NYC Wine + Food Festival — 100 Mile Brunch

100 miles north of NYC on a 60 acre plot of land sits Katchkie Farm, a year-round organic farm owned by Great Performances catering company.  This year was their third harvest and lucky for us they participated in the New York City Wine and Food Festival by preparing a Sunday brunch at the Fire Museum downtown.

Upon entering the 3rd floor event space you were greeted by the sound of banjo’s and fiddles from Bluegrass band Citigrass, manificent table settings and an overwhelming feeling of the Great American Fall Harvest.

The event really drove home the importance of Farm to Table eating.  Chris Harkeness, Executive Chef of Great Performances spoke about his envy of current culinary students who are learning how to source food from local farms whereas his 1980s education focused on being a worldly master of knowing how to source and access food from all over the globe.

Each morsel of food was better than the previous.  Knowing the people behind your food and message of Farm to Table magnifies the satisfaction level beyond measure.

Here is a link the menu

Fresh Osysters provided by Widow's Hole Oyster Company, featured with a Un-Bloody Mary's

New York Dairies Cheese Collection and Faicco's Salami

Fresh veggies with Butternut Squash Soup, and Lasagna with the Farm's Fresh Tomatoes, Eggplant and Squash

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If Kids Grow It, They’ll Eat It!

Inspiring story from the Today Show and The New York Botanical Garden.  A summer program where 120 kids learn to grow organically.  And the best part aside from education is that the kids are more open to trying new vegetables that they themselves have grown.  Also they learn the value of organic and farm fresh.   Click link to video here

Food Advocacy

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What some may say has been a long time coming, I think food advocacy is really starting to erupt, especially in New York City and California.  And traditionally it won’t be long before the coastal trends make their wave across the rest of the country.

To get you started, check out the documentary Food, Inc. from Robert Kenner.  The film’s original intent was to give American’s an inside understanding of simply ‘where does your food come from.’  By the end Kenner exposed some controversial and sensitive issues that will make you want to stand up on your chair, get your hippie hat on and start a protest!

Brutal farming conditions, diabetes and obesity, E.coli, farm worker protection, and the corn situation were some of the issues that really struck a chord with me.

The main take-away is that you have an opportunity to vote 3 times a day.  Vote to eat locally, seasonally and where appropriate-organically.  Take an active part in understanding where your meat is coming from and support your local growers.  If there is a demand they will supply and the movement will be a success.

Brands are also partnering with the film.

Stonyfield Organic yogurt was featured in the film as an example how a Wal-Mart representative was interested in stocking their brand because there was an increased consumer demand for an organic product.  Success!!  They’re advertising the film on their yogurt lids.

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Aligning with the film has presented Chipotle with an opportunity to showcase its eco-friendly “Food with integrity” philosophy. Currently, 35 percent of the beans that Chipotle uses are organically grown, and the company touts that it serves more naturally raised meat than any other restaurant worldwide.

So go vote!!  And see the film!

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