Slow Food Whidbey Island will hold feast at Greenbank Farm

Good, clean and fair.

Good, clean and fair.

That sums up what Slow Food USA is all about. Good and clean means delicious and healthy food grown in a way that is good for the body and doesn’t harm the ecosystem. Fair means that those who grow and harvest it are fairly compensated, while the food provides nourishment to everyone, regardless of one’s economic background.

Good, clean and fair food will be offered at “Farm to Chef: Tastes of Whidbey” from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 5 at Greenbank Farm. The event is hosted by Slow Food Whidbey Island in its second annual community-wide event.

Eight Whidbey chefs and local growers, along with two Whidbey vintners and two Whidbey brewers, have been invited to create a slow- food feast fit for a hungry crowd.

“Last year’s event was sold out,” said Barbara Graham, Slow Food Whidbey Island organizer.

She said the first event was a huge success, with 160 guests enjoying tastes prepared by fine-dining chefs with ingredients from local growers. Graham is hoping for the same success, or maybe even more, this year.

This year’s feast welcomes back chefs Scott Fraser (Fraser’s Gourmet Hideaway), Joe Scott (Oystercatcher), Andreas Wurzrainer (Christopher’s On Whidbey), Jeremy Ritchie (Front Street Grill), Jan Gunn (Whidbey Pies Café) and Sieb Jurriaans (Prima Bistro), and organizers are excited to welcome Gordon Stewart of Gordon’s On Blueberry Hill and the Inn at Langley’s chef Matt Costello. The island food growers include Wilbur Bishop, Willowood Farm, Sherman Farms, Penn Cove Shellfish, Little Brown Farm and Crescent Harbor Ranch.

Winemakers Gregory Osenbach of Whidbey Island Winery and Greg Martinez of Holmes Harbor Cellars will be pouring some of their best bottles, and premium beers from Langley’s Olde World Ales & Lager and Oak Harbor’s Flyers will also be served.

Graham said she hopes that folks come out to sample the good food and beverages, but also hopes to generate some interest in the fledgling chapter.

“Slow Food Whidbey Island is one and half years old,” Graham said.

“We’re a small energetic group looking for more members. One thing we need people to know is that they can offer just one afternoon per year. We don’t ask people to give their lives away. Just a day. There is so much to do around here and it’s fabulous. Last year’s event was an absolute blast,” she added.

Tickets for “Farm to Chef: Tastes of Whidbey” are $30 each, which includes all food and beverages. Tickets are available in Langley at Prima Bistro; in Freeland at Gordon’s on Blueberry Hill; in Greenbank at Whidbey Pies Café; in Coupeville at Christophers On Whidbey and the Front Street Grill; and in Oak Harbor at Fraser’s Gourmet Hideaway and Bayleaf.

No one younger than 21 will be admitted.