Below you will find a list of the events Slow Food Boston has hosted in the past 12 months.

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After a very successful class on long noodle pastas in October, the second installment in our fresh pasta series will focus on making ravioli and assorted fillings. The class will be hands on and we will make an ad hoc dinner from the pastas we create. A little wine might even make it into a glass or two.

Please note that the last class sold out without our even having send an email. If you want in, reserve soon.

Directions:
Dave's Fresh Pasta can be found at 81 Holland St in Davis Square, Somerville. The store is located two blocks from the Davis Square T Stop. Limited Public Parking is available in the neighborhood.
 

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SOLD OUT

Soaring food prices, shortages, and even riots are signals that we’re facing serious limits to our capacity to feed the world. Some experts believe solutions can be found through local and sustainable foods, while others are certain that seed banks hold the promise of tomorrow’s food supply.

World-renowned ethnobiologist, conservationist, and author Gary Paul Nabhan believes the missing link is getting seeds out of storage and into the hands of local, traditional farmers in their areas and cultures of origin. In WHERE OUR FOOD COMES FROM: Retracing Vavilov's Quest to End Famine (Island Press, October 6, 2008), Nabhan argues for a new collaborative effort between farmers and scientists.
 

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IMPORTANT! We had the address of the Food Project incorrect earlier on - please see below for the correct location!

Join us for a vigorous morning spent working in the fields of the Food Project's farm in Lincoln. After a tour of the farm and few hours getting our hands dirty, we'll be rewarded with a scrumptious lunch of food fresh from the garden!

Event attendees should plan to meet at the farm in Lincoln at 9:30am (carpooling can be arranged) and the day will wrap up by 1:00pm.

We'll be helping the Food Project, a non-profit agency, fulfill their needs for working hands, and in return we'll be learning valuable lessons in sustainable agriculture and urban farming.

Money earned from our day will go toward the plane tickets we are supplying to local Terra Madre Festival attendees. By enabling local farmers to attend an event such as TM, we are helping to spread the 'seeds' of local agriculture - which benefits us all!

Directions:
The Food Project Rural Farm is located at 80 Concord Road in Lincoln, MA. More information about the farm and directions can be found on their website HERE.
 

Details:
Continuing our drive to both entertain and educate, SFB is pleased to offer a series of three classes in partnership with Dave's Fresh Pasta. Our teacher will be Dave himself and we will explore three separate types of pasta over the months of October, November and December.

First up on Wednesday 10/1 will be a class on making sheet pasta and sauces. The class will be hands-on and we will certainly sample some of our "educational materials" at the end of the evening. If we're lucky, we might even manage to open a bottle of wine or two--just to keep things festive while we learn.

Incidentally, November and December's classes will focus on Ravioli and Fillings and Tortellini with More Sauces, respectively.

Directions:
Dave's Fresh Pasta can be found at 81 Holland St in Davis Square, Somerville. The store is located two blocks from the Davis Square T Stop. Limited Public Parking is available in the neighborhood.
 

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OK, so we're not Germans, and yes, it's not October... But that doesn't mean we can't celebrate in our own way!

Console yourself about the end of summer by joining us at Ashmont Grill for our September SF Wednesday - they will be showcasing beers from Hofbrau and serving up appropriate seasonal dishes. (In keeping with the theme, we're talking brats, cabbage, apples and more!)

Cross your fingers - if the weather is in our favor, we'll get to enjoy Ashmont's great back patio like last year...

Directions:
Ashmont Grill is located at 555 Talbot Ave in Peabody Square, Dorchester. They are just a few blocks from the red line Ashmont T Stop, and there is street parking available. More information can be found on their WEBSITE.
 

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The last of this year's Preserving the Harvest series.... And we're ending with what might be a new topic to many of you - fermented foods!

Sharon Kane will be joining us for a three-hour combination lecture and hands-on workshop about fermentation. Sharon discovered fermented foods and their benefits while working to heal her own health issues, and has gone on to teach numerous classes on topics ranging from sourdough baked goods to sauerkraut to raw foods. Check out her website.

Our plan is to do two different vegetables from start to finish for you to take home (such as sauerkraut), and discuss other things for you to explore more on your own (kombucha!). As with the first two classes, we'll provide all needed supplies, and you'll walk away with incredible new knowledge and a few jars of great stuff to sample later!

Directions:
Haley House is located at 12 Dade Street in Roxbury. The parking lot entrance is off Washington Street, just beyond Melnea Cass Boulevard. Click here for their website.
 

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So they say you gotta eat it to save it.... Hmm - excuse me? Well, at least that's what we say about the wonderful heirloom varieties of foods that are slowly disappearing due to the mass-production of our food. Slow Food USA is working hard to raise awareness of foods (not only produce, but cheeses, grains, meats, beans, nuts and even honey!) that are in danger of never again being available - and therefore never having their luscious flavors and textures being tasted again.

According to the ARK website, '93% of North American food diversity has been lost since 1900.' In order to help save and hopefully reestablish that diversity, Slow Food has cataloged items in danger of extinction on its ARK of Taste. More information about the program, as well as a list of foods can be found on the ARK website.

We here at Slow Food Boston are doing our part by bringing together a number of wonderful summer fruits and veggies for you to experience. Ripening times will be guiding our selections, but we hope to have ARK listed varieties of tomatoes, apricots, watermelons, early apples - and maybe more! They will served up in various guises - freshly sliced, composed in salads or cooked into small dishes - and accompanied by a refreshing fruit-based iced tea.

Join us at the NonProfit Center for this opportunity to learn more about food diversity, and through tasting the incredible flavors, find out why it's so very important so save these varietals.

Directions:
The NonProfit Center is located at 89 South Street, at the corner of Essex Street. It is one block from South Station, just across from One Financial Center. More information about what they do, as well as directions, can be found here

There is street parking available, as well as two local garages, one located on South Street and another on Beach Street.
 

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The overflowing harvest continues, and so does our series of classes on how to use it! Local tomatoes are ripe & ready, so this time around we'll spend a Sunday afternoon making sauces & salsas and learning about dehydrating techniques.

Our guest, Jen Hashley, will teach a three-hour combination lecture and hands-on workshop about a number of ways to save tomatoes for later. Jen is the Director of the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project and along with her husband Pete is the proprietor of Pete & Jen's Backyard Birds. Check out their website.

As with the first two classes, we'll provide supplies, including locally grown tomatoes, and you'll walk away with new knowledge and a few jars of yummy sauces to add to dinner later on.

After this, we have just one more food preserving class remaining! Fermenting foods will be in early September, so stay tuned...

Directions:
Haley House is located at 12 Dade Street in Roxbury. The parking lot entrance is off Washington Street, just beyond Melnea Cass Boulevard. Click here for their website.
 

Details:
SOLD OUT

Meet the enchanting Nubian goats at Valley View Farm and see how delicious fresh and soft-ripened goat cheeses are made.

Elizabeth & Peter Mulholland's family farm overlooks the lovely Ipswich River in Topsfield. We'll learn how the herd is hand-milked and the cheeses hand-crafted, and how a goat/cow cheese was developed using rich Jersey milk from a neighboring herd.

Next, we'll drive 10 minutes for a picnic at the beautiful Green Meadows Farm in Hamilton, MA. Diana Rodgers will introduce us to the farm, which is a certified organic farm growing fruits, vegetables, and heritage breeds.

You may want to bring a cooler for a stop at the farmstand. Sandwiches will be available for purchase for a picnic lunch, approximately $6.00.

Plan to arrive at Valley View Farm at 10:00 AM.

Email PEGGY with questions. She will be contacting all attendees about lunch preferences and possible carpool organization.
 

Details:
CLASS HAS SOLD OUT! Please email Willow if you would like to be included on the waiting list - you never know about cancellations.

Continuing on our quest to figure out how to eat local year-round, we tackle our second skill; pickling vegetables!

Rick Field of Rick's Picks (check his WEBSITE) will be our next guest teacher for a three-hour combination lecture and hands-on workshop on pickling techniques. We'll be providing all the supplies, including local veggies that we find at the farmers market that weekend. Plan to head home with a few of your own jars of veggies to add to your meals later in the season.

Stay tuned for the remaining two classes; fermenting & dehydrating foods, and tomato sauces are still to come.

Directions:
Haley House is located at 12 Dade Street in Roxbury. The parking lot entrance is off Washington Street, just beyond Melnea Cass Boulevard. Click here for their website.
 

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WOW! THIS EVENT IS ALREADY SOLD OUT! Apologies to those that didn't get a chance to get in - maybe we can convince Deborah to do anything workshop later in the season with different fruit.... Stay tuned!

Our growing season around here is short -- so we must do what we can WHEN we can in order to preserve things in season. That way, we can eat 'local' all year round!

We kick off a four part series of classes teaching preserving skills with the sweetest and yummiest - jams!

Deborah Taylor of Deborah's Kitchen will be guest teaching a three-hour combination lecture and hands-on workshop on different jam and preserve making techniques. We'll be providing all the supplies, including the freshest, most local fruits that we find at the farmers market that weekend. You'll go home with a few jars of delectable jam to spread on your toast deep into the winter season...

It will be a great way to remind yourself that summer will always come around again!

Stay tuned for the remaining three classes; we'll be exploring pickling, fermenting, dehydrating, and tomato sauces between now and late September.

Directions:
Haley House is located at 12 Dade Street in Roxbury. The parking lot entrance is off Washington Street, just beyond Melnea Cass Boulevard. http://www.haleyhouse.org/
 

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It's summer and so we figured it was an excuse to 'spread our wings,' in more ways than one!

We'll be exploring a new cuisine for this month's Slow Food Wednesday AND exploring a new neighborhood - please join us Wednesday, June 18th at 6:00pm at Masala Art in Needham for good food and good company!

The folks at Masala Art specialize in introducing people to the multiple layers of flavors and spicing in Indian food (the restaurant name means 'the art of blending spices'). They'll be taking this opportunity to present us with some dishes meant to display the complexity of their cuisine.

We can't wait to experience this new venue, and hope that you can't either - so register today!

P.S. Just a reminder that payment MUST be received in advance either via Paypal or by check. Thanks!

Directions:
Masala Art is located at 990 Great Plain Avenue in Needham. There is lots of parking, and for the city livers amongst us, they are a very short walk from the Needham Center station on the Needham Commuter Rail line.

Check out their website for more information: Masala Art
 

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SOLD OUT

We are raising money in order to send two local food producers to Slow Food's Terra Madre in Turin this fall. Terra Madre is an incredible gathering of food communities from the world over, coming together to discuss the future of food - sharing thoughts and ideas, teaching one another personal history, food culture and customs. Learn more here: http://www.slowfoodusa.org/events/terra_madre_info.html

Slow Food International pays for expenses once a delegate has arrived in Turin, but paying for plane tickets is a challenge - so we felt it necessary to provide funds for a local person who might otherwise never have the chance....

Directions:
The Meeting House is located approximately one hour south of Boston, off Route 24 in Tiverton Four Corners, Rhode Island. More information can be found on their website: http://www.themeetinghouse.info
 

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THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT! We've had overwhelming response and had to close reservations and our waiting list - so sorry, but stay tuned for events in the future!

The cold, stiff New England earth is slowly beginning to soften - hallalujah! Although the weather is doing its typical ping-pong act, we really do believe that spring is here!

In order to celebrate the first signs of life from our wonderful soil and the re-emergence of our wonderful local farmers markets, join us for a few small dishes of seasonable, local foods paired with Peak Brewing's organic ales.

We've asked the chefs at Dante to think 'SPRING!' with the foods they prepare -- don't know about you, but I'm dreaming of asparagus, ramps, baby artichokes, light fresh flavors... yum! Jon and the crew from Peak will then offer up some of their great beers with each course - and hopefully give us a run-down on the great things they are doing.

We've also corralled reps from FMFM (the Farmers Market Federation of Massachusetts) to come by and talk about the present state and future of the markets in our area. They will have information about market locations and hours for those of you who are looking forward, as I am, to buying from the people who actually grow!

Cost is $30 per person, payable either via Paypal or a check to the address below.

Directions:
Dante Restaurant is located in the Royal Sonesta Hotel at 40 Edwin Land Boulevard in Cambridge, right near the Cambridgeside Galleria.

There is local street parking, as well as a garage on-premises and the closest MBTA stop is Lechmere.

See more information here: http://restaurantdante.com/
 

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Join us for the last of our Winter Film Series... An incredible documentation of John Peterson's work on his family's dairy farm beginning as a child alongside his dad, through the crazy 1970's and continuing on to his work developing the Community Supported Agriculture model that so many farms today use.

You'll learn of the struggles farms go through to make money as well as the joys of growing and providing sustenance for people. You'll laugh, you'll cry -- and most importantly, you'll leave ready for the growing season around here to start up!

Following the screening, we have an amazing group prepped to discuss the successes, frustrations and concerns involved with organic farming, local food sourcing, and how we, as consumers, can make the best decisions each day in our food purchasing choices.

Jim Buckle from Allandale Farm, Andrew Rodgers from Green Meadow Farm, James Lionette of Lionette's Market, Kate Stillman of the Turkey Farm at Stillman's and Jen & Pete from Verrill Farms are all planning to come and offer up their wisdom!

Directions:
Theodore Parker Church is located at 1859 Centre Street, on the corner of Corey Street, in West Roxbury. There is parking on the street and in local lots. It is also accessible by MBTA bus (check out www.MBTA.com for maps).

For directions and more information on the church, see www.tparkerchurch.org

Church members have agreed to provide LIMITED childcare - if this is of interest to you, please contact Willow at willow@slowfoodboston.com for more information.
 

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Save the Date! Sunday, April 6th from 1-3 at the Arnold Arboretum This year why not try growing especially flavorful herbs and vegetables from Italy? Whether you have a large sunny space or a few pots, you can grow heirloom Italian varieties that have been selected for taste. Bill McKay grew up on vegetables his Italian grandfather grew in Lexington. Now, Bill imports seeds from Franchi in Italy. He will select his favorites and give us growing tips as well as ideas on cooking the Italian way.
 

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Round two of our Winter Film Series!

Join us for an afternoon of ‘foodie’ documentaries! Two short films showcasing ways in which food diversity is being restored and sustained in our world today….

First we’ll see Eat at Bill's: Life in the Monterey Market from Lisa Brenneis. This is the story of market owner Bill Fujimoto’s focus on the “…world of small growers and diverse customers” in Monterey California and his desire to serve his customers well by seeking out and supporting local farmers and producers

We follow this uplifting story with Nick Versteeg’s film on Slow Food’s Terra Madre, a yearly gathering in Turin, Italy of food communities from around the world. Terra Madre aims to help producers and growers network with other like-minded people, with the hope of establishing a Global Network of Food!

After the films, Terra Madre attendees will be speaking about their experience at the gathering and what they have brought back home with them.

Directions:
Theodore Parker Church is located at 1859 Centre Street, on the corner of Corey Street, in West Roxbury. There is parking on the street and in local lots. It is also accessible by MBTA bus (check out www.MBTA.com for maps).

For directions and more information on the church, see www.tparkerchurch.org

Church members have agreed to provide LIMITED childcare - if this is of interest to you, please contact Willow at willow@slowfoodboston.com for more information.
 

Details:
It's time again for Slow Food Boston's Potlucks to start up for 2008! We've decided to try a Sunday gathering this time around, on March 2, 2008. An opportunity for a 'Slow' afternoon lunch comes to mind....

We have a number of locations, with West Roxbury, Brookline, Acton and Belmont lined up so far. These will be opportunities for Slow Food members to get to know each other in a smaller setting while enjoying a meal brought together through the efforts of the group.

Guests will be expected to bring one dish (entrée, salad or dessert, for instance.) A drink might also be requested depending on the host's plans. Each participant will also be asked to bring a $5 donation, which will go towards Slow Food Boston's support of local farmers and gastronomic education. Attendance will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis and we will offer as many dinners as we have hosts and guests.

We are open to more hosts who might be willing to open their home to a group of potluckers. To volunteer to host, or to sign up to attend one of the dinners, please email Connie Pollard (cm.pollard@verizon.net). Please include your name and location. If you want to host, let us know how many guests you can seat. We will continue to take names even as locations fill up to add to a waiting list, as there are often changes as the date approaches.

Looking forward to sharing a nice Slow afternoon meal with you all!
 

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Since we at SFBoston have concerns about how our food is grown, how it's processed and how it gets from the field to our table, we figured you might as well! So in order to explore these issues further, we'll be gathering at 4:00pm on the second Sunday of the next three months for relevant film screenings and round table discussions at the Theodore Parker Church in West Roxbury.

First up, KING CORN. Two guys decide to move to Iowa and grow some corn - and in the process of planting, tending and harvesting find out some crazy things about agriculture in the US. Circumstances turn from merely crazy to truly troubling when they attempt to follow 'their' corn into the food system...

If you have any worries about agri-business and the way food is produced & processed in our country, you've GOT to see this movie!

Ian Cheney, one of the filmmakers, will be attending the screening in order to talk about his experiences and answer questions from the audience.

Cost is $5, payable in advance via check or with cash at the door.

Directions:
Theodore Parker Church is located at 1859 Centre Street, on the corner of Corey Street, in West Roxbury. There is parking on the street and in local lots. It is also accessible by MBTA bus (check out www.MBTA.com for maps).

For directions and more information on the church, see www.tparkerchurch.org

Church members have agreed to provide LIMITED childcare - if this is of interest to you, please contact Willow at willow@slowfoodboston.com for more information.
 

Details:
We always hear about the importance of 'terroir' in the growing of grapes for wine - similar items produced in different places often produce WILDLY different tastes. Given that information, it would make sense that a region’s soil, weather patterns and vegetation would affect the taste of any food product, not just wine, right?

In order to explore this topic further, we’ve chosen to focus on cheese - specifically cheese produced from animals grazed in the Westport region of Massachusetts. Westport is a unique area, given its rich dairy history, and its location near the Rhode Island Sound yet blocked from the more severe weather off the Atlantic Ocean. Barbara Hanley from Shy Brothers Farm will be joining us to discuss the region and the importance of soils & grasses in the making of their cheese.

Since talking doesn’t always do things justice, we’ll also be tasting! Shy Brothers Farm, Great Hill Dairy and Martin's Cheese have offered up a number of their cheeses to be cooked into delicious dishes by Didi Emmons. Additionally, the Russells from Westport Rivers Winery will be pairing wines with each course and participating in this discussion of how different region's conditions produce different tastes and textures in wines.

Please join us for Slow Food Boston's first event of 2008! We’re excited to be exploring local food production, plus Didi has planned an amazing feast. Her courses are ranging from risotto to fried green tomatoes to baked pears, incorporating five different cheeses to tickle our palates!

Directions:
Haley House is located at 12 Dade Street in Roxbury. The parking lot entrance is off Washington Street, just beyond Melnea Cass Boulevard. http://www.haleyhouse.org/
 

Details:
The good folks at Lionette's will take a full pig and break it down, demonstrating the art of butchering. There will be two sessions, one at 6PM and one at 8PM, each undertaking to break down half the hog. This will showcase the various cuts of pork, as well as the diverse ways to prepare pork, focusing particularly on the lesser known cuts.

We will also sample several pork dishes. Pork is the most versatile of all meats. So much can happen, so many flavors, so much possibility. Of course, nothing goes better with a course on how to cut up a pig than a glass of wine. Plenty will be served.

The event is $25, and limited to 40 people per session. Please RSVP at Lionette's Market in person, by phone (617.778.0360), or by email ( lionettes@gmail.com). Please RSVP only if you intend on coming. Space is limited. Feel free to pay at the event.

Directions:
Lionette's is located at 571 Tremont St. in the South End. Their website can be found at www.goeboston.com.