Date: October 24, 2012

On October 24, we participated in National Food Day at the Public Market. We collaborated with the Network for a Healthy California with a stall offering live cooking demos during which chefs Julie Darling and Amy DiBiase made a gorgeous minestrone soup with ingredients harvested from the market. More than 150 students, plus accompanying adults and shoppers enjoyed the soup along with a market tour, Harvest Nutrition Obstacle Course, and “Meet the Farmer” scavenger hunt run by the Network for a Healthy California. In addition to Julie and Amy, members Marie Kelley, Candy Wallace, Caron Golden, Amy Finley, and Trish Watlington helped dish up and distribute 300 servings of soup to attendees.

Date: October 21, 2012

October 21st was a picture perfect fall Chicago day to celebrate Food Day hosted by Dame Browyn Weaver of Heritage Prairie Farm in Elburn, IL and to celebrate the season’s bounty and FamilyFarmed.org. Buses were arranged from various locations to the farm with a mixologist from Koval Distillery, an artisan distiller.


Dames and guests were greeted by the hosts and offered a plethora of beautiful Hors d’oeuvres that showcased local produce and farmers. A tour of the farm revealed the unique crop rotation system. There was a silent auction, live music provided by Sunnyside Up, several artisan vendors with their wares and an opportunity to shop in the Heritage Prairie farm store to buy Bron’s honey and other specialty food items.


The spectacular Spiaggia farm-to-table meal was created by Top Chef Alum & Executive Chef Sarah Grueneberg and Executive Sous-Chef Chris Marchino who partnered with Harvest Moon Farms, Otter Creek Organic Farms, Goodness Greeness, Mint Creek, Angelic Organics, Becker Lane Organic and the host farm. Together, they created a 5 course family-style meal that rivaled any fine dining establishment. A particular favorite was the 3rd course Becker Lane Pork Sausage Stuffed Cabbage with Brown Butter and Crispy Shallots/Marinated Becker Lane Pork Loin with Pear Mostarda/ Slow Roasted Becker Lane Pork Belly with Aleppo Pepper and Spigarello.


The beautiful white tent was simply decorated. The tables were adorned with different varieties of local squash (which were sent home with guests in the goody bags) and some simple fall flowers. After an idyllic day spent at the farm, the fully-sated crowd boarded the buses back to city life.
 

Date: October 19, 2012

Video from Food and Family Fun Day

LDEI partnered with Liholiho Elementary School for their wellness initiative and Family Fun Day. Students experienced movement activities in the school's open field directed by their volunteer physical education teachers. LDEI Dames showcased various tasting stations in the cafeteria on how to prepare and cook vegetables using community subscription agriculture produce. The menu included, green smoothies, sautéed greens, painting salad dressings on a variety of mesclun greens, oven fried breadfruit and Okinawan sweet potatoes, tomato tasting, and more. The goals are to introduce students to a variety of vegetables and to teach parents various ways of preparing them.  A CSA truck will be parked in the parking lot with students walking through seeing the various produce. Many community businesses are supporting this event.

Contact: Janice Yap at jyap@punahou.edu

Date: January 10, 2013

On January 10, 2013 LDNY celebrated Food Day with the first cooking demonstration of its Parents Resource Program. (The event originally was scheduled for October 30 but had to be cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy.) Through our Green Tables initiative LDNY is collaborating with Wellness in the Schools (WITS) to promote community health and well being by educating children and parents in the community about where their food comes from and why it is key to their future. In partnership with Wellness in the Schools LDNY has created a resource for the parents of the children they are serving. Our goal is to foster a healthier lifestyle outside school by helping parents to make more informed food choices and by creating opportunities for parents and children to learn how to shop and prepare meals together.

The event took place at PS278 located in the Inwood Section of Manhattan. Parents were greeted by Nancy Easton, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Wellness in the Schools, who introduced Georgia Downard, Co-Chairman of LDNY's Green Tables Committee. After a brief description of LDNY and the Parents Resource Program, Georgia introduced Ellie Krieger, host of Food Network's Healthy Appetite, and member of LDNY's Green Tables Committee. In her wonderfully engaging style, Ellie prepared three simple recipes based on cooked (leftover) chicken. Taking into consideration that most parents work, have little time to prepare meals during the week but wish to feed their families healthy, nutritious meals, roasting one or two chickens on the weekend and using the leftovers creatively during the week would take the stress out of meal planning while insuring their families were eating well. Giving tips on cooking techniques, ingredients and seasonings, Ellie prepared Chicken Fried Rice, Chicken Spinach Quesadillas and Curried Chicken Salad.

The demonstration was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Nora Favelukes. Speaking in Spanish (the school's parent body is 80% Dominican), Nora briefly described the Parent Resource Program and then introduced Regina Ragone, Food Director of Family Circle and Polly Talbott, Founder and Director of a la Carte Culinary Services. Regina and Polly shared their expertise in how to shop to get the most for your money, meal planning strategies for the busy parent and ways to incorporate healthy foods into your family meals. The discussion was followed by a question and answer period. On their way out, parents were given samples of the three recipes prepared.