cakeaustin

Update: SFC WON! Thank you so much for your good work in helping make this happen.

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I want to thank ALL of you who have helped SFC bring home the Dell #ed4good #AUS challenge for $10,000 for our programs today. Only ONE HOUR remains – so if you blog, blog the hashtag (#ed4good #AUS), if you Tweet, tweet like the wind, making sure to include #ed4good #AUS – and if you update your Facebook status, please make sure it includes #ed4good #AUS. This has been SFC’s first foray into raising funds via social media, and the community has been incredibly supportive.

The Austin Business Journal covered our campaign partnership with Dachis Group this morning, and we’ve enjoyed overwhelming support from food bloggers, Twitter followers, Facebook fans and our own friends and family.

To see your support in action, check out this clip from earlier in the week on KEYE TV. Whether SFC wins this challenge or not, we’ve been honored by the outpouring of our shared message to cultivate a healthy community.

SFC's Sprouting Healthy Kids visit a local farm

Pinch yourself, because you heard right: Rene Ortiz, Tyson Cole, Todd Duplechan, Shawn Cirkiel, Laura Sawicki and Jesse Griffiths are creating an unprecedented, 5-course tasting dinner paired with drinks on Sunday, November 8th at La Condesa to benefit Sustainable Food Center. A limited number of tickets have gone on sale today. Please join us to raise awareness of, and support for those in our community without access to fresh, local food while partaking in a meal by chefs who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to supporting Austin Farmers’ Market.

Tickets available at: http://sfcchefseries.eventbrite.com

If you’re definitely coming, let me know so that I’ll be on the lookout for you!

Huge thanks to Jesse Herman, Wes Adams, Elaine Garza, the staff of La Condesa and of course, our fabulous rockstar chefs!

Have you seen this man?

Chef Shawn Cirkiel

You definitely should – as frequently as possible – at his rockstar restaurant, Parkside, which has become a destination for post-show fine dining. It’s the kind of place where one can imagine Patti Smith holding court in the corner after leaving a pint of blood & sweat on the stage at Emo’s…if, of course, she were to play Emo’s (hint hint). That Shawn is a fellow ex-New Yorker adds to my esteem for him, particularly as it shows in the composition of the menu.

We went on-air with Bryan Beck of KGSR this morning to let everyone know about Shawn’s demo at Austin Farmers’ Market tomorrow morning at 10:30am. He had brought Bryan a creamy paté made with Naegelin Farms’ chicken livers topped with J.D. Organic Farms’ blueberries, married with shallots.

Tomorrow kicks off our annual month-long Fruit and Veggie Fest at the market. We’ll have chefs’ demos each Saturday: 6/13, Mizael Saucedo of Bess; 6/20, Mark Spedale of Primizie; 6/27, Rene Ortiz of La Condesa; and don’t miss Green Fourth of July with Jessica Maher featuring a Dishalicious picnic.

Step right up for samples & stardust

Yesterday was a blur of market, Hamilton Pool and Saltlick. We hosted Gourmet from 9-1, featuring giveaways of seed packets, olive oil and high grade organic chocolate. Jesse did a shrimp cocktail redux style demo, which folks were panting about, and more of Roberto’s shrimp was in order before the clock struck 11:30.

Jesse Griffiths of Dai Due, shrimp mixologist

Jim Collins of Frei Brothers stayed for the entire event, joining us for dinner at The Saltlick, where NY and CA visitors get a faceful of sauce.

Inspecting the grill with Pam Simon of Gourmet

Have fun at Ferry Plaza, y’all. Think often of Austin and I’ll see you again soon…unless of course I can’t take it anymore without  The Spotted Pig and all the other places formerly in walking distance of home.

KVUE News promo for tonight’s Christmas Tree Lighting downtown at Congress & 11th – we’re having a mini-market with several of our regular vendors, plus some new items like roasted corn (not evil, big corn; small-scale, sustainable corn!)

Alas, corn and I do not agree. So I hope you’ll eat some for me!

Eat Local Week is NOW. If you missed the bike tour there are still lots of other ways to get involved.

Homespun Holidays is happening from 9am-1pm at Austin Farmers’ Market dowtown at Republic Square Park, 4th and Guadalupe, Saturday, Dec. 13th (Santa! Citrus! Garza greens herb bundles!) and Saturday, Dec. 20th (Pecan-cracking contest! Les Dames d’Escoffier cakewalk! The Little Kitchen kids’ activity!)