More local food. We just happen to be coming across all the awesome informational events – and they all end in a FEAST!
This afternoon the UVa Food Collaborative organization hosted “What’s On Your Plate: A Public Forum on Local Food and the Media,” which I found out about through a new blog I subscribe to: Sustainable Dining At UVA. The event was a panel of food writers and thinkers: Marian Burros, food columnist, New York Times; Tom Philpott, food editor, Grist.org; and James McWilliams, author, Just Food: Where Locavores Get it Wrong and How We Can Truly Eat Responsibly.
It was held within walking distance of our house in the new LEED-certified Jefferson Scholars Foundation building, which was gorgeous:
Faith, Matt and I walked over together.
I was pretty hungry and ate this from the Vegetarian Festival swag from a few weekends ago. It was just OK. REALLY sticky and hard to eat. And didn’t do much for my hunger.
The panel was very interesting, but I wish it had been a bit more about local food and a bit less about the technical details of industrial farming. While those are details that are very important (and details I have read about), the parts of the panel that were actually about food in the media were much more up my alley. The most striking part of the talk was when one of the panelist said (and the others agreed) that the Food Network these days does not inspire people to cook.
While that may be true of Top Chef or some of those eating competition shows, I still watch Barefoot Contessa, Good Eats or Rachel Ray wanting to make what they just made! And I think the network has probably helped many people get more comfortable in the kitchen. It certainly helped me. Perhaps our panel was a bit too old to understand today’s younger generation’s learning style? Or perhaps the Food Network needs a show by a relatable real young person!! Wink wink 😉
I had no idea until we got there that there was a RECEPTION!! Free dinner!!!!
The food was provided by UVA dining and some other sponsors and was sourced locally.
There was a spread of cheeses and crackers plus mini sweet potato pies, chicken skewers marinated in jam, local pork + apple skewers and bruschetta.
I honestly don’t know which of these plates were mine or Matt’s, but I had two heaping plates of cheeses, crackers and skewers – I was starving! I also absolutely LOVE those digestible cookie crackers!~
We also enjoyed sharing two glasses of wine. This was such a nicely done reception!
The foodie discussion continued over our meal
Then we walked home
I probably would have been fine without anything else to eat, but Matt started in on half of our planned dinner. We were supposed to have whole wheat pasta with tofu, tomato, arugula, mushroom and eggplant.
Instead we just had the veggies (minus the big eggplant)
Sauteed up with a dollop of the last of our sour cream
And I finished the night with a chocolate Hail Merry Macaroon – my last! These were amazing. Like truffles!
GAH I have YET to pack for this big trip, and we’re leaving first thing in the morning. But you know, packing is always so hard for me because I want to try on clothes and because I carry a TON of blogging equipment, but I think I’m just going to make this trip easy on myself and throw some clothes in a bag and be done with it!
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin says
Wow a suprise free dinner is the best discovery ever! Looks incredible!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
I say throw everything in a bag… I overpack way too much and find that just throwing some clothes in a bag last minute is the way to go! Just remember the important stuff. 🙂
Exercise and Eat says
That looks like an absolutely lovely makeshift dinner! Yum!
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
You are attending so many cool events….with free food! I love digestives. Brings me back to my London days.
Kelly Michelle says
Packing is the bane of my existence
Erin says
Looks like a fun event–I love unexpected things like that, especially when it’s focused on such an interesting topic.
stacey-healthylife says
I also need to go pack for a trip this weekend. I’m not getting very far. What a great reception and fun event.
holly @ couchpotatoathlete says
Free dinner? Yes please!
I find that really interesting about Food Network — but I agree at some point. Shows like the cake challenges don’t inspire me to cook — that is not something I would make. But I love to watch Rachael Ray, Paula Deen (buttah!!!), Bobby Flay, Iron Chef, etc. I turn off the tv thinking about making that food!
joceline says
Did James McWilliams say anything interesting? I read Just Food and it really made me think about sustainable farming/local food, especially where he says that just thinking about “food miles” might not be the most effective approach to cutting energy costs in food production. I still subscribe to local foods because of the better quality that you often get, and I like to support local businesses, but it made me pause!
Kath says
Yes, he was really interesting. I haven’t read the book, but I got the sense that thinks the romanticized local food movement isn’t realistic. He thinks we’ll end up somewhere in the middle because all the corn and soy isn’t going to just disappear. I am a very realistic person and I agreed with almost everything he said.
Lauren says
Sounds like a great event. Why don’t more of these things offer wine and cheese? If they advertised free wine and cheese at events like this, I’m so sure it would boost the attendance! 🙂
Dorry says
I’ve gotten better at not over-think my packing. Put everything in the bag that you definitely want to take then see what else you have room for! I took too many pairs of jeans on my last trip = HEAVY bag. And wear your heaviest shoes. 🙂
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
What a fun evening! I love learning about stuff like that!
I’m a horrible packer! I usually just over pack 🙂
Simply Life says
what a great event with a delicious dinner!
lauri (RedHeadRecipes.com) says
My Husband is LEED certified as of a couple of months ago 🙂 Looks like you guys stumbled upon a really cool event!!! I
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
That sounds like a very interesting event! I would have liked that one a lot! As for the food network, I actually agree with the group. I feel like they are more about the personalities than the food or teaching you about how to cook. The Cooking Network is a lot better about that. I still love The Barefoot Contessa!
Ally @ Girl in Her Kitchen says
I completely agree with your comment on Food Network! I love watching Barefoot Contessa, Rachel Ray, and Giada. On numerous occasions I have gone to the FN site to print off a recipe from a show I had just watched. In fact, that is on thing I really dislike about Top Chef. I think what they make truly is art but I would never try to make any of it at home. I prefer, simpler, rustic food.
BTW I would totally watch your show on Food Network! 😉
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
Woohooo!!! Free dinner!
Jamie @ Food in Real Life says
I’m a huge fan of those digestive biscuits too. Oh and I’m also a huge fan of the food network. At first I kind of took the comment personally (weird?) but then I thought about it, and I’m wondering if they are talking about all of the shows on Food Network being targeted towards using lots of shortcuts and cheap-o things in order to get something/anything on the table fast. Barefoot Contessa is the best, and she does inspire me. Giada too sometimes. But Sandra Lee? No way!
Tina says
Gotta love surprise meals! And good ones at that. 🙂
I’m so bad about procrastinating with packing. I hate packing.
Hannah says
Okay, when I was at UVA we never had ANYTHING that quality in the dining halls! Boo! 😛
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
agreed – those hail merry macaroons are amazing!
Laura (Blogging Over Thyme) says
That building is beautiful! I have friends that went to UVA and they never raved about their food–including the food in Charlottesville, of course. I know from past blog posts you’ve had Polyface chicken, how was it?!
Chelsea @ healthsea says
I’m SO GLAD to hear UVA’s food is so good! I went to a summer program there, and had some of the WORST FOOD EVER! I remember there food had the nutritional information printed by it (which, I guess, was pretty advanced– this was the summer of 2001!) and the biscuits they had at breakfast had 35% of your daily fat intake. IN A BISCUIT. Um, ew.
claire says
I wish I could attend events like that, sounds wonderful! Oh, and what a fun tasty dinner to come home to eat.
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
So many fabulous eats. And score for FREE fabulous eats! 😀 Looks like a great time!
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday says
I think there are plenty of relatable personalities on the food network that I love to watch. My favourites are definitely Riccardo and Friends, French Food at Home with Laura Calder (she makes food seem so sensual, yet so easy), and Chef at Home Michael Smith because he offers really great tips and reasons why things are done in the kitchen.
CathyK @ www.1970kikiproject.wordpress.com says
you could always ask matt to pack for you while you take care of just your blogging essentials! (?!)
i love the food network purely for entertainment value as i really don’t like cooking but like the shows and the various personaities.
have a great long weekend! it’s thanksgiving up here in canada so we get one, too! (well, monday)!
Rachael says
I’m a little disappointed that you would use Top Chef as a show that would be uninspiring to watch… It is one of the few shows on television these days where the chefs are actually talented and compete in a mature environment. Unlike Food Network competition shows such as Chopped. I would say the VAST majority of Food Network shows these days are horrible (i.e. Sandra Lee & Rachael Ray), though I absolutely love Ina Garten and Morimoto.
Kath says
I don’t mean that it’s not inspiring but just that it’s not a “watch while I assemble a meal from start to finish” simple-style show
Marieke says
I think both type of programmes are good (we have food network in the UK as well) I like cupcake wars, chopped etc but I get the best feeling by watching programmes like the Barefoot Contessa. Everything is portrayed so homely, I just want to make everything she makes.
Meg says
I think that point about the Food Network is very valid. Not to get too sociology here, but I think the media has a similar affect on a lot of things. Pro-sports, American Idol, and So You Think You Can Dance…fun to watch, but I don’t think they’re inspiring people to dance, sing, and play ball more in their own lives. I think they make people see how much less talented they are than the pros….and be even less inclined to do those things. Unfortunate. In the years before internet, tv, radio, if you wanted to hear music it was music made by you or someone you knew — not by a celebrity on a recording.
Cara Craves... says
I would support your bid for a Food Network show!
You could totally do it!
Lisa @bakebikeblog says
What a wonderful evening!
Kerry says
I feel like some people I know watch the Food Network and talk about how they want to cook the dishes, but don’t actually do it. I can’t figure out the gap. Time is one obstacle, and family food preferences may be another. Interesting topic!
Maggie @ Say Yes to Salad says
I love those crackers too – I think they are Carr’s?
Good luck packing 🙂 I usually try to stick to a backpack and bring as little as possible. I always have to bring the computer though. And yoga pants (not necessarily for yoga, but for lounging).
Connie says
You should apply for “The Next Food Network Star”
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
That sounds really interesting! But I completely agree with you about Foodnetwork.. I love it and it ALWAYS makes me want to make what they’re making!
Katie says
Wow, that never happens! Usually when I am super hungry, the food is all grease bombs, or something I am allergic to.
Have a great trip, and pack whatever. Throw it in. If you don’t have what you need, its an excuse to shop!
Camille says
What a wonderful spread! Looks like you had a great time!
Catherine says
I would watch your Food Network show 🙂
Jen says
Hi Kath, Top Chef is actually on Bravo – Iron Chef is on Food Network. I agree with you that the Food Network definitely inspires me to cook (and eat!). And you would be perfect for a cooking show! Is it something you would ever consider?
Amber K says
They never make anything that looks appetizing to me on the Food Network so it definitely doesn’t inspire me to cook anything! I’d much rather watch Unwrapped or Good Eats to learn new things than to actually try specific recipes.
foodnetworkhumor.com is more fun I think.
notyet100 says
enjoy,..
Nelle @ Living Cliche says
Free food, hooray! And I LOVE Good Eats. I don’t have cable anymore, and the only thing I miss is Food Network and Alton Brown. We own most of the early episodes on DVD, though, so it’s still there when I need it. I’m a vegetarian, but I’ll still watch his episodes about meat because I find the science of cooking/baking so fascinating. And there’s still usually something that’s applicable to me.
Hope says
Rachel Ray totally inspires me somedays -esp as she seems to love pasta almost as much as I do! In New Zealand our series is quite far behind though!
Wow, you totally suit the colour green! It is such a nice colour on you! My wardrobe is filled with black so I’m on a mission to bring more colour to my days!
Hands in Namaste says
Wow what a great [free] feast!!!
Sara @ myfancytuna.blogspot.com says
Wow, that dinner looks tasty! And I agree, cooking shows on Food Network definitely inspire me to cook!! Watching Everyday Italian was the reason I got interested in food in the first place!!!! Shows like Top Chef are cool, but I can’t relate to those guys at all, and I certainly can’t cook like them!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
I think Food Network needs to simply change the times of some of their shows. I know personally, I watch most tv after 8’ish at night. This means that I’m watching things like Bizarre Foods or something similair. It’s interesting to see different cultures, but it doesn’t show me how to *cook*, nor does it inspire me.
Rachael Ray, Paula Deen, Barefoot Contessa…they should be on after dinner so I can watch them. 😉
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
That talk sounds really interesting! I’m so excited that I now have some opportunities to go to things like that now that I’m in a nutrition major!
And I definitely agree with you about the Food Network. It always inspires me to get into the kitchen. 😀
whitney says
that’s so cool uva did that. I love seeing schools taking action in healthy and sustainable eating. My college was slowly moving towards that direction. Go UVA
CMae says
Packing in the fall is so much easier than packing in the summer! Black leggings, black/gray/camel tunic, daytime boots, nighttime flats…and a statement necklace. I have this down to a science!
Mariel says
http://www.marieclaire.com/print-this/health-fitness/news/articles/health-blogger-controversy?page=all
This is quite controversial. What is your view on this? I still LOVE your blog though..first I ever read!
Kath says
https://www.katheats.com/cheeseburger-in-paradise/
Melissa @ HerGreenLife says
One of the disconnects between watching cooking shows and actually cooking is that watching the shows takes up time that could be spent cooking. One major reason people don’t cook: they say they don’t have time, yet the average American watches something like 4 hours of t.v. a day. I really can’t grasp watching that much t.v. every day, but if I did it would certainly cut into the time I spend cooking and enjoying good food.
Claire @ Low Impact Fashionista says
Looks like I need to start attending more events like that!
Natalia - a side of simple says
You sure hit the jackpot! I love me some free food 😉
Megan (Braise The Roof) says
I think it’s really interesting about that consensus on the Food Network. I agree with you that the actual cooking shows that are on during the day are inspiring (actually, check out my blog- I made a Giada inspired recipe 2 nights ago!) but I’d agree with the panel if we’re talking about Food Network nighttime. The competition shows and the out-in-the-field shows (like Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) definitely don’t make me want to head into the kitchen. I wish they’d bring back more cooking shows at night!