Chef's Night Out

On the evening of Sunday, June 28th farmers let down their pitchforks and chefs their spatulas. They headed over to the The Bright Room on the third floor of The Staircase Theatre for Hamilton Eat Local’s and Slow Food Hamilton's first-ever “Chef’s Night Out” event. Guests were greeted with live acoustic music by singer-songwriter and guitarist, Ian Reid. Locavore Chef Sam Robertson served up free range Omani spiced chicken skewers, deliciously home-cut French fries, cucumber chips with dip, bite size hamburgers, their famous "bread and spreads", and delicate little pots of crème brûlée for our guests to taste and admire. Complementing these finger foods were beverages served by Daniel Speck of Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery and Jason and Rachel Hofing of Red Hill Coffee Trade. The documentary film Tableland showed real-life examples of a vision many of our guests share. Tableland focused on food systems where little stands between the farmers planting their seeds, the chefs garnishing their dishes, and the diners enjoying the fruits of their joint labours. Excited and inspired, our panel discussion consisting of Jeff Crump of Ancaster Old Mill, Chris Krucker of ManoRun Organic Farm, Daniel Speck of Henry of Pelham, and Barbara Ramsay-Orr of Hamilton Magazine began a discussion on how field-to-table can become a greater reality here in Hamilton. In next to no time, the entire room joined in the discussion: farmers recommended strategies that have worked for them, chefs offered their concerns, and the current larger, more dominant food systems were called into question. The panel was introduced by Lori Stahlbrand, founder and president of Local Food Plus, and Slow Food Niagara's Karen LaVigne (of Selections de la Vigne) introduced the film and brought along copies available for sale (which sold out!). Hamilton Eat Local's new "Local Food Resource Guide for Chefs" is now available, just contact Project Manager Karen Burson for your copy: kburson.eatlocal@environmenthamilton.org. Special thanks goes out to William Dam Seeds, Red Hill Coffee Trade, Sherlea Acres, and Ottawa St. Market for providing market bags full of local goodies and assorted local food resources for our guests to take home. As well, thank you to Joanne Feddes of LaPrimavera Farms who’s fresh local Delphiniums were complemented by many. “Chef’s Night Out” was funded by Friends of The Greenbelt Foundation (www.greenbelt.ca) with the intention of providing these two influential contributors of our food culture an opportunity to meet, share, and re-create. We hope for more to come next year!

The Dundas Farmers Market opening was a big hit!

Consumers who were delighted by the re-opening of the former town's traditional market lined up for fresh berries, local meats, produce and baked goods. Cloudy overcast skies did not stop eager eaters from coming in droves to see what delicious goodies were available. Hamilton Eat Local handed out maps and chatted with the diverse range of vendors and farmers - most are currently listed on our Hamilton Eat Local Farm map. Mayor Fred Eisenberger, Leona Dombrowsky the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Councillor Robert Pasuta, HWFA President Roy Shuker, members of the Dundas Downtown BIA, Ted McMeekin MPP, Caroline Merritt (Market Manager of the Ottawa Street Farmers Market) were all present to celebrate with the Dundas community. The Dundas Farmers Market is located behind the public library and it is open from 3-7pm on thursdays until the end of October.

Rain on the parade... or should I say garden party?

"Slow Food Hamilton's Old Fashioned Strawberries and Ice Cream Summer Solstice Garden Party at Whitehern on Father's Day 2009" will not take place this fathers' day. Stay tuned for a new date! With regrets, *karen b, Slow Food Hamilton Read about this upcoming event in The Hamilton Spectator : http://thespec.com/go/food/article/581463

ECO MARKET at the Canadian Centre for Inland Waters

“Are you going to be here everyday?” That seemed to be the recurring question asked when representatives of Hamilton Eat Local joined Judy MacDonald from Farm Fresh Country Market at the Burlington Green Team's annual Ecomarket. The Ecomarket is held annually during Environment Week, in the auditorium of the Canadian Center for Inland Waters (CCIW) on Lakeshore Rd. Judy had two long tables full of fresh produce from local farmers to sell and plenty of delicious recipe ideas. She literally brought the farm-to-table freshness of market shopping to the workplace, which coincides with this year’s market theme of Living Green. Everyone was pleased to get their grocery shopping done during their lunch break! An average of 800 employees pass through there during their workday from Environment Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Thanks to Cheryl Tinson and the Burlington Green Team for organizing the event, and inviting us to join in your effort to make a difference. Also thanks to Judy for being such a great promoter and provider of fresh local produce. Visit the Farm Fresh Country Market in Stoney Creek (390 Barton – Barton and Millen Rd)) to get your local produce all year round, and look for Judy at the Hamilton Mountain Farmers Market on Saturdays in the Sacred Heart Church parking lot (Viewpoint and Mountain Park Avenue)

Hamiltonians Growing Good Food ...and Healthy Students!

Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation hosts "Farms to Cafeterias" at Tapestry Bistro

The foundation hosted a tasty little reception last week not just to celebrate Ontario Greenbelt-grown food, but to talk to key decision-makers about why local food procurement is something that our city should bite into.

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Burkhard Mausberg, President of Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation acted as the master of ceremonies that afternoon. Ward 14 Councillor Robert Pasuta was on hand to introduce Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who spoke of the importance of local purchasing by municipalities -- particularly when it comes to food. Local food dynamo, former CBC Journalist, and author Lori Stahlbrand leads the way in Ontario as President of Local Food Plus (LFP), and organization dedicated to promoting local food that is also ethical and sustainable through its certification and guidance, which is targeted to large food purchasers and the farms that wish to supply them. Last but certainly not least, Dr. Lynda Lukasik, Executive Director of Environment Hamilton spoke about her organization's successful record of increasing public awareness of these issues, as well as noting the work of Hamilton Eat Local in helping people take the next step: getting their hands on the region's agricultural goodies!

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Speakers cited local economic benefits, green jobs, fresher and healthier food, and the resilience of our local food supply as being just some of the reasons why it pays to ensure that our local institutions of learning use their enormous purchasing power to support our community -- and that includes farms.

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The event took place at one of Hamilton Eat Local's favourite locavore establishments, Tapestry Bistro. Chef Sam Robertson served up a delicious and creative range of fresh and healthy appetizers and snacks -- well, as long as you went easy on the lovely homemade strawberry custard tarts....which was very, very difficult!

Guest such as Ward 2 Councillor Brian McHattie, representatives of both the Hamilton District Public School Board and the Hamilton Catholic District School Board, food services staff from Redeemer University College, Liz Millar of Hamilton Partners in Nutrition (HPIN), Vicki Edwards of City of Hamilton Public Health and the Community Food Security Stakeholders Committee (CFSSC), representatives of Peel Region's eco-school pros EcoSource, McMaster campus food activists, the Hamilton Wentworth Federation of Agriculture (HWFA), Chris Krucker and Denise Trigatti of ManoRun Farm and many others enjoyed the good eats and the good news about the many benefits of local food to 'student bodies'. Thank you very much to all who attended, as Hamilton Eat Local continues to help the cause in any way that it can.

Photos courtesy of Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation

Join us at the Ottawa Street Farmers Market second season celebration!

Hamilton Eat Local will be at the Ottawa Street Farmers Market - 204 Ottawa Street - when they unveil their newly designed and installed street sign this Friday May 29th, 2009. The festivities will start at 10am. If you have not checked out the market, now is the time! Come for some treats, then admire and purchase the tasty local food from local farmers and other food producers. This market is open year round, Fridays and Saturdays, rain or shine, 7am-3pm. For more information on the market, visit: www.ottawastreetfarmers.com

Over the weekend....

Hamilton Eat Local had a fantastic weekend handing out maps at the 4th Annual Tastes of Downtown and participating in the "Container Gardening" activity at the Festival Of Hearts. The weather was perfect for both these events. Over 200 people came out to the walking tour of "Tastes of Downtown" to sample dishes from different downtown restaurants. Hamilton Eat Local got our hands dirty at the "Festival of Hearts" helping kids and adults alike planting cherry tomatoes. We were thrilled to see Zsuzsi there to help plant with the kids. She shone as usual! Thanks to the Margo Hebert of Tastes of Downtown and to Marilynne Kennedy, the organizer of Festival of Hearts, for inviting Hamilton Eat Local to take part. See you next year!

Farmers Market Fun!

Hamilton Eat Local was delighted in joining farmers and eaters at the opening of the Hamilton Mountain Farmers’ Market last Saturday. Plenty of fresh local produce was available, including rhubarb, fiddleheads, and sweet potatoes. Beautiful Ontario fresh tomatoes, asparagus, spinach and apples filled vendors’ tables. There was an assortment of bedding plants, flowers, and fresh herbs; as well as other goods including maple syrup, honey and apple cider. All the vendors at the market are also the growers. The number of farmers will increase as more seasonal products are available. The Hamilton Mountain Farmers Market is open every Saturday, from 7am to 1:30pm until November and is located in the parking lot of Sacred Heart Church – Viewpoint and Mountain Park Avenue. Thanks to our volunteers Laura, Jarah and Bronwyn for helping Hamilton Eat Local to distribute maps and special thanks go to Laura for taking such great photos and writing this blog entry!

Hamilton Eat Local is out and about this weekend!

We will be at two very fun and exciting events on Saturday May 23, 2009. Check out the 4th Annual Tastes of Downtown Walking Tour organized by Goodwill. We will be handing out maps at the registration desk at Hamilton Police Services on 155 King William Street. For more information see: http://www.goodwillonline.ca/news/2009%20Goodwill%20Restaurant%20Walking%20Tour.pdf Hamilton Eat Local will also be at Festival of Hearts from 12-4pm at the Eva Rothwell Centre planting seeds with kids in a gardening workshop. Other activities for the children are: crafts, sports, yoga, and much more! We will update you on how each event went!

Come celebrate the Opening Day of the Hamilton Mountain Farmers Market with us!

"The Market with a Beautiful View" is back! The Hamilton Mountain Farmers Market is opening for 2009. On Saturday May 16th, check out the delicious, locally produced food, grab a copy of Hamilton Eat Local’s brand *new* 2009 Hamilton Eat Local Farm Map and Directory, stay for the free tea / coffee and enjoy the view. The Mountain Farmers Market is open every Saturday from May 16th to November – 7am to 1:30pm. It is located in the parking lot of Sacred Heart Church – Viewpoint and Mountain Park Avenue. For more information, check out: www.concessionstreet.com Hamilton Eat Local is looking for volunteers to help distribute maps. Contact Juby, Communications Manager at 905-549-0900 or email jlee.eatlocal(at)environmenthamilton.org if interested.