The Fabulous Farm to Table Tour
I was thinking yesterday that everyone and his dog are jumping on the farm-to-table bandwagon. I'm not complaining about the concept, obviously, just the phrase.
Pretty soon to distinguish itself, a restaurant will have to offer only exotic foods using cooking techniques from other continents.
Then I got word of the Toyota Hybrid Farm to Table Tour, one of the stranger things to come out of the current fascination with local and seasonal. ...
I'm still not sure what it involves exactly, but basically big name local chefs will pair up with farmers at the market under the viaduct this Sunday, Oct. 4 from 8 a.m. to noon. Market-goers will get to taste the chefs' creations, made presumably from the ingredients at hand, and learn more about "how to buy and eat seasonally."
I'm not sure how you teach that.
You can also get potted culinary herb plant starts at the Mobile Garden Highlander Hybrid and enter for a chance to win a "unique culinary prize package."
And if you were wondering what the car company gets out of it, "Toyota will also provide interested market goers with the opportunity to take a ride in the 3rd Generation Prius or a 2009 Highlander Hybrid and take home a John Boos cutting board as a thank you gift." A sort of green car dealership experience.
I think it will be more fun and not as silly as I'm making it sound. But if you can't take ribbing, I say don't send me press releases.
And the list of guest chefs is impressive:
Jesse Sandlin of Abacrombie
Chris Paternotte of Taverna Corvino
Patrick Morrow of Ryleigh’s Oyster
Michael Costa of Pazo
Spike Gjerde of Woodberry Kitchen
Ben Troast of Regi’s American Bistro
Kiet Philavanh of Pizzazz Tuscan Grille
Sandy Lawler of Feast @ 4 East
Rashad Edwards of Meli Patisserie & Bistro
Brian Martin of Kali’s Court
Bill Crouse of Sotto Sopra
Jason Gehring, pastry chef of Cinghiale
As usual, I can't be there because I stay away from restaurant chefs as much as I can. And also I'll be in Chicago. But I would love to hear what it's like, so I'll try to remember to post a Tell Me on Sunday.
If I forget because of all the fun I'm having, please come back here and post a comment.
Comments
as far as bandwagons go, this is a pretty great one. and hopefully it is more than a passing phase. embracing eat local principals greatly reduces gas miles associated with food, funnels money away from the agrindustrial complex and offers the consumer a wider (and healthier) variety of foods (esp fruits and veggies). it does not require a change in lifestyle, either. at my home, we make several local meals a week and leave it there.
Posted by: adam | September 30, 2009 7:35 AM
A farm to table event sponsored by a Japanese car company. Why does an event like this need a corporate sponsor?
A very good question, and one I hope someone who is involved with it on this end will answer for us. EL
Posted by: Elite Elephant Lover | September 30, 2009 8:41 AM
Chicago, eh? That's only 90 miles down the road from me! Enjoy ... and by the time you're there they may be celebrating th Snagging of the 2016 Olympics.
Posted by: Piano Rob | September 30, 2009 11:00 AM
Speaking of farm to table, I would love to take place in one of these dinners held by Outstanding in the Field, who travel the country doing farm tours and dinners. How beautiful is that beach table? Table for 100!
Posted by: Dawn | September 30, 2009 1:11 PM
The event at the Farmer's Market sounds interesting, unfortunately, I will be shampooing carpets at my parents :( BTW EL, if you have time, make sure to try the Long Johns at Wolf's Bakery on 95th Street in Evergreen Park (just outside Chicago on the south side) and the Rainbow Cone on Western Avenue. On family trips to Chicago when I was child, these places were not be missed.
Posted by: chris | September 30, 2009 1:19 PM
EEL - my guess is that an event like this doesn't really NEED a corporate sponsor, but that it's something Toyota dreamed up to promote their cars to a specific audience.
The tour's been traveling to farmers' markets around the country, and I'm guessing they've gotten the cars in front of a lot of the people they'd hoped to reach - people already inclined to buy, influencers, etc.
Overall, it seems like a win-win to me. It's the right audience for Toyota, so they get some decent marketing/ press out of it. The farmers' markets get promotion, too, plus a donation from Toyota. And the people at the market get a chance to visit with local chefs.
Posted by: Kit Pollard | September 30, 2009 4:07 PM
Just heard that Jesse Sandlin is leaving Abacrombie.
Whoa. That's not surprising, but I wonder where she's going. I would be all over it, but I'm sitting at my desk at home thinking about getting a glass of wine while I write another post. They are always better when I do that. EL
Posted by: JackInEC | September 30, 2009 4:14 PM
I didn't know it at the time but my Grandparents were ahead of the curve in so many things. Since they had a farm, we ate seasonally by necessity. We made our own ketchup! We canned vegetables non stop for weeks. I'm happy to be able to pass these skills and habits on to my kids and friends.
Go Toyota, go.
Posted by: RubyLynda | September 30, 2009 4:21 PM
Why Toyota? Because EL can't, and If I tried the chefs would laugh in my face. But get a big company like Toyota, with an obvious Green tie-in, and its a match made in heaven.
Posted by: Retired in Elkridge | September 30, 2009 5:12 PM
Jesse Sandlin confirmed our reservation for Friday evening after I called Monday and left an email message. She called back to confirm next day, identifying herself just by her last name. I commented how much we were looking forward to dining there under the new regime, and she simply said thanks.
Posted by: Federal Hill Jim | September 30, 2009 5:38 PM
EL wrote ... thinking about getting a glass of wine while I write another post. They are always better when I do that.
Aha! I have to stop posting at 6 a.m.
Nope, just post now, too. EL
Posted by: Dahlink | September 30, 2009 5:39 PM
What a joke. All sellouts. Anyone who buys into this crap is a sellout as well. Baltimore has become so gentrified that it makes me sick.
Posted by: ASH | September 30, 2009 8:22 PM
ASH, I don't see any selling out in this at all. Because they have Toyota sponsering the event, I'm assuming is what you find fault with. Or the fact that these are all "class A" chefs?
I find nothing at all wrong with having an event that showcases the city, the city's finest restaurants or green living even if it is through a giant Japanese car company.
Posted by: Joyce W. | October 1, 2009 5:59 AM
Wow, Federal Hill Jim, you told Jesse that you were looking forward to dining there after she leaves? Wow, that's cold... and rather rude.
Posted by: JackInEC | October 1, 2009 10:05 AM
JackinEC:
Please go back and read my post. I never said I looked forward to dining at Abacrombie after she left. Quite the contrary.
Our conversation took place a couple of days before the posting that said she was leaving. If anything I was expressing some skepticism it was true.
Posted by: Federal Hill Jim | October 1, 2009 5:08 PM
Federal Hill Jim and JackinEC:
Perhaps JackinEC is unaware that Abercrombie changed hands ("the new regime"). I think that was about a year ago when Jerry Pellegrino acquired it. The Corks restaurant website has a reference to the abercrombine site. I'm sure Federal Hill Jim was not referring to Jesse leaving when he talked about the new regime.
Posted by: jjk | October 2, 2009 8:12 AM
My apologies, Federal Hill Jim. I misunderstood your post. I didn't realize you hadn't been there since Jesse took over the kitchen.
Posted by: JackInEC | October 2, 2009 9:28 AM