FRESH, New Thinking on what we are eating.

As Sandi W. stated in her contribution to our blog, our field trip to see the film FRESH was highly illuminating!

Seven of us first dined at Andalu, a tapas restaurant on the corner of 16th Street and Guerrero in the City. We ordered the "Dine About Town" menu for $35 pp. The first part of the DAT menu was a glass of Prosecco, a sparkling white Italian wine that was fruity with a clean finish
FIRST COURSE
Ahi Taco
Baby Spinach Salad with warm Bacon Vinaigrette, Rocquefort and Candied Walnuts
Miso Glazed Sea Bass in Lettuce Cups with sweet Soy
Curly Polenta Fries with Spicy Tomato Vinaigrette
Cambazola Cheese Fondue with Fuji Apples and Asian Pears
Moroccan Lamb Cigars with Yogurt –mint Dipping Sauce
SECOND COURSE:
Roasted chicken Breast with Grilled Oyster Mushrooms, Asparagus, Fingerling Potatoes, Jus Natural
Coca-Cola Braised Spareribs with White Bean Salad
Grilled Eggplant Stuffed with Ricotta, Spinach & pinenuts, served with Caponata
Braised Lamb Cheeks on Parmesan Mashed Potatoes with a Rosemary Jus
Fresh Corn with Smoked Pimenton and Lime Queza Fresca
Grilled Asparagus with Truffled Pecorino
DESSERT
2 Fresh Donut Holes with Castillian Hot Cocoa

We did not choose a dish from each of these courses but had a taste of ALL of the dishes. I think our favorite was the fondue but they were all yummy. Bill brought a delicious bottle of Turley Zinfandel that was filled with bright cherry flavors, good acid balance and a perfect complement to the forward flavors of the dishes we tasted.

We let our server know that we had to be at the Victoria Theater by 7 and we were done by 6:45, giving us 15 minutes to walk to the theater, only 3 short blocks away.

The film, “FRESH, New Thinking on what we are eating” was the object of our field trip. While the theater seats weren’t very comfortable the film was worth the discomfort. FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.

Among several main characters, FRESH features urban farmer and activist, Will Allen, the recipient of MacArthur’s 2008 Genius Award; sustainable farmer and entrepreneur, Joel Salatin, made famous by Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma; and supermarket owner, David Ball, challenging our Wal-Mart dominated economy. (info from the website)
The film clarifies, at least for me, how the animals are not being fed nutritious food, how diseases are spread in their close-quartered feed lots and the 50+ chemicals they are being fed to ward off infections, bacteria and viral diseases…that, of course, end up in the meat or fowl that we eat.

I bought a copy of the film to share it with you. We won’t have the panel discussion afterwards that was so enlightening about what is being done in the Bay Area but I think the film speaks for itself. I will set a date to see who can come over. Maybe we can so a simple pot luck and then watch the film on our 52" plasma TV. Buttered popcorn will be provided!

If you are conscientious foodie, I encourage you to know what goes into the foods that you buy & prepare. To support the sustainable food movement, shop at farmer’s markets, markets that sell local produce, and ask restaurants where they get their food. I’ve noticed that some markets are labeling the sources of their fruits and vegetables as well as their meats, fish and fowl, so some people are paying attention.

Grow Local, Eat Local!