Just bag it!

Donna Reno wants to keep plastic bags out of the environment - and more specifically, the Pinecrest Gardens farmers market on Sundays. Over three weeks, she's giving away reusable bags to shoppers and vendors alike in an effort to get people to say no to the sea of plastic so harmful to the environment. 

"I got the idea after spending time in San Francisco and going to the Ferry Building," she says. The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market banned plastic bags in 2009. Here in South Florida, Reno would be happy to see shoppers use their own bags every week. "People don't need plastic bags," she says. South Floridians need to be educated about the need for bringing their own bag, and then make it a habit.

But she understands that many stop by the market on a whim, and that's why she's got a stand at the main entrance to Pinecrest Gardens handing out reusable bags, some she bought herself and others provided by Whole Foods Market. With funding from Les Dames des Escoffier Miami and support from The Market Company's Claire Tomlin, Reno says she'll be distributing bags made from non-GMO corn to vendors to give their customers. The bags readily decompose, unlike plastic bags in landfills. Her goal is to supply all vendors with these bags, which can then be sold to customers with their purchases if they haven't brought their own bag, thus doing away with plastic altogether.

"It's part of launching awareness," says Reno, who's also active in the Edible Community Gardens Project at the Merrick House in Coral Gables.

Stop by and say hello to Donna at Pinecrest next Sunday, and show her your bag!

Malanga!

Last week I harvested Malanga.  In the past I've eaten it only a few
times, but have always found it very tasty and easy to cook.
Considering potatoes are hard to grow in South Florida because of
weather, pest and disease issues, I've been wondering if it makes sense
to substitute them with malanga; should I plant a significant amount for
next season?  My experience growing it this past year has been that the
malanga plant is very resistant to both heavy rain and drought as well
as most bugs and diseases including parasitic nematodes.  In my research
I stumbled upon this very informative paper in the Sarasota IFAS
website, which leads me to think malanga is a good idea in many ways.

How do you use malanga?

Celebrate Chinese New Year

(Lion dance image courtesy of Fontainebleau Miami Beach)

If our cover story on how and where to enjoy dim sum has you hankering for more ways to experience Chinese culture in South Florida, here are some other places to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. Colorful lion dancing, thrilling kung fu performances and – of course – special Chinese dishes are part of the fun in many of these events.

Kid-friendly celebrations
Miami-Dade’s public libraries feature celebrations for kids with crafts, stories and activities. For more details, click here.

Palmetto Bay Branch
Sat., Jan. 21, 11am

Hialeah Gardens Branch
Sat. Jan. 21, 3:30pm

International Mall Branch
10315 NW 12 St.
Tue., Jan. 24, 6:30pm

Miami Children’s Museum hosts a Chinese New Year Dragon Parade.
Mon., Jan. 23, 5:30pm

Miami’s Wok Star Eleanor Hoh is offering a new class for parents and kids featuring special treats only available during Chinese New Year.
Sat., Feb. 4
Book online.

For all ages
Embrace China 2012 Chinese New Year Celebration will be held at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts Sat., Feb. 4.

The 24th annual Chinese New Year Festival at Miami Dade College’s Kendall Campus kicks off Sun., Feb. 12 at 11am

Grown-up fun

The always lively Chow Down Grill in South Beach is presenting lion dancers and other entertainment starting at 8pm Mon., Jan. 23, plus a la carte menu items (and "no price gouging," promises Joshua Marcus.)

The Mandarin Oriental, Miami celebrates its Asian roots with a list of activities, including a Chinese calligraphy exhibition in the lobby, a special Chinese New Year menu at Café Sambal through Feb. 5, and an Al Fresco Beach Party Jan. 28 from 7-10pm. Details here.

Hakkasan at Fontainebleau Miami Beach is celebrating with seven days of menu specials from Jan. 22-29. The celebration kicks off with a dragon dance on Sun., Jan 22 at 9pm. Special a la carte menu items include Four Happiness Special Dim Sum Platter and Chinese Long Life Crispy Noodles.
For reservations, call 1-877-326-7412.

Philippe in South Beach is honoring the New Year with Dragons, Drums & Dumplings on Mon., Jan 23 starting with cocktails at 6pm and including performances and a special prix fixe menu. For reservations call 305-674-0250.

North Miami Farmers Market at MOCA

Thursday, December 8th was the second North Miami Farmers Market at MOCA
Plaza, hosted by the North Miami Parks & Recreation Department.  Little
River Market Garden is happy to be participating in the new market,
which has a great atmosphere, seating in the shade, easy parking, a
fountain, casual live music and a beautiful Christmas tree!

More photos and info right this way...

Tis the Family Season in South Florida

As the temps cool down in South Florida, family events heat up! Here are some food, farm and garden-related highlights coming up:

Sat., Dec. 10
GingerBuild Gingerbread House Contest at Family Day at Coral Gables Museum

 Vote for your favorite house at the fourth Annual Coral Gables Museum's GingerBuild, a Gingerbread House Design and Build Contest 11am-5pm. Museum family activities are included with the price of admission: $10 flat for families, free for members. More here.

Sat., Dec. 10
Latin Spice Food Festival at Pinecrest Gardens

More than 25 local chefs and restaurants will be on hand preparing Latin-flavored treats for the public and a competition at this first-ever celebration Sat., Dec. 10 noon-6pm. Cigar-rolling, domino-playing and children's activities, plus musical and dance performances from Spain, South and Central America and the Caribbean, are all part of the day's activities at the lush gardens, culminating in a holiday tree decoration. Tickets are available for $5 for 12 and older, and parking is free.

Saturday evening, Pinecrest presents In the Spirit of Salsa starting at 6:30pm with an hour of salsa dancing and instruction, followed by a 30-minute mojito intermission, and at 8pm a concert from Grammy winner Chino Nunez and his orchestra. Concert tickets are $25, including festival admission. For ticket information, visit 1-877-496-8499 or look online.

Sun., Dec. 11
Dinner in Paradise

Eat Basel 2011

Picture-perfect weather is in store for this year's Art Basel! We're proud to show off the town. Following are some of the food-related highlights.

For an excellent rundown of the many activities, check out Soul of Miami. Or check the official Art Basel schedule here.

INCUBATION
11th Annual breakfast installation by Jennifer Rubell
Daily through Sunday, December 4 from 9am-noon
95 NW 29th Street

www.rfc.museum

Incubation is an exploration of the creative act, simultaneously addressing the creation of food, the creation of life, and the creation of art. The installation incorporates two essential halves of the creative act: an incubation gallery where yogurt is being made; and an observation gallery where the yogurt is anointed with honey and then consumed.

ART BASIL FARMERS MARKET
Sun noon-5pm
The Awarehouse
550 NW 29th Street

awarehousemiami.com

Miami’s Independent Thinkers presents a co-op farmers market featuring organic fruits, vegetables, herbs, body products, baby products, vegan treats, yoga, sustainable clothes, accessories and activities.

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS AT THE ARSHT CENTER
Fri 11:30am – 2:30pm
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
Lot C at NE 2nd Ave between 12th & 13th Streets
(South side of Ziff Ballet Opera House)

Rockjazz pianist Elew brought by Steinway’s Pop-Up Piano Miami, pose for Sketchy Miami portraits and watch creation of a 3D Shrek by chalk artist Betty Dominguez. Entertainment is free.

ALELOOP MOBILE ART INSTALLATION
Multiple locations Thur-Sun
Full Schedule

Ten Art MINI Coopers wrapped with Aleloop’s whimsical art will travel through Art Basel locations, including Jimmy’Z Kitchen in Wynwood, the Wynwood Foodtruck Lot at 2100 NW 2 Ave. At each stop, all 40 performers will pop out to create MINI flash mobs.

Fri 4pm-8pm
Art Whino Reception
426 NW 26 St., Wynwood

Aleloopa Palooza
Sat 6pm-midnight
2100 NW 2 Ave. (Wynwood Foodtruck Lot)
Music/Dance/Performance Festival

DOWNTOWN SHUTTLE

A free DWNTWN Shuttle operates every 30 minutes 11AM-11PM through Sunday.

Stops:

• Midtown (Art Miami, Scope, Art Asia, Red Dot)
• Wynwood
• Pulse Art Fair
• CIFO/LegalArt
• Miami Art Fair/Historic Overtown
• Grand Central
• Miami Art Museum
• Mary Brickell Village
• Mandarin Oriental
• JW Marriott Marquis
• Bayfront Park/InterContinental
• Arsht Center/CCE

To download a route map, visit www.dwntwnartdays.com

Fall Veggie Seedling Sale at Little River Market Garden

Saturday, December 3rd

Fall has really kicked into gear in South Florida and our garden is
finally busting tender annual veggies.  If you're planning a garden at
home, now is the best time to get greens and annual herbs in the ground.

READ MORE...

Pear Dessert Tasting with Hedy Goldsmith

Last night we had the privilege of attending a special pear dessert tasting with Michael's Genuine Pastry Chef extraordinaire, Hedy Goldsmith. Organized by the Pear Bureau Northwest, a non-profit marketing organization to promote and develop markets for fresh pears grown in Oregon and Washington, we were able to sample what had to be some of the best pear dishes ever put on a plate. While we're not really able to grow pear in South Florida, they are incredibly good for you and very versatile, as Hedy demonstrated with her multi-course (!) dessert menu. It's no wonder that every dish was such a knockout - Pears from the Northwestern USA are known for being some of the best in the world.

Check out the pictures after the jump.

Perennial Stir-Fry from Muriel's Little River Market Garden!

"I'm excited to start harvesting annual veggies from the garden soon, but I have to say we've been making the most of perennials throughout the past few months.  Aside from all the food we were able to stock up in the big freezer, like tomato sauces, pesto, collard greens and yucca, as well as the endless supply of kimchi and summer fruit, we have been harvesting fresh veggies non stop, most of which are hardy perennial crops.  Last week we prepared a delicious stir fry with roselle, moringa and sweet potato leaves as well as a little sweet potato root and the first of our sunchokes.  Talk about nutrition!"

Jamming with Freakin' Flamingo

You may spot Renée Joslyn, the energetic food blogger (FlamingoMusings.com) and jam entrepreneur behind Freakin’ Flamingo and @RJFlamingo on Twitter, selling her local jams at the Saturday South Miami Farmers Market and other venues. She’s an enthusiastic advocate of turning subtropical fruits into something creative and delicious.

“I love staring at a box of carambolas or guavas and thinking about what twisted, unexpected flavor combination(s) I can do with them,” she says. “I get to talk to people about food and ingredients and watch their faces light up when they taste something I made up after waking up in the middle of the night with an inspiration.”

Those inspirations have led to such combinations as Pineapple Mango Ginger, Starfruit Vanilla and Guayaba (guava with lime), just to name a few. “I'm looking forward to our strawberry season so I can make my Strawberry Daiquiri Jam again for the Cabana Collection" (Strawberry Daiquiri, Piña Colada and Blueberry Mojito jams – all made with real rum, made in Florida), as well as other strawberry things. Then, of course, there will be citrus...” She also makes sugar-free versions.

After 30 years of working as a legal secretary, Joslyn was motivated to make preserves partly because of personal fulfillment. “When people are happy after trying my food, I'm happy,” she says. “I get to do something creative, spontaneous and personally fulfilling.”

For local fans, Joslyn makes it easy to stay stocked. “Local subscribers to my email newsletter have the opportunity to shop my website and email advance orders to be picked up at the South Miami Farmers Market, paying the web price, which is about 50¢ cheaper than the market price. Customers can also return their empty, washed Freakin' Flamingo jars to me at the Market for a 50¢ credit toward their next purchase.”

Joslyn is planning more sampler packs (three 4 oz. jars of various jams, packaged together and tied with tropical-colored raffia) especially for the holidays.

Using local, seasonal ingredients means she’s always experimenting. “Everything I do is a "limited edition," meaning that I'll make something while the fruit's in season, preferably locally grown. But I may only make one or two batches, and I may never make it again,” she says. “That's how I keep it fresh – both for me, and the people who buy from me. I like to always have something new and different.”

Find Freakin' Flamingo products online or visit the South Miami Farmers Market.

Little River Market Garden Totes

Have you seen our new logo?  These recycled cotton totes are hot off the
press and I'm hoping to sell them in order to raise funds and spread the
word about the garden.

My little brother and I collaborated on the design.  He is a talented
graphic designer in Orlando and recently came out with his own brand of
clothing called Marked, check out his website.
http://www.markedenterprises.com/

If you follow our blog and enjoy our workshops, lectures and other
community events, you gotta have a tote bag to represent your support!
Each bag we sell goes a long way in our efforts to make Miami a more
agriculturally educated city.

Visit littlerivercsa.com for more info.

Muriel's Iguana Adventure

There is a stigma attached to meat, specifically the part about killing
an animal in order to eat meat and, surprisingly, it's more intense when
it comes to unusual or wild animals. Iguana is a perfect example. In
some Central and South American cultures, where iguanas are native,
eating them is entirely normal and even traditional. Considering these
same animals have become invasive in our South Florida backyards, I
think it makes sense to start thinking about eating them.

Read more here:

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