Waste Less, Love More! This Wednesday is "A Day Without Waste" and we want you to invite some friends over for dinner. Seriously! (And, we have some great low-waste recipes below to inspire you!).
Last week in a crazy last-minute decision, Michael Hebb, food provocateur and activist, decided to gather a group of remarkable organizations and join a growing movement, the Global Citizen campaign, #ADayWithoutWaste. But instead of simply agreeing to reduce waste on this day, we decided to also create a split-second mini-campaign within their global effort!
Within a half and hour of fervent emailing, Foodista, EKOCYCLE, CIVILIZATION, deathoverdinner.org, Dwell, Trefethen Vineyards, Yes To Carrots, Grist.org, Method Home, The Moxie Institute, ZEITGUIDE, Where is My Guru, and Theo Chocolate gave birth to National Dinner Party Day. We would love for you to take part!
Why should I have a Dinner Party on April 9th, and how do Dinner Parties reduce WASTE?
We all know that the way we eat, as a society, is incredibly wasteful. For starters, the majority of items in our grocery stores have been flown thousands of miles to reach the shelves. And listen to this- our food supply is responsible for approximately 25% of total greenhouse emissions on the planet. If that's not startling enough, here is the kicker:
One-Third of the Food Produced on the Globe is Wasted.
This amounts to 1.3 Billion Tons per year.
In pounds, that equals 2,600,000,000,000, (or 254 lbs of waste per person) per year.
On April 9th we are asking that you make a different choice by halting the waste stream in the most lovely way imaginable. Invite friends to dinner! When you buy food locally, and thoughtfully prepare an awe-inspiring meal, YOU are the change that reduces this thoughtless, insane WASTE! And most likely, while doing it, you will have a wonderful time!
We have gathered over a dozen recipes (check them out below!) that use simple seasonal ingredients to inspire your dinner. If you have access to a farmers market, we suggest you buy directly from a farmer, and take your own shopping bag with you. The recipes emphasize the complete use of the ingredients listed, with minimal waste. When you control the cooking, you also control the waste. When you buy seasonal ingredients that are produced locally, the carbon footprint of your dinner decreases significantly and the money you spend stays in your local economy.
Please follow this link to learn more about National Dinner Party Day, and join the Global Citizen project. By hosting a dinner party, you will also earn points toward seeing some of the greatest musical acts on tour this year!
National Dinner Party Day from David Llama on Vimeo.
Dinner Party Recipes
Herb Compote
This is a perfect no-waste recipe as it transforms the all-too-often composted veggie tops into a delicious and healthy spread! It makes a great appetizer.
Stinging Nettle Pesto
Find these at your farmers market or don the long sleeves and gloves and forage for them yourself!
Grilled Lamb Cutlets With Fresh Pea and Broad Bean Puree
Garlicky Roasted Wild Mushrooms
Spring Greens With Pears, Sugared Walnuts & Gorgonzola
Farmers Market Wild Mushroom Risotto
Sliced Baguette with Anchovy Chive Butter and Radishes
Fava Bean and Asparagus Salad With Mint
Gluten-Free Rhubarb, Lemon and Almond Cake
Rhubarb Crisp
Chevre Cheesecake With Rhubarb Compote and Candied Pistachios
