Don't Get Me Started ...
Chefs Move to Schools
July 16, 2010
Photo By: Ellen Kassoff Gray
Chef Todd Gray with the harvest
Ellen Kassoff Gray remembers marching around the playground of Murch Elementary School. She was in second grade and the song the class was singing went somewhat like this: “March is the time farmers will start to bring out their tractors….it’s spring time again…”
This spring, as she joined her husband Chef Todd Gray in harvesting vegetables from the school’s organic garden—a garden they helped plot and plant; a garden tended to by students, teachers and parents; a garden that would serve as the model for Michelle Obama’s ‘Chefs Move to Schools’ Program.
It was this past winter when Assistant White House Chef Sam Kass personally approached Chef Gray to gather a handful of DC’s top toques to discuss how the nation’s chefs could be involved in creating menus that included healthier fare, education on nutrition, and generally taking the first step toward changing both students’ and parents’ outlook on meals from the schools—filtering into the home and vice versa. Among the ideas discussed was the adoption of local schools by each chef. Gray chose Murch and developed a program that he was asked recently to speak about at The White House and to be an integral part of a forthcoming ‘tool kit’ to be utilized across the nation.
After observing and assessing what the kids were eating for lunch, Gray noted that most of the small amount of fresh fruits and vegetables they were eating was going in the trash, not in their mouths. “It dawned on me that as chefs; what comes so naturally to us is not so accessible to kids – many of them are not invited into a kitchen or a garden on a regular basis’” said Gray in his speech. “Food is something that is put in front of them and they are told to eat it. But they have tremendous curiosity – it was not hard to get them excited. This is where a chef can have the most impact in a school – bringing this opportunity to the entire venue’s population.”
The Grays held several meetings at the school with participating parents to plot the year and they would work together in planning the garden and teaching the children. The teachers at Murch began to incorporate the idea of a school garden and cooking into the classroom where they could utilize math and science in growing and recipes.—adding to the overall educational experience.
Ellen and Todd plotted out a garden at Murch where parents, children and teachers planted greens and other vegetables. He then visited the school in time for the harvest , speaking to demonstrating ; setting up stations in the gym and outside where set up several stations in the gym or on the playground and gave kids simple tasks to do while preparing a meal for the entire group. Under the chef’s guidance they prepared an entire meal—hands on. Being involved in the process and participating in the meal from garden to table generated a new interest and excitement in creating healthy fare. “
“This ‘community cooking class’ allows for greater awareness of the importance of growing products and cooking together,” Ellen Gray said. “There is greater awareness of families and communities growing and cooking together.”
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Bend It Like...
June 16, 2010
Photo By: Wendy Gordon
Over 2000 gather to watch the US take on the UK on the big screen
It’s world cup time—and that can mean one thing… yes, Wise Guy, I know it means soccer. But, it also means diverse group gatherings, friendly competition—much more friendly than in some of the international stadiums –restaurants and bars open at odd hours of the morning and flags being flown, colors being displayed and a myriad of brightly colored jerseys being worn. Embassies are getting into it as well. Yup—DC is the perfect spot for a little world-wide celebration of athleticism.
So what better thing to do on a scorching 90-some-odd degree day complete with about 3000% humidity, than to stand packed like sardines, shoulder to shoulder with over 2,000 people outdoors for World Cup Soccer. For those whose motto is “never let ‘em see you sweat,” this was probably not the best place to be. I’ll just leave the “yuck” factor there.
Of course, given the amount of individuals, those not arriving for a plumb seat by 7 a.m. are probably out of luck as far as any significant sight lines of even a large screen. Even when a glimpse here or there is possible, the players look like M & Ms kicking a Tick Tack. But this is where the real fun begins. Here’s where strangers become entertainment; where people you didn’t know an hour prior become friends. It all begins with the nickname.
“Hey! Red-Shirt Guy…down in front!” Red Shirt Guy happened to be about 6’2”. To his credit, he apologetically moved a little to the left, affording those of us smaller in stature and farther away a clear shot to the screen without compromising his view of the game. Thank you Red Shirt Guy. Soon to follow included “Gesture Guy,” “Big Hat Man,” “Bikini Woman,” and our favorite “Angel from Heaven,” a little girl equipped with a spray bottle and cold clean water who was kind enough to alternately spray our group and random passersby for the best heat relief of the day.
“Great. So you hang with a group of very dubiously clever people,” you say. Not the point. The point is that in a group of multi-thousands brought together in a somewhat impromptu show of spirit, there was not one angry word uttered, not one incident of violence; and conversation with fellow humans of diverse countries, backgrounds. There was sharing of water, food, (ahem) high-test liquids and good cheer. There were Vuvuzelas being blown without noise complaint, cheering and camaraderie.
At this point, I could make the obvious and probably trite note that if we could solve all the world’s issues with soccer balls, there would be a lot less carnage and tragedy…and maybe, for better or worse, coaches instead of generals. Of course this is unrealistic, even if a better alternative to war. Not to sound Pollyanna-ish though, I do often wonder how it’s possible to show such an ability to engage in friendly competition and why, as human beings we can’t be equally as rational when it comes to larger issues? Rhetorical question—Discuss. Talk amongst yourselves, “Multiple Opinion Guys.” Maybe over some cold beverages and a little ‘football.’
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Just Say It
June 1, 2010
Photo By: Arlington National Cemetary
Tomb of the Unknowns
Words. We use them every day. I’m using them now. “Duh.” You say. But as this week begins with Memorial Day, and as last words; parting phrases and final memories are in the spotlight, there’s no better time than this to consider them.
Memorial Day is a time to remember our fallen heroes—those who have served our country. We salute them—and rightly so. They have paid the ultimate price for our freedom. This past week also brought with it observations of deployment of friends and memories of family members. Sit tight..the correlation and semantics part is about to make sense….
As we think about those who have fallen and those marching off to war, you may wonder if all of those men and women had the opportunity to say goodbye; to resolve unfinished business with friends and family members. And what of those left behind? Is there guilt over not having the opportunity to apologize for a wrong or resolve unfinished business or make peace with what could be any possible issue?
Life is tenuous on a good day let alone for the full amount of years a human is capable of living. What do we remember? We have experiences, photos, idiosyncrasies; but often, the last thing we have are words. What was said. “Any last words?” "Famous last words..." “I wish I would have told him/her…” Insert whatever you wish in this vein.
Words can make the difference between guilt, regret or peace and comfort; change a life; live in infamy or in honor. They can seem like the hardest slap in the face or the world’s most perfect kiss. They can often be the only way some people can express the true depth of feeling…and we have limited time to use them wisely.
As I watched a deployment this week, I was struck by how those left behind lamented the things they should have said and prayed that a text would reach that soldier before he hit the battlefield--because they wanted him to know; because those words would aid in making the mission easier for him; because they needed to be said for the sake of both parties involved; because when that soldier hears those words whether spoken or on paper, it will hopefully make him stronger and feel more secure in a stressful and potentially dangerous situation. I watched as both age and infirmity began taking their toll on a civilian, and he offered verbal thoughts to resolve past conflicts; I watched those with memories of loved ones passed lament words spoken in what was simple adolescent angst at the time uttered—yet those words live on, taking their unresolved emotional toll. I watched an individual trying to make sense of the silence of someone important in their life try blindly, and to no avail, to decipher it—in this case the lack of words causing confusion and pain. I watched a child’s face light up as they were reassured of a parents’ love for them.
So as you read my words here on paper, I ask that you consider yours. They have great power. Just say it—because one day it may be too late--and we never know when that day will be. Life is finite, but often the words linger on and in doing so can make all the difference.
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