Kansas City Food Circle Blog

KCFC's EAT LOCAL & ORGANIC Expo season starts SATURDAY 3/30/2013 @ 9am

KCFC’s 15th Annual Exhibition of Farmers 2013

Hungry for the green of spring? Kick off the farmers market season at the KC Food Circle’s Annual Eat Local (& Organic!) Expos –

- at the Shawnee Civic Center on March 30 and the Penn Valley Community College Gym on April 6.

Meet and buy direct from local, organic, and free-range farmers and vendors. Snatch up early seedlings, fresh greens, free-range meat and eggs and get our free Directory of local, organic, and free range producers. You can also get info on farmers market and CSAs.

This year we are offering two free workshops:

”Real Food Your Kids Will Love”
by local cookbook author Beth Bader,
and
”Small Scale Aquaponics” by Urban Harvest KC

Some farmers can accept credit cards and checks, but cash is preferred. There are several ATM’s just south of the Civic Centre on Shawnee Mission Parkway, and also just east of MCC Penn Valley on Main Street.

Admission and parking are free. Families are welcome!

RAIN, SNOW or SHINE, these EXPOs will be FINE!

Two Saturdays

March 30, 2013 * (9:00 am – 2:00 pm)

- in Shawnee, Kansas

Shawnee Civic Centre
13817 Johnson Drive
Shawnee, KS 66216

April 6, 2013 * (9:30 am – 2:30 pm)

- in Kansas City, MO

MCC Penn Valley -Gymnasium
3201 SW Trafficway
Kansas City, MO 64111
(between SW Trafficway and Broadway)

Can you put up a few flyers to help us spread the word?
Email Jenni (a) kcfoodcircle.org.

There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available both before and during the Expos.
Email Jenni (a) kcfoodcircle.org for details.

Would you or your company like to help sponsor the Expos?
Contact emily (a) kcfoodcircle.org to explore the benefits of sponsorship.

Help us spread the word in Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/KCFoodCircle/events

Story Featured Eat Local (& Organic!) Dining Card Restaurant

The Eat Local (and Organic!) Dining Card entitles members of the Kansas City Food Circle to a one-time 10% discount at some of the best sustainably sourcing restaurants in the Kansas City Area. They were invited to join our program because of their public commitment to sourcing ingredients from local, organic, free-range farmers. We meet with them several times throughout the year for updates to their list of farmers.

To become a member, click here.

This week's featured Restaurant is Story.

3931 W. 69th Terrace

Prairie Village, KS 66208

913.236.9955

Story is an elegant, upscale neighborhood restaurant serving fresh, local, seasonal creative American cuisine with Spanish, French and Italian influences. Story's sleek, modern decor features a 66 seat dining room, bar area and a large patio. Story serves dinner Tuesday - Sunday, lunch Wednesday - Saturday and Sunday brunch. Story is located in The Village Shopping Center in Prairie Village, Kansas, just 10 minutes southwest of Kansas City, Missouri's Country Club Plaza.

Story opened in May 2011 and has won a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and was named to OpenTable's list of top 100 American fare restaurants in the United States. Chef Carl Thorne-Thomsen is the chef/proprietor and recently won Top Honors in the 2013 Food and Wine magazine's Best New Chef - Midwest competition.

and our group page in Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/groups/EAT.LOCAL.ORGANIC.KCFOODCIRCLE

~~~

March is National Nutrition Month.
Wanna do something local about it?

Attend KC Food Circle's 15th Annual Exhibition of Farmers, our EAT LOCAL and ORGANIC! Expos kick off the local+LOCAL Organic and
Free-Range growing/EATING season
on SATURDAY March 30th at Shawnee (KS) Civic Center.

ROUND TWO is SATURDAY April 6th at the MCC Penn Valley Gymnasium (KCMO). Check out our EXPO PAGE for details...
www.kcfoodcircle.org/food-news/events/eat-local-expo/

FUN and WORK DAYS at Perma-Commons Community Garden (Lawrence, KS)

*PERMA-COMMONS COMMUNITY GARDEN*

* FUN *and* WORK * DAYS*

Friday, *29 March 2013*, 4:00pm-dark
Sunday, *31 March 2013*, 11:00am-5:00pm
1304 Pennsylvania St., Lawrence KS 66044

Starting this coming weekend, *and every weekend through Spring*, members of the PermaCommons Garden will be adding more perennial and annual food crops to the garden. Future plans include building a tool shed, a compost bin area, a gazebo, and installing rainwater tanks.

This community garden is intended as *a learning laboratory **for neighbors and others to learn about permaculture* and how to grow their own food. Volunteers don't need to know about gardening or permaculture, and *everyone is welcome at the fun-work days*. Basic tools are provided, but bring a shovel, hammer, gloves, and boots would be a good idea too.

If you want to join the ongoing effort *either as a paying member or as a non-paying novice*, there still are some openings. The PermaCommons is a collective effort, and we all will share our knowledge, skills, and the food we grow!

To join, contact the Garden Manager, Steve at
moringse (a) gmail . com

The garden is sponsored by Sustainability Action Network and the Kansas Permaculture Collaborative, a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit local organization
- http://www.sustainabilityaction.net/

View Larger Map

Starker's Restaurant- Featured Eat Local (& Organic!) Dining Card Restaurant

To become a member, click here.

This week's featured Restaurant is Starkers Restaurant

201 W 47th St Kansas City, MO 64112

(816) 753-3565

Starker’s Restaurant features an ingredient-driven locally sourced menu that changes seasonally. We also maintain a classic menu that rotates through a selection of favorites from over the years.

and our group page in Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/groups/EAT.LOCAL.ORGANIC.KCFOODCIRCLE

~~~~~

March is National Nutrition Month.
Wanna do something local about it?

SMOKIN' FRESH STREETSIDE BBQ - Featured Eat Local (& Organic! Dining Card Restaurant

To become a member, click here.

This week's featured Restaurant is Smokin' Fresh Streetside BBQ

Smokin' Fresh is Kansas City's only organic barbecue. We buy organic and all-natural first and try to get as much of it locally as possible.

It is part of our mission statement to support local organic farmers and local small businesses so as to support our local economy. Buying local also makes us more environmentally friendly by creating less demand for products transported into the area. When sourcing meat, we look for traditionally-raised (free-range, grass-fed), hormone-free meat that has been raised without prophlylactic use of antibiotics. When sourcing produce, we look for non-gmo produce that is grown using traditional and organic methods (though not necessarily certified organic) without pesticides. We support farmers who use sustainable methods and don't pollute water and earth.

As an all-natural and organic mobile café, Smokin’ Fresh Streetside BBQ offers 4 to 5 select items from our full menu on any given day. We post our menu of the day and locations on Facebook and Twitter.

Because we use organic ingredients, our menu selections will necessarily change with the seasonal produce available to us.

See also: www.kcfoodcircle.org/restaurants

and our group page in Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/groups/EAT.LOCAL.ORGANIC.KCFOODCIRCLE

~~~~~

March is National Nutrition Month.
Wanna do something local about it?

Weekly Roundup (not punny at all) from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)

Welcome to the
NSAC Weekly Roundup!

To access the full articles simply click on the title and you'll be taken to the specific post page.

In this Week's Roundup...

ACTION ALERT

Agribusiness doesn’t speak for me.

Dear Supporter,
The meat industry has worked tirelessly to drive independent producers out of business. Agribusiness giants like Monsanto want to overstep judicial processes and plant genetically engineered crops even if a court has ruled that the crops were approved illegally.
Read more and take action here...

CONGRESSIONAL NEWS

House and Senate Debate 2013 Farm Funding Levels

Late on Monday, March 11, the Senate released appropriations legislation to keep the government running through the remainder of fiscal year 2013. Recall that the House passed its own FY 2013 legislation last week. Read more...

Budget Blueprints Outline Radically Different Paths for New Farm Bill

This week, both the House Budget Committee and the Senate Budget Committee released their respective budget resolutions for fiscal year (FY) 2014. A budget resolution is a non-binding document that outlines a framework for budgeting decisions in the next fiscal year. Normally, the House and the Senate consider budget resolutions after the President has submitted his budget proposal for that fiscal year. This year, the President has delayed the release of his budget proposal due to issues of budget sequestration. Read more...

USDA NEWS

Deputy Secretary Merrigan Resigns

In a statement released yesterday, USDA Deputy Secretary Merrigan announced her resignation. She will be leaving USDA in May.

In her statement, Deputy Secretary Merrigan said, “It has been an ambitious first term. From implementing the 2008 farm bill, improving school meals, expanding opportunities for American farmers, spending countless hours in the White House situation room, to shepherding USDA budgets through challenging times, it has been an honor to play a small part in history. Read more...

OTHER NEWS

Comment on FDA Plan for Human Drugs Used in Food Animal Production

For many years, the Keep Antibiotics Working Campaign – a coalition of health, consumer, agricultural, environmental, humane, and other advocacy groups — has worked to eliminate the inappropriate use of antimicrobials, including antibiotics, in food animals. This use has been flagged as a major cause of resistance in numerous pathogens to antibiotics that are important in the treatment of disease in humans. Read more...

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2. Sign up to receive the blog posts in your email inbox. If you prefer to receive the blog posts in your email inbox, click here. When we add new content to the blog, you will receive it as an email.

You have received this email because someone who is always wondering "WHAT THE FOOD" has decided to share it with a broader audience - if you want, see the links just above to subscribe to NSAC's email list.

~~~~~

March is National Nutrition Month.
Wanna do something local about it?

Brookside Farmers' Market - Planting the Seeds for a Stellar 2013 Season!

Opening Day is just around the corner! And we're working hard to bring you the highest quality, organic products in 2013. But until April 20, a day not only to celebrate our earth, but to celebrate the harvest, come see us at these upcoming community events:

Planting the Seeds for a
Stellar 2013 Season!

Saturday, March 16
2013 Brookside 33rd Annual St. Patrick's Warm-Up Parade

We invite you to join us on our St. Patrick's Day "float." Come ride, walk, scoot, bike or stroll with us!
Feeling festive? Dress up like a leprechaun. A farmer. Farm animal. Vegetable. All in green! However you join us in whatever you're wearing, we'd love to have you!
We are Entry # 34 out of 115 in the parade. Our place in the line-up is on Linden Road near the intersection of W 66th Terr. Look for the shiny red Ford F150 pick-up truck pulling a black trailer with hay bales in it. Arrive between 1:15 -1:30 p.m. Parking is on the side streets. RSVP here: http://www.facebook.com/events/140290899472912/

Start Time: 2:00 p.m.
*We suggest arriving at 1:15 p.m. due to parking and street closures
Theme: Lucky 13
The Parade Route:
Start at 65th and Wornall
North on Wornall to 63rd St.
East on 63rd St to Main
South on Main St. to Meyer Blvd.
West on Meyer Blvd. to Brookside Rd.

KC Food Circle 2013 Food Expo

To kick off the Eat Local and Organic season, we'll be at KC Food Circle's 15th Annual Exhibition of Farmers on March 30 in Shawnee, Kansas and April 6 in Kansas City, Missouri.

We'd love to see your smiling faces, so stop by the market booth or visit many of your favorite Brookside Farmers' Market vendors at this year's Eat Local Food Expo. At each expo you can:
* Meet and buy direct from local, organic, and free-range farmers and vendors.
* Learn the latest about seasonal food in free workshops.
* Snatch up early seedlings, fresh greens, free-range meat and eggs and get a free 2013 Directory of local, organic, and free range producers.
* Get farmers market and CSA information.

Saturday, March 30
Shawnee Civic Center
9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Details/Directions: www.kcfoodcircle.org/eat-local-expo/

Saturday, April 6
MCC-Penn Valley (Phys Ed./Gymnasium)
9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Details/Directions: www.kcfoodcircle.org/eat-local-expo/

Join us for real food, good fun and all the love you feel at Brookside Farmers’ Market as we continue to grow the organic movement!

www.brooksidefarmersmarket.com/

~~~~~

March is National Nutrition Month.
Wanna do something local about it?

Attend KC Food Circle's 15th Annual Exhibition of Farmers, our EAT LOCAL & ORGANIC! Expos kick off the local+LOCAL Organic and Free-Range growing/EATING season on SATURDAY March 30th at Shawnee (KS) Civic Center.

ROUND TWO is SATURDAY April 6th at the MCC Penn Valley Gymnasium (KCMO). Check out our EXPO PAGE for maps and details...
www.kcfoodcircle.org/food-news/events/eat-local-expo/

VOTE for Chef Thorne-Thompsen in The People's Best New Chef Competition

Chef Thorne-Thomsen is nominated for FOOD & WINE magazine's The People's Best New Chef.

Winner gets a feature in FOOD & WINE.
Voting ends March 18.
Voting link here: www.foodandwine.com/peoples-best-new-chef/midwest

Carl is also a James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef Midwest.
Finalists will be announced March 18th.

EXCERPT from www.foodandwine.com/peoples-best-new-chef/midwest

The People’s Best New Chef: Carl Thorne-Thomsen

RESTAURANT Story
(Read a review)

LOCATION Prairie Village, KS

WHY HE’S AMAZING Because he’s turning out incredible European-inspired dishes in a shopping center in suburban Kansas.

CULINARY SCHOOL Self-taught

BACKGROUND 40 Sardines (Overland Park, KS); Michael Smith Restaurant, Extra Virgin (Kansas City, MO)

QUINTESSENTIAL DISH Lamb crepinette (lamb-tenderloin-and-sausage roulade) with cauliflower couscous

FORMER CAREER Writer: “Short stories, novels, plays, lots of fiction.”

HOW HE GOT INTO THE FOOD INDUSTRY “There wasn’t any kind of light switch. I gradually became interested in food. My first job was in a gourmet food store/café/coffee bar and we did lunches. I was introduced to that shop because I bought ingredients there. I had a dream of opening [my own] simple little restaurant, and the dream never went away.”

SECRET INDULGENCE
“Kettle Chips. The plain one in the brown wrapper.”

STORY - a KCFC Featured Restaurant
found on the KC Food Circle's Dining Card
http://www.kcfoodcircle.org/restaurants/diners-card/

~~~~~

March is National Nutrition Month.
Wanna do something local about it?

Room 39- Featured Eat Local (& Organic!) Dining Card Restaurant

To become a member, click here.

This week's featured Restaurant is Room 39-Seasonal American Food.

In November 2004, Andrew Sloan and Ted Habiger opened their first restaurant, Room 39. Three years later a second location in Leawood, Kansas was born. Combining seasonal ingredients and exceptional value with a warm atmosphere and friendly service, Room 39 has become a fixture in Kansas City for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Breakfast and lunch are casual affairs with a dining room of beautifully handcrafted tables and simple yet elegant food such as our steak and eggs benedict, fresh pasta, and our popular half-pound burger.

Dinners are more elegant but still a great value with white tablecloths, an award-winning wine list and a $39 tasting menu that changes daily using our farmer-driven produce and meat. The chefs of Room 39 believe the best tasting food comes from local farmers who use sustainable harvesting and growing practices ensuring the land is better off than before.

and our group page in Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/groups/EAT.LOCAL.ORGANIC.KCFOODCIRCLE

~~~~~

March is National Nutrition Month.
Wanna do something local about it?

KCFC’s 15th Annual Exhibition of Farmers 2013

RAIN, SNOW or SHINE, these EXPOs will be FINE!

Two Saturdays

Welcome to the NSAC Weekly Roundup!

Planting the Seeds for a Stellar 2013 Season!

Welcome to the
NSAC Weekly Roundup!

Planting the Seeds for a
Stellar 2013 Season!