Slow Food Alameda recently appointed a board of directors to run their fledgling organization. They include President Mark Hardwick from Boys Republic; Vice President Steve Rich from Bi Rite Market in San Francisco; Secretary Kris Tann, Health Counselor; Treasurer Mary Kay Hardwick and members Dan Avakian of Dan's Produce; Dario Barbone, UCSF Medical Center; Mike Kohne, Rosenblum Cellars; Michael Anderson, Ploughshares; Robert Brewer, Strauss Family Creamery; Eileen Savel, Cooking Club, and founder Vera Ciammetti, Slow Food Nation director of operations.

The charter member dinner is planned for April 14 at Harbor Bay Community Center, open to charter members only. Some 146 new members were recruited during the kick-off event in February. The group plans a celebration, supported by local vendors and restaurants, including Rosenblum Cellars, C'Era Una Volta, Baron's Meat and Poultry, Feel Good Bakery, Pappo, Strauss Family Creamery, Mona's Table, Angela's and Peet's Coffee and Tea.

Upcoming Events

Slow Food Alameda will co-host "Tomato Night" with Peggy Kass from Kassenhoff Growers who will be describing some of the 60 varieties of tomatoes that they are growing and Ploughshares is selling. Nursery Manager Michael Anderson will teach us how to help these tomatoes succeed in our backyards. This event takes place April 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Ploughshares Nursery, Alameda Point. Go to www.ploughsharesnursery.com for info.

Additional events include our upcoming fundraising event at C'Era Una Volta, featuring fine wines and a celebration of roses in May. This event will also be open to the public. Look for details soon on our Web site at www.slowfoodalameda.org.

What is Slow Food?

Slow Food is an international non-profit organization founded in 1989 to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people's dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.

For more information contact Mark Hardwick at 684-5411 or or visit www.slowfoodalameda.org.