Cooking and Tasting Michigan

Tasting and Touring Michigan’s Homegrown Food
by Jaye Beeler

In an effort to promote healthy eating and preserve the local/regional food culture, the Slow Food Movement was born. The Slow Food movement awakened my nostalgic appreciation for the food I grew up enjoying. It also revived my interest in eating in-season produce, canning, and preserving my food.

As a kid I remember visiting the local farmer’s market with my parents to buy fresh produce, artisan cheeses, and specialty meats made by local butchers using old family recipes. There was even a poultry store that had various species of live fowl that they’d prepare for you while you waited. No long farm-to-store process. No plastic wrap. And best of all — no icky additives of unknown origin with hard-to-pronounce names. Ahh, I miss those days.

If you have an appreciation for slow food, you won’t want to miss fabulous foodie and author Jaye Beeler on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at 7 p.m., as she presents a taste tour of Michigan at Uptown Kitchen. Jaye will discuss ways to store food for the winter other than canning. Plus, you’ll get to sample goodies like pesto chicken pizza, penne pesto with shrimp, sun-dried tomato torte, and more.