National Chains Dipping Into Buy Local Movement

Corner Bakery has announced that the tomatoes used in this summer's feature item, the BBLT, will be sourced from local purveyors. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from sales of the double bacon sandwich with cracked pepper balsamic mayo dressing will go toward Corner Bakery Cafe's Community Garden Grant. It would be nice to know just how large a portion.

Chipotle announced that it will expand it's purchase of local produce this year, with "at least 35 percent of at least one bulk produce item in all of its restaurants from local farmers when it is seasonally available." Doesn't seem like much, does it?

What do you think - blatant marketing ploys or a step in the right direction?

Chipotle
http://www.qsrmagazine.com/articles/news/story.phtml?id=8690

Corner Bakery
http://www.qsrmagazine.com/articles/news/story.phtml?id=8923

55th Summer Fancy Food Show

I returned from the 55th Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City last night, my belly full of around 50 different cheeses and my head even more full of ideas. As always, there was no shortage of cheese, olive oil, and specialty meats to try. There was also an abundance of honey, tea, and fig items at this year's show. I would predict to see variations of these flavors continuing to pop up in new products to come. Blood Orange is becoming more approachable; as the name becomes commonly seen it is drawing appeal rather than fright.

Things that stood out to me at the show:

Chocolate with Panko bread crumbs - Chuao Chocolatier, led by the culinary talents of Chef Michael Antonorsi, introduced their dark chocolate bar with Panko bread crumbs. The Panko provided mainly a different texture experience, not far from a rice crisp bar, but with a more upscale feel. My favorite in their chocolate line, however, is the Modena Chocopod - dark chocolate with a strawberry & balsamic caramel center.

Black Garlic - Huh? It's black. It's fermented. It's sticky. Black Garlic (this is also the company name) is fermented garlic that is sweet and reminiscent of soy sauce in flavor.

Wine Cellar Sorbet - This sorbet made from wine extracts has actually been available in this area for awhile at retailers like Whole Foods and Central Market, but this was my first time to give it a try. I chose the Cabernet Sauvignon, thinking it would taste a bit like watered down wine. Wrong! This stuff was full of intense wine flavor. It was sweet, however, so if you're into dry you might skip this one.

Pancakes with Chocolate Bacon - Vosges Haut Chocolate was cooking up pancakes using their Mo's Bacon Bar. The Mo bar is milk chocolate with applewood smoked bacon and alder wood smoked sea salt. Think chocolate chip pancakes with a side of bacon - pretty tasty!

Cottage Cheese - of course because it was from our own Paula Lambert! I stopped by the Mozzarella Company's booth where Paula was displaying, among her other cheeses, the cottage cheese she developed for Kent Rathbun. I've judged a lot of cottage cheese in my day, and I have to say that Paula knows her stuff. Her version has a nice balance of acid and diacetyl with an extremely clean finish.

Passion Fruit Cocoa Butter Caramel - from Amella. I love that this company uses real fruit to flavor their mouth watering caramels. The passion fruit flavor was intense and married nicely with the creamy caramel. Using cocoa butter instead of butter allows for a lighter, fluffier caramel, with cocoa butter melting beautifully at mouth temperature.

Farm Tour Features Three Local Farms (and Lunch)

If you’re interested in getting better connected with local farmers, you might be interested ins a day-tour of three local farms on Saturday July 11, sponsored by EatGreenDFW.com and Food Roots both owned by Slow Food members. The culinary bus tour will take you (in air conditioned splendor) to JuHaRanch, Oak Grove Farms and Garden Harvests where you'll discover how three farmers bring sustainably grown produce, meat and dairy products to our community using organic and natural methods. And bring the kids. It’s a great way for them to learn where their food comes from.

The trip, which includes lunch at the Brown Street Cafe and Kolache Depot in Ennis, is $89 but there's a discount for Slow Food members. Just drop a line to brian@eatgreendfw and I'll send you the coupon code that's good for 10% off.

Mary Kimbrough of Food Roots has lined up three great places to visit and learn about local agriculture. And it even looks like there will be a wine tasting with wines from Calais Winery during our stop at Oak Grove Farms. You can find out more and sign up here.

You don't want to miss it. You will have an opportunity to buy pick of the season at all of our stops.

Cozy Find in Downtown Grapevine - Into the Glass

Sometimes I forget just how charming historic downtown Grapevine can be. Yesterday a co-worker of mine suggested we venture over to Main Street in Grapevine to have lunch at one of her favorite hideaway spots. Into the Glass is a cozy wine bar & Texas cafe owned by Wayne Turner. Wayne was behind the bar when we walked in from the sultry sun blaring sidewalk to the darkened, cool cafe with local art work on display. He greeted us right away and sat us like family, making us feel completely at home and sharing his specials of the day. Specials included halibut tacos with choice of one side and lamb chops over field greens with sauteed mushroom salad and a balsamic drizzle.

I chose the lamb and Wayne picked me out a nice California Zinfandel to go with the dish. The chops were perfectly done and the fresh greens were peppery and stood up well to the meat and Zin. My co-worker had the fish tacos with a side of gorgonzola grits. The halibut was flaky and flavorful. The grits - gorgonzola lovers look out! These creamy grits were bursting with pungent, cheesey goodness.

Wayne sources as much of his produce locally as he can, visiting several Farmer's markets each weekend and hitting up F.M. 1410. He was an attentive, gracious host, and I love the fact that none of their plates match! If you find yourself near Grapevine - I recommend stopping by the eclectic Into the Glass.

Into the Glass

322 S. Main St. , Grapevine, Texas

Supper Clubs

I was curious if anyone had any interest in a local supper club concept for Slow Food Dallas. We always meet at restaurants but during the summer growing season I would think it would be better dining al fresco at say a member farm. I am just throwing out ideas but I have included some links to a few I found.

Here are a few ideas I pulled up from a quick Google search:

Food Creates Community from here in the DFW area
http://foodcreatescommunity.blogspot.com/

Dai Due from Austin
http://www.daidueaustin.com/index.php

Pick Your Own

I wanted to share the website below with everyone if they are in the mood to pick you own this year. The listings are by county (surrounding DFW) and include what is available. I would highly suggest you call the farm to get directions and to see what is in season before you head out. Also I make to claims to the accuracy of the information (i.e. phone numbers)

http://www.pickyourown.org/TXdallas.htm

This coupled with several Slow Food Dallas member farms would make a generous list of local farms.

Cristiana Ginatta of Pacuigo Gelato Teaches 5th graders about the Taste and Science behind Gelato Making

Slow Foods Member Cristiana Ginatta shared her passion and science secrets for perfect gelato making with the kids from Travis Elementary at the American Institute of Wine and Foods Days of Taste Program at the Dallas Farmer's Market. Click here for a peek at what they learned!

Thank you to Cristiana and all of the Slow Food Members who participated in another successful Days of Taste Event!