Sunday, August 31, 2008

Chez Panisse and Fast Food Nation




What a day!

We interviewed two of the top people in the slow food movement - Alice Waters of Chez Panisse fame and bestselling author of "Fast Food Nation", Eric Schlosser. Of course all this happens on the same day we are set to fly to Los Angeles, but what is a day without a little pressure?!

We met Eric at Fort Mason and listened as he spoke about his quest for information when researching "Fast Food Nation". He loved fast food, ate it often. It was only when he wrote a small article for Rolling Stone that he began learning more about its backwards environment - low wages, machines doing the work humans could do, supporting huge agribusinesses and most importantly, single handedly supporting the ill-protected slaughterhouse workers who literally work in 3rd world conditions to get us our $.59 burger that tastes the same every time. He was so moved, the small article turned into a bestselling book. Eric is an absolute wealth of knowledge and deserves all accolades he receives. He is gracious, HUGELY well-informed and very patient as I approached him no less than 6 times to schedule our meeting. I told him that I was beginning to feel like a buzzard surrounding my prey.

NOTE - not all fast food is horrible, there is one option left - In and Out Burger is the only sustainable fast food restaurant out there. Eric says it's the only place he will eat after writing the book. They are family owned, support smaller farms, pay their workers fair wages and after a crew taste-test on Wednesday, are definitely the best burger and fries out there!

Immediately after that great interview, we found the only side of the pier not decorated by the countless seagulls and put together a fancy little interview station for Alice Waters. This was a moment we had been waiting for. We had eaten at her restaurant in Berkeley a few days prior and it was so flavorful and literally melt in your mouth - halibut with heirloom tomatoes, shoestring potatoes and green beans with pluots and sweet mini grapes for dessert, all grown locally - that we were waiting to meet the goddess that created this meal which gave us the sustenance to carry on the rest of the time only on bags of nuts (read post below).

Alice is surprisingly calm given the fact that her handlers are moving her from venue to venue on a 15-minute basis. She is one of the founders of Slow Food USA and a proponent of bringing Edible Education into our nation's school system. She is hugely protective of children's rights to know what they are eating and to become better informed at a young age of the importance of food. She emphasizes the natural tastes in foods and bringing back a sense of community and fun to growing and preparing one's own food. Truly the magic behind the movement, we were absolutely honored for her to take the time to talk with us. And just as quickly as she came in, she was off - next thing I knew, she was onstage doing a cooking show. Red Bull may give you wings, but fresh, local produce makes you unstoppable like a freight-train. Thanks Alice!!

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Slow Food Nation Panels Abound




We have just spent all day yesterday and today sitting in on some of the most inspiring panels at Slow Food Nation. Layla and Naomi at SFN have made it so easy for us to check out all the conference has to offer. We are so overwhelmed by the amazing panelists that we are finding it hard to leave the theatre (except to grab a few cookies in the press room every now and then - may not be from local sources, but considering we have been living off of small bags of nuts for the past 48 hours, they are a welcome change).

Wendell Berry spoke about the importance of establishing a connection with our neighbors again. That we have become so isolated there really is a lack of helping and sharing with one another that we need to bring back. That really struck a cord with the crew as we have been impressed upon so greatly by the community discovered in our shooting this film. The connection people develop with one another when it comes to sharing experiences, recipes, and harvests has made an indelible effect on us. Berry spoke about the importance of rekindling connections to make an impact on our lives in this often disconnected world and that food is a great starting point.

Carlo Petrini, founder of the slow foods movement and Slow Food International, spoke about what he thinks could make the largest change in how we consume - start consuming just a little less every day. We buy so much and use/waste so much that is not needed. His suggestion to people is to quit hording so much stuff in our fridges and freezers and, instead, live and eat on a smaller scale. He spoke about all of the wonders we would find if we dove deeply into our freezers and made a gigantic meal for ourselves, our families and our neighbors with all of the food we gathered from months past. It's much like our little American time capsule, our fridges and freezers.

We also learned that the average meal has traveled over 15,000 miles just to make it to our plates. YIKES! We needed a visit to Lombard Street and Scoma's on Fisherman's Wharf to squelch all of the racing thoughts acquired from today's and yesterday's brain overload!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Arrived at Slow Food Nation


After arriving last night at Janie's comfortable cottage in Berkeley, we immediately began the plan of attack to get as much quality footage as possible in such little time. We are to be in San Francisco for a total of 4 nights and have a lot ahead of us. Today we visited the backyard of David Morris, owner of the Bread Garden Bakery, in Berkeley. He has a great chicken coup in his backyard. His main reason for having them is to eat all of his excess food waste from the bakery but then found that their manure has become a great addition to his glorious veggie and fruit garden. It was amazing to be in a very nice neighborhood with houses right next to one another and see how quiet and clean chickens can be. We are all inspired and our respective families might be surprised to find that one day when they walk out back that each of us has found the spare time to construct our own homemade coup. Fresh eggs, great fertilizer and 4 or 5 years down the road - great soup! Crazy fact I learned - did you know that baby chicks are actually sent to hatcheries and people via the Postal Service! Never complain about flying coach again!

After the chickens and a quick visit to David's bakery, we headed to TCHO, a chocolate factory located on Pier 17 in San Fran. John and Timothy taught us all about the importance of eating chocolate that is derived organically and from sustainable sources. This way the natives harvesting the cacao are paid fair wages for their work and the big US companies even come in and teach them cleaner and better harvesting techniques. I love me some Hershey bar, but now I will think twice!

The end of the day found us on the steps of San Francisco's City Hall for the signing of the Declaration for Healthy Food and Agriculture. There stood the real heroes of the slow food and sustainable movement, unified in standing up for our country's right to good, clean, fair food. It was a great start to the, sure to be inspiring, weekend. To sign the Declaration and read more about its purpose visit http://fooddeclaration.org/

Monday, August 25, 2008

Stone Soup Community Kitchen


Every now and then you find out an organization exists that takes the sentiment of a community and puts it into action. We have spoken to so many people who believe in the local food movement and are taking baby steps to spread the word, but Karyn Moskowitz and SteVon Edwards at the Community Farm Alliance (CFA) have worked with Rae Stroebel to develop the Stone Soup Community Kitchen which brings people of all races and economic backgrounds into one of Louisville's urban community buildings to learn to make all types of dishes with fresh, local food.

Beef from Barr Farms, chicken from Earth's promise and loads of veggies donated by St. Matthews Farmer's Market determined the recipes, but the hands of 50+ people made the true magic happen. The CFA educated the attendees on how they can use food stamps and WIC vouchers for good food instead of boxed, preservative-laced food from the grocery store.

Everyone becomes super enthused and kids get in on the action as they learn how easy it is to cook a homemade meal that is low-fat and tasty in just a short time. There was gazpacho, fajitas, a Greek barley dish, fresh melons, stuffed peppers with meatloaf and green beans. There was so much food donated that everyone got to take a little something home with them. CFA, the farmers and the community help make this monthly event happen!

Friday, August 22, 2008

Earth's Promise


A short distance from Louisville, KY sits Shelbyville - the home of Claudia Sanders' Restaurant, serving the KFC secret recipe friend chicken...

A few miles down the road from that tasty and genetically modified meal is Earth's Promise Farm. Sandy and Jason gave us a tour of their grounds today. They have free range chicken all over the place - literally! In one area the hens lay their succulent eggs high in beta carotene and omega-3s. There may be a fence around their large area, but trust you me after seeing those little girls go right under them and wherever they please, you learn quickly the soft fencing is not so much for them as it is for the naughty woodland creatures ready to feast on all of Sandy and Jason's hard work. The chickens get spray showers set up for them, can eat all types of weeds, foliage and organic feed that Jason so generously took a mouthful of just to show us how good for you it is!

These, seriously, look like happy chickens doing what they do best - eat and poop. This wonderful cycle gives the soil necessary nutrients back and then they can grow super-dooper veggies on that land next year. It's really when you get out on the farm that you see how cyclical the sustainable system really is. Chickens feed us, they also feed the land (where the poop comes into play), the land then grows the good, nutritious food and the cycle continues.

We are very proud to say that as hungry as we were when we left the farm, we decided to pass up White Castle (the first restaurant we saw after leaving) because even though we were craving chicken - odd I know - I figured that the chicken rings I love so dearly are really sacrilege compared to the beautiful, well cared for birds we saw today.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Salvation Army Garden of Hope



YUM!

Scott and I visited Chef Timothy Tucker at the Salvation Army Center of Hope today in downtown Louisville. They have a very special program where people who live in the shelter, are just coming out of incarceration, or live within the community but lack the job skills to get paid higher wages can join a certification program to learn how to heal themselves and the community by eating locally grown, freshly prepared foods.

Instead of the normal "where did this come from? Goulash" (as Chef Timothy puts it) that most shelters provide to its homeless residents, the Center of Hope has a goal of making people think twice about what they are putting into their body as they try to build themselves back up again by feeding them nutritious, local meals made by the students and volunteers.

As he was trying to teach his students a variety of cooking methods, Scott and I looked on, stomachs growling (which is actually the case in every day of filming - all we do is look at and hear about GOOD FOOD!), watching all of the budding chefs prepare Caesar salad, tomato and cucumber salad with a honey vinaigrette, zucchini bread, 2 different potato dishes and melon - all straight from the garden or local farmer! There were also brownies (that I ate 2 of, but I am not so sure the cocoa is from the Derby City so I was going to omit - if they weren't so sinfully delish).

These students were so well informed, excited and proud of what they were doing. We must also give them a big THANK YOU for looking over at the two of us salivating and offering us to partake in the delightful meal with them. A bright future ahead for all of them, not only did we leave feeling very inspired by the soon to be program graduates - we were also VERY full!

Sunday, August 17, 2008

St. Matthew's Farmer's Market

What a great morning!

After Scott had a grass-fed sausage biscuit from Dream Catcher Farms and I looked on, mouth watering, filming began. We met the KY Commissioner of Agriculture, Ritchie Farmer, learned all about free range eggs from Sandy, heard some great bluegrass music performed by kids and just all-around had a great time at Louisville's largest farmer's market.

It's amazing to us how many people are open to being a part of our film! We got some great interviews and ended the day loaded up with some of the best corn we've ever had.

Can I just comment that I personally know exactly what people are talking about when they say that fresh, local food is far better tasting than store-bought? If you ever have a chance to buy or grow Sun Gold tomoatoes, you will know exactly what we are talking about!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Welcome to our Blog!

Greetings from the farm!

Pictured next to this post is our beautiful garden growing away on the farm. We began filming "Down to Earth" 2 months ago and have had so many wonderful experiences that we feel need to be documented.

Scott Shuffitt is the Director extraordinaire, I, Soozie Eastman, am the Producer and Steve Paradis is the muse and brainchild of the whole outfit.

We are creating this film to heighten awareness of how one person living more sustainably by supporting the local food movement can greatly effect their relationship with themselves (health and nutrition), the community (all of the great people involved in supplying, growing and buying local) and the earth (less fossil fuels used for shipping fruits & veggies and less chemicals too). We want to welcome everyone to the table - grow your own, go to a farmer's market, buy a share at a CSA or just buy local at a health food store. It's really a change for the better that is available to everyone no matter where you live.

We want to thank the community, our friends and our families for all of their support, encouragement and constant flow of information that keeps us nourished and excited to bring this bounty of information your way Spring 2009.