Subject: FW: Slow Food Asheville - News for August 2010
 

 

Slow Food Asheville Convivium

Serving Western North Carolina and adjoining states

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© Slow Food Asheville 

 2003-2010

Thanks to Slow Food USA, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, Asheville Green Drinks,  ,Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau, Blue Ridge Food Ventures, NC Extension Service,  Organic Growers School and many others for contributing to this publication.

Asheville Wine & Food Festival Grand Tasting
A Benefit for Slow Food Asheville, FEAST and our Community

On August 14, the Asheville Wine & Food Festival Grand Tasting will be a celebration of the largest gathering of local delicacies and wines that Asheville has ever seen under one roof. Join us at the new, air-conditioned Expo facility located at the WNC Agricultural Center near the Asheville Regional Airport for an afternoon of wine, food, and fun.

Attendees will be greeted by live music and handed a commemorative engraved festival wine glass before sipping and sampling the products of more than 80 regional, national, and international wineries, local restaurants, food producers, and artisans. See the Final Iron Chef Challenge Competition at the festival as the final two teams battle it out for the title of the “Best Chef in WNC”. $35 is all inclusive and easy parking adjacent to the Expo Center!

PURCHASE TICKETS | DIRECTIONS

| IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER, CLICK HERE |

 

Fresh Asheville and Slow Food Asheville

Fresh Asheville is a grassroots organization focused on educating and inspiring people to action through film and community participation. Fresh Asheville focuses on solutions and the importance that daily choices have on the health, environment, and sustainability of our community and the world. Fresh Asheville has teamed with the Dutch Environmental Film Festival to bring the latest and top quality related documentaries to the Asheville Food & Environmental Film Festival September 22-25, 2010. Fresh Asheville was inspired by the movie FRESH, making it the headliner of this year's festival.

Participating restaurants will host an Opening Dinner at Eyes of Blue Farm featuring locally produced delights with proceeds to benefit this year's community project. This will be followed by three days of citywide screenings, lectures and workshops, and a closing dinner at Eyes of Blue Farm catered by Food Experience. This will be an opportunity to have a local farm fresh meal with the attending Directors and Producers of the festival film selection. Collaborative efforts are being made with the University of North Carolina Asheville (UNCA) and Slow Food Asheville to include students in the festival program, and to launch UNCA's own chapter of Slow Food International during the festival, which will empower students to become more involved in solutions. There is further effort with other community organizations to implement new programs for students' service learning through hands-on experience of fresh local food as this year's community project. Although the community project is serving the community of Asheville, the festival will serve all who attend, and everyone is welcome from anywhere in the world.  To find out more - go To" Fresh Asheville

 

Grassroots Revival potluck on Aug. 15th.

 

We are postponing the Slow Food Asheville potluck that was scheduled for Aug. 22nd. Instead we would love for folks to join us at the Grassroots Revival potluck on Aug. 15th. Bountiful Cities is hosting this event and it is a great opportunity to share food with others in our community who are working to ensure that we have sustainable food sources. It is also an opportunity to tour one of Ashville’s finest Community gardens!  

Ggo to http://bountifulcitiesblog.blogspot.com/

 

FRESH and Local foods in Schools

August 28th, Saturday - The Slow Food Asheville Convivium will join the Weinhaus for a fund raiser for promoting fresh local foods in the schools.  This will be a tasting featuring fresh local foods and global wines.  The time is 5:00 PM. The cost is $10.00.  No reservations needed.

 

A Report on our Summer FEAST programs

The I Have a Dream Program at Pisgah View had their last week of of summer camp July 19th - 21st. The theme was cooking so naturally FEAST was invited to lead the cooking classes.  With an abundance of vegetables growing around here we chose a couple of recipes that focus on tomatoes and summer squash.  We made enchiladas with some steak from Hickory Nut gap farm and Dirty Rice. We also took advantage of all the fresh fruit that is in season and made smoothies and fresh fruit muffins full of berries and peaches.
The following week FEAST held an extension of summer camp 4 days of cooking pizza. Students were invited to bring older siblings and parents. Everybody loves pizza and it can be a great way to get kids to try new vegetables. Some of the toppings included kale, mushrooms, summer squash, and peppers.  We made breakfast pizza, french bread pizza, pita pizzas and standard pizza pie with fresh tomato sauce, and home made pizza dough. None of the kids had ever made pizza dough from scratch and everyone loved learning to knead with their hands - it was hard to get them to stop!

 

 

FEAST has a number of classes starting this fall in several locations around town. For more information about FEAST programs

email Kate at feast.avl@gmail.com. If you want to volunteer to help with a FEAST cooking class or any other part of the FEAST program, email Cathy at cathycleary@gmail.com. FEAST stands for Fresh, Easy, Affordable, Sustainable, and Tasty. It is a hands on group cooking experience using fresh seasonal ingredients with a focus on childhood and family nutrition.
--
Cathy Cleary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The North Carolina Organic Bread Flour Project  Fundraiser

The Beer and BBQ fundraiser was a huge success and lots of fun!! We were able to raise $3500 for the North Carolina Organic Bread Flour Project. Thanks to all who came and participated! Special thanks to the restaurants that provided delicious food – Luella’s BBQ, Zambra, Corner Kitchen, Early Girl Eatery, Jack of the Wood, Laughing Seed, Laurey’s Catering, Sunny Point Café, Greenlife, and Earthfare  Thanks also to Hickory Nut Gap for providing meat and to Asheville Brewing Company, Lexington Ave Brewery (LAB), Craggie Brewery, and French Broad Brewery for providing the beer.

Funds raised at this event will go specifically toward production-level testing and product development. Funds will be used to bring in up to 14,000 pounds of NC grains from this year's harvest (hard wheat, both heritage and modern, soft wheat, and rye), replace the motors on the mill (they have an incredible European mill), run a rough electric service to the mill, procure bags, bag sewer, and grain totes. Samples of flour will be distributed to interested area restaurants as well as interested bakeries statewide.

The North Carolina Organic Bread Flour Project is an initiative of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association with the goal of linking the farmer and baker in North Carolina. NCOBFP is laying the groundwork for the future Carolina Ground Flour Mill, dedicated to grains grown and ground on Carolina ground. Although North Carolina has not traditionally been a hard (bread) wheat growing state, since 2002 the USDA has been conducting hard wheat trials throughout the state and the results have been quite encouraging, both in the field and in the bakery. For the last year and a half this project has been driven by a core group of seven bakeries in the WNC region-- Annies, West End Bakery, Farm & Sparrow, Flat Rock Village Bakery, Loafchild, Wildflour, and Wake Robin. Checkout this link: http://ncobfp.blogspot.com/2010/07/big-thank-you-more-pix.html

 

What's Happening in our Region?

An Evening at Noble's - Support the folks that support local food
Friday, August 6, 2010 starting at 7 PM.
Noble’s Restaurant - 6801 Morrison Boulevard Charlotte, NC 28211

Year in and year out all of Jim Noble's restaurants have been enthusiastic supporters of local food. Join us for a very special night to celebrate Noble's & their generosity to choose to support Slow Food Charlotte. Chef David Himmelberger has put together an remarkable menu for the evening, see for yourself...  menu.  $75 tax & gratuity included. This is a reservation only event. Please call Noble's to reserve your seat,  704-367-9463

 

Organic Blueberries at Long Branch Now RIPE!

The organic blueberries at Long Branch are now RIPE! Sweet, juicy and luscious, and high in anti-oxidants for healthy eating! Bring the whole family out for some big fun picking and grinning! Please share the invitation with all your extended family and friends, too. Suggested donations go to support our environmental education activities and appropriate technology demonstrations. Picnic tables available, solar demonstrations, waterfalls, and hiking trails up to Big Sandy Mush Bald, 5,152 feet elevation! We're open by appointment, usually Monday through Sunday, 8am until dark. Please call 828/683-3662 or email for directions.

Long Branch Environmental Education Center POB 369 Big Sandy Mush Creek Leicester, NC 28748 Tel. 828/683-3662
Fax: 828/683-9211 E-mail: paul@LongBranchEEC.org   Web Site: www.LongBranchEEC.org  www.paul.sustainablewnc.org

 

Chefs of Two Carolinas Collaborative Dinner

The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa is bringing one of the top chefs in the southeast to Asheville for a special series of visiting chef dinners.  Next in the series will be August 6 at our Country Club beginning at 6pm themed "Chefs of Two Carolinas Collaborative Dinner" featuring many local ingredients.  Award winning Executive Chef Robert Wysong from The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort  in Charleston is joining with Banquet Chef de Cuisine Lisa Scanlan to create a special menu for this wonderful evening. The dinner will feature six courses of culinary delights, paired with local beers and other beverages. The cost is $90 per person.

For reservations and more information, please contact The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa at 800.438.0050 or 828.252.2711; visit www.groveparkinn.com, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ewgrove and Facebook at www.facebook.com/groveparkinn.

 

2010 High Country Farm Tour.

We need your support! Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture is seeking volunteers to assist farmers participating in the 2010 High Country Farm Tour. The farm tour is August 7th and 8th, 2-6PM and includes 17 farms in Watauga,  Ashe, and Wilkes counties. The farm tour is not possible without the support of our invaluable volunteers! Volunteers help farmers by directing parking, greeting and registering visitors, and accepting payment for farm tour tickets, BRWIA tote bags, and cookbooks. In exchange for volunteering on one day of the tour, volunteers will receive a free ticket to attend the other day of the tour. Together, we can strengthen our local food system! Sign up to volunteer with Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture by e-mailing contactbrwia@gmail.com with the subject “Farm Tour Volunteer.” Please include your name and phone number. http://www.brwia.org/node/479

 

True Nature Country Fair

The True Nature Country Fair is just around the corner! Join the artisans, farmers, craftspeople, chefs, and families of the southern Appalachians for a celebration of life in connection with the Earth, September 25 & 26 at the Big Ivy Community Center in Barnardsville, NC. A showcase of products and resources that are local and sustainable, everything featured at the Fair must be at least 50% organic and local to the sustainanble appalachian region. All day Saturday and Sunday, the Fair will feature educational workshops on all aspects of sustainable living, live music and dance, a kids program, a trade show, local foods dinner, plant walks, and more! Gates open from 10-6 both days. Cost is $5 per adult and $3 per child aged 2 and up. (the littlest ones get in for free.) For more information about this event, or for details on how you can get involved, visit our website.

WANTED: Local Potters! This local foods dinner at this year's Fair will feature hearty, healthy soups and stews. We would love to serve it up in beautiful hand made bowls. Would you like to donate your pottery to the event? Artists donating four or more bowls will be our guest for dinner. All participating artists will be listed in the dinner program. Interested? Contact Program Manager Karen Vizzina at               828.342.1849       or earthstarnc@earthlink.net

 SHOW OFF YOUR STUFF! The first ever True Nature Country Fair Silent Auction is accepting donations. Over 1000 people are expected to visit the Fair. Is you business committed to the green movement? Or, are you a local entreperneur? If so, the silent auction gives you a great opportunity to support experiential education while also showcasing your products and services. Interested donors please contact Karen Vizzina at               828.342.1849       or earthstarnc@earthlink.netWINE, BEER and FOOD EVENTS

 

Mountain Gardener - Buncombe County’s Extension Newsletter

Aug. 14 & 28 Plant Problem Clinics, by Extension Master Gardeners at the WNC Farmers’ Market.
11:00am—2:00pm in the breezeway between the retail buildings.
• Aug. 14 & 28 Backyard Composting Demonstration, by Extension Master Gardeners at the WNC
Farmers’ Market, beside Israel's Garden Center, 11:00am—2:00pm.
• Aug. 18 Gardening in the Mountains Series, “Ground Covers”, presented by
Extension Master Gardener Volunteers at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Buncombe County Center at 10:00 am. No pre-registration, Free.
• Sept. 10-19 North Carolina Mountain State Fair, Fletcher
. http://buncombe.ces.ncsu.edu/

 

WINE, BEER and FOOD EVENTS

Maggie B's Wine & Specialty Store
Italian Wine Tasting - Friday, August 6th  5:30-8:00

Un giorno senza vino e come un giorno senza sole! A day without wine is a day without sunshine! Come taste the sunshine in the Italian whites and red we will be pouring.
*Also, Maggie B's will be at Aabani Salon, Thursday, August 5th 6-8 pouring some delicious Californian wines.  So, come relax, and enjoy great wines, cheeses and art
!*We are now carrying GREEN MAN Growlers: IPA & Wheat $11.99    113 N. Main St. Weaverville 828 645-1111   www.MaggieBsWine.com

 

Vino Vino Wine Market

Saturday, August 7th from 12-5 to taste 4 excellent wines that span the globe from California to as far as Australia!

At the bar, try the 2008 Good Girl White Chardonnay from Sonoma, California. 100% chardonnay featuring luscious tropical fruits, vanilla, honeysuckle & caramel nuances from Somoma, California and Stoney Knob’s and Vino Vino’s own house wine.Next, try the 2009 Shaya Verdejo Old Vines from the Rueda region of Spain. Light, bright yellow. Intensely perfumed bouquet of Kaffir lime, lemon pith, mint and ginger, along with a subtle peppery undertone. Bracing and sharply focused, offering pure citrus and green apple flavors complemented by succulent herbs and spices.On the Enomatic, we are tasting the 2009 Ique Malbec from the Mendoza region of Argentina. Ique is intended to be a fresh, young, unoaked wine which will improve slightly with age but is not meant to be laid down. Intense ruby-red with violet hints in color, it possesses fruity aromas which remind one of fresh red fruits and white pepper. Firm structure, soft lush tannins and satisfying end. Next, try the 2009 Molly Dooker Two Left Feet Shiraz blend from Southern Australia. A powerful blend of red varieties, it has incredible depth and complexity. The grapes were grown on the Longbottom vineyard in Padthaway, the Birchmore vineyard in Langhorne Creek, the Gemtree and Mollydooker vineyards in McLaren Vale.

 

Local Events at the Weinhaus

August 17th, Tuesday - The Corner Kitchen with chef  Joe Scully will host a fine wine dinner.  Come to this prestigious restaurant that was the choice of President Obama on his recent visit to Asheville. The time is 7:00 PM.  The cost is $65.00 all inclusive.  Please call the Weinhaus for reservations at 254-6453.

August 27th, Friday - Friday night flights at the Weinhaus will feature The Wines of Southern France, an exploration of a country famous for it’s fine wines.   The price is $10 for a tasting and light hors d’ouvres. Time is 5:00-7:00 PM. Held at the Weinhaus, 86 Patton, Ave.  Asheville.

August 28th, Saturday - The Slow Food Convivium will join the Weinhaus for a fund raiser for promoting fresh local foods in the schools.  This will be a tasting featuring fresh local foods and global wines.  The time is 5:00 PM. The cost is $10.00.  No reservations needed.

 

Hope & Vines
Beer Tasting Friday, August 6th - 5pm-7pm Duck-Rabbit Brewing

This week we are getting a visit from the self proclaimed "Dark Beer Specialists" from Farmville, NC.  Mary Liza from Duck Rabbit will be joining us this week to debut their new seasonal special, plus two other flagship beers. 

The Duck-Rabbit Brown Ale is an American brown ale brewed with loads of hops from start to finish (it’s hoppy and beautifully bitter). Amarillo hops in the boil provide a spicy citrusy bitterness. Saaz dry hops in the fermentor provide a refined flowery aroma. These hops are supported by a grain bill of seven varieties of malt. Oh yeah!  The Duck-Rabbit Seasonal Schwarzbier is a dark lager traditionally made in Germany. This beer is smooth like a lager with a slightly roasty, nutty backbone.  Lightly hopped with a crisp dry finish.  The Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout is a traditional full-bodied stout brewed with lactose (milk sugar). The subtle sweetness imparted by the lactose balances the sharpness of the highly roasted grains which give this delicious beer its black color.  Free Wine Tasting this Saturday August  7th 3-6pm!

 

The Wine Studio of Asheville 
Wednesday, August 12th  |  7pm
 

The exploration of Italian wine can sometimes be daunting! Does the label indicate the grape varietal or region? Or both? What is Chianti anyway? What’s so great about Prosecco? Whether you're rediscovering Italian wine or experiencing it for the first time, everyone will learn something new and leave this tasting with a firm grasp of the basics of one of the world's larg...est and greatest wine-producing countries! 8 wines will be tasted in this classroom-style survey tasting covering the major wine-regions of Italy: Piemonte, Tuscany, Tre Venezie, Veneto and Abruzzo!  RSVP is required by calling the studio directly: 828.255.5955 OR by sending an email to: events@winestudioasheville  .com (you will receive a confirmation email). Bread will be served, but please eat dinner before attending this class!

HAVE A GLASS!
Featured $5 house pours all week long! Stop by any time and have a glass at the studio!  We love to talk at the counter or bring in some friends and make yourself comfortable at one of our tables. We feature baguette from City Bakery daily, as well as hummus from Roots Organic.

SATURDAY TASTINGS -  Noon - 6pm  |  FREE
Drop-in format, no RSVP required. Each Saturday the Studio selects a few staff picks from our inventory to share with you.  Stop by for a surprise while you're out running your weekend errands!

Girls on Grapes - August 2010  'If...Then Tasting' (If you like Pinot Grigio...then you might also like Grüner Veltliner)  A night of new discoveries based on old favorites! Based on the premise that the more we know about wine (and the more we taste it!), the more enjoyable our hobby becomes! Our goal is to remove the pretense and learn the best way to have your own intimate experience with wine, through education, tastings and friendship!  New theme every month with an average tasting of 6 wines!  Jessica will guide you through the meeting, but don't worry, there'll be plenty of time to socialize too! $15 - RSVP Required
upcoming meetings: Tuesday, August 17th @ 7pm  Sunday, August 22nd @ 5pm  Thursday, August 26th @ 7pm   RSVP: girls@WineStudioAsheville.com  |  828.255.5955

 

 Asheville Wine Market

Southern Hemisphere; a vinous tour of the unique vineyards south of the equator
Thursday, August 12th., 2010 - 7:00 p.m., Asheville Wine Market Cellar

The mystique of procuring some of the world's finest white and red wine values from exotic environments hasn't been lost on wine merchants. Many, including our staff, have ventured far below the equator in search of vinous gold. South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand are all far flung destinations making astounding wines, many of which have won the hearts of the intrepid wine hunters. So hustle to the phone and reserve your seat for this wine expedition. Bread, cheese and wine....$20.00/person  
Call 253.0060 or 800.825.7175 to reserve your spot.

Free Saturday Tasting:- Saturday, August 7th., 2010  Free Tasting; 1 to 4 pm.   Wines for hot summer weather

 

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Do you have news to share? Email us at info@slowfoodasheville.org. Please let us know 3-4 weeks prior to the date of the event or news.

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