Hump day links

The New York Times is using scare tactics at the behest of Big Pork.

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Grass-fed v grain-fed put to the TASTE test.

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Gapers Block went behind the scenes at last weekend's Family Farmed Expo.

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The 2010 guide to Chicago's farmer's markets.

Volunteering at the Family Farmed Expo

5 AM came pretty early Saturday morning, the day of the Family Farmed Expo; a sort of trade show for local food growers and consumers being held at the UIC Forum, beginning Thursday, March 11th.

Because of work obligations, Patty and I weren't able to attend the previous two days, and very regrettably missed the Localicious party on Friday night, a sampling of the offerings from the exhibitors as well as local restaurants and celebrity chefs using local and organic ingredients. However, we were very excited to sign up to volunteer, so much so that we grabbed the 7:30-10:30 AM slot, and after hitting the snooze a few times we were out the door on our bikes into a rainy, blustery morning, in search of coffee before arriving at the Expo. Thankfully, Daylight Savings Time didn't start until the next day, otherwise we'd be leaving in total darkness, as well.

Caffeinating at the Caribou down the street from the Forum on Halsted:



After getting a bit lost in the hallways of the forum, we pushed open enough doors to hear the growing activity of the Expo from the main showroom. We checked in, and while Patty left to go spread linens over the exhibitor booths,...



I went to help the registration booth prep for an expected attendance of over 2,500 Expo attendees...




After sorting Expo programs into paper bags in which attendees could carry exhibitor items and collateral, and tearing wrist bands for easier access during the pre-opening lull, it got very busy, very fast. I simply checked attendees at will call, while other volunteers signed in exhibitors, guests, and took day-of sales, as well. For the last hour of our shift, Patty directed people at the door to the appropriate lines.

I hate it when the volunteer signed up for the next shift is late, and luckily today that wasn't the case at all. I actually had 15 minutes to show her the ropes before putting on a wrist band of my own, grabbing Patty and couple of bags, and wading into the festival, now going at full-bore:



We browsed the booths: looking at CSA options (I chose one: Farmer Tom's - I'm not yet ready to drop $700-900 on a full share right now, so this one allows me to buy weekly, with a small annual membership fee. I get organic produce year round, and locally grown when in season), and chatting with soap vendors, grass-fed beef and dairy producers; sampling barbecue, cheese, microgreens, and locally-made honey, mustard, ketchup (bought a bottle), and salsa.

I picked up a copy of edible Chicago, a free guide to seasonal, local foods in the area. Patty bought some dog shampoo for Jack (he smells great). And know this: if you haven't tried Traders Point Creamery's grass-fed yogurt and cheese, you are really missing out.

Celebrity chef Rick Bayless serving up some locally-sourced soup to the crowd after his workshop:

Hump day

Does this count as "locally produced?

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A wheat-free diet is not a carb-free diet. The Car Whisperer explains.

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Conventionally-produced beef: now with more ammonia!

Family Farmed Food Expo

Get your tickets or volunteer now at the Midwest's premiere local food event, the Family Farmed Expo.

I plan on volunteering Saturday morning with Patty, and then attending some cooking workshops and perusing the exhibitors until heading out on an afternoon training ride.

First local produce of the year!

Spring is here! What a weekend...78 miles yesterday with the XXX team ride in sunny, 45+ temperatures, and today, the first fresh produce of the year, local apples!

As I sit here typing this I am munching on a Northern Spy apple purchased this morning at the Logan Square winter farmer's market, at the Congress Theater in Logan Square. Juicy with a nice crunch and full-mouth feel, dry yet sweet at the same time, I've never heard of Northern Spy apples, which cost me $4 for 5.

Also into my messenger bag went a basked (5) of 2nd choice (damaged? but tasty!) Honeycrisp apples. (I'm a bad blogger sometimes, I neglected to get the information from this particular vendor.)

I took home my usual two pouches of grass-fed ground beef, plus one pouch of stew beef, from Black Earth Farms, via the Meat Goat. I have alluded to this before in past posts, but grass-finished beef contains less fat, healthier fat (with a proper ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids), and comes from far healthier cows. Healthier because a properly functioning rumen (the organ - an "extra stomach - that basically turns the grass ingested into protein), one that isn't packed with starchy silage corn, doesn't promote the growth of digestive-resistant E. coli bacteria. The primary health-safety concern of commercially-produced, corn-finished beef.

Grass-fed beef has a more complex taste with several flavors, a gamy, chewier texture, and fuller mouth feel. It also cooks much faster because it has less fat. Do not drain the ground beef that you cook, and when cook steaks, be sure to let it rest, to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the piece.

Shepard's Pie and beef stir fry are on tap this week.

New this week, I took home three jars of Tomato Mountain goodness: fiery habanero and smoky chipotle salsas, plus a tomato basil pasta sauce which I plan on using for a Black Earth meat sauce and gnocchi dish later in the week.



Finally, also for the first time, I bought some organically, naturally raised and pastured bacon (well, pigs, that the bacon came from) from Jake's Country Meats. I plan on using this with some Swiss Chard and cheese I'll get from the Family Fruit Market in Portage Park later this afternoon.

Food errands are my favorite errands.