Mr. Petrini to speak at University of Denver, visit crop mob and school garden projects,
and attend a dinner to celebrate the local food community

Carlo Petrini came to prominence in the 1980s for leading a campaign to preserve Italian food sovereignty after the opening of a McDonald’s near the Spanish Steps in Rome – and so the International Slow Food Movement was born. In 2004, he was chosen as a Time Magazine “Hero of the Year.” Today, Slow Food USA has more than 250,000 members in 150 countries worldwide, 19,000 members, and 200+ chapters nationwide. Petrini will be here to speak on the global food system, meet with national and regional Slow Food leaders and, to see firsthand the myriad of projects that Slow Food has undertaken in the Rocky Mountains. He will be joined by Slow Food USA Executive Director Richard McCarthy.

At the University of Denver Mr. Petrini will speak to students at the Josef Korbel Scool of International Studies about a ‘New Paradigm in the Global Food System’. “We are honored to host Carlo Petrini, founder of the Slow Food movement, at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies,” said Dean of the School Ambassador Christopher Hill. “Many of the students and faculty at the Josef Korbel School are interested in international food security—we look forward to hearing from a leader of the grassroots movement dedicated to providing access to good, clean, and fair food for each citizen of the global community.

In addition to the talk with students at DU, Mr. Petrini will be here to convene a regional leaders meeting and a celebratory dinner with local members, Slow Food’s Terra Madre delegates and other key stakeholders in Denver. The sold out dinner will benefit Slow Food International’s 1000 Gardens in Africa project and feature local chefs Brian Laird of Sarto’s, Bob Blair of Fuel Café, David Bravdica of Brava Pizzeria, and Bill Greenwood of Beano’s Cabin, along with the best in local food, music and community celebration.

“We are excited to share the innovative and profound programs developed here with our founder and the world wide food movement. The work being done on the ground by our volunteer based organization is changing the food landscape at schools and in communities nationwide. To integrate this Slow Food USA work with the international work being done, 1000 Gardens in Africa, for example, connects us beyond our borders through his global vision. It’s very inspirational” said Matt Jones, a member of the Slow Food USA Board of Directors.

Are you an individual, small business and/or non-profit that supports healthy food access and promotes regional biodiversity? Do you know a group that fits that description? Then we want to hear from you! Slow Food Denver C.A.F.E. is now accepting applications for the 2013 micro-grant series. You can find more information under the Community Table tab or by clicking here. We look forward to hearing from all of the great work that is going on in the Denver community!

On January 22, our friends and partners at the Denver Botanic Gardens will present Gather: An Intimate Supper. This is your chance to experience the creativity of Chef Hosea Rosenberg, the winner of Top Chef season 5 and the owner of Black Belly Catering. He’ll be preparing four courses of local, seasonal, and innovative cuisine. Seats are limited, so RSVP today.

On January 30, we invite you to join Slow Food Denver and Windsor Dairy for a casual happy hour at DiFranco’s. We’ll have appetizers and a cash bar and we suggest a ten dollar donation at the door. This will be your chance to meet and greet old and new Slow Food friends and get to know local farmers who are committed to ethical, humane production methods.

For more details, check out our Events page.

We have lots of activities and events in the planning stage for 2013, so check back often. In the meantime, mark your calendar for our annual meeting on February 26 at Balistrieri Winery. Stay tuned for more details.

When you donate to Slow Food Denver on Colorado Gives Day, you help us continue to provide services to the community through our Seed to Table and Community Table  programs. The other great thing about Colorado Gives Day is that the FirstBank Incentive Fund will increase the value of your donation. It’s easy, safe and secure to donate online though GivingFirst, and 100 percent of your donation goes to the charities of your choice.

To donate to Slow Food Denver, just click here and you’ll be taken directly to our GivingFirst page.

We rely on the support of people like you who appreciate what we do and are willing to help us with your time and money. We’re happy to be a part of the third annual Colorado Gives Day and hope you will be generous. Many thanks!

The day will look something like this:

9-10am: Light breakfast, get to know MM Local, enjoy a tour of their facility, taste their product
10am-1pm: Hands-on canning and education
1-2pm: Lunch and discussion

When: Sunday Oct 14
Where: MM Local, 4120 Brighton Blvd, Unit B-15 Denver
Cost: $35 Slow Food Denver Members/MM Local Harvest Share Members; $40 non-members.  Light breakfast and lunch provided.

Other stuff you need to know: Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes – we will be standing a lot!  Also make sure you wear clothes that you are comfortable getting a bit messy – MM Local will provide aprons, but we’ll be handling a lot of delicious (and juicy) produce.

Only a few tickets remain! Get them here! ]]> http://slowfooddenver.org/2012/dont-miss-sundays-canning-class/feed/ 0 http://slowfooddenver.org/2012/join-us-in-a-pop-up-picnic/ http://slowfooddenver.org/2012/join-us-in-a-pop-up-picnic/#comments Sun, 09 Sep 2012 17:04:21 +0000 admin http://slowfooddenver.org/?p=589 Continue reading →]]> What’s a Pop-Up Picnic? Anything you want it to be!

September 16 from 11:30 to 1:00, people will gather all over the Metro area to celebrate slowing down, eating real food and building community. Gather your friends, have a picnic, and let us know about it.

Whether your picnic is for two people or 200, we encourage you to be clever, artful, and provocative in your choice of site and set-up. Inclusion of music and visual arts is acceptable… in other words, if your heart so desires, don’t be afraid to GO ALL OUT.

If you would rather join someone else’s picnic, visit the Facebook event page to find one near you.

**If you are willing to host a picnic, please RSVP on the FB page “Event” tab and post where your picnic will be.**

Here’s what we suggest:

1) Everyone sits down and eats a meal together — it’s all about community.

2) Create menus using freshly prepared real food… think local if possible!.

3) Make and display a “POP UP PICNIC” sign at your site.

4) Use your phone to make a short video of your event and have your guests answer four questions:

• Where are you?
• Who are you?
• What are you eating?
• Why do you love your Pop Up Picnic?

You can also include singing, dancing, poetry or any other creative idea you can imagine.

5) Email your video to popuppicnicdenver@gmail.com or upload it to the Facebook page.

6) Have fun!

Visit the Pop Up Picnic Facebook page for more info and inspiration!

Pop Up Picnic is a joint effort of Slow Food Denver, Grow Local and Healthy Realities.

Sunday August 19, 5-8pm
Fuel Cafe
3455 Ringsby Court, Denver 80216S

Silent auction & 5-course Dinner

$100 per person, all-inclusive

RSVP

FEATURING:

Chef Daniel Asher, Root Down and Linger

Chef Bob Blair, Fuel Cafe

 Chef Jon Emanuel, Project Angel Heart

Chef Jeff Osaka, Twelve Restaurant

Chef Alex Seidel, Fruition Restaurant

We are delighted to have amazing representation from the Denver area and the Rocky Mountain Region on the global stage of this world meeting of food communities. Thank you for your support of this important network.

OUR 2012 DENVER TERRA MADRE DELEGATES:

Chef Bob Blair, Fuel Cafe

Ben Hecht, Slow Food Denver 

 Dana Miller, Grow Local Colorado

Candice Orlando, Urbiculture Farms

Laurie Schneyer,  Slow Food Denver

Chef Alex Seidel, Fruition Restaurant & Farm

Terra Madre establishes a space “for those who seek to grow, raise, catch, create, distribute and promote food in ways that respect the environment, defend human dignity and protect the health of consumers” to exchange ideas and solutions. It promotes solidarity between eaters and producers, those from the city and those from the countryside, the global North and the global South. It encourages all of us to be united in an international, diverse movement rooted in many different histories, cultures, and communities. Terra Madre shows the international public that a diversity of people-powered, values-based solutions can pave the way for better food and farming around the world.