What's in SFKT for you? Access to fun, delicious Columbia-area events that elevate and celebrate local farmers and food. You also get the satisfaction of advocating for good, clean and fair food for everybody in mid-Missouri. We do good by eating well. Please join us!
Our members don't have regularly scheduled meetings at any given place. We average about eight public and members-only events a year, and have ideas for many more than that. We're an all-volunteer organization and all the officers have full-time jobs, so we schedule events as we can fit them in. We always have a great time and heartily welcome new members! We have just started a local blog. Look for news of our events at: (www.slowfoodkatytrail.blogspot.com).
Since Slow Food Katy Trail formed in September 2003, here are some of the things we've done, starting in 2008 and rolling back to 2003:
2008 In late January, one of our members hosted a "comfort food" potluck at her house, which was attended by about 50 people. In addition to eating delicious food, we had lively discussions with several parents, children and teachers about our plans to use the newly acquired Slow Food funds to help educate students about Slow Food principles. One of our goals is to try to expose more people—especially local children--to the Slow Food philosophy.
In February we had a series of meetings with Lee Elementary School to discuss how best to use the proceeds to educate their students about the importance of food in their lives. We decided upon a three-pronged project for third graders—schoolyard gardens, field trips and a Harvest-of-the-Month program.
On March 21 we hosted our first-ever whiskey tasting at the Wine Cellar and Bistro Restaurant. Local authority Uless Reeder guided 30 enthusiastic participants through the history and making of six whiskeys from Scotland, Ireland, Canada and the United States. Chef Craig Cyr laid out a beautiful and delicious spread of edibles to complement the liquor. The curried lamb strudel was fantastic!
In April Slow Food volunteers, Lee teachers, students and parents built six raised-bed gardens behind the school.
In May we hosted three field trips for 60 students to Goatsbeard Farm, a local farm and goat-cheese dairy. The children loved these trips! In the fall we will begin the Harvest-of-the-Month program, where we'll introduce fresh, local produce into the classroom through an arrangement with local farmers. Farmers will deliver their products and talk with the children about farming and local foods. We hope to engage local chefs and cooks to help prepare tasty dishes with these products and discuss the joys of cooking fresh, local food.
Also in May, several members spent a few hours one rainy Saturday afternoon at Richard Knapp's home in Columbia watching him bake pizza, ciabatti, calzone and whole wheat loaves in his wood-fired oven. Katy Trail members brought their own fabulous local ingredients for pizza toppings, while he provided the dough and oven. We rolled and shaped our own whole-wheat dough (which Richard had made the day before from wheat he grinds), and then shared our different pizzas with the crowd. It was delicious and fascinating look at an ancient craft that we hope is making a comeback
In June, we took a break!
In July we made fresh salsa from farmers' market vendors' produce and hosted a salsa booth at the Farmers' Market movie/fresh food event on July 26. Co-leaders Bernadette Dryden and Martha Folk attended a Slow Food regional meeting in Madison, Wisconsin.
On August 23 we hosted our annual heirloom tomato bruschette festival at the farmers' market.
Over Labor Day weekend, co-leader Bernadette Dryden attended the Slow Food National Congress in San Francisco, in conjunction with Slow Food Nation, a first-ever celebration/extravaganza of American sustainable foods. She also attended two days of Slow Food in Schools workshops with teachers and Slow Food leaders from throughout the country.
On September 21, Slow Food Katy Trail hosted the "Last Sips of Summer" party at Bernadette's house. More than 50 Slow foodies brought appetizers made from local products and kissed summer goodbye with a delicious selection of wines, beers, sangria and vodka summer-garden punch. Member/jazz guitarist extraordinaire John G. Stewart and bandmates serenaded us with "Autumn Leaves," "Here Comes That Rainy Day" and other weather-appropriate tunes.
On September 22, we initiated our monthly"Harvest-of-the-Month" program at Lee Expressive Arts Elementary School. Local farmer Dan Kuebler brought in armloads of heirloom tomatoes and visited with third graders about life on the farm and the joys of growing delicious local food. Slow Food volunteers and teachers helped the children make salsa with the tomatoes and other fresh, local ingredients. It was a big hit.
In October, we look forward to a visit from a local organic-apple farmer and the children's participation in making apple muffins with a local chef.
On Nov. 1, don't miss our biggest and most important fundraising event of the year. See our blogsite for more details.
Volunteers are always needed for our events. So send us an email if you can help!
2007 In February we showed two wine movies at Ragtag Cinema and featured two wines from the wine regions featured in the movies.
In April we had a domestic beer and cheese tasting at Goatsbeard farm. We tasted 10 wonderful cheeses and beers.
In early June Slow Food St. Louis hosted a Lamb Extravaganza at a lamb farm midway between Columbia and St. Louis. Several Katy Trail members took advantage of the delicious eight-course lamb dinner cooked and served outdoors by chefs from St. Louis.
We had the fourth and most successful heirloom tomato bruschetta fest to date at the farmer's market Aug 25. This has become very popular. We make bruschette on location and feature many different kinds of heirloom tomatoes.
In early September we showed the movie "King Corn" at Ragtag Cinemacafe. We also served fresh corn tamales and local beer.
On Nov .3 we raised $4,000 at our most successful fundraiser to date—The Art of Slow Food---which was held at Orr Street Studios. It featured a silent auction of food-themed art by local artists and artful hors d'oeuvres prepared by the area's best and "slowest" chefs, who used local and seasonal ingredients. A wonderful local jazz duo performed.
2006 On Jan. 16 we collaborated again with Ragtag Theatre on a film/food night. They showed three food film shorts, and we had three local restaurants make appetizers to accompany them. A full house enjoyed good food and wine.
In March we had an all-Missouri foods dinner prepared by Craig Cyr at the Wine Cellar and Bistro.
In May Goatsbeard Farm (local goat cheese makers and SF members) hosted an all-asparagus fest dinner at the farm.
In June convivium members made lemon-blueberry pound cakes and blueberry gelato to serve to film goers at the "Real Dirt on Farmer John" movie (with farmer John in attendance). It was sponsored by Ragtag Cinema at the Missouri Theatre.
In August, we had the third annual farmer's market bruschetta fest.
Late summer potluck and swimming party at a member's farm
In October we had a potluck picnic at Stephens Lake Park and enjoyed a live jazz duo as we ate and visited.
We had a Sunday-after-Thanksgiving holiday leftovers potluck and holiday cookie exchange at a member's house.
2005 In April, a barbeque and local food picnic at Stephens Park
In May, a wonderful local/seasonal feast prepared by the Wine Cellar and Bistro
A July meeting to discuss a children's Slow Food cooking camp
In August, a swimming/ potluck at a member's farm
In August, our second annual farmer's market tomato bruschetta fest
In October, a red beans-and-rice fundraiser with the farmer's market to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims
In mid-December, we hosted a holiday brunch and cookie exchange for members.
2004 Spanish tapas and wine party at Wine Cellar and Bistro in March; chef prepared tapas with fresh, local products.
Staffed a booth at Earth Day in April
In May we collaborated with Ragtag Theatre in movie/food events. One was the PBS Alice Waters documentary and the other was the Australian-made movie about the Slow Food movement. Local farmers from the farmers market provided fresh, local products and with them we prepared a Slow Food feast of spring produce in conjunction with the movies. Several farmers spoke about their farming philosophies and products.
Held a Blue Moon party in July with wonderful food and live music outdoors at a member's house
Hosted an heirloom tomato/bruschetta festival at the Columbia Farmer's Market in late August.
Late summer potluck and swimming party at a member's farm
Staffed a Slow Food booth at the annual Chestnut Festival near New Franklin October
In December we collaborated with Ragtag Cinema again. They showed Sideways, a movie set in California wine country. A Missouri winery from Ste. Genevieve poured their wine and our convivia served up other grape-related treats (stuffed grape leaves, stuffed grapes and cookies with raisins). The theater was packed and everyone had a great time.
2003 Late summer potluck and swimming party at a member's farm
Early fall wine tasting and dinner at a local restaurant
Staffed a Slow Food booth at the annual Chestnut Festival near New Franklin October
Christmas potluck at a member's home in the country near Columbia
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you need more information about the Slow Food organization and all the great programs it is involved in throughout the country and world, please visit the national and international websites, respectively, at: http://www.slowfoodusa.org/ http://www.slowfood.com/
If you'd like a membership application, I can mail one to you or you can join on line at www.slowfoodusa.org
There also will be brochures and applications available at the next event. If you like, we'll add your name to the email list so you'll be aware of our public events.
Thanks for your interest in Slow Food, and I hope to see you soon!
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