Fresh Sheet : Slow Food supporters set to gather this month

Advocates of the Slow Food movement will host a presentation in Spokane later this month to share what they learned at a recent international conference called Terra Madre.

Al Kowitz and Evelyn Florio, members of Slow Food Upper Columbia, attended the conference in Turin, Italy, along with 6,500 delegates from 148 countries.

The gathering of cooks, farmers, food producers and sustainable-food advocates included well-known speakers and delegates Michel Pollan, author of “An Omnivore’s Dilemma,” Gary Nabhan, author of “Coming Home to Eat,” and Alice Waters, founder of Chef Panisse Restaurant.

Terra Madre focused on strengthening the networking within food communities, cooks and universities and establishing better communication. It also emphasized environmentally friendly agriculture. Another theme was finding new outlets for small-scale food producers who face difficult competition with industrial producers and distributors, Kowitz said in a news release.

Anyone interested in the Slow Food movement and local foods is invited to attend the presentation and slide show Jan. 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Community Building in Spokane, 35 W. Main St.

Slow Food International 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,” according to the nonprofit group’s Web site. More information can be found at www.slowfood.com.

Light refreshments will be served before the slide show.

For more information, contact Patty Gates at the New Priorities Foundation at (509) 456-5977.

World Cuisine at Huckleberry’s

The 9th Street Bistro is inside Huckleberry’s Natural Market right here in Spokane. But for the rest of the month, visitors might be able to imagine they’re eating in a cafe in Kobe City, Japan.

Chef Jamie Lombardi has tweaked the menu to feature recipes from Japan, including edamame soybean dip, miso marinated salmon and gyoza dumplings.

Some recipes from the menu also are available online at www.huckleberrysnaturalmarket.com. Click on “9th Street Bistro” and then “9th Street Bistro Goes Global.”

Look inside today’s Food section for the recipe for miso marinated salmon.

The bistro, 926 S. Monroe St., will feature dishes from New Orleans in February and other world cuisine each month. Beer and wine suggestions to pair with menu items also will be available.