CLAM DAMN THANK YA MA'AM
Over 30lbs. of NC littleneck clams from Locals Seafood were enjoyed on a bed of Pie Pushers magic.
Wow, y'all know how to show the love.
The smell of freshly cooked clams drifted thru the The Cookery on a beautiful Spring evening as over 100 contestants shouted for their favorite ugly fish to make them a lucky bingo winner. Research your next ugly fish recipe on the new NC 10% Pinterest page. Food industry tastemakers and local food system organizers helped fill the room with neighbors, long-time Vittles supporters and the seafood curious alike to watch a screening of "Collards In The Cafeteria" and the premiere of "Freshly Retired."
Following the screening, special guest Chef Kris Reid offered a stirring testimonial on the reasons she devotes herself to the immense challenge of bringing local, real food into the institutions responsible for the young, old and unwell. She encouraged guests to share and use the Vittles / 10% Campaign film series to start the conversations within those institutions we have personal connections with and to seek out opportunities to volunteer, offering Food Corps as an example. The NC 10% Campaign team was also on hand to help folks plug into and commit their food dollars within their extensive partnership network.
We are so very grateful to all those who came out to take part in the fun and help underwrite this continuing film series, along with our dear friends at Pie Pushers and The Cookery, which donated the space and all of their bar proceeds from the evening. Big thanks also to all of our Ugly Fish Bingo prize donors; The Counting House, Parlor, Lil' Farm, Local Seafood and the Scrap Exchange—where you too can find an awesome trophy to help share the love.
The wild, weird and wonderdul fun of an impromptu bingo tiebreaker in which contestants channeled their inner ugly fish to the delight of all.
Our custom ugly fish bingo trophies found new happy homes, including this special "Bad Ass of The Year" for special guest Chef Kris Ried.
Vittles Chief Raconteur D.L. Anderson offers encouragement to Firsthand Foods Co-CEO Tina Prevatte as she takes on the persona of her favorite ugly fish, the black drum.
All photos by Victoria Bouloubasis.
CLAM JAM BINGO BAM!
90% of North Carolina seafood is shipped ELSEWHERE.
Help keep more of it here by learning to love the lesser known, perhaps even ugly, but still quite tasty fish of the NC coast during our next screening event at The Cookery in Durham on Thursday, May 14th, 6:30 - 8:30pm / $10 Admission.
We'll premier our short film, "Freshly Retired," about 320 grandparents and a rad chef who blew up their frozen food kitchen—she'll be there to tell you why and lead a conversation on what you can do to help bring more local, fresh food into our larger institutions. This film is part of a series we're producing with the NC 10% Campaign focusing on local food heroes. Watch our first installment "Collards In The Cafeteria" now. Proceeds from this event will underwrite our next short film about Locals Seafood.
In the spirit of the sea, Pie Pushers will be on hand with a special NC little neck clam slice (along with their usual selections) to go with a wide variety of libations from the Front Room bar. Finally, to introduce you to all those lesser-known fish (and give you a chance to win prizes) we'll play Ugly Fish Bingo—it'll be a bonafide Clam Jam Bingo Bam!
"Freshly Retired" (8:00) is an entertaining look at the clashing of two worlds as a sustainably minded chef is recruited to bring local, fresh food into a wealthy retirement community that relies heavily on frozen meals yet wishes to meet the needs of their growing “foodie” population. It’s the second in a series of films created to further the impact of the NC 10% Campaign, a bold initiative from the Center For Environmental Farming Systems that aims to have all North Carolinians commit 10% of their existing food dollars to local producers.
Following the film screening, the main subject and all-around badass Chef Kris Reid will share her honest and often hilarious insights on the unique challenges facing larger institutions wishing to offer more local foods. We'll have several feedback opportunities to seek out your input as we continue developing strategies for putting these films to work in bringing real food change to our state.
to the coast!
Your admission, a portion of any pizza and drink purchases, along with any tax-deductible donation, will help the 10% Campaign underwrite our best efforts to tell the story of how a deep love for ugly, fresh and tasty fish is supporting coastal fishermen, increasing traceability and keeping one of North Carolina’s greatest resources local.
ANOTHER WAY TO SHOW US LOVE
If you're unable to make it to the jam, but still wish to support our endeavors, please consider making a tax-deductible donation online, today. Any amount helps, but in total we're trying to raise $2,500 to help underwrite our next short. Please indicate that you are giving in support of Vittles under the OTHER GIFT INFO menu.
Donors giving $500 or more will be listed as Associate Producers in the credits. They'll also receive a unique gift from the coast (one clue - it's not a wall-mounted ugly fish).
FAQs
What are my parking options at the event location?
Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?
No. Bring the kids, but please help us keep things quiet during the screening and feedback session.
Can I purchase tickets / gain admission at the door?
Yes, but ticket holders can breeze on in and head straight to the bar instead of waiting in line. If you're still planning on purchasing tickets at the door, please indicate that you plan to attend via our facebook event page. Thanks.
What in the world is Ugly Fish Bingo?
There's a whole multitude of fish on the NC coast that are unfamiliar or ugly to look at even though they can be quite delicious to eat. A key part of increasing local fish consumption is educating the public on those more unfamiliar varieties. That's exactly what we hope to be do by replacing the numbers on a bingo card with unfamiliar fish names like White Grunt, Dog Fish and Round Head. It's nothing like our game of Chicken Sh!t Bingo.
Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
No. We'll have a record of all the purchases if you can bring your name.
What's the suggested attire?
Casual is good. If you want to get into the spirit, try on some linen and tropical prints.
Last Night | Kitchen Patrol Benefit and Screening
Get Him to Lantern - Cliff Collins catches up to the group after running into yet another friend on his way to a screening of "Un Buen Carnicero" at Lantern in Chapel Hill.
Nearly four months after the completion of Un Buen Carnicero, Cliff Collins had yet to see the Vittles short documentary about his namesake butcher shop. "I seen parts of it here and there, on a phone, but not the whole thing. Not like this," said a very pleased Collins following the screening event at Lantern just down the road in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Director Victoria Bouloubasis personally walked Collins from the shop to Lantern, stopping often so he could catch up with all the familiar faces along the way.
Chorizo empanadas are plated as Chef Bill Smith, of Crook’s Corner, and Andrea Reusing, of Lantern, catch up prior to the screening.
Collins and fellow butcher Tolo Martinez , joined over 50 ticketed guests to benefit Kitchen Patrol, Lantern's weekly cooking class for local children to help them discover the skills and inspiration they need for a lifetime of cooking and eating good food. "A very significant portion of our small budget was raised tonight," said Kitchen Patrol coordinator Vera Fabian. Chef Bill Smith, in attendance with members of the Crook's Corner kitchen staff, will be next week's guest chef at Kitchen Patrol, teaching students to make green gumbo and Atlantic Beach pie. If, like us, you're suddenly wishing to be back in elementary school, take a moment to enjoy this wonderful NPR Found Recipes segment on Smith's renowned pie.
Guests enjoy a screening of the Vittles film “Un Buen Carnicero” at Lantern in Chapel Hill, N.C., March 16, 2015.
Thank you to Lantern Chef Andrea Reusing and her incredible staff for making the time and effort to create a special evening to share our work. Thanks also to Collins for making the long walk and to the fine folks at the Southern Foodways Alliance, for helping to make this film possible.
Our next Vittles benefit screening event will be May 14th, at The Cookery in Durham, where we'll premiere a new short doc produced in partnership with the N.C. 10% Campaign. There will be one-of-a-kind Pie Pushers pizza, beer and bingo, stay tuned for more details.
EVENT | Chorizo & Fresh Films For The Kids
Join us at The Lantern Restaurant on Mon., March 16th, as we screen two of our newest short films and raise funds for Kitchen Patrol, Lantern's rad project to help children discover the skills and inspiration they need for a lifetime of cooking and eating good food. Admission includes a Negra Modelo at the door and house-made snacks, including Tolo's famous chorizo (in process above). Un Buen Carnicero and Collards In The Cafeteria will be screened starting around 7:00. There are a limited number of tickets available now.