just food – Page 2 – Not Eating Out in New York

17 Nov 2009

See “Hungry Filmmakers” December 15

For many folks, the kitchen is a creative outlet for expressing one’s belief in healthy, more sustainably grown food for all. For others, it might be the field, where they grow and harvest. Other movers and shakers in the food movement, as it were, publish books and articles, teach, or lecture the masses. But on December 15th, 2009, we’re celebrating a handful of filmmakers, whose documentary films vividly illustrate their unique and thought-provoking messages on many of today’s urgent food issues.

16 Sep 2009

Let Us Eat Local, at Home!

by Cathy Erway | posted in: NYC Events, Ruminations | 5

A couple weeks ago, I asked food bloggers to participate in Just Food‘s annual fundraiser party, Let Us Eat Local, by hitting their kitchens at home. The event, which takes place tonight at Prince George Ballroom, will feature small plates from many of the city’s most renowned restaurants, like Blue Hill, Gramercy Tavern and Jean-Georges. In celebration of Just Food’s mission, each restaurant was asked to present courses that showed off the local and seasonal harvest. But before they unveil … Read More

29 Jul 2009

How to Cope with “CSA Stress”

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Ruminations | 32

Since so many of us have joined the frays of small farm supporting by becoming new members of CSAs, I’ve noticed a particular syndrome going around this summer. The symptoms? Staying in to eat lettuce heads that have piled up in the crisper over some weeks, extreme guilt about going out to eat when there’s tons of food at home; passing up plans to make the weekly pick-up day and time, or feeling the need to schedule vacations around your … Read More

8 Jul 2009

Urban Chicken Raising 101

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Demos & Workshops, NYC Events | 12

Two weekends ago, I woke up early to tend to the hens. Okay, so they were not my own; and I only got up early because I had to get to the Bronx, where a chicken raising workshop was held. Part of the Edible Garden educational series by the New York Botanical Gardens that was sponsored by Just Food, it was a beginner-level crash course in keeping America’s favorite poultry for companionship, eggs, and more benefits which I’ll get into … Read More

25 May 2009

The Risotto Challenge ’09

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Cook-Offs, My Events, NYC Events, Recipes | 15

How to say… thanks? For coming out to serve delicious, unique and inspired food, for eating and enjoying the fruits of everyone’s labor, for lending your discerning criticism of said dishes as an audience member or one of the expert judges, for donating your money to Just Food, and for essentially making Karol and myself’s dream come true. From the bottom of our butter-clogged hearts, thanks to all for Risotto Challenging it up yesterday at Jimmy’s No. 43. Especially to … Read More

20 May 2009

A Risotto Challenge Sneak Preview

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Cook-Offs, NYC Events | 2

Last Tuesday’s Dining section in the New York Times said it all: “Cook-off mania has taken hold in New York,” Steven Stern wrote in the article that many have written to congratulate me on being mentioned in. Thanks so much! A “sizzle of triumph,” indeed! And judging from the proliferation of amateur bake-offs, pork-offs, guac-offs, tofu-offs and other organized food fights lately, the statement couldn’t be more true. For a while there, I’d thought cook-off mania had only taken hold … Read More

10 May 2009

A CSA Trip to Sang Lee Farms

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Farms, Ruminations | 10

Imagine walking into the office of an industrial agriculture giant, the kind that produces 99% of the food we eat, and saying, “Hey, I’m really interested in learning more about agriculture. Could you tell me a few things about what you do?” Would someone jump up from behind the counter and say, “Sure, let me show you around. Let me take out valuable time from my day, put you on a haystack as we drive around the premises and I’ll … Read More

6 Apr 2009

Enter the Risotto Challenge & Just Food Benefit

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Cook-Offs, Events, NYC Events, Recipes | 12

It’s here: the 2nd Annual Risotto Challenge! Last spring, eighteen contestants answered this call-to-cooking action with imaginative risottos seemingly spawned while on crack. (The ultimate winner? A citrusy, brown rice “Scarborough Fair” ordeal, named for its profusion of four singsong herbs.) And since there’s never an end to variations on the delicious dish, co-host Karol Lu and I are giving the cook-off another spin — or stir. This time, the event will benefit Just Food, New York City’s local and … Read More

3 Mar 2009

It’s CSA Signing-Up Time!

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Ruminations | 17

Though it may not look like it after yesterday’s snowstorm, spring is right around the corner. And, more local produce is just a few weeks from sprouting through the soil. If you want to experience the seasonal harvest from an intimate perspective (i.e. eat peas in June, blueberries in July), then a great way to do so if you don’t have your own garden is to join a CSA. What’s that? Community Supported Agriculture, essentially buying a share of a … Read More

4 Feb 2009

Beards for Food

by Cathy Erway | posted in: Events, NYC Events | 4

I don’t really know where to start with this one. But I will say that the weirdest, funniest, most random things usually happen at cook-offs. I was sitting behind my cast-iron pot of beans at the Cassoulet Cook-Off a few weeks back, when a fellow approached me and introduced himself as Vince, a member of Bearduary. He’d seen my scribblings on this blog and elsewhere, and in particular, one trifling rumination I wrote about how I can never seem to … Read More