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Flour Power’s Bakers Gathering Recap at Main Road Biscuit Co.

Mar 3, 2023 | Blog, In The News, Past Events

Bakers like to rise to the occasion to meet. It was extraordinary to have bakers come together to celebrate. After nearly two years of Flour Power, our community came together in a fabulous way. The energy in the room as new bakers met experienced bakers was electric. Questions were answered and coveted tips were shared. The addition of amazing food from Main Road Biscuit Company and wine from Lieb cellars made for a special evening.
 
 
Nancy and Ralph Reinertsen, our treasured bread delivery team were thrilled to finally meet many of the bakers in person and we were so happy to put faces to names. Ralph (who serves on the board of SFEE) was grateful to the previously unknown baker who sometimes leaves him ‘thank you muffins’ for making that long drive to pick up and deliver all the yummy bread. We just love our community of bakers!
 
 
So many helpful tips were shared. We learned simple ways to achieve that sometimes tricky second rise. Who knew there were so many ingenious ways to create a warm environment for the rise? Sharing our stories and expertise was just as important as making connections and new friends.
 
 
Thank you Marissa Drago of Main Road Biscuit Co. for opening up your beautiful space for our gathering and being a baker in the program! As always, the outpouring of support from our community is humbling.
 
If you weren’t able to attend this one, don’t fret, we plan to host more of these in the future. You do NOT need to be an experienced baker to join us.
Everyone loves the bread (yes, we sample a lot at these events). We are always looking for more bakers, so come and bring your friends. Anyone can ALWAYS sign up to be a baker for Flour Power! Please don’t let the fact that you have a busy life stop you from signing up. Just head to our website to learn more about how the program works.
 
The next baking cycle is February 27th, so there’s still plenty of time! If you or someone you know wants to sign up share this recap with them. Once they sign up, we’ll send an email with the baking video, and the drop-off procedure, and get you started in no time.
Click below to sign up and bake for any of the food pantries in our Flour Power Program. We can always use your helping hands! Join our Facebook group so that you can connect with other bakers in the community.
 
Stay tuned for what’s to come in 2023. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social to stay updated on all our activities. In the meantime, enjoy these photos from the event!
 
 
SIGN UP TO BE A BAKER

Fireside Meet-Up at Quogue Wildlife Refuge

Jan 31, 2023 | Feed the Forks, Past Events

Thank you Quogue Wildlife Refuge for hosting us. It was an amazing opportunity for our Board to meet so many people from our amazing East End community. We love discussing our programs, and we are so happy so many of you are interested in what we do. Slow Food East End Feed the Forks program shared some cider and soup from Sydney’s with friends & neighbors. A big thank you to Jessica Easton owner at Belle and Whistle Weddings for sponsoring the event. We are especially grateful for the number of people who showed interest in volunteering their time to help us this year in our programs.
 
 
𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫: Our community of bakers provides home-baked loaves of bread to local food pantries. Since our launch in 2021, we have been providing to the North Fork Apostolate and are excited to announce that this program will also be offered at CAST North Fork.
 
 
𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐬: We have one of the most successful Slow Food school garden programs in the U.S. with a mission to reconnect children and their families with real food while empowering and inspiring our local communities to eat well. Each year we give out $10,000 to schools for garden tools, supplies, and materials. Applications for grants up to $1,000 each are accepted on a rolling basis. We already received a grant application from a local school that stopped by this gathering! 
 
 
𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐟𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥s: We create partnerships between chefs and schools in our community to help educate students about food and healthy eating habits. We are looking forward to showing students, parents, and the school community how accessible and healthy the food around us is. We will provide simple recipes, tips, and tricks so that everyone can up their healthy food game.
 
 
The 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 initiative is an effort to get the next generation more aware and involved in where their food is coming from. We are offering volunteer opportunities to our local youth that not only gives them a chance to document community service hours for school but also give them the chance to learn valuable life lessons in agriculture, sustainability & community. We are also creating a grant application for Seniors in High School on the East End who plan to attend college for agricultural courses or similar studies that align with Slow Food’s mission.
 
 
It’s only January, we are just getting started.  Stay tuned for what’s to come for the rest of 2023. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on socials to stay updated on all our activities. In the meantime, check out these from the event!
 

Bakers Workshop at CAST

Jan 31, 2023 | Blog, Flour Power, Past Events

Thank you to everyone who came to our Flour Power Baker’s Workshop at CAST! We had so much fun chatting with you all. The outpouring of support for our community is humbling. And, oh, all the loaves of bread we will donate! Grateful to everyone who came out to learn more about Slow Food East End’s Flour Power program… now, let’s get baking!

If you missed our event, don’t fret! Here are some important takeaways:

 

  • You do NOT need to be an experienced baker to sign up.
  • We will hold your hand throughout the process – we even give you a “hotline” number to call with questions.
  • Everyone loves the bread (yes, we ate a lot!).
  • We are always looking for more bakers.
  • While we hope you bake each cycle, we understand life gets in the way. So you can bake when you can and don’t worry about it when you have to skip a few weeks.

You can ALWAYS sign up to be a baker for Flour Power! Please don’t let the fact that you have a busy life stop you from signing up. The next baking cycle is February 13th, 2023, so there’s still plenty of time!

Once you sign up we’ll send you an email with a baking video, and drop-off procedure, and get you started in no time. We even have a Facebook group so that you can connect with other bakers in the community. Click below to sign-up and bake for any of the food pantries in our Flour Power Program. We can always use your helping hands! 

SIGN UP TO BE A BAKER

January 26: Flour Power Baker’s Workshop at CAST

Jan 17, 2023 | Flour Power, Past Events

Learn about the amazing Slow Food East End Flour Power Community and JOIN US at CAST for a Baker’s Workshop

Flour Power Baker’s Workshop at CAST

Thursday, January 26th, 2023

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

CAST North Fork – 53930 Main Rd. Southold, NY 11971

We’ll be kicking off the launch of our Flour Program at CAST with a baker’s workshop! Join us as we host our first in-person baker gathering. You’ll learn all about this amazing program, what it takes to be a baker (no baking experience necessary), and how to bake bread. Get involved as a baker, a baker’s sponsor, or just come to chat… and taste the bread of course!
 
Everyone is welcome and we are hoping you all will become bakers and begin to provide freshly baked bread to the CAST food pantry. Our seasoned bakers will teach you all about our amazing recipe and you’ll learn all the tips and tricks necessary to get you started on your bread-baking journey.
 
This event is free to attend – but please register to help us plan properly.
RSVP HERE!

How Does Flour Power Work?

Anyone can register to bake. Simply sign-up and Slow Food East End will send you the recipe designed for 4 loaves; each baker keeps one loaf and donates three. Baking dates and all of the necessary details are listed on the Slow Food East End website under the programs tab. In addition, you will be receiving reminders for each baking cycle via email. There will be a designated drop-off point at the CAST building in Southold (when you register you will receive detailed instructions for the drop-off procedure).

We hope you’ll sign up and participate in as many baking cycles as you can. We understand how busy everyone is and all we ask is to bake when you can. 

The workshop is designed to help you get started on your baking journey. Come meet the Slow Food team and learn more about the recipe we specifically created for this program, sample some bread, and find out how you can be a volunteer to help provide freshly baked bread for families in need. 

This is a Slow Food East End and CAST Collaboration. 

Learn more about SFEE Flour Power and Sign-up to be a Baker!

January 28: Slow Food East End Fireside

Jan 13, 2023 | Past Events

Happy New Year 2023

Let’s kick off New Year the slow way

Slow Food East End Fireside 

Saturday, January 28th, 2023

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Quogue Wildlife Refuge – 3 Old Country Road Quogue, NY 11959

Slow down, warm up and meet up with Slow Food East End to enjoy a family-friendly afternoon at the Refuge with warm soup and cider. Find us indoors, fireside at the Charles Banks Belt Nature Center with beautiful views of the Old Ice Pond. Come meet our board members and hear more about what SFEE is doing locally. Learn about our Edible School Gardens, Chefs to School, Future of the Forks, and Flour Power programs, and how you can be involved. With your help, we can do amazing things together.
 
 
You’ll also meet leaders at the Wildlife Refuge to hear more about the important work they do too. And if you want to add an easy hike to your day, the trails are open. Family Friendly, bring the kids along!
 
 
If you have not yet been to the Refuge, you are in for a treat. The Quogue Wildlife Refuge is a 305-acre non-profit nature preserve that was founded in 1934 and is home to diverse wildlife. The preserve is open every day from sunrise to sunset you can enjoy walking seven miles of easy trails to explore diverse habitats including forests and ponds, as well as the ecologically rare Dwarf Pines in the Pine Barrens. The Nature Center is a wonderful resource featuring a variety of wildlife exhibits and a nature library. The Outdoor Wildlife Complex houses permanently injured wildlife that requires human care to survive including owls, falcons, a fox, and other native animals.
 
 
This event is free to attend – but please register to help us plan properly.
RSVP HERE!

Slow Food East End 2022: A YEAR IN REVIEW

Dec 28, 2022 | Past Events

We have done so many amazing things this year! Scroll down and take a look at all you’ve helped us achieve…

JANUARY

2022 was our first full year of the Flour Power program. To date, we have donated over 1000 loaves to the North Fork Spanish Apostolate in Riverhead. We are excited about the response and continue to add more bakers to our community. Looking ahead to rolling out this program to more food pantries in ’23. Stay tuned…
 
Better yet sign up to bake a loaf, or four… we are looking forward to meeting you at one of our new events just for our bakers.
 

FEBRUARY

As the pandemic continued to keep us physically apart, we resumed on to offer our virtual chefs series. Board member and Chef, Peter Berley, demonstrated recipes showcasing Beans and Pulses from the warmth of his home kitchen in Jamesport, which was much enjoyed by all from the warmth and safety of their own.

MARCH

Jack Bishop from America’s Test Kitchen and his wife Lauren Chattman led our next preparation of a delicious slow food style menu in our continued Chef Series. Lauren took us through the steps of making fresh pasta using local eggs and Jack shared his kale pesto recipe. To finish the meal Lauren & Jack demonstrated yummy chocolate pots de crème, one of their favorite dessert recipes. The kale for the pesto was graciously donated by Sang Lee Farms, a Snail of Approval farm!
 
All proceeds from this event were matched by Slow Food East End and donated to support World Central Kitchen and their efforts to feed Ukrainians fleeing the war. We are grateful to everyone who attended the event and made our donation of $3,700 possible.

the pandemic continued to keep us physically apart, we resumed on to offer our virtual chefs series. Board member and Chef, Peter Berley, demonstrated recipes showcasing Beans and Pulses from the warmth of his home kitchen in Jamesport, which was much enjoyed by all from the warmth and safety of their own.

APRIL

Earth Day is near and dear to our hearts and worth a celebration.
 
On a sunny Saturday afternoon in April, the Slow Food East End community celebrated Earth Day. Educators, farmers, winemakers, and chefs gathered to feed and educate us about our local food systems and ecosystems.
 

MAY

In May, we were happy to transition from virtual events to in-person ones.
 
We made great connections with schools, teachers, and administrators to revitalize our Edible School Gardens. We owe a big thank you to our outgoing Master Farmer, Melissa Makes and we warmly welcome Maria Plitt. We are once again offering our Edible School Garden grants to worthy recipients like Southold School, Calvary Baptist Church, Butterfly Effect Project, and the SFUSA National Garden Program.
 
We are looking forward to granting up to $10K to schools in 2023.
 
 

JUNE

We held our first Slow Hour ( our version of happy hour) designed to bring the community together for casual gatherings and increase community interaction. These FREE-to-attend events, which we will be hosting again in 2023, are a chance to have great conversations and learn more about the Slow Food movement and great wine in a beautiful environment… what could be better?

SLOW HOURS

 
 

JULY

SOA awarded to Jamesport Farmstead!
 
The Snail of Approval Program is awarded to businesses that incorporate the SF ideals of good clean and fair food. Here at SFEE, we are expanding the program to be able to include businesses like farms, wineries, fish farmers, and food producers, in addition to restaurants. Currently, there are 15 businesses that have earned the award. Most recently The Halyard at Greenport and Jamesport Farmstead has been awarded. For a full list of these deserving recipients, see our website.
 
Suggestions for future nominations are always welcome and appreciated!
 
 
 

AUGUST

August saw the return of the potluck event. After a couple of years off due to Covid shutdowns, we were so happy to be able to bring back our popular potluck gathering. This year’s dinner was at the beautiful North Fork Flour Farm field with the sunset as a backdrop and a rainbow in the sky to top off this magical evening. The food was great… the company was even better.

 
 

SEPTEMBER

Our annual membership drive took place this month. We surpassed 200 memberships—our highest number ever! We are one of the largest and most active chapters in Slow Food USA. We thank all of our new members this year and look forward to working with you in 2023. We need your ideas, and hands-on help to deliver on our mission of good, clean, and fair food for everyone.
 
Reach out, get involved, be on a committee, and volunteer at our events. It takes a village — and together we can continue to have a huge positive impact on our wonderful community.
 

OCTOBER

Sour Power Harvest Festival!
 
Our inaugural sour power/harvest festival was a big success. Chef Peter Berley taught us how to make homemade sauerkraut from freshly picked cabbages. Not only did it taste amazing, but we learned that it was made with only cabbage, water, and salt. All attendees were gifted a quart of kraut two weeks later after it had fermented for a while.
 
We look forward to more fermented goodness next year… think sourdough, pickles, yogurt, kimchi, and kombucha. It’s so great when delicious food is also healthy and inexpensive!
 

NOVEMBER

We held our Annual meeting at Brick Cove and gathered with our East End community. We welcomed our new incoming board members (Stacey Isaacs and Alyson D’Anna) and paid tribute to our outgoing ones (Laura Luciano and David Chaffin) for all their contributions over the years.
 
Our week-long online auction held annually alongside our meeting was a great success. We are grateful for the amazing community response and together we raised almost $17,000!
 
The money raised through this auction is instrumental in helping carry our work forward into the coming years.
 

DECEMBER

December came so quickly and it was time for our annual holiday board meeting and celebration. We owe a big thank you to Gabriella Macari and her team at Macari Wines for hosting our event at the gorgeous Meadowlark Winery. Thanks as well to Lauren Lombardi of Love Lane market for some of the most delicious food we’ve ever tasted.
 
We thank the entire volunteer board for all their hard work in 2022.
 

HERE’S TO LOOKING AT YOU 2023…

We couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come in 2023. Our all-volunteer team is continually growing. We urge you, our valued community members, to reach out, get involved, be on a committee and join us at events. We are also pleased to announce our inaugural sponsorship program for both local and nationwide businesses. Consider being a sponsor! Links below for ways on how you can support us.
 
 
We can do amazing things together.