The Food Trust Fundraiser

The Food Trust is a Philadelphia based non-profit that has achieved national recognition for its efforts to promote and ensure access to affordable, healthy food for everyone, particularly low income individuals and school-aged children. The Comprehensive School Nutrition Policy and Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative are two of the organization’s well-known efforts. The latter initiative centers on encouraging supermarket development in communities with little to no access to nutritious food. It also provided me direct experience with the organization as our firm, Re:Vision Architecture, was selected by the non-profit to develop a report on Greening Grocery on which I became the primary author. This involvement gave me personal insight to the group’s vision, dedication and energy while reinforcing my personal beliefs and efforts around sustainable food practices.

So, I enthusiastically accepted Erika’s suggestion that we attend a wine, chocolate, and cheese tasting class, featuring all local products, and fundraiser for the The Food Trust’s farmers’ market at Headhouse Square in Philadelphia. Initially the class was scheduled to be at the shambles, the covered outdoor plaza, at Headhouse, but with the forecast northeastern storm heading in, The Food Trust scrambled to find another location. The restaurant, Supper, generously offered free use of their communal dining area on the second floor for the event. With its warm, and inviting interior, a bit like a contemporary farm home, Supper, was the perfect location for the event. My boyfriend, Robert, and I sat at the bar, sipping wine while we waited for the first class to finish. I’ve never dined at the restaurant, which serves New American cuisine, but after experiencing the space, it’s definitely on my list. I am particularly excited about their Sunday Suppers, a family-style, prix fixe meal served on the first Sunday of each month also benefiting The Food Trust.

The class was run by Rolling Barrel, an event planning group, that focuses on showcasing food and drink of the Philadelphia region. The very effusive host, Corey, explained the various items we tasted. We were served a plate with an assortment of cheeses and chocolates aligned on the dish to correspond with each of the five tasting courses, that were also paired with a local wine. The cheeses included a raw cow’s milk cheddar and a creamy goat feta while the chocolate range included a solid dark, truffles and fudge made with blue cheese from Birchrun Hill Farms. My favorite cheese was the raw cheddar, while the most remarkable chocolate was the madras truffle that had a creamy center flavored with cardamom. I wasn’t a big fan of the wines, finding them to sweet or too young, although I appreciate the concept of pairing the food with local wines. I am not quite convinced that we have a region conducive to growing wine grapes. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and the family style seating was conducive to conversation with the other attendees. I was floored to find I was seated across the table from the mother of very good high school friend!

Both before and after the class, most of the vendors were selling their products that we had sampled. As with a farmer’s market, it’s nice to have direct contact with those creating the products. Ironically, Shellbark Farms, makers of chevre and feta cheeses, can not get a stand at the West Chester Farmer’s Market, even though they are located in that very town, as the market is so popular. That’s a good sign for farmer’s markets I suppose. I purchased an assortment of spicy fudges from Betty’s Buttons, the blue cheese that was used in the fudge and a raw milk horseradish cheddar from Hillacres Pride. Perhaps the cheddar will make a hearty macaroni and cheese or a grilled cheese with jalapeno peppers.

Below is a list of the cheeses, chocolates and wines and their makers that were sampled during the evening.

First pairing:

Crossing Vineyards Blush NV, Washington Crossing, PA

Hillacres Pride Cheddar, Peach Bottom PA

LoveBar 68% Dark Ecuadorian Chocolate, Philadelphia, PA

Second Pairing:

Pinnacle Ridge Blanc de Blanc NV, Kutztown, PA

Patches of Star Dairy Cream Feta, Nazareth PA

Marcie Blaine Artisanal Chocolates Madras Truffle, Philadelphia, PA

Third Pairing:

Chaddsford Pinot Noir 2007, Chadds Ford, PA

Shellbark Chevre, West Chester, PA

Fourth Pairing:

Stargazers Dornfelder 2007, Coatesville, PA

Birchrun Hills Farm “Fat Cat” Raw Cow’s Milk Cheese, Chester Springs, PA

John and Kira’s Starry Night Truffle, Philadelphia, PA

Fifth Pairing

Chaddsford Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Bettys Tasty Buttons Blue Sue, Philadelphia, PA