A bounty of food and wine fundraisers.
The dazzling October hunter’s moon, although obscured by the Bay Area’s famous fog, signified a bountiful harvest for fundraisers benefiting several S.F. environmental and education programs.
Yet dedicated eco-warriors at the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA) didn’t even flinch when heralded food journalist-critic-author Ruth Reichl bravely described organic agriculture as “Food for rich people.” (More on that below.) Grade A: The auditorium at Gateway Public Schools on Oct. 13 never smelled so good as when food activist-author Bryant Terry fired up his stoves onstage.
The James Beard Award-winning ecochef and inaugural Museum of the African Diaspora chef-in-residence was the keynote speaker at the 14th Matters of the Mind Luncheon. Led by co-chairs Claire Alt and Jennifer Hocking, 350 supporters raised $350K for educational and college counseling programs for 6th- to 12thgrade students at this college prep charter school.
Terry, who describes himself as an “Afro-vegan chef,” inspired the rapt audience with stories, a cooking demonstration and spiritual songs he learned while cooking with his grandmother in her Tennessee kitchen.
“Collectively, our stories are about the potential and courage of young people, about the impact mentors and teachers make on students’ lives,” said Gateway Executive Director Sharon Olken. “We envision a future that benefits from the talents and contributions of all its citizens.”
And their proof is in the pudding: 60 percent of Gateway students receive free or reduced-price lunch; 75 percent are students of color; 50 percent will be the first in their family to attend college; and 96 percent of Gateway graduates attend college — double the rate statewide. Digging deep: During the Oct. 13 City Picnic fundraiser, the former asphalt playground at Sherman Elementary School was a verdant bloom of herbs, beans and potatoes, thanks to agricultural efforts by student-farmers at this Cow Hollow public school.
“If you care about kids, education, equity and the future of our planet, you’re at the right fiesta,” toasted philanthropist Randi Fisher ,acofounder of the nonprofit Education Outside. “This remarkable program is transforming the way kids learn, think and live; one school garden at a time.”
In its five-year history, EO co-founder and CEO Arden Bucklin-Sporer, in partnership with the S.F. Unified School District, has grown this hands-on learning program from four schools to 47 where college grads serve as EO Corps members affecting the lives of 17,000 public school kids.
For this third City Picnic, restaurateur Patricia Unterman, a Ferry Plaza Farmers Market co-founder, corralled a Mexican feast created by El Molino Central that combined the Sonoma cookery’s exquisite style with student-grown produce. Sated guests responded by raising a healthy $360K.
The program is not only transformative for students — it’s also inspiring for EO mentors like Ingrid Lassleben, who, after completing her two-year stint, signed on as a San Francisco public school teacher.
“In the garden as we raise these future citizens, every aspect of a child’s senses is activated,” Lassleben said. “Four years ago, I planted oak saplings with my EO students. Nature isn’t always part of their life experience. So it’s thrilling for them to see the trees growth as they’re setting their own roots that will grow abundance.” Farm feast: Do you know Alejandro Foung and his wife, food writer and CUESA trustee Jessica Goldman Foung?
Well, you might want to make their acquaintance: In the Ferry Building for the Oct. 16 Sunday Supper, this duo won the right to reserve a table, any old time, at either State Bird Provisions or the Progress.
The Foungs and a posse of pals bid $15K for a live-auction item offering a private, in-home dinner whipped up by husband-and-wife chefs Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski.
But the award-winning restaurateurs are so dedicated to the CUESA cause of growing a healthy food system that they sold the package twice — for a total of $30K. To sweeten the pot, they threw in the right for winners to call the restaurant anytime — in the next year — for a guaranteed spot at one of their red-hot restos.
Led by CUESA Executive Director Marcy Coburn and Foodie Chap emcee Liam Mayclem, 330 supporters took a seat at long, family-style tables where top toques served up four unique four-course menus, and raised a total of $294K for CUESA, which recently opened its Jack London Square Farmers’ Market in Oakland.
At both locales, CUESA provides students with healthy eating and youth development programs, cooking demos and farm tours as well as opportunity for small-scale food entrepreneurs and organic farmers.
This fete also honored local farmers, those hard-working folks who grow this fine food.
That’s where keynote speaker Reichl comes in. After describing the extraordinary food being served to guests as, technically, “food for rich people,” this former 1970s-era Berkeley denizen declared that organic produce must be democratized.
“A welfare mother of four is not going to buy milk-fed pork for dinner,” Reichl said earlier at our table. “She’s going to buy a cheaper cut of meat to cook.”
“This is our burden going forward,” she announced to the crowd. “We must ensure the good-food movement does not become elitist. Keep the revolution going!”
“If you care about kids, education, equity and the future of our planet, you’re at the right fiesta.” Randi Fisher, Education Outside co-founder at an EO event