food day feast

Photo by A.V. Crofts

Did you know that yesterday was Food Day?

I know, every day is Food Day for those of us always dreaming about our next meal. Truth be told, if it wasn't for an informed colleague who tipped me off, October 24 would have passed without me getting a chance to celebrate over a roast duck and dumpling feast.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Here's Food Day in a nutshell, as described on their website:

Food Day seeks to bring together Americans from all walks of life—parents, teachers, and students; health professionals, community organizers, and local officials; chefs, school lunch providers, and eaters of all stripes—to push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way. We will work with people around the country to create thousands of events in homes, schools, churches, farmers markets, city halls, and state capitals.

I lucked out: with a few keystrokes I'd signed up for a meal hosted by Chef Travis Bettinson, a Seattle-based pasta maker and personal chef behind Junip Foods.  I closed up shop early at work and walked across the sun-splashed campus to the next neighborhood, where a whimsical jack-o'-lantern let us know we had reached the right place.

Travis had rolled and fried piles of pork dumplings, pinched and steamed dozens of curried potato momos, assembled chanterelle spring rolls, and roasted no fewer than four succulent ducks. All with ingredients sourced locally.

Travis was a natural host and a talented chef. There is nothing that makes me consider the gracious nature of hospitality more than a delicious meal--in this case prepared for strangers!--presented for your enjoyment.

So mark your calendars for 2012. I'm hosting next year.