Slow Food Urban San Diego convivium of SlowFood | Good, Clean and Fair Food

Fish! Facts - Sustainable Seafood Tasting

2010-06-02T01:30:00Z

Tickets are $15 - click here to purchase

CineCucina = Italian Film + Slow Food + You

2010-05-22T18:00:00Z

On Saturday, May 22, Slow Food Urban San Diego and the San Diego Italian Film Festival will present CineCucina, a day-long celebration of film and food. The event will take place at the Birch North Park Theatre, and will feature an outdoor food fair from 11 am to 6 pm followed by "Slow Life in a Tuscan Town" a presentation by Douglas Gayeton and a screening of Foccacia Blues at 6:30 pm. Foccacia Blues is an independent film about a Southern Italian bread maker who stands up to a large corporation. Purchase your ticket today!

Activism, San Diego Style: The Cultivating Food Justice Conference

2010-05-16T23:55:13Z

By Anita Boen

SFUSD Food Justice Committee Leader

It's an exciting time to live in San Diego. On Saturday and Sunday, April 24-25, over 700 people gathered at San Diego State University to listen, teach and learn what we can do to create a more just and sustainable food system.

As in previous years, the Third Cultivating Food Justice Conference was organized entirely by volunteers and all Conference activities were offered free of charge, including breakfast and lunch both days. Food for the Conference was donated by Suzie's Farm (harvested by gleaners the day before the conference,) OB People's Coop and Jimbo's Naturally. The food was prepared and served entirely by volunteers.

Primary financial support was provided by Slow Food Urban San Diego, SD Roots, San Diego Food Not Lawns, Bulthaup/Tender Greens and grants obtained by SDSU students.

Setting the stage for the weekend's activities on Saturday morning was a panel addressing the topic, "What is Food Justice."

48 Workshops covering topics ranging from local urban agriculture to understanding federal food policy were offered during the 2 day conference. (The complete program, including a list of workshops and some video of keynote sessions, plenary sessions and some workshops can be found at www.sdfoodjustice.org)

A pre-lunch networking session was the perfect opportunity for conference attendees to learn more about the diverse groups working together to share their expertise and resources to further our common goals. Board members Dominick Fiume, Candice Woo and Steph Johnston staffed the outreach table on Saturday for SFUSD. Volunteer Kat Alexander on Sunday. Thanks to all for sharing the Slow Food mission and vision with the conference attendees.

Saturday's keynote speaker, Raj Patel, author of The Stuffed and Starved and The Value of Nothing, offered a global perspective to the challenges faced in the struggle to create a food system that is good, clean and fair.

With all the enthusiasm generated by Saturday's activities, Sunday's session opened with a panel offering their thoughts on "Maintaining Momentum."

Sunday's keynote speaker was local farmer Barry Logan, director of the La Milpa Farm in Escondido. Barry is one of San Diego's most eloquent and tireless voices for sustainable agriculture in San Diego.

As the leader of SFUSD's Food Justice Committee it was an honor to have been part of the Organizing team. The experience of working with such a dedicated and talented group of volunteers was truly inspiring. The diversity of the people of San Diego was represented at the organizing table as well as attendees. Please learn more on how you can help Cultivate Food Justice in San Diego www.sdfoodjustice.org and join the cause to insure good, clean and fair food is available to all.

Slow Food USA Recognizes San Diego's School Lunch Movement

2010-03-11T06:16:22Z

Check it out! Earlier this week, the Slow Food USA blog featured Slow Food Urban San Diego's efforts to work with Chef Ann Cooper and San Diego schools to bring healthier school lunches to our city. This, coupled with the recent mayoral proclamation for Healthy Meals Healthy Kids Day, is all very exciting! It looks like healthy school lunches may actually become a reality...

Which reminds us, i you haven't yet written to your representatives asking for their support for school lunch reform, be sure to do so now! You can visit the Time For Lunch campaign website to send an email in minutes!

San Diego declares "Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Day."

2010-03-04T03:58:01Z

In December, Chef Ann Cooper visited San Diego to raise awareness about the need to reform school lunches. Thanks to her efforts, in collaboration with Whole Foods, Albert Einstein Academies and Slow Food Urban San Diego, Mayor Jerry Sanders declared February 18, 2010 "Healthy Meals Healthy Kids Day." The day helped recognize those who are working toward bringing wholesome, nutritious foods to school lunchrooms. Check out the proclamation here. To learn more about Chef Ann's efforts, visit http://lunchbox.org

Olives and Olive Oil Class

2010-02-27T16:00:00Z

In collaboration with The University of California Cooperative Extension

San Diego County Farm and Home Advisor's Office, we invite you to join us for a short

course on Olives and Olive Oil Production Strategies for Southern California

featuring internationally known olive and olive oil expert Paul Vossen. Registration information:

Coffee Tasting and Education Class

2010-02-20T22:00:00Z

Spend an afternoon learning about and appreciating the art of coffee! Local North Park roaster and coffee bar, Caffe Calabria, will host a special coffee class for Slow Food members on Saturday, February 20 from 2 to 5 p.m. Caffe Calabria's Arne Holt and Annalyn Lehnig will share their knowledge of coffee history, proper espresso and coffee brewing methods. Attendees will also sample coffee and learn about the coffee tasting technique known as cupping, and will be able to observe the cafe roast a batch of their renowned coffee beans. Class size is limited to 25 people and is $15 for Slow Food members, $20 for non-members. Register:

Road to Healthy Meals in Our Schools with Chef Ann Cooper

2010-02-19T02:00:00Z

Meet the leader of the School Lunch Revolution, Chef Ann Cooper, a.k.a. "The Renegade Lunch Lady" and author of Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children. Chef Ann is on a mission to ensure that every child in America receives healthy, delicious food every day in school. Hear her thoughts on how San Diego area schools can make simple, yet significant changes to improve lunch programs. Pre-lecture reception with local food artisans and community food groups 6-6:30 PM. Co-presented by Slow Food Urban San Diego and Whole Foods Market

Thursday, February 18, 2010; 6:30-8 PM

Advance registration recommended.

$5 per person

For more information or to register, contact 619/255-0203 or visit http://www.sdnhm.org/education/lectures.html

San Diego Natural History Museum
1788 El Prado
Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101
619/255-0203

Slow Food USA's Time For Lunch Campaign Needs You!

2010-02-10T21:21:22Z

Usually when we have an announcement, we're excited to tell you about upcoming events or bring you information you can use. Today, we're posting this to ask for your help, and about 60 seconds of your time.

Congress is getting ready to visit the Child Nutrition Act this month. This act provides federal funding to public school lunch programs, and is reauthorized every five years. Right now, this program only provides schools with $1 per child to buy ingredients. This is not enough!

This is our last chance to voice our concerns before Congress revisits this act. We need to urge our senators to provide more funding for healthy and nutritious food for school children. You can help us make one final push to legislators to remind them how important this act is. If you have the time, please CALL or EMAIL your senators TODAY. Tell them it's time for Congress to help schools serve real food!

If you can CALL:

You can reach Sen. Diane Feinstein's office at (202) 224-3841.
You can reach Sen. Barbara Boxer's office at (202) 22-3553.
You can find talking points below.

If you can EMAIL, please go to the Slow Food USA website here, where you'll find an email form that will send an email to your local legislators. The letter is already written; you simply need to enter your name and email and click send. It will take you less than 60 seconds.

You can also FORWARD this email to friends and family. Anyone can join Slow Food's efforts to ensure healthy, nutritious food in schools. All it takes in a quick phone call or email. You can also direct them to Slow Food USA's website for more information.

The National School Lunch Program was created in 1946 "to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the Nation's children." It is supposed to ensure that no child goes without a healthy meal every day. But school lunches are not providing healthy food. Even school systems with good intentions lack the funds to purchase and prepare fresh, healthy meals.

As of today, over 40,000 people have signed Slow Food's Time for Luch petition or sent letters to their Senators urging them to better fund this program. We hope you will join us by CALLING or EMAILING legislators TODAY.

Time for Lunch Talking Points

We are asking our elected officials to:

Find the funding to give school lunch programs more than $1 per child per day.
Approve the Child Nutrition Program and School Lunch Protection Act of 2009. This will protect kids from junk food sold in vending machines, cafeterias, and school stores.
Guarantee $50 million for Farm-to-School programs, which link schools to local farms and teach healthy eating.

If you can CALL your Senator, here are some talking points you can convey:

The main barrier to improving school lunch is lack of funding. Adequate funding could help schools buy directly from local farms, cook meals from scratch, and help children learn to make good food choices.
Fully funding school lunch and supporting farm-to-school programs will allow schools to buy and cook local food. This is both an educational opportunity for students and an economic engine for creating jobs in local economies.
Investing in real food now will save billions in health care costs later. The health of America's children is the health of our nation. Our kids need wholesome, nutritious food to stay healthy.
When congress renews the child nutrition act, they must:

Raise school funding at least $1 per child per day
Strengthen nutrition standards
Make Farm-to-School funding mandatory

Need inspiration? Just stare at this unhealthy school lunch while you make the phone call:

Want to learn more about healthy school lunches? Join Slow Food Urban San Diego at the Natural History Museum on February 18 for a lecture on the Road to Healthy Meals in Our Schools.

NEW! SFUSD Member Benefits Card

2010-01-31T19:29:09Z

Slow Food Urban San Diego is delighted to announce the launch of our Member Benefits Card!

Now, Slow Food members can receive discounts at restaurants and other businesses around town. Simply show your card and save! The cards are good for one year and are being distributed to Slow Food members this February.

Member Discounts

Here are just a few of the discounts members receive through their member benefits card. A complete list will be available soon!

1500 Ocean - 10% off food
Alchemy - 15% off food and beverages
Cafe Chloe - 15% off food
JSix - 15% off food and beverages
The Lodge at Torrey Pines - 10% off food
Nine Ten - 10% off food
Sea Rocket Bistro - 10% off food and beverages
Suzie's Farm - No Joiners Fee for new CSA members who commit to a 12-week subscription as well as one free head of lettuce with purchase at any Suzie's Farm farmers' market stall
Starlite - 10% off entire bill including beverages
Waters Fine Foods To Go - 10% off food

MEMBERS ONLY February Metro Mixer - SOLD OUT

2010-01-31T18:44:32Z

Our February Metro-Mixer is a members-only event. Members can find details in the Pingg invitation sent via email.

December Metro Mixer - SOLD OUT

2009-12-17T01:30:00Z

This event has SOLD OUT

December Metro Mixer

Wednesday, December 16

5:30pm-7:30pm

Vela Restaurant

Hilton San Diego Bayfront

www.hiltonsandiegobayfront.com

Slow Food Urban San Diego Metro Mixer Save the Date!

Wednesday, December 16, 5:30 p.m. at Vela Restaurant in the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.

We're celebrating our first year as a Slow Food chapter and Slow Food International 20th Anniversary and we would like to thank everyone for their continued support and participation. Please save the date, December 16, to join us for a free farm-to-table mixer at Vela Restaurant, coupled with a Super Food Drive for the San Diego Food Bank.

To attend: RSVP to the invitation that is emailed.

Cooks Confab: Street Food!

2009-12-05T17:00:00Z

Cooks Confab: Street Food!

At Little Italy Mercato

Saturday, December 5, 2009

9am-1pm

www.cooksconfab.com

From hot dogs and tacos to ceviche and pizelle, what's not to like? Each Confab chef will be set up in a stall and slinging the street food they love...100% of proceeds will be donated to ARTS-- A Reason To Survive. We also encourage you to bring along a new or gently-used musical instrument or unwrapped toy for the kids at ARTS.

Tickets: www.areasontosurvive.org

Sustainable Agriculture: A Necessary Transition

2009-12-02T02:30:00Z

Lecture

December 1, 2009

6:30pm-8:30pm

San Diego Natural History Museum

San Diego, CA 92101

Please Join SFUSD at the San Diego Natural History Museum

Sustainable Planet: Food Lecture Series hosted by Loren Nancarrow.

December 1, 6:30-8:30

Dave Hensen, Executive Director , Occidental Arts and Ecology Center.

With a growing human population, climate changes, water insecurity, erosion of good soils, peak oil, and dramatic losses in biological diversity all upon us at once, how will we feed ourselves tomorrow?

Tickets: $5.00 www.sdnhm.org : Sustainable Planet

Local Thanksgiving Dinner

2009-11-20T02:00:00Z

Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 6 p.m.

International House

UCSD 9500 Gilman Drive

La Jolla, CA 92037

858-534-2230

$15 for Slow Food members, $25 for non members and $5 for students

Join us for an early Thanksgiving dinner at UCSD's International House. Share a memorable meal with members of the Slow Food community and students from UCSD and the Art Institute. Local pastured turkeys from Womach Ranch will be prepared by Chef Jeff Jackson of A.R. Valentien; other delicious dishes, all using local produce and ingredients, will be cooked communally by Slow Food volunteers and students. Tickets for this delicious local feast are only $15 for Slow Food members, $25 for non members and $5 for students. We hope you'll share a meal with us! Proceeds from this dinner will go to the student Slow Food on Campus chapters at UCSD and the Art Institute.

Reserve your seat by purchasing a ticket here.