Results tagged “slowfood”

That flower and vegetable garden at Civic Center -- the one that will, eventually, allow all of us to eat cake, or whatever -- gets a stay of execution. Since there has been a dubious "outpouring of public support" for the garden since its installation in early July," Mayor Gavin Newsom plans on keeping that garden in front of city hall until root vegetable season. Yay. We guess.

We always thought that a story regarding an organization called "welovejam.com" would be NSFW. But this is actually pretty innocent. These two fellows, Eric Haeberli and Phineas Hoang, started an operation in the Santa Clara Valley with a very simple concept. See, there's apricot called the Blenheim that's been proclaimed to be endangered by Slow Food USA. It's very fragile. Haeberli and Hoang are trying to preserve this flavor in the form of preserves. Jam. They make the Blenheim into jam.

Lucky Carol Ness! The Chronicle Food section scribe is off in Turin, Italy, to update us on a BIG meeting for the Slow Food Movement. Her detailed reporting has always shined (ring the full disclosure bell: yes, we used to intern there, and yes, we have pals there, including our husband). Of particular note is the fact that many Californians--both famous and not so much - are participating. For the record, Dairy Queen at The Ethicurean is interested and green with envy over the Turin happenings. Mmmmkay. We're not sure we agree with Ms. DQ that the Bay Area scene is “as deserted as New York in August.” We'd rather be here, with all the artisan chocolate with tea notes, pumpkins, squash, beets, and cavolo nero popping up. We mean it, we really, really do.

Here's a riddle. You invite a fisherman, his lobbyist, and his sales channel, ie. a fishmonger and a restaurateur, and what do you get? Not an all knives out fight, for sure. More like hugs and kisses, and lots and lots of fish knowledge. The congregation of the above-mentioned people was assembled to discuss sustainable seafood at the invite of the Slow Food convivium of the Russian River. From the Latin: con (with, together), and vivium (to live), that's much warmer than "chapter" or "group." It's all a big family. Maybe they all came down from West Sonoma in the same minivan.

The Russian River Slow Food movement comes down to San Francisco this Sunday for a Sustainable Seafood Salon, that is a panel discussion on the issues of sustainability in fishing in the Northern California coast. You guys remember we narrowly escaped having no local wild salmon on our plates this year, and it is only one example of fishing going awry.

We just received last week the Slow Food Guide to San Francisco and the bay area, third guide in the series after New York and Chicago. The Bay Area is in smaller font in the actual title, but the guide actually makes a great job at not discriminating against the South and East Bays. We love Slow Food. Our s.o.'s roommate, Valerie, used to head the Berkeley chapter and many times we would step into a chapter meeting in the living room, which really was a yummy potluck of all-organic, all-sustainable delicious recipes. And they would let us take a bite, thank you very much, they won our heart the old fashioned way, through the belly. We were out when Alice Waters visited, but we knew the house had been touched by the Slow Food equivalent of a divinity, it had a halo from that day on. Both our s.o. and Valerie have moved out of the holy shrine by now, but Slow Food is still thriving.

The SFist test kitchen has come up with a great idea. Sometime in the next week, arrange to see your friends or family at a big meal. Imagine how pleasant it will be to rediscover the quirks and foibles of your kin. You could even take this opportunity to clear up any issues you've let simmer over the last year. You'll thank us for giving you the chance to air out the metaphorical closets.