Press Releases for July 23, 2007

CHEFS TO THE FIELD
(Edited from the press release.)


Richmond, BC… On Sunday, August 19th, gather your friends and family and head to Terra Nova Rural Park in Richmond for an afternoon of food, festivities and fundraising with Chefs to the Field, a fundraiser supporting both the Terra Nova Schoolyard Society and Organic Friends of the Future.

This event, features a "Field to Plate" Chefs Competition (from 2-4 p.m.) where teams of two chefs plus one culinary student produce four different entrée plates using organic local farm produce. Teams will be given time to visit the field to pick the produce they will cook in addition to one mystery ingredient (that will only be is revealed before the start of the race). Teams will have one hour to create and perfect their dishes before they are judged according to caring use of harvested ingredients, flavour, presentation, originality and organization.

In addition to the race attendees can enjoy live entertainment, children’s activities, and a silent auction. Admission to the event is free. Food booths will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with food items priced at $3. These booths will feature some of Vancouver’s top restaurants and culinary institutions including: Aurora Bistro, C Restaurant, Culinary Capers, Diva at the Met, Dubrulle Art Institute, Glorious Organics Co-op, Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver, Papi's Restaurant, Quince, Raincity Grill, Terminal City Restaurant, Tomato Fresh Food Café, and Vancouver Community College.

Funds raised from this event will help Organic Friends of the Future defend the rights of organic farmers and to promote local organics. The Terra Nova Schoolyard Project, a non-profit, community based garden project founded in 2006 by Chef Ian Lai (Instructor at Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver) which operates on 5000 square feet of growing space generously provided by the City of Richmond. The program aims to promote community, local organic food, healthy eating choices and food sustainability. Currently working with 6 Richmond organizations from K – 12, Terra Nova generally sees students come out on a weekly basis in the spring and summer and twice a month in the fall. Classroom lessons and activities are also conducted indoors during the winter months in preparation for the coming season.

You'll find Terra Nova Rural Park at 2631 Westminster Highway. As parking is limited, all visitors are encouraged to walk, ride your bike or carpool. A free shuttle bus service will depart from the City Works Yard (5599 Lynas Lane) every 15 minutes.



5TH ANNUAL TOMATO POTLUCK PICNIC
(Directly from the press release.)

One of Slow Food Vancouver’s favourite events returns this year in a new venue. Members, friends and Slow Food enthusiasts are invited to join us on Tuesday, August 21, at Kits Beach for the 5th Annual Slow Food Tomato Potluck Picnic. We will gather in the wooded section of the park, just to the north of Watermark Restaurant, the basketballs courts and the parking lot. If you walk north along the Seawall path from Watermark, you will find us just where the path begins to turn to the east toward the Maritime Museum.

Please come any time after 6:30 pm. We will begin to serve at 7:00 pm. Bring a blanket to sit on or a beach chair, your own cutlery, plate and glass, something to drink (be discrete, please), and one dish to share. The dish should serve 6 to 8 people, and should include tomatoes in some form. In previous years we’ve sampled a tremendous variety of tomato dishes, including soups, cocktails, main courses and even dessert! Be creative, imaginative, and celebrate the summer bounty of B.C. local, fresh tomatoes in their prime!





FIRST ANNUAL SLOW FOOD CYCLE TOUR OF AGASSIZ
(Directly from the Press Release.)

Come to Agassiz, BC on Saturday, August 25th to participate in a self-guided bicycle ride following the popular 30km Circle Farm Tour route. Riding your bicycle, you will get to experience and taste local food products produced close to home, while getting to know and supporting your local farmers. Inspired by the success of Slow Food Cycle Sunday Pemberton and the popular Circle Farm Tour, SLOW FOOD Vancouver and the farmers of Agassiz are hosting this culinary adventure that will explore several farms. Some farms will be open to the public for this day only. For example, you will have a rare glimpse of a large commercial dairy farm, see how farming was done in the 1920s, see both heritage and rare breeds of cows and other animals, and visit a farm that makes unique artisan cheeses.

Most farms will provide an opportunity to sample or purchase their products that may include herb-inspired treats, chocolates, vinegars, unique vegetables, artisan cheeses and many other food items as well.

The bike tour runs from 9am – 4pm and is FREE for people to participate. There will be opportunities for cyclists to make purchases if they wish. Meals, tastings and refreshments will all cost a small amount of money, additionally, different products will be sold by the farms.

The self-guided tour begins at the Fall Fair Grounds in Agassiz where participants receive a map that they can follow to the various farm locations. There are ten stops on the route through the tranquil rural area of Agassiz-Harrison Mills and participants are able to take the tour as fast or as slow as they would like. Many stops will feature special events such as, a breakfast made entirely of local foods served at the historic site of Kilby, guided tours around specialty farms and gourmet foods prepared with crops from Agassiz producers.

So, Save this Date – Saturday, August 25th! Come for the day or come for the weekend! Get on your bike with family and friends; come to Agassiz to enjoy the spectacular scenery, and to meet the Agassiz farmers who provide us with healthy, locally grown food.

More details are available at:
http://www.slowfoodvancouver.com/index.php/Events