Harvesting the Aquaponic, HugelKulture, and Wicking Beds to Help the Food Bank

Memorial Day Weekend - Saturday Evening FoodRaiser

THE PRERAMBLE

Having graduated from the nation’s only Marine Military Academy, and as a proud member of the exclusive Veterans of Foreign War group, and being a part of the United Nations chartered Multi-National Peacekeeping force, and being bestowed with the Expeditionary Medal of Honor, I have a particular appreciation for Memorial Day.

I salute my brothers and sisters in arms!

That said, Memorial Day (http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html) was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. They too were brave soldiers and yet they ate differently than us. But this will not be the case this Memorial Day Weekend on Saturday evening! We, like them, will harvest our own clean, organic herbs, vegetables and spices, from our own personal gardens, just like they did back in the 1800's.

Hey, it’s the best segue I could come up with on such short notice. ok?

THE ACTUAL EVENT

Our Group is Meeting up with the Cook By Your Wits (https://www.meetup.com/Cook-By-Your-Wits/) Group (formerly the Flour Power Meetup Group) to have a great "Memorial Day Weekend on Saturday" gastronomical experience. They specialize in creating incredible dishes using available resources. We will eat like kings and queens while providing food for the Capitol Area Food Bank of Texas (http://www.austinfoodbank.org/). Great combo!

There will be several incredible, professional, and seasoned Chefs on hand to help cook up the feast. We will be harvesting the HugelKulture, Wicking Beds, Raised Beds, and Aquaponic systems that we all helped build. Everything will be cooked with fresh herbs, spices, vegetables, and more.

There will be cooking demonstrations beginning an hour before the event for those who wish to learn how to make our three delicious pasta sauces, and three great salad dressings from scratch, that is, from garden to plate.

THE MENU

Three deliciously distinct pasta sauces:

Chicken Alfredo, a cream-based sauce with grated Parmesan cheese and many other fresh things from the garden.

Pesto, a no cook vegetarian sauce which includes basil, olive oil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, walnuts, and more.

Sausage or Meatballs (depends what the Chefs feel like preparing) in a red sauce with onions, mushrooms, garlic, bell peppers, oregano, etc.

Pastas:

I have no idea what kinds. These decisions are way beyond my pay scale.

Three deliciously distinct salad dressings:

These are based on the classic acid, flavoring (herb/spice), and oil combination. This is the basis for creating many other great salad dressings.

Balsamic Vinaigrette - balsamic vinegar, shallots, garlic, olive oil, etc.

Honey Lime – have to wait and see what this one is about…

Italian Dressing – red, white, champagne, or other vinegar (depends what the Chefs feel like preparing), herbs, spices, garlic, olive oil, etc.

Classic Salad:

Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, olive, carrot, etc.

Fresh Homemade Bread:

Focaccia — a classic Italian bread topped with olive oil, garlic, rosemary, sea salt, etc.

Dessert:

Apple Crostata — a classic rustic apple pie tart. Yumbo!

THE PARTICULARS

This is a veritable smorgasbord of well prepared, garden fresh food by Chefs in appreciation for our garden fresh, clean food growing efforts. Not to worry, I will be on hand to test everything and ensure quality assurance!

PLEASE NOTE:

These are professional Chefs here, who own their own businesses. You would pay some bucks at Central Market, Whole Foods, or some other place for this kind of instruction and cuisine. But know they are my friends, fun, and far from stuffy, if you know what I mean. Don't expect smocks, hats and attitudes, just good fun.

If you are inclined and can, consider taking advantage of this great opportunity to eat well and Meet others from another great, food oriented, Meetup Group.

We are requesting a donation to this culinary cause, whatever you can, and 1 or more cans of food to be donated directly to the Capitol Area Food Bank of Texas (http://www.austinfoodbank.org/) (both to be collected at the event). BYOW, and Such!

Please indicate if you are coming an hour earlier (5:00) to participate in the culinary demonstrations and garden harvestings.

Space is very limited. If you sign up and find you can’t make it, please cancel ASAP so someone else may attend.

See y'all, this is going to be a blast!

arturo.