If you haven’t had the opportunity to attend one of Slow Food Miami’s many events, the beginning of the spring season is the perfect time to do so. Slow Food Miami is the local chapter of the international eco-gastronomic organization aimed at bettering the world’s eating habits as well as the well-being of the people and land that produce it.

The local group, or convivium as it is deemed, is headed by prominent local individuals like Rene Frigo, co-founder of Lucini Italia, a producer of fine Italian olive oils and Dawn Fine, local arts activist and connoisseur. The main goal of the local convivium is to expose school aged children and teenagers to edible farming. Over the past 2 years, more than 30 organic edible gardens have been installed in schools throughout the county including Booker T. Washington High School, South Miami Senior High School, Coconut Grove Elementary School and Richmond Heights Middle School. All proceeds from the fundraising events go to establish the aforementioned local school gardens.

Clear your calendar for this Wednesday evening, March 23. Slow Food Miami is celebrating the Florida tomato with Sustain Restaurant + Bar, Midtown’s newest and hottest organic restaurant (Haute Living Miami previously wrote about the restaurant here). This is the perfect opportunity to visit the restaurant if you haven’t had the chance to do so; as guests will dine on popular items from the menu by chef Alejandro Piñero, like the ‘50 mile salad’, homemade pretzels and mustard and 4 Arrows Ranch raised meats. Guests will also sip the fine wines of Paul Dolan Winery from northern California, which is organically and bio-dynamically raised. Teena Borek of Teena’s Pride, one of South Florida’s top farmers, will be the night’s special guest. Dinner begins at 7:30 p.m. and is $90 per person.

On Saturday, April 9, round up the whole family and head to the Merrick House Garden to enjoy a night of foxy fun, food and film. The historic house will feature a showing of the film the Fantastic Mr. Fox with a buffet style dinner by Green Table, Coral Gables’ newest farm-to-table restaurant, helmed by chef Monica Rios. The menu highlights the restaurant’s two most popular sandwiches as well as other goodies: roast beef baguette and grilled Portobello and Hani’s Labneh cheese baugette. Guests looking to socialize before the event can enjoy complimentary cocktails at Donna Reno’s home, Slow Food Miami’s former President, starting at 5:30 p.m. Seating is limited, so please purchase tickets prior to the engagement to ensure your spot(s). Tickets are $28 for adults and $20 for kids.

More information about both events, including ticketing and directions, and membership details can be found on Slow Food Miami’s website.

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