Events: New Amsterdam Market, Slow Food NYC, Saxelby Cheesemongers

New York City has a surprisingly vibrant local food movement considering the majority of what is grown here comes from window sills and rooftops. Farmer’s markets, CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture), movie screenings, panel discussions, and tastings abound. The surrounding areas – upstate New York, the North Fork, Connecticut, and New Jersey – are also all accessible (albeit not as easily) and a constant source of locavore activities. Here are a few upcoming events:




Slow Food NYC – Slow U: Ice Cream, from Sugar and Snow - Tuesday, September 1, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Location: Astor Wine Center, 399 Lafayette Street, NYC
Learn some ice cream history from culinary historian and author Jeri Quinzio then watch one of New York City’s food truck pioneers, Ben Van Leeuwen, demonstrate how to make ice cream at home and adapt a recipe for larger scale production. Top it all off with a sundae.
Cost: $25.00 for Slow Food members, $35.00 for Non-Members. Sign up is online only on the Astor Wine Center website.

New Amsterdam Market – Sunday, September 13, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Location: South Street between Beekman and Peck
This market happens periodically throughout the year in an effort to raise awareness and funds to establish a year-round, permanent market place at the South Street Seaport. I’ve been to all the markets so far and enjoyed meeting new and different vendors from those I see at Greenmarket every week. There is plenty of food to sample and take home. Definitely go with an appetite!

Saxelby Cheesemongers – A Day A-Whey – Sunday, September 27, 9:00 am to 7:00 pm

Location: Bus meets at Saxelby Cheesemongers, 120 Essex Street, NYC
Spend the day in the Hudson Valley at Sprout Creek Farm and Terhune Orchard. Sprout Creek is one of the region’s top creameries; take a tour of the farm and learn how they make their farmstead cheeses. Relax and recharge with a picnic of cheese, salads, fruit, cider, and bread from Sullivan Street Bakery before taking off for apple picking at Terhune Orchard, home of some of the Empire State’s finest apples.
Cost: Tickets are $95.00 and include transportation, lunch, and apple picking. Tickets available online at Brown Paper Tickets.