Just EAT!

Just Food is a non-profit organization that works to develop a just and sustainable food system in the New York City region. We do this by fostering new marketing and food-growing opportunities that address the needs of regional, rural family farms, NYC community gardeners, and NYC communities (taken directly from the Just Food website).

Last Saturday night in Brooklyn, around 7PM, my friend Julie (along w/her "Bhubs" Brooks) hosted one of Just Food's many Harvest Dinners - a series of fundraisers to benefit the work of this non-profit. For the low cost of $20/head, each guest received of a 3-course dinner, complete w/UVA wines, and a chance to win exciting prizes during a raffle following dinner. It was a lovely evening with friends (not to mention a great opportunity to make some new ones!) and all left w/an overall warm, happy feeling inside!

(For some forgotten reason, I am clearly 7-levels of shocked @ Brooks this picture, lol.)

On the menu for their 26 guests (and one bird): lasagna (both veggie and carnivorous), fresh greens and crusty bread. Julie starred as master-lasagna-chef, armed w/the below Bolognese-recipe from Cook’s Illustrated (click to view larger and print!):

Mindful of Just Food's objective, Julie used pork and beef, both organic, from Arcadian Pastures (featured in New York Magazine here and cited in the NY Times here) who's focus is on heritage breeds of livestock, using organic methods. Even the carrots and celery in the sauce were all organic from Garden of Eve. Garden of Eve also runs the CSA at our own local Williamsburg (Brooklyn) Market and even goes so far as to do farm spa weekends out in Aquebogue, NY. As Julie puts it, "They're really freaking cool."

And so is Julie who, along her 2 co-hosts Abbie & Cathy (one of which made an AMAZING organic apple tart w/fresh cream - GAH!!), hosted a delish dinner for a great cause.

... any leftovers Julie??... you know it's a proven fact (according to me) that lasagna is best 5-7 days after it's made... .. . ? (lol)

xo