Farmers Market & Recipe 4 Success teach kids how to love food
We went to visit a different farmer’s market this weekend in Houston. We stopped by the Highland Village FM who is celebrating a chef series. They have invited local chefs to cook and bring new recipes to the visitors of the market over the next few weeks. The weekend guest was Chef Monica Pope of T’afia restaurant and board member of Recipe 4 Success.
I have enjoyed watching the periphery of Monica Pope’s success and ability to use some of her recent Bravo Top Chef Masters notoriety to bring attention to the need for eating local and sustainable foods. During her cooking session showcasing baby beets, butter with flowers, salad burnet and sweet soy sauce reduction, she talked about the need to eat what is grown locally and in season. If it grows together, it probably goes together. What a great and simple understanding of food and recipe combination!
The ongoing progress of Recipe 4 Success is a bit of an underdog. It is the charity Monica was playing for on Top Chef. Most people won’t understand how the program can be successful and how it should be part of a school program where we focus only on testing and prep for testing. But, with a few strong leaders, it seems the program is succeeding and making a difference. My hope is that the program is set to breakout and be replicated across the country in other successful models. Read about teaching children to grow and cook their own food in community gardens. I especially like the uniqueness of Seed to Plate education programs where kids get to have a recipe garden and kitchen on campus. (Didn’t we call this home economics back in the day?) But this version has great volunteers inspiring young kids to be chefs, food scientists, or just healthier in their own home.
For us? We came home with a variety of Houston local cheeses including a goat cheese from Blue Heron Farms, a Blue from Houston Dairymaids, and some amazing bread and soft pretzels from Slow Dough Bakery along with some really great organically grown vegetables. #slgt
