Chef, author is featured guest at 2008 Heritage Day

Author, environmentalist and chef Jay Weinstein is the featured speaker at the annual Heritage Day festivities Wednesday, Sept. 24 at the College of Saint Benedict.

This year’s theme of Heritage Day is, “Stewardship and the Family Table.”

Weinstein, who most recently wrote The Ethical Gourmet (Broadway, 2006), speaks on “Serving up a Brighter Future: Sustainable Foods for the Family Table,” at 10 a.m. at Petters Auditorium, Benedicta Arts Center of the College of Saint Benedict.

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America with a degree in journalism from New York University, Weinstein is a protégé of restaurateur and author Jasper White. He has written two cookbooks, and his articles have appeared in the New York Times newspaper and Travel and Leisure magazine.

Weinstein’s The Ethical Gourmet is a handbook for finding and cooking environmentally friendly and ethically-produced foods that taste good. The book includes 100 recipes that are healthy and ethically sound.

Following Weinstein’s speech, a “Festival of the Family Table” is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the mall in front of the BAC (in case of rain, the festival will be moved inside to the Haehn Campus Center). Participants will be able to visit booths of local growers and organizations that support local stewardship of the land and goods. In addition, a trivia game related to stewardship and sustainability will be played, with prizes to be presented (must be present to win).

A local foods luncheon with table conversation is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the mall, and food demonstrations from Weinstein and other invited chefs is from 12:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. Music will be provided by the Becky Schlegel Trio (11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) and Keri Noble (1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., and 2:15 p.m. to 3 p.m.)

Participants are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to the Heritage Day celebration. Donations will go to local food shelves.

A community dialogue on “What’s for Dinner? Stewardship of Local Foods” kicks off the event from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23 at Alumnae Hall, Haehn Campus Center. Panelists include Mary Jo Forbord, Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota; S. Pat Ruether, OSB; S. Phyllis Plantenberg, OSB, Common Ground Garden; and Charles Wright, associate professor of philosophy at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. The community dialogue is free and open to the public.

The event is sponsored by the president’s offices at CSB and SJU; CSB and SJU Student Development; and Companions on a Journey, CSB.