Are You Connected With Your Food?

D.C. “Fete Select TV” Crenshaw, NBC5 Street Team

We’ve heard and seen it several times this year.  A food recall that caused unwelcoming health problems and a major scare amongst consumers from around the world.  There was spinach, beef, tomatoes, jalapenos, mussels, tuna salad and even popcorn that hit the news wire at some point.  It’s great when the FDA finds the source of an E. coli breakout, but it’s very hard to a pinpoint the food origin.

Worry no more, well at least when you eat the cuisine catered by Cleetus Friedman of City Provisions.  Founder and Executive Chef, Cleetus lets his clients know exactly where their food comes from.  Therefore, he actually connects his customers to the food that they eat, by using local ingredients from local farms.  Imagine knowing the exact farm that your ham sandwich or tomato salad came from.  How great to have dinner at a farm that provides you with everything on your plate?  Everything is fresh, organic and good.  They have a suggested catering menu and specialize in custom menu planning.   

CleetusFriedman was recently selected as one of the Chicago Sun-Times 50 people changing Chicago.  He is definitely doing his part by using products that are easily recyclable or biodegradable.  City Provisions is doing everything possible to be Eco-Friendly.  They introduce a lot of their customers to their cuisine via Supper Club events.  I will partake in their five-course vegetarian Supper Club tonight where cuisine and beer, donated by Great Lakes Brewery, will be paired.  The theme is “Sustainability with Food and Drink” and their September 20th Supper Club theme is “The Farm Dinner” at Dietzler Farms.  For more information about reserving a spot at the table log onto www.cityprovisions.com.  City provisions is located at 1043 N. California Ave.

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Organic School Project Audio Interview with Greg Christian, Chicago’s Concious Caterer

Jim Grillo, NBC5 Street Team

It’s Simple. Just Press Play!

The Organic School Project (OSP) seeks to help School-aged children become more mindful eaters, one school at a time.

 

What’s mindful? Imagine students sitting down to a school lunch. Not just any lunch – but a meal students have a hand in planning and preparing, full of fresh fruits and vegetables that they even helped grow. Imagine students more connected to the food they eat, and making informed choices about what goes on their plate.

 

What makes OSP unique?

 

It is the only organization bringing together hands-on gardening, organic food preparation and meal service with health-related curriculum and scientific evaluation.

 

This combination of interactive programs is designed to engage children – along with their families, school staffs and communities – in growing, learning about, and preparing the food they eat.

 

A unique collaboration of educators, public and private-area gardens, farms, food retailers and suppliers, parents, community organizations, cooking professionals and health care professionals, OSP seeks to reconnect the Chicago community with their food source.

 

The 3 Components of OSP Programs

 

Grow — Master gardeners, farmers, and green organizations lend their expertise to participating school students and community members in custom designed school and community organic vegetable gardens.

 

Teach — This educational component teaches children, families, food service staff, teachers and community members about all aspects of the food they eat: from the connections between food and health, food sources and preparation, to nutritional value, flavor and enjoyment. OSP teaching teams include culinary, agriculture/farming, gardening and health care professionals.

 

Feed — OSP works with schools and food service vendors to provide organic and all-natural meal service to students, including locally sourced foods whenever possible. Under the direction of OSP and participating food service staff and teachers, ingredients grown in the school gardens are often used in meal preparation or in food-based demonstrations held in the classrooms.

 

Visit their website to learn more about the Organic School Project

 

I would love to hear your comments.  Feel free to click on the comments button below and provide a comment on The Organic School Project interview.

 

Thanks for listening

Jim

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