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Slow Food Santa Barbara Newsletter
General Membership Meeting Report
February 1, 2010
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We had a very productive meeting that yielded ideas for events, classes, outreach and better organization of our group.

Thank you so much Maya for hosting and for the delicious hot chocolate and tea.

We even set dates for a few events, and for a follow up organizational meeting on
Sunday February 21st from 3 to 5 pm at the home of Prem Taylor, 610 De La Vista Avenue, Santa Barbara CA 93103.

Mark your calendars, read on, and have a wonderful day,

Laurence

Calendar of Events is in Progress - Here are a few dates already set
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One of our goals for this year is to set as complete a calendar of events as possible as far ahead as possible, so that everyone has plenty of notice and can participate. Mark your calendars! Events are booked on a first come, first served basis, and are open to the public unless marked otherwise.

Sunday February 28: Annual Mushroom hunt and Festive Luncheon at Via Maestra 42. Many of you know and love this event, which has become an annual classic. Led by noted mycologist Bob Cummings, the mushroom hunt is then followed by a leisurely convivial lunch prepared by Renato Moiso, owner of Via Maestra 42, and paired with fabulous wines by Antonio Gardella of the Henry Wine Group. This event is very popular and always sells out, so sign up early.The bountiful winter rains have yielded plenty of fungi including chanterelles, and we should have good luck this year finding both edible and scary poisonous mushrooms. Don't miss this event, it is truly priceless - and a great deal to boot. To sign up, please e-mail me and tell me whether you are coming to the luncheon or just to the mushroom hunt, and how many are in your party. Cheers, Laurence
The Hunt - This part of the Day is Free! This year we are headed to Nojoqui Park We will meet at 9:30 am in the Gelson's parking lot, at the corner of State and Las Positas. We will carpool from there. This will allow everyone to get a croissant for the road from Renaud's, and give us a perfect place to leave extra vehicles, since we will finish our day at Via Maestra 42, which is within easy walking distance. I suggest that you park away from the businesses, in the least desirable portion of the lot, so that we don't get complaints. Nojoqui Park is located past Gaviota but before Buellton, just off of Highway 101. There is a beautiful waterfall in the park. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on leash at all times. Do wear protective clothing - long sleeves, pants, and gloves, to avoid getting a nasty case of poison oak, and bring a pocket knife and a basket or bag in which to collect your mushrooms. Since we are having a late lunch, consider bringing a snack and definitely bring water so you won't get dehydrated.		The Meal at Via Maestra $65 for members, $75 non members A Classic Italian Sunday Meal Every year Renato creates a special menu for us, multiple courses featuring the wonderful cuisine of his native Liguria. I asked him what he is making. "I am not sure," he replied. "It will depend on the weather. If it is cold, I will do a traditional winter meal. If it is more warm, then springtime foods." Either way, it will be amazing, as always. A very special note of thanks: Antonio Gardella, one of the earliest members of our chapter, wine rep for the Henry Wine Group, and himself part of the team of friends that for many years made the never sold but highly sought after Companeros wines, has again agreed to provide the wines for this event. He has done this for many years, and we have always been grateful, but this year there is a special poignancy to his gift, because the Companeros' winery burned in last May's Jesusita fire. May precious bottles were lost, and the Companions do not think they will be able to rebuild, so this will be a special libation indeed. This event sells out every year. To reserve your space, please e-mail me and let me know how many are in your party.

Potluck Dinner & Chocolate Tasting with Maya Shoop Rutten Friday April 9th, 6:00 pm
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Maya Shoop Rutten, owner of Chocolate Maya, has offered to host a Chocolate Tasting and potluck dinner at her home, located at 3938 Harrold Avenue in Santa Barbara.
Please bring a dish to share (Think Mexican, mole sauces, etc...) and wine, beer, or whatever you like to drink.
Maya will also show wonderful slides of cocoa plantations she has visited throughout the world.
There is no street parking on Harrold, so please park on La Cumbre Road and walk down Harrold to Maya's house, it is only about 200 feet.
Cost: minimal contribution to expenses. To RSVP, please e-mail Maya: maya@chocolatemaya.com

Hoshigaki Class Tuesday November 2nd, 5 pm to 7:30 pm
Learn how to turn persimmons into a traditional Japanese delicacy.
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Hoshigaki Class 2006
This ancient Japanese food art turns hachiya persimmons into an amazing, shelf-stable delicacy through patient hanging and massaging of the fruit. The process is listed on the Slow Food Ark of Taste under "Japanese Hand-Massaged Persimmons." Jeff Rieger is among a small group of dedicated farmers who perpetuate the tradition and he will provide hands-on instruction and demonstrate how you can do this successfully at home. Check out his website by clicking here for more information. "Hoshigaki making can become a great family tradition, something you can do with your children or grandchildren every Holiday Season," Rieger says. We love how it turns a fruit that no one knows what to do with once they have baked a couple of batches of persimmon cookies, into a delicious healthy treat that keeps for months.
Cost: $55/person Slow Food members, $65 non members. Includes fruit, bamboo pole for hanging fruit, written instructions and hands-on class. Refreshments will be served.
Laurence is coordinating this class, so please e-mail her at: sbslowfood@gmail.com to reserve.

Other events and initiatives in the works...
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Late March: The beginnings of an education on caring for olive trees, including pruning tips, pest control, hopefully leading to communal olive milling in 2011. Theo Stephan and Janice Knight are collaborating on this event.

May: Ethiopian Dinner with Saaba, a benefit event organized by Nicola Ghersen.

June: Blenheim apricot picking at Vincent Farm and jam making class organized by Laurence Hauben through Market Forays.

August: mozzarella making class led by Michael of C'Est Cheese and heirloom tomato tasting. Organized by Ed McAniff.

Also coordinated by Ed McAniff, we hope to have a winemaking event with Craig Jaffurs.

There was also talk of a beer fest event in October, of an eco feminist reading group, and of a series of food related films.

bi-monthly community newsletter: We had a discussion of whether and how to communicate with fellow members about events, products, classes, and causes that are not initiated by Slow Food but that seem like they would be of interest to members. We decided that the best way to handle this would be through a bi-monthly community newsletter that Sandra will compose based on input from fellow members.
Of course, I forgot to get Sandra's e-mail, so we will have to wait until she sends it to me.

 

Business matters
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We all agreed that we want to rotate leadership and spread the duties so that we have a treasurer, secretary, community outreach, help with the website, etc... At our next meeting on Sunday February 21st we will look at the job description for these various functions, and hopefully establish a strong team to lead our group. Come prepared to take a piece of the puzzle. Many hands make the work easy.

Cheers,

Laurence
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We have also have started a Recipes Section

if you have a recipe you are really happy about, e-mail me and I will add it to our list

Enjoy everyday.