An Orchard Feast

But really, I’m officially a local food expert? Oh, yay!

Kendall, executive producer for the new BYUtv show, Fresh Take, is a friend of mine. And so when he was telling me about needing an idyllic orchard setting for the episode of ‘A Slow Food Feast’, I offered my family’s orchards. They had originally wanted somewhere closer to Provo, but because those owners never responded to the request and I was sooo willing, and because our orchards really are the most beautiful, they were delighted to use them. The episode was to be a casual dinner in the orchards with local food big-wigs discussing the importance of local food, slow food, organic food, etc. Here is a list of attendees. (Starting at noon on the clock and going clock-wise).

Rebecca Cressman

BYU TV
Fresh Take Host

Joseph McRae
Pizzeria 712 & Communal
Co-creator & Chef

Christi Paulson
Slow Food Utah in Schools
Creator

Blake Spalding
Hell’s Backbone Grill
Co-Owner

Rachel Hodson
Edible Wasatch Magazine
Owner and publisher

Richard Sparks
Utah’s Own
Deputy Director

Colton Soelberg
Pizzeria 712 & Communal
Co-creator & Chef

Emiliano Lee
Liberty Heights Fresh
Cheese monger/manager

ME

Dale Allred
Jacob’s Cove Farm
Owner

When the guests arrived, I got to meet and chat with many of them, Rachel Hodson and I hit it off immediately, I think we are probably close to the same age and disposition. So I went about helping get the final touches completed while ‘make-up and hair’ got all the guests touched up. I took something over to the table, water with mint I think, and Roman asked me to sit down for a minute by him. Roman is the Producer. He said that Kendall and he had a favor to ask of me, because the Tony Capputo’s representative was a no-show, could I fill in? BUT, OF COURSE!!! I decided my credentials would be my Master’s degree in Urban Planning focusing on Urban Greenspace (which includes urban farming). AND, I have been working with SLCo’s Urban Farming Initiative. Oh my, I was wearing almost the same outfit I had worn for my studio portion of The Generations Project, earlier that week. It would look like I walked out of the studio and into the orchards. Luckily I have a lot of my clothes stored at my Mom’s, so I switched sweaters and added a turquoise scarf that Joy gave me years ago (which I have developed a great love for this past year, it also makes an appearance in The Generations Project). Kiera, my friend, had given me a present of ‘fashion glasses’ a few weeks early, so I threw them on as well to complete my transformation…glasses always worked for Clark Kent …Ta-da!!

It was soooo much fun, talking about food, while eating great food, with experts. It will be among the top in the list of great dinner parties in my life, and I get to count part of the hosting credit because I set the table, provided the table, and the perfect location. YAY!!

After we finished filming, there was a dark, mad rush to pick apples and nectarines to take home. Blake wanted apples, I bemoaned she was leaving to return to Boulder the next day and there wasn’t time enough to get her loads to take back. But, she made me an offer, if I would bring her fruit, she would give me food. A DEAL!!! Boulder, UT has apparently had a crappy fruit production year, and so I will bring her plums and apples and get some free food.

The episode will air in  2011. Last week they interviewed Alice Waters about School Gardens for Fresh Take. Yes, Alice and I are now contemporaries. Ahahahahahaha.

I have an abundant life.