fbpx

ECI Awarded Snail of Approval

The Ecological Culture Initiative, Hampton Bays was awarded a very well-deserved Snail of Approval award by Slow Food East End. 

The mission of ECI is to advocate and educate the community in sustainable food production, wellness, and environmental stewardship. They do this through numerous programs including a garden, donating proceeds to St. Rosalies, a seed library at the Hampton Bays library, and a zero waste and composting program to name a few.

In recognition of their work and alignment with the Slow Food values of good, clean, and fair food for all, the Ecological Culture Initiative: ECI was presented with a Snail of Approval Award at Earth Day on April 22nd, 2023, an event they hosted and co-sponsored with SFEE. (link earth day blog here )

Accepting the award was Sr. Kerry Handal, a sister of St. Josephs for over 4 decades who advocated for ECI to establish the gardens and beehives there and works to focus attention on LI’s sustainability issues and solutions.  Also accepting was Tony Romano who has led many ECI initiatives such as a successful community composting program which is a model he is hoping can be widely shared and implemented in other Long Island communities.

Snail of Approval Awards has long been a tradition for Slow Food, an international organization in over 160 countries.  Snail Awards have typically been awarded to restaurants but Slow Food East End, the largest USA chapter has also decided to award local farms too.   Our eco and biosystem depends on local farms that tend healthy soils, they are the source of our best foods.  Snail Award winners must be businesses that are structured on principles that Slow Food believes are essential to receive recognition and honor the values of good, clean, and fair food for all.  

To learn more visit them at 5793 Sound Ave, Riverhead, NY, United States, New York

ECI joins Ty Llwyd Farms Riverhead, Sang Lee Farms, Peconic; Green Thumb, Watermill; Deep Roots, Southold; Jamesport Farmstead, Jamesport; Amber waves, Amagansett; 8 hands farm, Cutchogue and Quail Hill Farm, Amagansett, as local East End farms having earned the Snail of Approval.

Visit our Snail of Approval page for more information on local restaurants, farms, and food producers who meet these standards and have previously been awarded our coveted Snail of Approval. 

Long Island Wine Country Turns 50 this year!

For those lucky enough to call the East End home, there is a lot to celebrate this year! It’s hard to believe it’s been 50 years since Louisa and Alex Hargrave first planted a commercial vineyard in Cutchogue.   With the realization that our unique climate and fertile soils were ideally suited for winemaking, pioneering investors, grape-growers, and winemakers with a wide range of experience from around the world followed the Hargraves lead.  

Over the last several decades the Long Island Wine Country has seen dramatic and exciting growth for producers and lovers of wine.  Today Long Island boasts over 60 distinct wine producers and 3500 acres of cultivated grapevines between the maritime regions of North Fork, South Fork, and western Suffolk County. 

If you want to join the celebration please join Slow Food East End and other fans of our distinguished wineries at Peconic Bay Vineyards on August 19th for the 50th Anniversary Grand Celebration.  You’ll enjoy tasting wines from over 35 local wineries paired with delectable bites from over 20 top local culinary talents. We have our tickets, be sure to order yours soon! 

From a sparkling wine made from pinot noir and chardonnay, a sparkling brut rosé to an elegant dry rosé, or white wines from sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, chenin blanc,  pinot gris, riesling, or Gewürztraminer, and award-winning, nationally recognized red wines such as merlot and cabernet franc among others, Long Island has a wine for every palate. At the 50th Anniversary, wine lovers will experience the unique and captivating flavors of Long Island wines, crafted with care and passion by local winemakers, and savor a taste of the vibrant wine culture that thrives in this dynamic maritime region.

Slow Food East End believes that sustainable practices help protect our ecosystem and is critical for the future of our land and our health. So we congratulate all the winemakers who have devoted their careers to developing wineries that abide by these practices.

We are proud that Long Island Wine Country has been a sponsor and supporter of  Slow Food East End this year.  We especially thank As If Wines, Chronicle Wines,  Saltbird, Brooklyn Oenology,  Lieb Cellars, Macari Vineyards, Pellegrini Vineyards, Rose Hill Winery, SuhRu Wines, Sparkling Pointe Vineyards & Wolffer Estate Vineyard.

Delighted to share some fun facts about our local winery history…. 

  • Pindar Vineyards, founded in 1979, is Long Island’s largest vineyard
  • Premium Wine Group, a full-service custom crush and winemaking facility, opened in 2000 in Mattituck, NY. The first custom crush winery on the East Coast of the US.
  • In 2006 Osprey’s Dominion was awarded the coveted Jefferson Cup from the Atlantic Seaboard competition.
  • In 2010 Shinn Estates, now known as Rose Hill Vineyards, became the first East Coast winery to be solely powered by alternative energy.
  • In 2010 McCall Wines became Long Island’s first wind-powered farm.
  • In 2012 Long Island Sustainable Winegrowers was founded. LISW encourages consumers to learn more about the details and discover how deep sustainable growing practices have taken root on Long Island. Green wine and eco-savvy consumers have yet another choice they can make – one that supports their local economy, the land and people that create their favorite wines. It’s an entirely new way to look at Long Island wine.
  • In 2013 Channing Daughters Winery Petillant Naturel program began, producing the first Methode Ancestral wines on Long Island.
  • In 2014 Wolffer Estate’s launches Summer in a Bottle Rosé, which quickly gained National and Global recognition.
  • In 2016 Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate awards Wolffer Estate Christian’s Cuvée Merlot 94+ highest East Coast score.
  • In 2017 Lieb Cellars  is the first winery in NY to introduce canned wine under the Bridge Lane label.
  • In 2018 Wolffer Estate bottled, for the first time,  more than one million bottles of wine in a single year.

Ty Llwyd Farm Awarded Snail of Approval

Slow Food East End is delighted to announce that Ty Llwyd Farm has received the prestigious Snail of Approval from our chapter. 

On July 6th, the Slow Food East End team represented by board members, Pennie Schwartz, Robin Tyson-Stoehr, and Peter Berley, gathered at the farm in Riverhead, NY to present the Snail of Approval certificate. 

The coveted Slow Food Snail of Approval (SoA) is granted to businesses internationally that embrace the principles of Slow Food, promoting the ideals of good, clean, and fair food. This esteemed award brings attention to outstanding food establishments that excel in multiple areas, such as sourcing, environmental impact, cultural connection, community involvement, staff support, and business values.

Ty Llwyd (Pronounced “Tee Clewed” is Welsh for Brown House) is a sixth-generation operation founded in 1870 as a potato farm. It is a family-run farm that has been added to the National Register of Historic Places and is located on 33 acres on Sound Avenue in Riverhead. The farm is run by Chris Wines and his parents, David and Elizabeth, who will greet you as you drive up. The business specializes in raw milk and is the only North Fork source for unpasteurized milk resulting in a very loyal and regular set of customers who come for the milk’s creamier taste and added health benefits. They also come for the delicious and healthy eggs which are offered up by the chickens roaming the farm.

Chris started the dairy operation in 2009 and comes from a long line of raw milk dairy farmers in his mother’s family in Wales. He keeps the number of cows relatively small, opting for a hands-on approach including feeding them grass rather than corn to produce a higher quality product from contented cows. When our team interviewed the family, you could see how well the family knew each cow including their names and a list written on the calendar in the barn had all the due dates for the calves coming in the Spring and early summer!

A visit to Ty Llwyd reminds one that “slow” practices learned from years of experience and a committed family vision make not only for a better product but also a better planet and community.

To learn more visit them at 5793 Sound Ave, Riverhead, NY, United States, New York

Ty Llwyd Farm joins Sang Lee Farms, Peconic; Green Thumb, Watermill; Deep Roots, Southold; Jamesport Farmstead, Jamesport; Amber waves, Amagansett; 8 hands farm, Cutchogue and Quail Hill Farm, Amagansett, as local East End farms having earned the Snail of Approval.

Visit our Snail of Approval page for more information on local restaurants, farms, and food producers who meet these standards and have previously been awarded our coveted Snail of Approval. 

August 10: Slow F.I.S.H.

Taste and Explore our East End Merroir 

Thursday, August 10, 6-8pm

Suffolk County Marine Environmental Learning Center

3690 Cedar Beach Road, Southold, New York

$125 Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. 

Our knowledgeable friends at Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program study our local waters looking for solutions to keep them healthy, productive, and sustainable so they remain that way for years to come. Commercial and recreational harvesting of seafood is a way of life on Long Island so preserving the viability of this industry and essential food source is critical for our community and marine resources.

You are invited to meet the Cornell Fisheries and Aquaculture specialists – passionate, informed people who are the heart of Suffolk County Marine Environmental Learning Center in Southold. Learn about Cornell’s “Choose Local F.I.S.H.” Fresh. Indigenous. Sustainable. Healthy. This initiative encourages all to discover the variety of local fish choices Long Island has to offer. Learn why choosing locally harvested fish is so beneficial to the community, environment, and your health. Tour the amazing hatchery, learn more about the SPAT program and why oysters are among the most sustainable seafoods on earth, and find out more about local aquaculture. Best yet, taste edible delights harvested from our own merroir.

* Savor elegantly prepared fresh local fish tastings prepared by Lombardi Catering of Love Lane Market. Owner Lauren Lombardi is known for her hospitality and delicious locally sourced menus but Lauren has also long been a supporter of Slow Food East End and was previously on the board of Slow Food East End.

* Taste the succulent, distinct flavor differences between oysters harvested from farms from the Peconic Bay, the Long Island Sound and wild caught in deep waters. Enjoy: Davy Jones Shellfish, known for wild caught and farm raised oysters; Hampton Oyster Company specializing in deep-water, surface grown oysters; Montauk Pearls are seeded in Lake Montauk and followed by deep water finishing in Block Island Sound; and Peconic Gold Oysters are raised in the beautiful Great Peconic Bay between the North and South forks.
* Enjoy a variety of Long Island Wine Country Wines, celebrating 50 years of local viniculture.
* Learn to filet local fish and shuck like a pro!
* Tour the hatchery, learn more about oysters and scallops plus discover fresh, indigenous, sustainable, healthy seafood options to incorporate into your diet. You should know where your seafood comes from and why local is better than imported. We have so much to share with you!
* Ask the Cornell Marine experts all your marine and aquaculture questions.
* Meet artists and artisans who are inspired by the waters.

Your ticket purchase helps support two amazing not-for-profit organizations, Slow Food East End Feed the Forks initiatives and Choose Local F.I.S.H. – an initiative of Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program aimed at raising awareness and increasing demand for local seafood. Purchasing local seafood enables consumers to know the direct origin of their food. Increased marketing of local seafood supports the economic viability of our coastal fishing communities and small businesses, and boosts the economic value of Long Island’s seafood industry while providing consumers with fresher and higher-quality seafood. When purchasing locally caught fish, you can be sure that fish is sustainably harvested and in compliance with U.S. and state regulations which are some of the strictest in the world. Purchase your tickets today and show your support for these valuable organizations!

Quail Hill Farm Awarded Snail of Approval

Quail Hill Farm was awarded a very well-deserved Snail of Approval award by Slow Food East End. This award was originally announced at our Earth Day celebration in April but was officially presented to Layton Gunether, Quail Hill Farm director, and the farm team at the farm’s annual CSA potluck dinner event on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

CSA members gathered at the orchid to grill and share the bounty of the farm with each other, on what was a beautiful day sandwiched between two extremely rainy days, an auspicious sign for a sweet celebration.   It was wonderful to share the celebration with the CSA members and gather together to celebrate the bounty of Quail Hill’s 2023 harvest but also the bountiful legacy and community connections that are grown and nurtured on the farm.  

Snail of Approval Awards has long been a tradition for Slow Food, an international organization in over 160 countries.  Snail Awards have typically been awarded to restaurants but Slow Food East End, the largest USA chapter has also decided to award local farms too.   Our eco and biosystem depends on local farms that tend healthy soils, they are the source of our best foods.  Snail Award winners must be businesses that are structured on principles that Slow Food believes are essential to receive recognition and honor the values of good, clean, and fair food for all.  

Quail Hill aced the qualities that we evaluate.  These factors include local sourcing, the use of toxin-free products and resources,  a devotion to sustainable or organic environmental impact,  excellent community involvement, for example,  supporting The Bridgehampton Child Care Center with substantive donations of produce and of course exercising fair business values to keep prices low by relying on CSA members to help pick their own produce and flowers.  This unique CSA model also provides members with a personal connection to their food.  Quail Hill also depends on apprentices to manage the farm, the farm is known for its exceptional mentoring program where apprentices learn not only how to farm but more importantly how to run a farm.  Over 100 Quail Hill apprentices have gone on to run farms across the country.  

Quail Hill, located in Amagansett,  has long been a visionary farm embracing food fairness, healthy soils, and fair business management while continually striving to meet the needs of the local community and CSA members.   Quail Hill’s legacy has deep roots locally and nationally as a true leader of the CSA movement as one of the original community-supported farms in the U.S.    John Halsey, the founder of Peconic Land Trust guided the stewardship project on land donated by Deborah Ann Light, her generous donation of 35 acres of land that had been continuously farmed for 10 generations;  her vision that land should be for everyone to enjoy and should be used for growing has become a reality, this farm founded by Scott Chaskey and now directed by Layton Guenther today serves over 250 families. 

Slow Food East End is proud to recognize the achievements and legacy of Quail Hill, each year the farm signs onto the Northeast Organic Farming Association, New York Farmer’s Pledge “to sustain the land in healthy condition for future generations.” 

Thanks for Coming To Slow Hour at Macari Vineyards

We hosted a Slow Hour last week at Macari Vineyards, and it exceeded all of our expectations… and our expectations are high! Slow Hour is our version of Happy Hour, but better. These events allow us to slow down, enjoy each other’s company, and some local wine. Thank you to our friends, the Macari family, whose vineyard is unbelievably gorgeous and has received recognition for its composting program. We couldn’t have asked for better hosts, a better venue, or better wine. Everyone enjoyed the nibbles of rustic pizza slices served up by Washington Squares Pizza, made with all New York State ingredients, including vegan and gluten-free options.

Mary Morgan, one of the founders of our Slow Food East End chapter, and an activist and influencer for food waste solutions, was on hand to share in the conversation that evening. We also owe a huge thank you to the Long Island Organics Council for joining us and sharing information about their new East End Countertop Recycling Pilot. This special pilot program is being launched this summer for households on the East End of Long Island to test a countertop recycler as a food waste solution for our region. Our members couldn’t wait to get their hands on these ground-breaking machines. The pilot, a partnership between the Long Island Organics Council and Food Cycle Science, begins August 1 and runs through December 31, 2023.

Join our East End Pilot: The community climate solution

  • Press start + turn green to soil gold
  • Lower your carbon footprint
  • Provide community data for our towns
  • Save with our pilot discount

Early Snail Special & School Bonus

You can join this composting pilot program early! While the East End pilot officially begins August 1, you can join as early as July 1 as part of an “early snail special” offered by Slow Food East End. Special bonus: for every 50 participants who join in July, our East End Chapter will earn a countertop FoodCycler for our Chefs in Schools program.

“We were delighted to offer this pilot as an ‘early snail special’ to our membership in our continuing effort to bring new ideas to the region. This can benefit our school program, as after 50 people join, we receive a FoodCycler, SFEE is able to donate a unit to local East End schools and food pantries in need,” said Maria McBride, Slow Food East End’s vice president, and a pilot advisor. 

Interested?

Find out more on the special East End Countertop Recycler Pilot – HERE.

Questions? 

Contact Mary Morgan, Pilot manager: EastEndCountertopRecyclerPilot@gmail.com

Join us! Let’s all recycle food scraps and regenerate our soils!

We had a blast, and we hope you’ll join us for our next Slow Hour. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the know.