Gathering Together for Terra Madre 2014

Nearly 50 diners plus two great chefs met over a gorgeous four course menu laid out at Gathering Together Farm in Philomath, Oregon, on Saturday, 18 October 2014. The dinner raised funds to support Slow Food Corvallis’s two delegates traveling to Terra Madre (Slow Food’s annual international gathering held in Turino, Italy), and other Slow Food Corvallis projects.

In addition to raising funds for worthy causes, participants enjoyed learning about the activities of the Culinary Breeding Network. The CBN enables chefs and consumers to provide input about taste and flavor qualities of varieties of vegetables which are being bred at several universities. Jim Myers of OSU’s Horticulture Department and Lane Selman of the CBN laid out a variety of vegetables for sampling before the meal, and gathered input on the products from participants. They also donated delicious and beautiful mild red habanero peppers, several varieties of purple, red and yellow tomatoes, and a special type of yellow dry bean commonly used in Mexico for use in producing the meal.

The lamb, which formed the meal’s main course, was produced by Mickey Clayton of Dot Ranch (one of our two TM delegates). Dot Ranch produces heritage, Slow Food Arc of Taste-listed Navajo-Churro lamb, which was a wonderful centerpiece for the meal, prepared in an Italian-style “bollito” (poached with vegetables and served with a savory broth).

The meal was further enhanced by a variety of pickled vegetables provided by Board member and TM Delegate Linda Ziedrich (aka “the pickle lady”), who also donated savory jams and copies of her cookbook for gift baskets.

Casa Bruno, A Portland, Oregon wine distributor, donated several cases of extraordinary wines, which provided an excellent complement to the meal.

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