Slow Food Nova Scotia

Earth Day in the Sugar Wood

Posted: Monday, April 15th, 2013

Come on out to the Sugar Woods to celebrate Earth Day (a day early!) learning about and tasting Nova Scotia’s first wild-harvested food of the season – Maple Syrup!

 

When: Sunday April 21, 2013 12:00-4:30pm

Where: Sugar Moon Farm, 221 Alex MacDonald Road, Earltown, N.S.

Cost: $15 (taxes included) Slow Food Members; $30 (taxes included) Non-Members.

You can Join Slow Food at the event ($90/individual or $110/couple – cash or cheque only) and receive the Member discount!

 

Itinerary: 

Noon Meet in in front of the Sugar Camp/Pancake House Restaurant;

12:15 sharp! hike up to the sugar woods with co-owner and sugar maker Scott Whitelaw

(we will be following a rough trail – exposed roots/rocks, brooks, mud – So bring your rubber boots and walking/hiking stick if you use such);

12:35 Sugar Woods tour;

1:15 head back down the hill to the Sugar Camp;

1:30 Tour the Camp and learn about maple syrup production and sample the varying tastes of this season’s maple syrup;

3:00 Gather in the Pancake House for a traditional pancake supper featuring: Red Fife Buttermilk Pancakes; breakfast sausages; house made maple beans; biscuit with maple butter and organic Fair Trade coffee from JustUs.

 

RSVP: Space is limited! Email Scott at sfnsns@gmail.com to reserve your spot!

 

 

 

Cranberry Fields Forever

Posted: Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012

What:Tour of Terra Beata Cranberry Farm

When: Friday, October 12. 10:00am

Where: 161 Monk Point Rd.,Heckman’s Island, Lunenburg‎ 

 

At Terra Beata Cranberry Farm, Heckman’s Island near Lunenburg, cranberries are grown in a natural peat bog. Harvesting begins after Thanksgiving and runs through October. The fruit is now a deep red colour and ready to be picked. The fields are flooded and we can watch the harvesting process. The owners of the property, Evelyn and David Ernst, will guide us through the farm.

In addition to the harvesting, we shall visit the processing plant and can make purchases of various cranberry products from the store.
There will be an opportunity to U-pick. The U-pick price is $1.50/lb or $6 for a 4lb pail. The variety is high-yielding so you can fill a 4lb pail in under 45 minutes without even moving.  Wear rugged shoes or boots – the fields may be muddy in places.

Slow Food Success at Edmonton Conference

Posted: Friday, June 15th, 2012

Edmonton, Canada 5 June 2012  Slow Food Canada’s conference held in Edmonton in May has been hailed a success by national delegates.

Slow Food Canada executive member, Michael Howell, was one of 30 delegates to experience the four-day showcase of Alberta regional cuisine through farm tours, meetings with local producers and chefs, visits to local farmers’ markets, and the sell-out Roots, Shoots, and Garden Boots conference gala.

‘After spending my time in Edmonton at this conference, I have a whole new appreciation for the incredible food culture here,’ Mr Howell said.

Conference organiser, Valerie Lugonia, also praised the conference and the collaboration of local growers and chefs.

‘The conference was a huge success and raised $8,275 for Slow Food Canada,’ Ms Lugonia said.

‘Our team of chefs at the gala were amazing. The front of house staff was incredible. The food from our local producers was outstanding. I see active collaboration as the unique signature of our local Edmonton food community.’

 

 

About
Slow Food is a global, grassroots organization with supporters in 150 countries around the world who are linking the pleasure of good food with a commitment to their community and the environment. A non-profit member-supported association, Slow Food was founded in 1989 to counter the rise of fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world. Today, we have over 100,000 members joined in 1,500 convivia – our local chapters – worldwide, including 35 in Canada, as well as a network of 2,000 food communities who practice small-scale and sustainable production of quality foods.

For interview requests and further information, please contact:
Valerie Lugonja Valerie@slowfoodedmonton.ca 780 456-5073

AGM 2012

Posted: Sunday, June 3rd, 2012

Slow Food NS Annual General Meeting

 

 What: AGM of Slow FoodNS

When: June 24, 10:30am to 3pm

Where: Indian Point Fire Hall, 59 Indian Point Rd., Indian Point

 

On June 24 you are invited to the AGM of Slow FoodNS.

 

Spend a lovely summer’s day in the company of friends who share your enthusiasm for food that is good, clean and fair. This year we are meeting in the community of Indian Point on the shore of Mahone Bay in Lunenburg County between the towns of Chester and Mahone Bay.

 

10:30am – Meet and Greet

At 11am we shall hear what Slow Food has been up to in the past year and elect the directors for the coming year. There are a couple of vacancies if you are interested in helping organize our convivium and play a leadership role in SFNS. If you would like to receive the Statement of Directors responsibilities, please contact mail@slowfoodns.ca to receive one.

At 12noon we shall have a moderated discussion on the future direction of Slow Food in Nova Scotia. Your input is welcome.

 

At 1:00pm Chef Terry Vassallo of Lunenburg’s Trattoria della Nonna will head a team of South Shore chefs in the preparation of what promises to be a spectacular seafood lunch. The menu will be made up of a selection of fish and seafood from local waters. There will be many opportunities to see and learn how to prepare marine delicacies.

Cost for the lunch: $20 for Slow Food members, $25 for potential members. Use the day to renew or apply for membership. Cash sales for beverages.

Please bring your own plates and utensils.

 

After the lunch, a speaker from the Ecology Action Centre will make a presentation on Slow Fish and sustainability issues relating to food from the sea. There will be time to ask questions about some of the complex choices we have to make if we hope to continue harvesting the bounty of the oceans.

 

RSVP to mail@slowfoodns.ca if you plan to attend.

 

 

 


The Edible Schoolyard

Posted: Tuesday, May 1st, 2012

Slow Food Nova Scotia produced this 22 minute video by filmmaker Darryl Gray, chronicling the efforts of the students and staff at Dr Arthur Hines Elementary school in rural Nova Scotia. The documentary follows the students and the growing year as they create their school garden, watch it blossom throughout the spring and summer, harvest their organic crops in the fall and learn about cooking food under the mentorship of a professional chef. This inspiring short film has been screened at the Slow Motion Film Fest and the BUSTER Internationall Childrens Film Festval in Copenhagen.

Excerpts from the film may be screened here.

It is available for purchase for $10 plus shipping by emailing mail@slowfoodns.ca

It is also available for free as a loaner through the Nova Scotia Library system

Slow Food NS Spring Supper 2012

Posted: Sunday, April 22nd, 2012

 

After two extremely successful years, Slow Food Nova Scotia is back with its third annual Spring Supper. Billed as the down home, no fuss, culinary event of the season, this year’s dinner will feature 11 of the region’s top chefs working together to bring you a staggering 7-course, locally-sourced Nova Scotian church supper unlike any other! All courses will be paired with Nova Scotian wines. Local food producers, brewers, vintners and foodies alike will round out this incredible evening. This event is open to the public.

 

Participating Chefs/Restaurants include:

Chefs Craig Flinn (Chives Canadian Bistro),

Dennis Johnston (Fid Resto),

Roland Glauser (Charlotte Lane Café),

Renée Lavallée (The Feisty Chef),

Chris Velden (The Flying Apron Cookery),

Jason Lynch (Le Caveau),

Earlene Busch (Chanterelle Country Inn),

Martin Ruiz Salvador (Fleur de Sel),

Luis Clavel (Atlantica Hotel)

Zane Kelsall & Tara MacDonald (Two If By Sea Café).

 

This is a remarkable volunteer effort as all the chefs, servers & organizers donate their time and work collectively towards spreading the Slow Food ethos of good, clean and fair local food for all.

 

The Details:

• When: Saturday, May 5th, 2012

• Where: Christ Church Community Center, Lower Level, 61 Dundas Street, Dartmouth,  just up from the Ferry

• Tickets $85 each ($75 Slow Food members) + HST, available at Chives Canadian Bistro, Brooklyn Warehouse & Two If By Sea Café (Dartmouth location) Cash or cheque, in-person only.

• Ticket price includes the 7-course dinner paired with Nova Scotian wines

• Cash bar during reception (Garrison Brewing & a Nova Scotian signature cocktail created by Ironworks Distillery)

• Reception 6:30PM, Dinner 7:00PM Start

• 145 people (plus volunteers approx. 155)

• Main contacts: Craig Flinn (chefcraig@chives.ca) & George Christakos

(g.l.christakos@gmail.com).

 

 

 

 

Terra Madre and Salone del Gusto

Posted: Monday, April 16th, 2012

Terra Madre and Salone Del Gusto

October 25-29, 2012

Torino Italy

 Invitation for SF members to apply for delegate status at Terra Madre and for Producers to Display at Salone Del Gusto 2012

 

This year, Terra Madre and the Congress are open to the public. Terra Madre is a biennial Slow Food event in Turin, Italy, that unites more than 5,000 producers, cooks, academics and activists creating a parallel system of food production and distribution. The Congress is the gathering of leaders representing the grassroots movement in their communities. Salone del Gusto is a public event that welcomes over 200,000 visitors over five days – a feast of the best – artisan, Ark of Taste and Presida products globally.

 

This is a two pronged invitation:

Slow Food Nova Scotia – mainland will have the opportunity to send 4 or possibly 5 delegates to Terra Madre. This means that you are a guest of Slow Food and your entrance fees, daily meals and accomodations are taken care of. Observer status is also available but only covers your admission fees to the event.

IF YOU ARE A CURRENT SLOW FOOD MEMBER AND ARE INTERESTED IN DELEGATE (or observer) STATUS, PLEASE EMAIL ME BY April 30th

Also, as Salone Del Gusto and Terra Madre are being combined into one event this year, Slow Food Canada has been asked to invite food producers from across Canada to exhibit at Salone Del Gusto. If you are a producer looking for new markets and a chance to show off your product to a potential 200,000 visitors please contact. There may some provincial support for this initiative – I am in early discussions with several Provincial Ministries to see about a collaborative effort to bring Nova Scotia products and producers to Torino

Notice of AGM 2011 June 26

Posted: Wednesday, June 1st, 2011


June 26, 10:15 – 11:30 :
Producer Visit and Tasting at the North End Community Garden and Hope Blooms Enterprise  http://nechc.com/?page_id=434
Murray Warrington Park, 2346 Brunswick Street ( adjacent to St Patrick’s Alexandra School), Halifax, NS., prior to the AGM and Pot Luck at Brooklyn Warehouse

We will tour the garden site and hear the story from people involved, including 6-8 of the youth re what they really like about this enterprise and from a few of the parents about how this initiative has affected their family overall. Bring your own spoon so you can sample some of the salad dressings.

Please indicate that you plan to attend this very special producer visit by replying to sheilastevenson17@gmail.com

What: Meeting 12-1:30pm

Potluck and Social 1:30-3pm

When: Sunday June 26th 12 noon-3 pm

Where: Brooklyn Warehouse, 2795 Windsor Street, Halifax

There is space at Brooklyn Warehouse for 50-60 only. Please RSVP (mail@slowfoodns.ca) as soon as possible if you plan to attend.

_________________________________________________________________________________

We have three non-returning Directors this year and so have vacancies for five Board positions. If you are interested in joining the Board please email Sheila Stevenson (sheilastevenson17@gmail.com

We will send you a scope of work for board members.

__________________________________________________________________________

Agenda

Approve agenda (circulated in advance)

Approve 2011 AGM minutes

 

Leader’s report

  • Current membership/ Acadia convivium
  • Past events: Slow Motion, Spring supper, Iron Chef, etc.
  • 2011 meeting of National Leaders in Quebec
  • Slow Food International Terra Madre fall 2010 Turin, Italy.
  • Upcoming events: Tancook Picnic, Slow Motion Food Film Festival
  • New convivia/ future evolution of convivia
  • New websites

Treasurer’s report + 2011/12 budget and approval (circulated in advance)

Secretary – strategic planning session this winter

New Business and Members’ Comments

Future events and projects: What interests you? What can you help with?

The development of future convivia… provincial structure

Appointments to the Board:

Returning:

  • Leader/Director: Michael Howell. Chef/Prop. Tempest Restaurant, Wolfville
  • Secretary/Director: Sheila Stevenson, Home Gardener, Museologist, Fergusons Cove
  • Treasurer /Director: Dela Erith. Professional Administrator, Smiths Cove
  • Director: Anna Magera, Environmental worker. Halifax
  • Director: Scott Whitelaw, Leader SF Northumberland Shores, Farmer/Restaurant owner. Earltown
  • Director: Peter Darnell, Prop. Indian Point Mussel Farm, Indian Point
  • Director: Mary Sue Waisman, Registered Dietitian, Fall River
  • Director: Jack Schoon, Lunenburg
  • Director: Rob Smith, Produce grower, Aylesford

Adjourn

 

_____________________________________________________________________

For Potluck contributions, please bring 12+ portions of something

areas needed are:

  • muffins/biscuits/bread
  • pasta salads
  • green salads
  • soups/stews
  • proteins
  • vegetarian options
  • desserts

AS USUAL, PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN PLATES AND CUTLERY

Coffee, tea and water will be provided courtesy of Brooklyn Warehouse


 

 

The birth of Slow Food Nova Scotia

Posted: Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

Brian Kienapple remembers the beginnings of Slow Food Nova Scotia

It all began in 2000 when I was researching a family trip to Italy and discovered references to Slow Food…
I contacted Convivium Leaders in places we were visiting seeking advice on where to eat and shop…
During that trip we were invited to supper with the Convivium Leader of Siena in Tuscany and his family…
That personal contact and the wonderful meal we shared in an Etruscan grotto below the streets of Siena was my first real introduction to the pleasures of Slow Food.
In 2001 I went back to Italy and spent a month visiting many Slow Food producers in Tuscany and Piedmont which led me to the Slow Food headquarters in Bra, Piedmont…
I had a long conversation with the head of Slow Food International, Renato Sardo, and at the end of my visit I told him that eventually I would help start a Convivium in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Things came together in 2002 when I met with Maurizio Bertossi in the spring and then Hanspeter Stutz in the fall and talked about the possibility of starting a group…
Hanspeter was particularly enthusiastic which led to an initial gathering of people in April of 2003 at his winery.

That first meeting included:
Maurizio Bertossi
Pete Luckett
Paul and Ruth Colville
Dennis Johnston
Paolo Colbertado
Michael Smith
Jim and Linda Gourlay
Hanspeter Stutz

I spoke about Slow Food and what it could mean to Nova Scotia…
Everyone agreed to join Slow Food and sign the papers that were sent to Italy to certify the formal beginnings of our Convivium…
It was agreed that I should organize the Convivium and be its first Leader…
Another planning meeting was held in early June at Maurizio’s Bish restaurant…
The first event was held in October 2003 focused on a truly historic ingredient, Heritage Apples….
Slow Food Nova Scotia was born!