Familyfarmed.org, a Web site that promotes family farmers who grow foods sustainably, has launched an e-letter (to sign up, send an e-mail to info@sustainusa.org). The first e-letter covers a variety of topics, from Wal-Mart’s entry into organics to an article on last weekend’s artisan food festival on Brady Street in Milwaukee.
The first edition also features a link to Sustain360.org, which Organic Valley dairies started. Sustain360.org is a free bulletin board where people interested in organics–from food to gardening to clothing–can connect and share information. Nearly 1,000 people have already joined.
The Midwest’s main distributor of organic produce, Goodness Greeness, also has started a free weekly e-letter. It provides info on seasonable produce with recipes, visits farms and growers and offers a look at organic growing methods. Sign up at goodnessgreeness.com.
Elsewhere around the Web: Whole Foods Market has a new online service: a database that helps shoppers identify products suitable for special diets, from gluten or wheat free to sugar-conscious; visit wholefoods.com … Two Chicago transplants to Madison, Wis., Kevin Sherfinski and Mitch Kite, have a Web site devoted to rating Chicago-style hot dogs; see it (and their ratings) at hotdogchicagostyle.com.
On the air: Download a free podcast of Hearty Boys Steve McDonagh and Dan Smith talking about preparing three-cheese spaghetti pie, and Jenn-Air will make a $1 contribution to Share Our Strength (Chicago’s Share Our Strength dinner is Aug. 7 at River East Art Center, 435 E. Illinois St. Buy a ticket at strength.org/chicago). Find the podcast at jennair.com/ja/design/podcast.jsp … Check out Jimmy and George Bannos’ restaurant gossip radio show, “Chewin’ the Fat with the Bannos Brothers,” from 4 to 5 p.m. Saturdays on WCKG-FM 105.9.
In print: Michael Ruhlman describes his visit to Chicago’s Vienna Beef in this month’s Gourmet, and reports the company makes 85,000 pounds of dogs a day. Also in this issue is a long piece on culinary legend Richard Olney; pity they didn’t include a photo of him … For consistently gorgeous food photography, it’s hard to beat Australia’s Donna Hay magazine, though there is a little cognitive dissonance in reading about cold-weather cookery in the July/August issue … Former executive editor James Oseland has succeeded Colman Andrews as editor in chief of Saveur; Andrews has left to finish a memoir and pursue other projects. … Cook’s Country’s August/September issue offers side dishes starring fresh corn just in time for this year’s crop.
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rjenkins@tribune.com
