Caw Caw Creek on Cooking Channel

So, since I am not sleeping a whole lot these days--Jones has his days and nights pretty mixed up, and although we're making progress in finding what works for all of us, I am awake at pretty strange hours.  I have found myself watching a ton of HGTV, Food Network and Cooking Channel.

image via here

A couple nights ago on a Cooking Channel show called FoodCrafters, (which will re-air February 5th at 5:30 PM and February 7th at 12:00 PM, but I caught it at 12:30 AM), SC's own Caw Caw Creek pastured pork farm was featured.  Caw Caw Creek owner, Emile DeFelice, talks about his humanely raised and happy pigs.
 

Caw Caw Creek pork products can be found at the All-Local Farmer's Market and the other local markets listed here, as well as featured in many Columbia restaurant dishes, like the CawCaw Bratwurst Sandwich from Hunter Gatherer, or the Caw Caw Creek Burger at Pawley's Front Porch.

Awesome job, Mr. DeFelice!

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Shouldn't We All Care What We're Putting In Our Bodies?

As I explained it to my Social Policy class Monday night, I have a new "passion," if you will...educating myself and others about the food, namely meat, that we are putting into our bodies--and the bodies of our children. #1 on my 31 Things for my 31st Year List was to become more aware of what I eat, where it comes from, and how it affects my health.

The first thing I did towards this end was to read Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. This promptly had me not eating animals...if you haven't read it, you should. I have since watched Food, Inc. and investigated a few of the local meat producers, Caw Caw Creek Farms and Wil-Moore Farms. I have also begun shopping more at the All-Local Farmers' Market at 701 Whaley St. in Columbia.

Today I came across two articles that are valid pieces of investigative journalism questioning the safety of the meat we eat in this country--the safety of beef processing as well as the antibiotics fed to the animals.

Here is an article I found on the blog Grits and Gravy: Adventures of a South Carolina Foodie. The article by Michael Moss of the New York Times questions the safety of beef-processing methods in America.

This article I found in my Pew Charitable Trusts weekly e-mail, Pew News Now. It is a report by Katie Couric of CBS investigating if feeding farm animals antibiotics is producing drug-resistant bacteria. (I think, how could it not be?!) Here is the video report, aired on the CBS Evening News on February 9, 2010.

In the midst of all of this educating and investigating and finding out things I never wanted to find out about the meat that is raised and slaughtered in this country, I am also learning about people who are doing the right thing. The right thing not only for the people they are feeding, but also for the animals they raise for meat. Two of those people, locally, are Emile DeFelice, of Caw Caw Creek, and Kristian Niemi of Rosso Trattoria Italia (and Gervais & Vine). Niemi does his best to serve local ingredients when possible, as well as humanely and organically raised meats, such as pork from Caw Caw Creek Farm. See the video below, Episode 1 of a new series called Off Menu with Kristian, where he takes a tour of Caw Caw Creek and then demonstrates a recipe of Grilled Pork Chops with Apple Chutney.



Stayed tuned for more posts highlighting local restaurateurs and farmers doing their best to serve healthy, humanely treated, and locally-grown meats and vegetables.

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A Word for Wednesday

urfeit: an overabundant supply or indulgence.


As in: I avoided eating or drinking a surfeit of anything this past week, (including alcohol), and was rewarded with a 7 lb weight loss at my Biggest Loser weigh-in last night! (Sorry, a little unabashed gloating is called for every now and then!)

image via here

Or: Everyone in the Columbia area should go to Smoke Barbeque's Whole Hog 4 Haiti party on Saturday, February 6th, 12-8 PM. Although I am not a fan of eating pig right off the spit, I am sure there will be a surfeit of other wonderful food to sample. Plus, there will be amazing music from Danielle Howle, American Gun, Black Bottom Biscuits, and more!

Sponsored by Smoke and Caw Caw Creek.
$10/adult suggested donation.

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

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All-Local Farmers Market

So we slept really late this Saturday morning, (the cold has a way of making one not want to get out of bed, no?), but we made it to the All-Local Farmers Market in time to find a few awesome things!
James had never been to this Farmers Market before, and he was in awe...and really, many of the vendors had already packed up by the time we got there, (11:15 am).

The gentleman from Wil Moore Farms said you really need to get there by 9:30 to see everything and have the best selection.

We got his last dozen free-range, all organic eggs, (this display dozen). We also purchased some organic sausage patties from him.

This is a picture of our entire haul for the morning: eggs and sausage from Wil Moore Farms, bacon from Caw Caw Creek, homemade cheddar bread, kettle corn for my mom, and a 14-in-1 spice rub from Kirby's Delites.

James is on a no-carb diet right now, so he's really excited about the meat and eggs and I've had a feta-mozzarella bread from the same woman who made the cheddar bread, so I know it's going to be amazing.

Here's to hoping we can drag our butts out of bed earlier next Saturday!

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