Slow Food Chicago is looking forward to an exciting 2012, with several new initiatives in the works and the international Terra Madre Convivium in the second half of the year. We hope you will join us as we share our vision and plans for 2012, and talk about Slow Food Chicago’s role in the global Slow Food community.

We are delighted to welcome keynote speaker Greg Hall, founder of Virtue Cider and former brewmaster of Goose Island, to talk about his experiences as an entrepreneurial ciderist and two-time delegate to Terra Madre. Greg will also share samples of his new hard cider – a truly unique “sneak peek” for the Slow Food community in advance of its market launch.

The annual meeting will also host a meet-and-greet session where you will be able to meet and talk with Slow Food board members, Greg and past Terra Madre delegates.

The meeting will be held at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum on Sunday, February 26, from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

The Annual Meeting is a free event. Due to demand, please RSVP online here.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Lis David and Zvi Bar-Chaim of Scratch Homemade will lead this intimate, hands-on workshop where attendees will learn the basics of home canning while preparing their recipe for Curry Apple Chutney. The workshop will happen at the beautiful, LEED-certified Logan Square Kitchen (2333 N. Milwaukee Ave.) from 6pm-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15th.

Tickets are $30 for Slow Food Chicago members and $40 for non-members. Tickets include Earth First’s organic apples and all the other ingredients necessary to fill the two jars of chutney you’ll be taking home to add to your holiday table. Contact megan {at} slowfoodchicago(.)org with any questions.

• Why doesn’t honey “go bad” even if you leave it in the cabinet for months or years?
• What are the different viscosities of honey?  Does it affect taste?
• Does the amount of water in honey matter?
• What about honey’s antibiotic properties?
• What the heck is the “osmotic effect” of honey and what is Mānuka honey?

You’ll conduct experiments yourselves to explore the wonders of this golden goodness.  There may be balloons and beakers and ph involved, and perhaps refractometers, but there will definitely be tastes to tantalize your tongue.
Tickets are $15 (includes Nature Museum admission) and available through the Illinois Science Council. This program is in collaboration with the Illinois Science Council and Slow Food Chicago.

• Plant school gardens and teach children about healthy, fresh food
• Advocate for food and farm policy that serves farmers, eaters, and the earth
• Fight for real, sustainable food to be more accessible for everyone.

Help us take advantage of this incredible opportunity.  Every gift has double the impact, from now through October 15.
Thank you for being a part of this food fight

All volunteers will share in the harvest! For more information, or to volunteer for other preSERVE events, visit http://www.slowfoodchicago.org/index.php/preserve-garden/.

Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2011-10-08
End Time: 14:00

Share your $5 Challenge meal with us!

Submit your favorite recipes (and farmers!) online at SaltyFig.com. Simply setup an account and tag yourself as a user of Slow Food. Don’t forget to keep your recipe public! Or send us a message with your recipe at recipes {at} slowfoodchicago(.)org

Your recipe will be added to the Slow Food Chicago $5 Challenge recipe book, available here!

To see how more people are cooking slow food for less than $5 per person, visit SlowFoodUSA.org/5Challenge.

And be sure to check out these other $5 Challenge’s happening around Chicago:

Holistic Mom’s Network at Whole Foods Lincoln Park – 9/19 from 7-9PM

Meet, greet, and Eat! at Natural Family Health Center in Lockport, IL – 9/20 from 6-8PM

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What is the $5 Challenge?

THE CHALLENGE: This September 17, you’re invited to take back the ‘value meal’ by getting together with family, friends and neighbors for a slow food meal that costs no more than $5 per person. Cook a meal with family and friends, have a potluck, or find a local event.

WHY: Because slow food shouldn’t have to cost more than fast food. If you know how to cook, then teach others. If you want to learn, this is your chance. Together, w\’re sending a message to our nation’s leaders that too many people live in communities where it’s harder to buy fruit than Froot Loops. Everybody should be able to eat fresh, healthy food every day.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED: Sign up for the challenge! You can cook a meal with friends and family, find a local event, or host your own event. When you sign up, we’ll send you $5 cooking tips.

Five Chicago breweries bring one beer to pair with one course

Tuesday, September 27, 2011 (Note date change)

uncommon ground
1401 W. Devon
Rooftop Reception 6:30 p.m.
Dinner 7:00 p.m.
$65 excludes tax and gratuity,
a portion of which supports Slow Food Chicago,
a not-for-profit organization
Reservations required: 773-465-9801

1st Course
Capriole Farms goat cheese and roasted Genesis Farms beet terrine
Roasted Green Acres Farms red peppers, herb salad, crostini
Paired with Metropolitan Krankshaft Kolsch

2nd Course
Gunthorp Farms duck confit
truffeled potato gnocchi, melted leeks, sour cherry glaze
Paired with Goose Island Madame Rose

3rd Course
Half Acre Over Ale-beer braised Gunthorp Farms pork belly
Frisee salad, soft boiled farm egg, mustard vin
Paired with Half Acre Sticky Fat

4th Course
Double-rolled Slagel Farms lamb
Caramelized Nichols Farms cauliflower, lamb jus
Paired with Piece Bell End Bitter

5th Course
Chocolate coffee cake
Dark chocolate ganache
Paired with Revolution Eugene Porter

Chicago TomatoFest benefits the preSERVE garden, a partnership between Slow Food Chicago, the North Lawndale Greening Committee, Chicago Honey Co-op, and NeighborSpace.

Arrive at the potluck early and help us harvest black eyed peas and crowder peas from the preSERVE garden!  Don’t worry if you can’t come early, tours will be given of the preSERVE garden and the Chicago Honey Co-op, an urban apiary dedicated to beekeeping training and sustainable agricultural practices.

• 4:00-5:00pm – Come early and help us harvest beans at the preSERVE garden!  Located at 12^th Place and Central Park Avenue (just a few blocks from the Honey Co-op)
• 5:00-8:00pm – Chicago TomatoFest Potluck at the Chicago Honey Co-op

Bring your tomatoes, a potluck dish for sharing, and your chairs/picnic blankets.

• Wine from organic grapes donated by Candid Wines
• Beer & soft drinks donated by Goose Island

Bee Etiquette:  Please wear light colored clothing and a hat. Don’t wear perfumes, colognes, or scents.

Directions: 3740 W. Fillmore is 2 blocks North of Roosevelt Road between Independence Boulevard and Central Park. The apiary takes up the whole block on the north side of Fillmore and is easily visible from the street. There is plenty of street parking available.
Driving: Take I-290 West to Independence Boulevard.  Exit and go South about 3 blocks just past the old railroad viaduct. Turn left on Fillmore Street.  We are located in the middle of the block.

By Bike: http://www.ridethecity.com/chicago

By train: There is a Blue Line stop at Homan/Kedzie. Walk the ramp toward Homan Avenue, walk South on Homan approximately 5 blocks just past the 12-story 1905 original Sears Tower. Fillmore is the first street beyond the tower. Walk 2 blocks West to the apiary.

By Bus: Homan/Kimball bus to Fillmore Street and walk west 2 blocks.

• To order tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/193261

$10 Slow Food Chicago and Chicago Honey Co-op members, $15 non-members.  Kids are free!

NOTE: Rain date is Sunday, September 25^th (Check Slow Food Chicago website www.slowfoodchicago.org day of event. Rain date will be called by noon on Saturday, September 24^th)

Start Time: 16:00
Date: 2011-09-24
End Time: 20:00

Slow Food Chicago’s annual fundraiser is one delicious and rockin’ event that features Slagel Farm pigs prepared by local chefs, beer and soft drinks provided by Goose Island Brewery, coffee by Intelligentsia, and only the best selections from the family of funk by DJ Jacob Ross. Guests receive a commemorative glass as part of their ticket purchase. Proceeds benefit Slow Food Chicago, a not-for-profit organization.

Price: $60

Buy tickets

Featured Chefs: Rick Gresh – David Burke’s Primehouse Andrew Hroza – Goose Island Clybourn Brewpub Rob Levitt – The Butcher & Larder Nicole Pederson – C-House Matt Troost – Three Aces Vegetarian dish: Chris Spear – Uncommon Ground

Dessert: Stephanie Samuels – Angel Food Bakery Coffee: Intelligentsia Music: DJ Jacob Ross playing hits, classics, and rare cuts from the family of funk

I cannot attend but would like to make a donation to Slow Food Chicago. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Part One: Tuesday, August 16 at 6:30pm
Screening of Vanishing of the Bees at the Notebaert Nature Museum.

RSVP to adultprograms {at} naturemuseum(.)org

Cost: Free