2008 Slow Food Nation

Tonight marks the beginning of Slow Food Nation '08, the highly anticipated celebration promoting sustainably grown food. The first-ever Slow Food festival to be held in the United States, the event has been declared "the largest celebration of American food in history" by chef Alice Waters.

I'll be present, along with the other 50,000 people expected to attend, and I can't wait to share my experiences at the taste pavilions with you. I'll also give you the update on what I've learned at the event's panels and lectures. Be sure to check back for my coverage of this groundbreaking event. And if you're in town, maybe I'll see you there!

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In honor of this weekend's colossal Slow Food Nation event, PartySugar and I are celebrating sustainable living by using (and showing off!) our favorite farmers market totes. Now we want you to do the same! Snap a pic of you with your favorite reusable farmers market bag and send it to us. I'll feature all the submissions in an upcoming post.

After we've received all of the entries, we'll pick one lucky winner to get her very own YumSugar tote! I can't wait to see your favorite totes.

Yesterday morning, Food Network announced its participation in Slow Food Nation. Food Network, along with its charitable partner Share Our Strength, will "unveil a new original platform" called Good Food Gardens. The fully sustainable gardens will be filled with seasonal fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

The enclosed 10-by-16-foot cedar wood structures that hold the gardens are designed for the likes of schools, organizations, and homeowners. The first garden will debut across from San Francisco's highly buzzed-about Victory Garden, and be donated to a local Boys & Girls Club after the close of the event.

I find it unusual for Food Network to announce a partnership with Slow Food Nation just four days before the start of the event. They're also beating everyone to the punch by unveiling their proprietary garden the day before the festival actually begins. What do you think? Was this a last-minute effort on the part of the network?

Labor Day weekend means food-happenings galore. At front and center is Slow Food Nation '08, the country's first ever slow food event, to be held in San Francisco. I'll be in attendance, so I can learn more about eating sustainably. Locals, perhaps I'll see you there! Here's the lineup; enjoy your long (and tasty) weekend.

• Sparks, NV: Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off — Aug. 27
• Millersport, OH: Millersport Sweet Corn Festival — Aug. 27
• Honolulu, HI: Joy of Sake — Aug. 28
• Morgan City, LA: Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival — Aug. 28-Sept. 1
• San Francisco, CA: Slow Food Nation — Aug. 29-Sept. 1

To see the rest, read more

Last week I went to City Hall to help harvest the Slow Food Victory Garden. Developed as a solution to food shortages during World War I and II, victory gardens not only supply vegetables, fruit, and herbs to the masses, but they also act as a morale booster during tough times. Today Slow Food has partnered with San Francisco to showcase the spirit and power of the public victory garden. The victory of these gardens, however, is to reduce the food miles normally associated with the average American meal and promote homegrown local produce. Every Thursday a group of volunteers meets to harvest the vegetables. Arranged in a stunning concentric design, the garden provides food and illustrates the pure beauty of such vegetables as red chard and squash blossoms. While I picked bunches of collard greens and washed heads of lettuce, I couldn't help but think how vegetables are as gorgeous and colorful as flowers.

Do you have a garden? Have you ever been a part of a large-scale harvest? While you may not be able to experience this victory garden's harvest firsthand, you can take a look at my gallery filled with images. To do so, read more

• What to do when a recipe goes wrong. — The Kitchn
• Quickly catch up on Slow Food Nation. — Chow
• Meet the biggest Chinese restaurant in the world. — Serious Eats
• The latest news of the food crisis: the number of food scientists is on the decline. — Slashfood
• How to travel on a doddering dollar. — The Epi-Log
• A crazy coincidence: Smitten Kitchen makes Yum's key lime meltaways on the exact same day. — Smitten Kitchen
• Does your grocery list say something about your personality? — SavvySugar
• Looking for a decadent dessert? How about raspberry chocolate bundt cake? — Baking Bites
• How cute are these Pucco cupcakes?! — Hostess With the Mostess

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