When I first started this blog early this year, it was an outlet for me to share my experiences as I adjusted to life back in Chicago after 12 years away. I was looking for some direction and was open to almost anything that presented itself.
It's now been more than a year since I made what probably was the biggest decision of my life and returned to my hometown. Life has slowly happened to me, and I find myself with a job, a woman I love deeply and a new apartment that we'll be moving into in a few short weeks. I'm also about to enter grad school at Northwestern University as I work toward a master's degree in Integrated Marketing Communications.
Amid all these wonderful pieces that make up my life at the moment, I've also begun to fully embrace my love for all things food. From the farmers who grow the produce to the chefs who prepare it like no one else can -- and everything in between -- I've always been passionate about what I choose to put in my body, and I'm now just starting to become deeply involved in the respected and growing Chicago culinary scene -- and particularly in the sustainable movement that gathers more steam with each passing day.
I'm now volunteering on a weekly basis at the Green City Market, Chicago's biggest farmers market, and one of the country's most respected sustainable food meccas. I've also been helping with Slow Food Chicago events and will be lending a hand at Chefs Collaborative's national summit that will bring some of the most respected chefs and growers to gather in our fine city next week.
As I plant my roots deeper into these amazing outlets and build upon my humble foundation -- searching to understand what this whole concept of sustainable food really means and who the people are who are helping regular people like me learn to participate and enjoy the bounty -- I feel I have a new direction to take this blog in order to share these learnings with my friends, family and anyone else who might care to take this journey with me.
So, with that, I invite you to come with me as I explore Chicago's ever-changing culinary terrain. I hope to bring you not only my own thoughts and experiences, but also the words and thoughts of some of the pioneers who are leading this city to new and better places as it relates to all things food. To tell you the truth, I don't know exactly where I'm going with this, but I'm excited to find out!
Hi, Ana. Well, as you can see from the lack of posts here in the last few months, my experience in Medill's IMC program has kept me busy, to say the least. To put it simply, I have never worked even close to this hard in my entire life. But it's all worth it. The depth and variety of knowledge I'm building is incomparable to anything I've gone through before. And the people I'm meeting and working alongside are some of the most talented, creative and intelligent I've ever met. A lot of superlatives, yes. And all deserved. I'd highly recommend the program to anyone who wants to build their marketing skills by using both their left and right brains. If you'd like to know more, feel free to email me directly by clicking on the link in the left-hand margin. Oh, and also check out www.vitaminimc.com, Medill IMC's student-run blog, where I am now serving as Managing Director!
Posted by: Daniel Hindin | December 11, 2009 at 07:09 PM
If possible share a little bit about your experience at Medill's IMC for these first few months.
Posted by: Ana | December 03, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Thanks, Teresa. I am indeed very happy about the way things have happened for me here, and I look forward to more great stuff to come.
As for the food part, the Green City Market is definitely a far cry from the Santa Cruz Farmers Market (my home market for eight years) and its drum circles and oysters on the half shell, but it's full of it's own bountiful variety of great, fresh produce and equally great people.
And that's the wonderful thing about farmers markets and the idea of eating locally. Each market in each town is its own unique amalgamation of the people, natural resources and climate conditions inherent to the surrounding area. I look forward to giving you your own private tour of the GCM sometime!
Posted by: Daniel Hindin | September 10, 2009 at 06:47 PM
WOO! First, it's so nice to see how re-rooted (not a word, I know, but whatever) you've become in Chicago. Seems like what was supposed to happen is happening and it's doing a world of good for you, so congratulations!
Second...YAY FOOD! You've joined an awesome sustainability movement and this should be so fun to read about. I'm looking forward to it, especially since I still have plans to get out there and I'm so used to California's fantastic produce...I'll need all the help I can get!
Good stuff, Dan! I'm excited to see where you're able to take this. :)
Posted by: Teresa Basich | September 09, 2009 at 11:19 PM