Last night, Short Order was invited to attend the first East Coast screening of producer Brian Kimmel's most recent foray into the world of food cinematography with his film Ingredients. The feature length documentary takes a revealing look at the people in the forefront of movements to bring back good local chow to our dining tables and ultimately create healthy communities throughout the country.
Produced in Oregon, it focuses on the state's vibrant farming community; the impact it has on locals, and the threats to it by big industry. Kimmel takes viewers on a visually stunning trip through farms, kitchens, classrooms and city streets in the United States where we meet people who are taking small steps to make a big difference.
The screening was held in the main gallery of the new Coral Gables Museum, due to open this fall. Although the room was not intended for movie screening and sound quality suffered as a result, the audience did not seem to mind. Local farmers, teachers, chefs and other foodies filled the 150 or so seats and participated in a short post-screening discussion moderated by Donna Reno, leader of Slow Food Miami. The accessibility, or lack thereof, of fresh local produce to residents in Miami, lack of subsidies to farmers and continued food education at schools, were all hot topics.
The discussions went on into the evening at the museum's outdoor courtyard where Wolfe's Wine Shoppe served up a selection of six Oregon wines and guests were invited to enjoy locally produced Romanicos chocolates. Upon leaving, all guests were encouraged to start their own garden and given a fresh parsley plant donated by the Green House.
Ingredientsis the first film in Slow Food's edible film series which showcases important food related movies of our time. For more information, please visit the Slow Food Miami website.
