LTHers needed for ACGA Pre-Conference dinner--Thurs.Aug. 7th

The American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) is hosting their 35th annual conference in Chicago from Thursday, August 7th through Sunday, August 10th. Through Peterson Garden Project (which many of you know is a local community garden organization in which a lot of LTHers have participated), LTH has been asked to help do what many of us love to do—prepare GREAT food for a group of folks focused on helping promote and develop community gardening opportunities throughout the U.S.

The Event:
To be held at KAMII Synagogue • 1100 East Hyde Park Blvd
Thursday night, August 7th, 5:30-8:00 p.m.

Irv & Shelly’s Fresh Market is donating the ingredients—we’ll be preparing a signature cocktail during the happy hour and a family style vegetarian feast for the pre-conference dinner for approximately 120 attendees. We will be preparing salads or other cold items for the first course, a main course of 1 or more dishes, also to be served family style, followed by a dessert which will consist of Eli’s Cheesecake (also donated) and whatever topping/accompaniment we’d like to do with it. Our own Jazzfood is the consulting chef so it’s certain to be delicious and interesting to prepare!

This organization does terrific work in a space that is near and dear to a lot of LTHers hearts---so if you’re interested in helping prepare some delicious food and help make this organization’s event successful, please sign up here for whatever shift(s) you can attend!

1:00-3:00 Food prep
3:00-6:00 Food prep
4:00-5:00 Cocktail prep
6:00-9:00 Service/Clean up (and, yes we’ll feed you )

A bit about ACGA:
The American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) is a bi-national nonprofit membership organization of professionals, volunteers and supporters of community greening in urban and rural communities. The Association recognizes that community gardening improves people’s quality of life by providing a catalyst for neighborhood and community development, stimulating social interaction, encouraging self-reliance, beautifying neighborhoods, producing nutritious food, reducing family food budgets, conserving resources and creating opportunities for recreation, exercise, therapy and education.
ACGA and its member organizations work to promote and support all aspects of community food and ornamental gardening, urban forestry, preservation and management of open space, and integrated planning and management of developing urban and rural lands.
The Association supports community gardening by facilitating the formation and expansion of state and regional community gardening networks; developing resources in support of community gardening; and, encouraging research and conducting educational programs.

I'm in for the whole day. I've been with Peterson Garden Project since the beginning and I'm excited the ACGA is being held in Chicago this year, this seems like a natural fit with LTH. I look forward to showcasing what our area has to offer, I know Jazzfood and his work with vegetables, I'm sure he'll come up with an inspired menu.

Hi,

I will be away in the wilds on Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, sorry I cannot help.

Regards,

Hi all!

Just wanted to bump this since we could really use a few more volunteers. Consider this an opportunity to get a FREE lesson in working in a real kitchen, preparing some fabulous dishes--you could pay big money for this at the various cooking schools around town--or just sign up here and have Chef Alan Lake share his talent with you!! And of course, everyone will get to partake of the feast

So here's a "taste" of what we'll be making for this fabulous vegetarian family style meal (all subject to what we have available from the local products being donated by Irv & Shelly's!)

Cocktail/Mocktail: Local Fruit (nectarine, melon?) agua fresca with Prosecco

Bar mix w/peruvian corn, chick peas, pepitas, peanuts, cumin, chili, cinnamon, brown sugar

Mole w/veg and tortilla chips

Amuse:
Dates w/gorgonzola, toasted almonds: On the table when the guests sit down. Served on Trowels

First Course--trio of salads, served in flower pots and bases:
Caprese w/grilled burrata in grape leaf, 12 yr old balsamic, xvoo.

Grilled veg salad (zucchini, bok choy, black radish, fennel, squash blossoms, red onion), sunflower seeds, lemon-shallot Vinaigrette.

Raw corn salad (fresh corn, Italian parsley, Garlic, Basil, Arugula, Walnuts, Walnut oil, Lemon, Parmesan, Red Onion)

Second Course:

Roasted barleysotto w/aged black garlic and roasted summer vegs (choose from locally available on I&S—broccoli rabe, green beans, shitakes, parsnips, chard—TBD)

Roasted butternut squash, kale, toasted almonds, parmesan, lemon

Dessert:
Grilled peaches, blk pepper, basil-lime syrup served with Eli’s Cheesecake

************

Just post here if you can spend the day or a few hours with us. Shifts will start at 10:00 a.m. and continue through service at 6:00 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

This sounds great. If I weren't going to the Fat Rice/City Farm/Outstanding in the Field event that night, I'd be in.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:This sounds great. If I weren't going to the Fat Rice/City Farm/Outstanding in the Field event that night, I'd be in.

=R=

If I had a nickel for every time I heard THAT excuse

I'm headed to Door County on Sunday for an OITF dinner myself!

I'd be in for prep if you need more hands.
What time should I show up?

Awesome!!! We start at 10:00 and could use help any time you can give it! Just let me know about when you think you'll be coming so that we can plan accordingly. Thanks!!

I'll shoot for 10:00, should be there no later than 10:15 depending on traffic.
I'm assuming Alan has plenty of sharp knives.

We'll have that covered I sent you a PM as well.

thanks and see you next Thursday!

Hi- i work in Hyde Park until 4:30. I could head on over after I get off and assist in whatever capacity is required until 7pm. Let me know if that would be helpful.

That would be terrific and much needed! Thanks Buttercream. Please have a look out for a PM regarding details about where to go.

thanks!!