Food, Food Artisans

Movie Night Review

Two thumbs up!

Last night, Zingerman’s Events on 4th hosted a screening of four films celebrating Southern food and culture to a nearly full house.

The event was a benefit for the Southern Foodways Alliance, an organization based at the University of Mississippi that documents, studies, and celebrates the diverse food cultures of the changing American South. “It’s my favorite food-based educational non-profit by a mile,” says Zingerman’s co-founder, Ari Weinzweig.

Deli Manager Marshall talks about the films and food.

Deli Manager Marshall talks about the films and food.

The films were created by Joe York, in-house filmmaker for the SFA. Film and video are a big part of the SFA documentation process. From their website:

“Each year, the SFA produces films with the University of Mississippi’s SouthDocs institute. We also work with filmmakers across the region through our Greenhouse Projects initiative. We have produced a range of short and long films, about everything from goat cheese to fried pies, from buttermilk to barbecue.”

Movie Night guests were treated to four different films by York, as well as several rounds of snacks celebrating the food and culture of the South.

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Guests watch a film about traditional bacon producer Allan Benton.

The films screened included, “Cured,” about Allan Benton and his traditional ham and bacon curing business; “Carolina Grist,” in which Anson Mills founder Glenn Roberts talks about traditional rice cultivation in the Carolinas; “Sapelo,” a look at the Geechee Red Pea Project, an effort to preserve Geechee culture on Sapelo Island in the Georgia Sea Coast island chain; “Eggers,” about paddelfish roe-gathering on the Mississippi River; and “Saving Seeds,” a look at Kentucky heirloom bean and tomato farmer, Bill Best.

Throughout the screening, guests enjoyed samples of some of the foods mentioned in the films, including Benton’s ham and bacon, Carolina grits, Stoneground grits, and several kinds of rice from Anson Mills. And since no movie is complete without popcorn, guests enjoyed a batch of Anson Mills popcorn.

By all accounts, the event was a rousing success. As one attendee put it, “I’ve never eaten so well at the movies!”

See you soon!