FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH Cooking Demonstrations @ The Hamilton Farmers’ Market Community Kitchen

Check out the schedule of local food cooking demonstrations below - all demos are open to the public, require no registration and are free of charge!

Demos take place Saturdays at 10am and noon!

FEB 2: “Cooking with The City” Demos – Inspirations from The Ontario Table

10am Meet the Community Food Security Stakeholder Committee (CFSSC) Chicken Thyme Pasta is a Hamilton-inspired recipe featured in Lynn Ogryzlo’s The Ontario Table – see how easy and tasty local fare can be!

Noon Cooking with Councillor Maria Pearson, Ward 10 Dessert anyone?  How about some Apple Sticky Toffee Pudding!!  Check out this localized twist on a great British classic!

*Both demonstrations will be presented by Karen Burson (a.k.a. The Eklectic Kitchen), Project Manager at Environment Hamilton for Hamilton Eat Local and The Good Food Box Network

FEB 9: Spotlight on Local Ingredients: after the harvest season, what do you eat?

10am “Cabbage is Cool!”  Come to this kid-friendly cooking demonstration to learn some fun facts about this underappreciated vegetable! Local cookbook author Karen McLaughlin will show you how to prepare a tasty slaw with cabbage, apples and carrots.

*With Karen McLaughlin, blogger and author of the budget-friendly “Cheap Appetit: The Complete Guide to Feeding Your Family for Less Than $400 a Month”

Noon "The Locavore in Winter"  How do you eat local when the fields have been frozen for months?  Hamilton Eat Local will show you how to localize it, even in the chilly month of February!

*With Karen Burson of Environment Hamilton and The Eklectic Kitchen

FEB 16: The Global-Local Kitchen: international flavours & local ingredients

Noon “Hamilton Eat Local’s International House of Pancakery”  Prepare for Pancake Day!  Using local ingredients you can create a world of flavours in your skillet.  Karen will demonstrate a couple of classics and show you a couple of surprising twists.

*With Karen Burson of Environment Hamilton and The Eklectic Kitchen

FEB 23: Exploring Ideas About Farming

10am “An Introduction to Food & Farming for Kids” What does a farm look like and what foods come from farms? Join Kelly for this very visual exploration of a "permaculture" setting showing how foods can come from the trees, shrubs, plants, flowers and animals on a farm.

*With Kelly McKinney, founder and operator of Hamilton’s amazing “Sprout Camp” for kids

Noon “The Lazy Locavore” In Winter  Tips and techniques to help bring local food to your table in a hurry!  See how shopping lists, planning ahead and making the most of what’s best in winter can help you save time, money and maybe even our planet!

*With Karen Burson of Environment Hamilton and The Eklectic Kitchen

The Community Food Festival at the Hamilton Farmers' Market, part of FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH!

"COOKING WITH THE COUNCILLORS" & More!

This food and fun-filled event took place on Saturday February 25th, and was sponsored by Hamilton Eat Local, the Hamilton Farmers' Market, and the Community Food Security Stakeholder Committee (CFSSC). Participating community groups included the North Hamilton Community Health Centre (NHCHC), the Hamilton Community Garden Network (HCGN), and Hamilton Partners In Nutrition (HPIN). This event was part of FEBRUARY IS FARM MONTH, and inlcuded a Rural Routes bus tour to Old 99 Farm in Copetown.

Councillor Brenda Johnson, Karen Burson and Katie Stiel

At the market, special guests included:

• Lynn Ogryzlo, author of The Ontario Table
• Councillor Robert Pasuta
• Councillor Brenda Johnson
• Councillor Brian McHattie
• Councillor Jason Farr

Special thanks to Wendy, our tireless kitchen volunteer and Sapphire Singh, the Community Kitchen Coordinator!

Today's recipes: Apple, Cheddar & Bacon Savoury Muffins and Apple-Cranberry Muffins

"Nourishing Hamilton" - good food, great crowd, and a wonderful FIFM "kick-off"!

Thanks to the team of organizers and panelists, our poster artist Miranda Kett, Matt Thompson and the great folks at the FRWY Coffee house, but most of all thanks to YOU for coming out to our event!

Panelists: Bill Wilcox, Pastor Loretta Jaunzarins, Crystle Numan, Clare Wagner and Mark & Tania Veenstra; Moderator Karen Burson

This night could not have come together as a free gathering without the generous support of our Sponsors: Faith & The Common Good and Canadian Organic Growers (COG).

Special extra super-thanks to Beatrice Ekwa Ekoko of Environment Hamilton for coming forward with this idea, getting the ball rolling, helping to finance the event and keeping us all inspired! And let's not forget the awesome efforts of the indomitable Juby Lee, also of Environment Hamilton!!

Let's Sit Down Together for "TABLELAND"

"TABLELAND": a provocative new film about our rich culinary landscape.

Presented by Hamilton Eat Local and Canadian Organic Growers (film screening)
Friday November 28, Doors open at 7pm
Tableland by Pixel One Productions is a new and thought-provoking film. It is a culinary expedition in search of the people, places and tastes of North American small-scale, sustainable food production. From the Orchards of the interior of BC, to the Napa Highlands, rural Quebec and everywhere in between, Tableland showcases the successful production of local and seasonal food from field to plate. Guest speakers for the event will include farmer Inge Crowther of Clover Roads Organic Farm, writer and urban poultry enthusiast Yuki Hayashi, and Karen Burson of Hamilton Eat Local and founder of The Bread & Roses Cafe.

The film will be shown at The Sky Dragon Centre at 27 King William Street in downtown Hamilton. Doors open for organic popcorn at 7 - film begins at 7:30pm – the speakers start at 9pm - Q & A and snacks starting at 9:30. Please make a $7 donation at the door (2nd floor).

Heartfelt thanks to The Ancaster Old Mill for our Third Annual "Buy Local, Buy Fresh" Map Fundraiser!

Sunday Supper at The Ancaster Old Mill: Scenic, Sensational, and Satisfying!

In attendance were Environment Hamilton's Vice Chair Mark Sproule-Jones and Sherry Revesz, a Director-At-Large (center and right).

A specatular meal spotlights the region's seasonal bounty... thanks to Executive Jeff Crump, but especially Bettina Schormann and John Bullock for putting their hearts and their energy into making this important fundraiser a memorable and important event for Hamilton Eat Local.

photos by *karen b