Berkshire Tibits: Israeli Holiday, Cooking Demos
- Israel's signature bread with Michele's homemade labnah, a Middle Eastern yogurtlike cheese
- grilled fish with fresh herbs salad and tahini sauce
- Feta cheese and za'atar-stuffed mushroom on a cream za'atar-pesto-sauce; za'atar is a savory Middle Eastern herb and spice mixture
- duet of halva Ice-cream and Nutella parfait
- herbal infused tea
- designer cookies
The Downtown Pittsfield Farmers Market, which opens its first outdoor market of its fourth season on the Pittsfield Common this Saturday, May 14, from 9 to 1, has made it!
Downtown Pittsfield was one of the 20 recipients, chosen from a field of 850 applicants from all around the country, of a $10,000 grant from Seeds of Change that rewards sustainable and organic agricultural projects.
The grant will allow the market to continue and expand outreach to lower income and senior community members with whom it had been so successful last year.
The grant will help pay youth workers the market hires to help market vendors. But, the main use of the grant will be to be able to again offer the Double Value Program they instituted last July. Double Value allows customers who receive SNAP/EBT/food stamp or WIC (Women, Infants and Children) benefits, and Berkshire seniors who receive coupons to shop for fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets, additional coupons to use at the Downtown Pittsfield Farmers Market between July and October.
More farmers' markets open or move outdoors this Saturday, May 14. in Cornwall, Conn. from 9 to 12:30, at 413 Sharon-Goshen Turnpike through the end of October and in Norfolk, Ct. from 10 to 1, 19 Maple Ave. through October 8. See the website for more details.
Last year, after co-founder Michio Kushi's death in 2014, Kushi Institute Center for Natural Healing in Becket, an internationally prominent learning center with an emphasis on vegan nutrition, established the Kushi Peace Prize to honor individuals whose work contributes to health, peace and sustainability.
This Saturday, May 14, at 4 p. m., the Kushi Institute and Berkshire Co-op Market of Great Barrington will bring former Ohio congressman and presidential candidate Dennis J. Kucinich to Monument Mountain Regional High School, 600 Stockbridge Road/Route 7 in Great Barrington, to receive the 2016 Kushi Peace Prize and speak along with his wife, Elizabeth Kucinich, filmmaker and vegan activist.
Kucinich has worked for peace throughout his career, for the testing and labeling of genetically engineered foods and other organisms/GMOs and for providing healthy food for families and in schools. He attended a program at Kushi Institute, became involved there and worked closely with Michio Kushi and Kushi Institute since.
The evening is free and open to the public.
He's paired his cheeses with wines. He's paired his cheeses with brews. This Saturday, May 14, from 3 to 5, Matt Rubiner, owner of Rubiner's Cheesemongers & Grocers, 264 Main St. in Great Barrington, 413-528-0488, will be presenting one of his seminars, this time, pairing his cheeses with hard ciders.
Matt loves this combo. Feels pairing ciders and cheeses is the best. Even better than cheese and wine or cheese and beer. And apple growing is a regional industry. So, he'll pair his hard ciders with local artisanal cheeses.
$65 per person. Call and reserve your spot in his class.
The three local Stanton brothers, Peter, Sean and Jeremy, will be celebrating their parents Nick and Andrea Stanton's 30th anniversary year of "providing care for people with special needs within our community" with one of their blowout parties and really good food feasts. The boys will be hosting the Stanton Home annual pig roast fundraiser this Sunday, May 15, from 4 to 7 at Stanton Home, 205 North Plain Road/Route 41 in Great Barrington, 413-528-0506, $100 per person.
There'll be the pig and poultry and "a panoply of lovingly grown and sourced local delicacies." Plus music provided by Easy Ridin' Papas and a silent auction. Peter, who founded and directs The Nutrition Center with offices around the county and region, now runs Stanton Home which his parents started. Sean, who runs Blue Hill and North Plain Farms in Monterey and Great Barrington, will bring the food. Jeremy, owner of Fire Roasted Catering and The Meat Market in Great Barrington, will cook the meal with his staff.
Stanton Home is part of North Plain Farm with organic gardens and a professional weavery, all tended with the participation of the residents and international volunteers.
The Stantons give really good dinners and parties. Call for reservations.
Monday, May 16, at 6 p.m., Berkshire Co-op Market, 42 Bridge St. in Great Barrington, 413-528-9697, will have its monthly Co-op Convo conversation/question and answer/discussion of Co-op matters in the café.
General manager Daniel Esko will be there to update attendees and answer questions as will communications manager Matthew Novik and ownership coordinator Samantha Zapeda.
The Co-op wants people to bring their ideas, share them and enjoy some complimentary Co-op snacks while everyone gets to know each other and the Co-op better.
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