Celebrate local food and Swedish heritage at these upcoming events
The Sustainable Food Center, which runs four area farmers markets, as well as food education and cooking classes and gardening programs, hosts an annual fundraiser called Farm to Plate that is coming up on May 10. But this year’s Farm to Plate will be different.
First off, it’s the 10th annual year for the event, but secondly, the organization is nearing $1 million in money raised through this upscale affair at the beautiful Barr Mansion, 10463 Sprinkle Road. Over the past nine years, SFC has raised $900,000. Logically, this year should be the year they cross that million-dollar milestone.
At this year’s party from 6 to 9:30 p.m. May 10, chefs from dozens of restaurants, catering companies and food businesses will be sharing bites of their best dishes. Participating chefs include PJ Edwards (Chicon and Contigo), Peter Maffei (Cannon + Belle), Nicholas Yanes ( Juniper), Michael Paley (Central Standard) and Sonya Cote (Eden East). Tickets are $300 at sustainablefoodcenter.org.
At the party, organizers will present the city of Austin with the Sustainable Food Changemaker Award. According to the Sustainable Food Center, the Changemaker award honors individuals and organizations that have contributed to their mission in a significant way.
“We have been strong partners with the city of Austin since our inception 41 years ago,” Ronda Rutledge, executive director of Sustainable Food Center, said in a release. “Through its comprehensive plan — Imagine Austin — our local government has made it a priority for Austin to be a thriving, equitable, and ecologically resilient community through a healthy and just local food system. Growing, selling, eating, and recovering food locally creates jobs, strengthens the economy, improves public health, and reduces transportation impacts. I’m proud to live in a city that espouses these incredible goals.”
Celebrating Swedish culture at fourth annual Heritage Day May Fest
Swedish meatballs, lingonberry jam and open-faced sandwiches are staples of Swedish culture and cuisine, and despite the thousands of Swedes who settled in Central Texas, it can be hard to find those foods outside IKEA these days.
But on May 6, the communities of Carlson, Kimbro, Lund and Manda will gather at the New Sweden Evangelical Lutheran Church in Manor for the New Sweden Heritage Center’s fourth annual Heritage Day May Fest.
Starting at 3 p.m. Saturday at the church at 12809 New Sweden Church Road, descendants of the Swedes who settled the area, as well as Swedish expats and others with an affinity for Scandinavian culture, will enjoy a maypole, silent auction and a traditional Swedish meal, followed by a program in the sanctuary at 6 p.m.
Tickets for the meal are $15 for adults and $8 for children ages 4 to 9. Wednesday is the last day to buy the tickets, and you can buy them or find out more about the event by calling the church office at 512-281-0056.