket or restaurant.

Many of the rules were submitted by readers, and since publication I have received a number of excellent new ones.

So I’ve decided to publish an expanded edition, with additional rules and also illustrations, which the painter Maira Kalman has agreed to create. I hope you’ll consider contributing to the new book.

What are some of your food rules? I’ll pick my favorite three rules from within the Slow Food network and give those people signed copies of the book. Click here to let me know your food rule here.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Michael Pollan

PS - the deadline for submission is February 27th. Don't forget to forward this email to your friends so they can share their food rules too!

Special Invite for Slow Foodies from Spaces Gallery

Brunch with Broken Instruments (Machine Project Event)

With Liz Glynn

Saturday, February 26, 2011, 11:00AM - 1:00PM

Food, and unmelodious melodies.

Food from local foodies, restaurants, and food trucks, plus music. Come join LA artists Liz Glynn and Corey Fogel from Machine Project as we all share a delicious meal and play a tune - or something like it - on a broken instrument.

Liz and Corey will be playing on the instruments (which will be broken on Wednesday night during Destruction Karaoke at SPACES), and the public will be able to participate. Definitely a family friendly event! Hang out and play on Nate Page's couchbleachers!

For more info about this event visit SPACES.

"From Garden to Table" Spring Symposium

The Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County will hold their spring symposium "From Garden to Table" on April 30 from 9:30 to 3:00 at the Happy Days Lodge in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Topics will include:

Small Fruit Gardening

Garden Pests & Diseases

Farming in the Cuyahoga Valley

Kitchen Gardening 10 Feet Up

Unusual Culinary Herbs & Heirloom Vegetables

Extending the Growing Season

For additional information and to register:

http://www.cuyahogamg.org/MGSpecEvents/GardentoTable/2011/2011%20Registration%20Form.pdf

Terra Madre 2006 Delegates Receive OEFFA Stewardship Award

Slow Food Northern Ohio is proud to congratulate Terra Madre 2006 delegates, Ed Snavely and Deb Stinner on their recent OEFFA Stewardship Award!

The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) bestowed its highest honor, the Stewardship Award, on Snavely of Knox County and Stinner of Wayne County on February 19 as part of OEFFA’s 32^nd Annual Conference, Inspiring Farms, Sustaining Communities. The award recognizes “outstanding contributions to the sustainable agriculture community.”

Dr. Deborah Stinner is a Research Scientist and Administrative Coordinator for the Organic Food and Farming Education and Research Program (OFFER) at The Ohio State University’s Ohio Agriculture Research and Development Center (OARDC) in Wooster, Ohio.

Stinner’s research specialty is organic farming systems, with a focus on specialty small grains, including hard wheat and spelt, for artisan bread and pasta products. She helped found the OFFER program in 1998 in response to requests by organic producers and supporters to provide science-based information to Ohio’s organic farmers. OFFER is internationally recognized as a leader in organic farming research.

The OFFER Program, which maintains 50 acres of certified research land and 20 organic field experiments, supports “field to table” organic research and education, including organic vegetable, fruit, and grain production; environmental impacts of organic farming; local and international marketing; on-farm research with organic farmers; and the impact of organic production on food quality.

“For more than two decades, Deb Stinner has clearly articulated the challenges facing Ohio farmers. She has shared her understanding of what makes agriculture truly sustainable and helped farmers see how their farming decisions effect their profitability, their families and their communities.” said Mike Anderson, OEFFA’s Organic Education Coordinator, who presented the award at the Saturday evening ceremony.

Ed Snavely owns and operates Curly Tail Organic Farm, a 114 acre farm in Fredericktown, Ohio. One of Ohio’s longest continuously certified farms, Ed has been certified organic since 1989 and raises pastured pork and feed for livestock.

Snavely has been a member of OEFFA since 1989 and currently serves on the Board of Directors as the Grain Growers Chapter Representative and Vice President. He has served as President of the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) Ohio Chapter, and also as a former board member of OCIA. Snavely has hosted numerous farm tours; spoken as a featured presenter at OEFFA, OCIA, and American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) meetings; and has been an honored delegate at the first and second Slow Food Terra Madre conferences in Italy.

“I was proud to present the OEFFA Stewardship Award to my good friend Ed. He has long been a proponent of organic and sustainable agriculture and has worked to spread the word not only locally but across our nation and around the world,” said Mike Laughlin, OEFFA Board Member and 2010 Stewardship Award recipient, who presented the award.

“Both Deb and Ed care deeply about creating a sustainable food system. We should all be sincerely grateful for what they have done to advance sustainable agriculture in our community,” said OEFFA Executive Director Carol Goland.

2011 Ohio Farm to School Conference: March 30

2011 Ohio Farm to School Conference: Digging Into Ohio Farm to School
March 30th from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
The Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University

Themed “Digging into Farm to School,” this conference will feature workshops and information for educators, producers, distributors, food service staff and anyone interested in learning about ways to build and expand a farm to school program; ways to connect schools and local farms; youth food production; school gardens; food safety; funding farm to school initiatives; and curriculum development.

Featured speakers include Doug Davis from Vermont Feed and staff from the USDA Farm to School Team.

To register for the conference and more information on workshops, lodging and sponsorship options, please visit www.ccbh.net or call 216-201-2001 x1513 or x1514

Innovative Farmers of Ohio Conference: Feb. 26

Register now for Innovative Farmers of Ohio's Annual Conference: The Business of Farming: An Entrepreneurial Approach.

The 2011 IFO Annual Meeting and Conference will be held on February 26, 2011, at the Kenndey Center at Hiram College in Hiram Ohio. For additional information visit IFO's website or Click here for conference brochure and registration information.

Conference Registration
Non-Members: $35
Member: $25
Student: $25

Slow Food Celebrates the Year of the Rabbit

Chinese New Year Celebration at Siam Cafe!

It's time for our annual Chinese New Year celebration! Once again, Chef Michael Hong has prepared a fantastic menu of traditional Chinese dishes for us to enjoy.

When: February 27, 6pm
Where: Siam Cafe, 3951 St Clair Ave NE, Cleveland OH 44114 (216) 361-2323
Pricing: $50 active Slow Food members/ $58 non-members (includes tax and gratuity)

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: Please RSVP by FEB. 20
Email slowfoodnorthernohio@gmail.com

All reservations must be paid in advance by personal check payable to Slow Food Northern Ohio.

Mail payment to Slow Food c/o FarmShare Ohio, PO Box 1998, Cleveland, OH 44106.

New Years Menu

Shanghai Xiao Long Bao

Traditional Soup Dumpling

Wonton Dumplings in Thai Tom Yum Soup

Spicy Thai Soup with Two types of Mushrooms and Wonton Dumplings

Stuffed Crab Claws

Crab Claw stuffed with Shrimp Puree and Crispy Vermicelli

Scallion Pancake with Char-Sui Pork

Char-Sui Barbecued Pork Wrapped with Pancake. Served with Sweet Hoisin Sauce

Lobster with Golden Garlic

Maine Lobsters Stir Fried with Minced Roasted Garlic, Green & Red Peppers

Barbecued Duck

Whole Crispy Roasted Duck

Baby Abalone & Shitake Mushroom over Mustard Greens

Pla Red Pik

Fillets of Victorian Perch with Spicy Thai Tamarind Sauce

Braised Ham Hock

Tender Ham Hock, slow cooked for hours and served with Baby Bok Choy

Traditional Noodle with Chicken

Thin Egg Noodle Stir Fried in Soy Sauce with Chicken

Michael’s Fabled New Years Only Fried Custard with Shrimp, Snow Peas & Carrots

Very Beautiful & Delicious Fried Rice

Flaky Pastry Crust Baked with Egg Custard