Virginia’s home-grown farming hero Joel Salatin rocked the big screen this summer, appearing in not one but two food blockbusters, Food Inc. and Fresh. Okay, maybe they weren’t blockbusters in the traditional sense of the word, but if you care about what’s on your plate, and where it comes from, they are required viewing. And if you’re in DC/Northern Virginia, you’ve got another chance to see a special screening of Fresh here in Alexandria with local food samples from our town’s best gourmet providers and a panel discussion with Joel Salatin himself. Here are the details, hope to see you there!

Alexandria Gets “Fresh” On October 20th, Flavor Magazine, a number of local businesses and Councilman Rob Krupicka will host a screening of the movie Fresh. The event will be held at the GW Masonic Memorial.

6-7PM is the “Sample Hour” where we’ll have local food samples from Kingsbury Chocolates, Grape + Bean, Cheesetique, Food Matters, Mom Made Foods, and more.

7-8:15 PM We’ll watch the movie

8:15 – 9:15 We’ll have a panel discussion with Joel Salatin, the owner of Polyface farm, Melissa Harris, the editor of Flavor magazine, Bernie Prince from Fresh Farm Markets, Dr. Ruby Lathon from PCRM, Tom Przystawik from Food Matters and Robert Wiedmaier of Brabo. Councilman Rob will be moderating the discussion. Please come and please invite others to come.

There is a voluntary contribution of $10 that will go to support the Alive Food Bank and to provide it with locally produced, fresh food.

Please RSVP so we can have enough food!  Send RSVP to:  white_tortoise1@msn.com

(Thanks to Jasmine at Knitting 40 Shades of Green for the tip!)

You know we love our local farms. And you know we love to visit them as often as we can. Now, we have not one but two Summer Solstice dinner parties providing an evening savoring the best of Virginia’s fields and vine under the stars. Preparing the dual feasts are Alexandria’s (the mid-Atlantic’s, really) best chefs, Cathal Armstrong of Restaurant Eve and Anthony Chittum of Vermilion. Armstrong will be cooking at “Gourmet Rappahannock,” coordinated by my friend Sylvie of the Rapphannock Cook, and located at Mount Vernon Farm in Sperryville. Chittum took part in the area’s first “Outstanding in the Field” last year, a traveling road show so to speak of festive dinners on the farm. He is on board for one of the organization’s three Virginia dinners this September, but fans won’t have to wait till then to experience the magic as he will be preparing a Summer Solstice Supper at our CSA farm, Potomac Vegetable Farms in Purcellville. Both dinners take place on Saturday, June 20th, so you’ll have to choose one of the two. Read on for details and reservation information.

Summer Solstice Supper with Chef Anthony Chittum:

Guests are invited to meet and mingle with the folks who farm this very land, including Ellen Polishuk of Potomac Vegetable Farms, Chip and Susan Planck of Wheatland Farms, Rob Moutoux Jr. of Moutoux Orchard, Barbara Lamborne of Greenstone Fields and Georgia O’ Neal and Zach Lester of Tree and Leaf Farm. A relaxed reception in the peach trees with music, horseshoes and hayrides will precede an unforgettable evening of exceptional food and wine outdoors on the farm.

Details: Tickets are $160 per person plus tax. Rain date scheduled for Saturday, June 27. Please visit vermilionrestaurant.com, call 703.447.1757 or e-mail cparker@neighborhoodrestaurantgroup.com for reservations and more information.

Gourmet Rappahannock with Chef Cathal Armstrong:

Lastly, you can meet Virginia’s godfather of sustainable farming Joel Salatin next Tuesday, May 26, at the DC premier of the documentary FRESH at the Avalon. There is a pre-film reception and star-studded panel following the screening. Hope to see you there!

Panel to follow screening:
Renee Catacalos (Moderator),Editor in Chief of Edible Chesapeake
Nora Pouillon, Chef, Nora Restaurant
Kathy Ozer, Executive Director, National Family Farm Coalition
Bernadine (Bernie) Prince, Founder, Co-Director and Treasurer/Secretary of the FRESHFARM Markets
Joel Salatin, Founder, Polyface Farms
Will Allen, Founder, Growing Power
Ana Joanes, Director & Producer of FRESH