CONTACT: Clara Muggli, Food Alliance Midwest
Phone: 651-265-3682, E-mail: midwest@foodalliance.org

8/01/05
ST. PAUL, Minn.—State Fair food is not just corn dogs anymore. Minnesota Cooks, a program at the Minnesota State Fair’s Taste of Tuesday, will bring together 14 of the area’s best chefs to demonstrate how they use local, sustainably-grown ingredients to create award-wining fare for their restaurants. The third annual Minnesota Cooks program will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 30, in the State Fair’s Carousel Park, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The chefs represent a range of cuisines, and they come from both the Twin Cities and rural Minnesota. But they have one thing in common: they believe passionately in local foods. Featured chefs include Brenda Langton (Café Brenda), Alex Roberts (Restaurant Alma), Lenny Russo (Heartland Contemporary Midwest Restaurant), and Russell Klein (W.A. Frost and Co.). Mpls.St.Paul Magazine’s Andrew Zimmern will emcee the event, interviewing the chefs as well as some of the local farmers who produced the food used in the cooking demonstrations. A panel of celebrity tasters will sample the chefs’ creations, and the audience will have the chance to taste the dishes as well.

The event is sponsored by Minnesota Farmers Union and Food Alliance Midwest, a joint project of Cooperative Development Services and Land Stewardship Project. Additional support comes from Renewing the Countryside, the Minnesota Project, SYSCO Minnesota and Jazz88 KBEM FM.

“Top notch restaurants are making a connection between farmers and consumers by demonstrating great dishes start with locally and sustainably grown food,” said Jim Ennis, director of Food Alliance Midwest. “We hope to raise awareness about the great work being done by leading chefs, farmers and supporting organizations in Minnesota to bring local, farm-fresh and healthy foods to their customers.”

For more information on Food Alliance Midwest, call 651-265-3682 or visit http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/programs_mwfa.html.

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