altadenablog

Farm-to-Table Dinner at Muir Ranch June 1

Muir Ranch’s third annual Farm-to-Table Dinner will be Saturday, June 1, from 4-7 PM at the ranch, on the campus of John Muir HIgh School.

Come eat a locally grown and harvested, gourmet meal and support Muir Ranch's summer intern program! (Heels are not recommended for mulch pathways!)

The dinner features speaker Robert Egger: As former president of the DC Central Kitchen, and founder of LA Kitchen opening this year, Egger will speak on food justice, food access, food waste, and the importance of involving the youth in growing their own food.

Food  will be catered by Large Marge Sustainables and the Muir Ranch catering class.  Music will be provided by Beex of Icy Lytes.

Muir Ranch is a combination school farm, community-supported agriculture business, and culinary school acting as a teen jobs program.  

The Ranch is seekign donations of kitchen items ( CLICK HERE to check out our gift registry --  First name: Muir Last name: Ranch)

Price is $57, with a $4.13 ticket fee.  Sign up at http://summerinterns.eventbrite.com/

 

Annual picnic is off this year as the Altadena Community Garden revitalizes landscape

by Timothy Rutt

 

Silvera Grant holds up a diagram of the Altadena Community Garden revitalization project at the March meeting of the Altadena Chamber of Commerce.

The good news: the Altadena Community Garden is planning to revitalize the landscaping outside of the garden.

 

The bad news:  the work means there'll be no picnic this year.

According to Silvera Grant, director of the garden at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Palm Street,  the  shrubs in the area outside of the garden fence were getting old, and full of litter and invasive plants.  Garden members, along with students from Cal Poly Pomona, drew up a Corner Revitalization Project for garden.

So far, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation "has already cleared, mulched and installed a new state of the art solar timer irrigation system" in the landscaped area outside of the garden's fence.  

"They will also provide long term maintenance of the area once the project is completed. The only parts missing now are the plants and planting supplies to cover the 3,800 square feet, estimated to cost $14,000," Grand said in a press release.  To raise that money, the garden has mounted a capital campaign, thru direct mail requests and presentations to community groups.

The landscape outside the fence will be divided into three formal planting areas: California native plants, cactus and succulents, and drought-tolerant Mediterranean plants. "They will serve as educational tools for the community, providing landscaping ideas for those wishing to create water-conserving landscapes at home. In addition, the plants will be a draw for beneficial insects and pollinators, aiding the vegetable growers inside the ACG," Grant said in the release.

Altadena Heritage, the Altadena Kiwanis Club, and a private donor have already backed the project, according to Grant.

Grant told Altadenablog that the work meant that the annual picnic would have to be cancelled this year.

The garden -- which holds a well-attended annual picnic and resource fair --  was formed in 1973 and located at the site of the former Mt. Lowe Military Academy.  When the county decided to build an equestrian ring at what is now Loma Alta Park, the garden was moved to its present location.  It has 64 plots and hosts a children's gardening program and Victory Garden extension classes.  

The garden is a 501(c)3 corporation, and donations are tax-deductible.

To donate, checks should be made payable to Altadena Community Garden, and sent to P.O.Box 6212 - Altadena, CA 91003-621

For more information,call: 626-470-7482 or go to: http://www.altadenacommunitygarden.com.

Co-op welcomes 500 members, will host 'locavore" dinner

by Timothy Rutt

The (Altadenablog sponsor) Arroyo Food Co-op reached an important milestone by signing up its 500th member earlier this week.

“We are very excited to reach this milestone,” said Tricia Keane, President of the Co-op’s Board of Directors, in a press release. “We have 500 friends in our corner rooting for us to get this store open, which means we are that much closer to bringing local, sustainable, and just plain good food to the community.”

Who the magic 500th member will actually be will be determined in a drawing of recently signed-up members.  

With 500 members on board, the co-op is planning to launch a capital campaign and commit to a location for the community market.  The co-op is planning to seek funding thorugh a combination of member investments, member loans, and grants.  It has also engaged a local realtor to scout for commercial location in Altadena or northern Pasadena, with a goal to open in the first quarter of 2013.

“The goal of 500 members seemed daunting, nearly impossible, when we first started out,” said co-op founder Patrick Reagan, in a release from the co-op, “but today we see that the community has clearly stated that they’re willing to invest in a better option. Reaching this impressive goal is very encouraging for all of us early adopters. It should also help encourage others to join in on the fun – the building of a wonderful local grocery store we all can be proud of.”

The co-op is setting itself up as an alternative to large chain grocers, including the Altadena Walmart Neighborhood Market which is also planning to open in the first quarter of 2013.

The co-op promises to offer organic, sustainably-raised, and locally sourced products, including humanely-raised meats.  Anyone can shop at the co-op, but those who become members receive additional benefits, including "patronage refunds" during profitable years.  Membership is $300, but also offers a payment plan of as low as $30 a year.

The help raise awarenss of the co-op, it is planning to hold a "locavore dinner" event on Aug. 11 in Altadena, featuring locally-sourced food prepared by a professional chef.

For more information on the co-op:  http://arroyofoodcoop.com/

For information on the locavore dinner: http://arroyofoodcoop.com/locavore

 

Altadena Farmers Market is the place to be

 

Opening day of the Altadena Farmers Market was drawing a good-sized crowd, even in the first hour.

 

by Timothy Rutt

The (Altadenablog sponsor) Altadena Farmers Market opened this afternoon at 3 PM, and by our observations and those we talked to, it sounds like a hit.

Market manager Joseph Shuldiner shows off one of the shopping carts, which can be checked out at the market.

After putting so much effort into it, market manager Joseph Shuldiner said "I'm having an out-of-body experience," but not so much out of body that he wasn't working the crowd and accepting some well-earned congratulations.

Not that there weren't some glitches along the way:  parking stretched out for blocks along West Palm Street (hint: try parking at the Loma Alta gym parking lot and Lincoln and Loma Alta and walk downhill to the market).  There was some interesting vehicle choreography, as it was also trash pickup day along Palm and trash trucks and cars were involved in a little dance to make it through the narrow street (Al Evans of Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation said he would talk to Athens Waste to see if they would be able to change their pickup day).  And the Fox Pizzeria double-decker bus couldn't quite negotiate the hill on Dabney Street (Fox said they also ran into some mechanical problems and were looking for an emergency mechanic to try and salvage the trip).

The Fox Pizzeria double-decker bus hit a snag going up Dabney.

But otherwise, it was a selection of vendors of local, artisanal foods and local boutique farms that gathered a growing crowd of folks.

Local tech writer Steve Bass said that he thought the food was a little pricey, but that didn't stop him from buying.  His wife Judy Bass said that she hoped that the market would be successful and continue.

Local author Michelle Huneven, who was also at the market,  waxed enthusiastic about having such a market in Altadena.

The Altadena Heritage-sponsored market will be every Wednesday from 3-7 PM, next to the Altadena Community Garden at Lincoln Avenue and Palm Street.

 

 

Students from Glenfeliz School in Atwater Village grew their own certified produce in the school garden.

 

"The Garden Of ..." from Los Olivos picked most of their produce this morning for the market sale.

 

 

Altadena Farmer's Market joins Facebook, announces farms & vendors

by Timothy Rutt

According to our ticker on the left, the Altadena Farmers Market is only 15 or 16 days away, and the excitement is building.

The market just opened a page on Facebook over the weekend for its grand opening, which includes a current list of farmers and vendors:

Famers Include:

• Shu and Debby Takikawa (Garden of.....) farm
• Kenter Canyon Farms
• Suncoast Farms
• Elsers Country Farm
• Farquhar Farms
• John Muir High School Farm
• Drake Family Farm
• Jubilee Farms

Vendors Include:

• Big Mista' BBQ
• Plow & Gun Coffee
• Pine Street Products
• Molany Tubilderborst ~ Bread Lounge
• Sqirl Preserves
• Deisy's Tasty Food
• Beyond the Olive
• Fox Pizza Bus (wood-fired oven on a double decker London bus)
• Mother Moo Organic Ice Cream

The Altadena Farmers Market will open on Wed., May 30, from 3-7 PM at Loma Alta Park near the Community Garden, at the corner of Palm Street and Lincoln Avenue.

The LA buzz: Altadena farmers markets

by TImothy Rutt

What’s the buzz?  It’s Altadena farmers markets, that’s what!

First, the dormant Altadena Urban Farmers Market run by the Arroyo Time Bank has won the “Make Your Mark” competition.  MYM was a project of the Think Farm and MAC+COB, creative services companies (they call it “business therapy”) that held a competition among worthy nonprofit causes for  a free “rebranding package.”  That includes, they say, “a brand strategy, key messaging and logo system,” as well as a print package sponsored in part by the Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce.  Look for AUFM to come roaring back with a new look sometime soon.

Also, the Altadena Farmers Market, sponsored by Altadena Heritage and managed by Joseph Shuldiner’s Institute for Domestic Technology, is already all the buzz in LA area press: the LA Times food blog has already taken notice; LA Magazine likewise;  and PSN weighs in on both.

 

Arroyo Food Co-op on the air this morning

The Arroyo Food Co-op team was interviewed on KPFK this morning, and we have the video. From left, "Uprising" host Sonali Kolhatkar; Patrick Reagan, Co-op founder and president; Brian Chiu, labor team leader; and membership head Mia Dunn.

Eat Well Market kickoff gets appreciative crowd

by TImothy Rutt

Altadenans love their outdoor markets -- so with perfect Altadena weather to help out, the Eat Well Market at Camp Mariposa drew an appreciative crowd of foodies Sunday afternoon.

Aimee Silver is all smiles with volunteers Stephen Efthyvoulos, left, and Tim Lance.

Organizer Aimee Silver said that there were 22 vendors at the members-only event, everything from honey to soups, and many vendors were very happy to sell out of their wares so quickly. Community organizations such as the Altadena Community Garden and Altadena Heritage also had tables at the event, held at the Girl Scout camp at Mariposa St. and Santa Rosa Avenue.

Honey vendors even brought their own live in-process honeycomb to the market.

Musician/singer Michael Garrison entertained the market fans.

Silver said that, based on the success of Sunday's event, there will be more, although she wasn't ready to set a date for the next one.  To find out how to become a member, go to eatwellmarket.com/guest-list

 

Institute of Domestic Technology has an a-peeling citrus workshop Feb. 19

from the Institute for Domestic Technology

February marks citrus season, and the Institute has Saving the Season author Kevin West as  your tour guide to discovering how to preserve, transform and enjoy the bounty of Southern California citrus.

This full-day, hands-on workshop held at the Institute headquarters on the grounds of the historic Zane Grey Estate in Altadena, will prepare you to start making your own artisanal jam, sorbet, candied citrus peel and infused liqueurs from scratch. Joining Kevin will be  some of the city’s finest d.i.y ambassadors rolling up their sleeves to share their citrus knowledge with us. Plus, as an added bonus, we are proud to have David Karp, Los Angeles Times farmers’ market writer, who will lead a brief discussion about Southern California’s abundant citrus culture.

Each participant will be sent home with their very own swag bag filled with the creations they’ve made throughout the day and a custom instruction manual with recipes and a resource guide.

The workshop will be Sun. Feb. 19, from 10 AM-4 PM.  Cost is $195. Go here for more information or to enroll.

 

Bulgarini takes over coffee bar in Culver City, but will keep Altadena location open

We were a little frightened to read in the LA Weekly that Leo Bulgarini has taken over the TeaForest Tea & Coffee Bar in Culver City as a new place to serve his creations, but we are heartened that the Altadena resident is keeping his hometown Bulgarini Gelato shop open, too (it's where he makes his product, after all).

TeaForest is keeping its locally-famous name and product line, and the Altadena gelato palace will remain open -- Leo will just adjust the local hours.  Whew!  

Chef Talli's Presidential fried chicken at the Coffee Gallery Sat.

The Coffee Gallery coffee house, which is opening up its kitchen to guest chefs, will feature a fried chicken dinner with none other than Chef Talli tomorrow (Sat.), from 4:30-9:30 PM.

Chef Talli (i.e. Talli V. Counsel, Certified Master Chef) is the distinguished consulting United States Presidential Master Chef for sitting and retired United States Presidents. Chef Talli was granted the status of Master Chef by the Chef's Congress in 1987, and is often referred to as the “Nations Top Chef”. His notable awards include the “Successful Entrepreneur Award 1986” from the University of Southern California and the “Ely’s Winery Award” for wine and food pairing.

Chef Talli has a distinguished career, with several high-end clients in business and government, and is a contributing chef to the FOod News on various radio networks.  He has appeared in Huffington Post, Success Magazine, Westways Magazine, Best Friends Animal Society, Sisters N' Style, Café Society, Inside Entertainment, The Los Angeles Times, CBS Radio, National Public Radio and many other national and international publications. Chef Talli is featured in the “California Restaurant Association Cookbook”, and the “California’s Top 50 Chefs” publication (2006). Chef Talli’s latest media affiliations are with Examiner.com. And Associated Content. He is an organic and sustainable foods writer, and is an accredited food news journalist.

The Coffee Gallery is at 2029 N. Lake.

 

Altadena Farmer's Market: so close we can taste it

by Timothy Rutt

LA Weekly has a story on Black Cat Bakery chef Nick Coe, and Shu Takikawa's renowned farm in Santa Barbara.  In passing, it says that the two promise to be selling their goods at the Altadena Farmer's Market, which the Weekly says will be open at the end of October.

So we decided to check up on it: Altadena market manager Joseph Shuldiner emails us: " I'm still dealing with the County to get a formal agreement signed so I can assure all the vendors and farmers that this is going to happen. I'm supposed to hear from Office of the Deputy Director of Parks this week. Keep your fingers crossed. I will without a doubt contact you as soon as I have ink drying on the page!  In the meantime, I have even more amazing farmers and vendors lined up just waiting for the go ahead."

 

 

 

Fancy Food Truck Friday coming to Webster's this Friday

It's Fancy Food Truck Friday at the Webster's parking lot again, 2450 N. Lake Avenue, with an assortment of gourmet food trucks and a chance to meet your neighbors, and even win a few prizes.

This month's event features The Grilled Cheese Truck. Also new to the lot:  Nom Nom Truck, Curb A Peel, and Sweet Arleen's (winner of the Food Network's Cupcake Wars.) All-time favorites No Reservations and Greenz on Wheelz will also be serving up their best on this night.

There will also be a Back-to-School-themed gift basket drawing! Come on over and enter to win one of three must-have Back To School Baskets, compliments of the Webster's stores: Community Pharmacy, Liquors & Fine Stationers. Winners will be selected during the event. Give us a ring for more details!

“We want to invite our Altadena neighbors to come and hang out with their friends and family. To make that easier, we will have family-style tables set up to enjoy the fabulous food and relax!” commented Event Producer, Meredith Miller. Webster’s parking lot is located on the corner of Lake Ave and Marcheta in Altadena. Entrance is complimentary, street parking and adjacent lot parking will also available.

Fancy Food Truck Friday runs from 5-9 PM on Fri., Sept. 9, and is hosted by Webster’s Community Pharmacy, Fine Stationers and Liquor Stores.. For more information:  626-797-1163

 

Don't let cheese-making get your goat with fall classes

by Timothy Rutt

The Institute of Domestic Technology (there's something really steampunk about that name) is holding three courses on cheese-making in Altadena In October, November, and December.

Milkcrafting 101 on Oct. 8 teaches you how to make yogurt, kefir, crème fraiche, cottage cheese, paneer and fresh chevre.  Milkcrafting 102  on Nov. 12 will talk about mold-ripened cheeses, how to serve and cook with them, and how to successfully pair them with wine. Milkcrafting 103 looks at how to make hard cheeses as well as how to make butter from both goat and cow's milk. 

The classes all take place at the Mariposa Creamery (aka Zane Grey Estate) from 9:30 AM-2 PM, and include a rustic farm lunch.  Classes are limited to 12 students, and are $225 each or $595 for the series.

More information is here.

Critterdena: appetites

Reader Doris Finch shares this picture and story:

Here is a curiosity;  I noticed a struggling hummingbird [turned out to be an adult female Allen's] in a backyard Lantana.  On trying to free it, the "branch" it was stuck on came off with it.  Oops!  A mantis, which had apparently struck out at the bird.  Looking for a hearty lunch?  A couple of tiny feathers were stuck in the mandible.  Not a high quality shot, but the best I could manage with my free right hand.  I didn't want to keep the birdlet in that stressful situation too long.  End of story, bird was fine, she buzzed off.  The mantis was set down in a fuchsia in another location.

Actually, in the higher-res version (which we don't think makes it online) you can distinctly see a couple of feathers in the mantis' mandible.  That's one ambitious (and hungry) insect!

 

Altadena Heritage and the (raw) milky way

Altadena Heritage, Arroyo Food Co-op, and RIPE Altadena will present a free event, Milk: History, Politics, and Nutrition on Sat., Aug. 28.

The event, part of the "Altadena: Heritage of Abundance" series, takes place at the Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr., from 2-4 PM.

Featured speaker will be Mark McAfee, CEO and founder of Organic Pastures Dairy. Mark is internationally recognized as an expert in raw milk production, and has spoken in over fifteen states and three countries on the subject. He invented the first -dietary supplements- made from fresh raw colostrum, and secured their certification from the FDA and DHS. Mark created and published the first international raw milk safety standards at www.rawusa.org.

Local historian Michele Zack will give a brief overview of Altadena's milk-producing past.

The event is free and open to the public.  Light refreshments will be served, and Organic Pastures raw milk will be available for tasting. For more information, contact altadenaheritage@earthlink.net

Street smart lunch cart: Get Shaved tonight

Reader Matt tells us that the Get Shaved Hawaiian shaved ice truck will be making an appearance tonight:

They will be in town on Thursday, from 9:30 PM to 11:30 PM at the Coffee Gallery. Both my wife and I are big fans and want to make sure they get a lot of Altadena Love, so they come back again.

Lunch truck watch: Qzilla BBQ

The latest: just got a tweet from Qzilla (Southern/St. Louis style BBQ) that they'll be out sometime this morning at Lake & Calavaras (mention "rib bone" and get a free side, they say). 

Kogi BBQ @ the Coffee Gallery tonight

Korean barbecue tacos, from 9 PM to midnight tonight.

UPDATE 11:30 PM:  The never-fails-to-amaze Bill Westphal gives us an on-the-scene report of Kogi:

It was not as crowded as the Grilled Cheese Truck.  Lynne and I actually waited in line and sampled a couple of different things off of the menu.  It was good and worth the wait.

 

 Local celebrity Adam Bell was caught in line picking up a snack.

We need to see more of the Kogi and Grilled Cheese Trucks in Altadena.

Food co-op meetings coming up

Touched base with Patrick Reagan, one of the organizers of a food co-op in Altadena.  Lots of progress underway.

For one thing, they now have a not-carved-in-stone name: Arroyo Food Co-op, which reflects the interest they've gathered from Pasadena, Eagle Rock, and other communities.  For another, they have a few critical meetings coming up -- save the dates:

Sept. 5, 7:30 PM, a co-op social at Yoga House, 11 W. State St., Pasadena.

Oct. 7, 7:30 PM, social at the Zane Grey Estate.

Oct. 10: Critical community meeting at the Altadena Community Center, where they say "If you can come to only one of our events, this is the one.  Your attendance will help us gauge the degree of community support we have for bringing the co-op to our area.  We need your feedback."

Serious gelato

The Serious Eats blog goes to LA Times food critic S. Irene Virbila for the best food in LA.  She leaves LA to find the best ice cream, which is actually here in Altadena.  You have to guess where (OK, it's not much of a guess!)  Do read the comments -- apparently the best Chinese food in LA is in a closed restaurant in Alhambra ...

Altadena produce draws attention

The Buy Local Pasadena blog plugs our friends at the Co-op and Food Exchange of Altadena (COFE-Altadena), including a link to Susan Carrier's fine story in the LA TImes.

Food exchange makes the big Times

The Co-op and Food Exchange of Altadena is the focus of this LA Times article by one of our neighbors and favorite local bloggers (see here and here)  Susan Carrier.  Lots of familiar names in this story, if you read the blog regularly.