A Dames (and friends) event

Tickets:  Click here to buy your tickets!

Do you know where your food comes from? Who produces, processes, and prepares it, and in what conditions? Why is fresh food available in some communities and not others? And who—if anyone—is responsible for ensuring that everyone has access?
 
With every bite of food we eat, we have an opportunity to help remake an unjust and unequal food system.
 
Food for the People explores these questions by looking at the greater Washington, D.C. area’s food system and the inequalities that shape it.
 
Join us at the Anacostia Community Museum as we take a deep dive into the food issues of the nation’s capital—past and present. This indoor and outdoor exhibition features artifacts, art installations, videos, and hands-on interactives. We will have a guide to take us on a special Les Dames Escoffier Washington DC Regional Chapter tour.
 
The details:
 
When: Saturday, September 10, 2022, at 2 pm
Where: Anacostia Community Museum 1901 Fort Place SE, Washington, DC 20020
Who: Registration is open to Dames and one guest 
Cost: $10 per person. FREE parking on-site.
Space is limited to the first 20 guests. 
​

PLEASE NOTE, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED!  WE HOPE TO RESCHEDULE.

​FORAGING FOR THE DELECTABLE AMERICAN PAW PAW (AND OTHER FALL TREATS) WITH MATT COHEN
WHEN: Sunday September 11th, 2022
TIME: Arrive by 9:15 am. Foragers will leave at 9:30 am and return by noon
WHERE: Carderock Recreation Area, Potomac, Maryland (off the Clara Barton Parkway)
PARKING: Meet at this parking lot: https://goo.gl/maps/2EGbXKJMopNoEMbh8 
WHAT TO WEAR/WHAT TO BRING: Long pants & long sleeves (optional but helps to avoid contact with poison ivy), hat, hiking boots or sturdy shoes, walking stick (there will likely be some tricky footing in spots), drinking water, a snack, collection bags & backpack to stash finds, and bug repellent
WHO: Dames members and friends. Dames may bring a friend to join them
COST: $36 members /$37 non-members
TICKETS:  Click here to buy your tickets!

EVENT DETAILS:
Get ready to join your fellow Dames for a seasonal foraging walk with Matt Cohen, founder of Matt’s Habitats.  On our September hunt, Matt will introduce us to delicious American Paw Paws; we’ll learn where to find them, when to pick them and how to use them. Along the trails will be other wild edible plants; perhaps wild grapes, spicebush berries, garlic mustard, black walnuts, wild ginger, and possibly mushrooms. Matt will introduce them all, as well as discuss culinary ideas, preparation techniques and seasonal foraging. Meet-up directions and reminder will be emailed before the event.  

This foraging event is limited to 20 participants.  If you are bringing a guest, please be sure to purchase their ticket at the same time you purchase yours.  If the event is sold out, we will schedule a second foraging walk.  A waitlist has been set up for this purpose as part of on-line registration.  
Paw Paw -  Asimina triloba- Our largest local native fruit, paw paws are the only species in the Custard Apple family found in the United States. Several tropical fruits such as soursop and cherimoya are close relatives. In April, paw paw trees produce showy red flowers with a fetid odor attracting pollinating blowflies and other carrion-feeding insects. The large, strongly-scented leaves are the exclusive food source for the native zebra swallowtail caterpillar. The trees are found generally in the understory of forests, thriving in bottomland habitats such as along the Potomac River. Also known as the West Virginia Mango or Hillbilly Banana, the fruits taste like a custardy combination of the two. Eat them straight from the tree or scoop out the pulp to make puddings, ice cream, bread, pancakes, and more.

Matt Cohen started Matt's Habitats in 2003, specializing in sustainable gardening practices with an emphasis on native plants, wildlife habitats, and edible gardens. In 2009 he began to lead walks throughout the year on wild edibles and plant/mushroom identification, and he continually exercises his knowledge of the natural world through conferences, personal study, and lots of time outdoors. The headquarters of Matt's Habitats is a 120-year-old farmhouse in Silver Spring. Rooftop solar panels generate most of the electricity, and vegetable and fruit gardens generate a lot of produce. His 1/4 acre yard also serves as a test plot for many of the native plants that he uses in his clients' yards. Matt donates 10% of his net profit to environmental and humanitarian NGOs including Anacostia Watershed Society, Casa of Maryland, and the Capital Food Bank. He currently serves on the board of the Mycological Association of Washington, DC.

SAVE THE DATES!  More exciting events coming in September 
September 10: Anacostia Museum Food for the People visit and guided tour
September 19: Reel Tasty - the film is "Delicious"
September 20: Wine tasting & Conversation with Dana Cowin at the Four Seasons Hotel

GREEN TABLES VOLUNTEER WORKDAY APRIL 21

We are excited to partner with  City Blossoms to support the  Kelly Miller Youth Garden Workday on Saturday, April 21st from 10 am to 1 pm. This is a large public event that welcomes a number of partners to collaborate on projects including creating new garden signs, planting perennials, and spreading soil and mulch. Sign up here to take part.

Volunteers should sign this Liability Waiver Form and dress in work clothes and closed-toe shoes. City Blossoms recommends that volunteers bring a water bottle, bug spray and sunscreen. They will provide all tools, gloves and a light snack.  We look forward to joining you there!

If you have any questions, please contact Susan Lutz by email at susan.sundaydinner@gmail.com  or by phone at 626-799-5657
LDE-DC Green Tables Chair ​

Please join us on Tuesday, May 16 at Chaia.  Use the link below to register on Eventbrite for this free event!

DAMES ONLY!

DATE:  May 16, 2017
TIME:  9-11 a.m.
PLACE:  Chaia, 3207 Grace St NW (Georgetown), Washington, DC  20007
               202-333-5222

MENU:  Breakfast  Tacos, Juice, Coffee and Tea
 
Click here to register for your free ticket on Eventbrite!
Password:   Green Tables​

Featuring a discussion with Bettina Stern and Suzanne Simon
co-owners of Chaia, advocates for local sourcing and 
founders of the "Farm to Taco" movement.  Limited tickets.
Please register first. Registration details below.

DATE:  April 11, 2017
TIME:  9-11 a.m.
PLACE:  Chaia, 3207 Grace St NW (Georgetown), Washington, DC  20007
TEL:  202-333-5222

MENU
Breakfast  Tacos
Juice 
Coffee and Tea
generously donated by Chaia

Free for Dames only!  
Click here to register for your free ticket on Eventbrite!
Password:   Green Tables

DAMES WHO DO LUNCH -- OCTOBER 5
We will gather to support Capital Area Food Bank's Empty Bowls.
DATE: Wednesday, October 5
PLACE: FHI 360 Conference Center, 1825 Connecticut Ave NW #2, Washington, DC 20009
TIME: Dames will meet between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. 
Look for Ann Stratte or Jennifer Farley.
PRICE: $35.00. 
TICKETS: https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/empty-bowls/.
For that donation, you will provide 87 meals for those in need and enjoy unlimited soups, breads and desserts. PLUS you will take home a handmade bowl of your choice
NOTE: Once you get your ticket, please let Jennifer (savorysimpleblog@gmail.com) or Ann (annstratte@aol.com) know that you will be attending so they can keep an eye open for you. They will have a special table reserved for Dames. Or....just show up. They will be there!
 
 
DAMES WHO DO LUNCH -- OCTOBER 31
We will gather to support Capital Area Food Bank's Empty Bowls.
DATE: Monday, October 31
PLACE: Hyatt Regency Bethesda, One Bethesda Metro Center (at the top of the second escalator from the Bethesda Metro station) Bethesda, MD 20814
TIME: Dames will meet between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Look for Ann Stratte.
PRICE: $35.00. 
TICKETS: https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/empty-bowls/ .
For that donation,  you will provide 87 meals for those in need and enjoy unlimited soups, breads and desserts. PLUS you will take home a handmade bowl of your choice
NOTE: Once you get your ticket, please let Jennifer Farley (savorysimpleblog@gmail.com) or Ann Stratte (annstratte@aol.com) know that you will be attending so Ann can keep an eye open for you. She will have a special table reserved for Dames. Or....just show up. She will be there!

Dames Volunteer Opportunity at Joyful Markets by Martha's Table

Help spread the Joy by simply showing up to hand out fresh fruits and vegetables to local families with big shopping bags!  Each month Martha's Table sets up no-cost, after school, farmer's markets at 29 schools East of the Anacostia River. This is part of their effort to provide free and easy access to nutritional foods for families throughout the District. Here's a quick video of how they "pop-up", provide hundreds of families with groceries, and clean up in a matter of hours: https://youtu.be/xmOUwP1yN0A
​
The good folks at Martha's Table have invited us to help (wo)man the Joyful Market at Moten Elementary School, 1565 Morris Rd SE, Washington, DC 20020, on Thursday, September 29th from 2:00 p.m. til 6:00 p.m.  

No need to bring any goods or services for this volunteer opportunity.  Martha's table even provides loner aprons.   We need 10 volunteers for the full-time period. There is free street parking surrounding the school.  Feel free to sign up a spouse or friend to come with you.  

Please RSVP to abauer@marthastable.org with your full name and day of event phone number. 

DATE: Thursday, July 10

TIME: 4:30 p.m.

PLACE: Mussel Bar, 7262 Woodmont Ave. in Bethesda,MD. (parking is available in the multi-level lot behind the restaurant with entrances on Elm Street or Bethesda Ave)  see map below

PRICE: DUTCH TREAT

If you are interested in joining the Green Tables committee to use your skills and knowledge and offer ideas to impact environmental and/or underserved-community initiatives, please join us for a relaxed evening to brainstorm about Green Tables' outreach for 2014-15 over cocktails and appetizers.