Real Food Round Up June 2012

Hello, friends!

Just popping in to post a little Sustainable Food for Thought Real Food Round Up... It's mostly an excuse to share a few of my favorite recent reads and to say hello to those of you I haven't chatted with in a while. I miss the food group gals! Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the coming summer season.

If you're looking for a few interesting reads, take a peek:


City Gardener on the Prairies from Down the Rabbit Hole We Go...

"Before I got into the non-profit activist work that I am currently involved in (Friends of Medicare & Public Interest Alberta), I thought that I would champion for food security, which has long been one of my passions.  I realized many years ago that you could be poor on a farm, but not go hungry, whereas you could be poor and hungry in the city.  The difference is that on a farm you generally have the resources and access to land, pasture, sheds, etc. to raise and store your own food.  Also, I think that the rural tradition of canning and freezing your own produce, and hunting or raising your own meat, has outlasted that of the city dweller's."

Alison writes about the satisfaction she's felt when gardening and preserving her own food and talks about the dreams she has for projects bigger than her city lot. See her great list of books, video clips, and website resources.


With the McItaly, did McDonalds Truly Go Local? from Grist.com

"In Italy, home of the Slow Food movement, the new sandwiches were named Adagio and Vivace (names that Marchesi says represent an integration of two competing philosophies: slow and fast). They were both made with some local and traditional products, such as eggplant, spinach, and the Italian cheese ricotta salata. Several of the products were DOP certified, an acronym that stands for Denominazione di Origine Protetta, a widely recognized certification of regional authenticity."

Where's the line between commendable efforts and brash greenwashing?


Over on my blog of travel tales, I've been sharing stories Northern Italy's food culture in my Traditions of the Land series:

• Part I Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese & Spigaroli Culatello Ham
  
• Part II Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena
  
• Part III Albana Wine at Celli Vini
  
• Part IV Handmade Pasta at Casa Artusi

It's impressive to learn about the centuries of craft that have been fine tuned and preserved and carried on for generations. One of my absolute favorite visits was to the Spigaroli Family's gorgeous rural property outside of Parma, Italy (Part I). Their kitchen gardens were full of peacocks and fresh food...so gorgeous.

Ecstatic Raw Chocolate from Sarah at My New Roots

"This chocolate is the real deal. It melts in the mouth, it’s rich and satisfying, and has a deep, dark aroma that can only be described as divine. Surprisingly, it only contains three basic ingredients, and is gluten-free, sugar-free, vegan and raw. Yup, you’re welcome."

I love that this story is all about how Sarah and her new friend Elenore were brought together through the internet and eventually spent spent happy hours together in the kitchen sharing their love of beautiful, delicious food...

Sharing is Contagious from the Himalayan Institute

"...joining or starting a network is only half the fun. Meeting up and sharing your gifts is what truly inspires and connects us. Ho herself was encouraged to start LA Food Swap after watching a video on Cooking Up A Story about the Portland-based food swap group, PDX Swappers. 'One by one we inspire each other,' she says, a sentiment clearly shared by scores of others who continue to use Facebook, Twitter, and other websites to promote their own meetups. "

A short little piece lauding the beauty of swapping resources, ideas, and knowledge with friends and neighbors...

And on that note, I'll leave you with a reminder that the next PDX Food Swap is coming up on June 17th. Hope those of you nearby in Oregon are able to attend! I'll be looking forward to the day when I can return and swap again...

~Bethany

Bethany Rydmark  

Sustainable Food for Thought Co-Founder & Editor

Landscape Architect & Kitchen Tinkerer

Bethany's spending 2012 fulfilling a crazy dream of traveling the world with her husband, Ted, and recounting adventures at www.twoOregonians.com. She's asked some terrific friends and writers to continue sharing their real life, real food encouragements and experiences on Sustainable Food for Thought while away from home and kitchen comforts. Enjoy!