FACT SHEET: AIWF Days of Taste®

Days of Taste®is a national program of The American Institute of Wine & Food implemented across the United States by a majority of its 25 chapters. The AIWF New York Chapter has en- gaged Spoons Across America® to implement the program in the New York area solely on behalf of the AIWF New York Chapter. (www.awif.org)

Days of Taste® is a discovery-based program for 4th and 5th grade children to learn about food and how it weaves its way through daily life from the farm to the table. The program teams up volunteer chefs, food professionals, farmers and teachers to guide students through a four-week curriculum that includes exploration of taste, learning of locally seasonal products in the classroom, a visit to a Greenmarket, preparation of a harvest salad, and a trip to the chef’s restaurant for a behind-the-scenes tour and lunch. Participants learn to:

Build a food and nutrition vocabulary

® Understand that locally grown foods are freshest Experience and compare tastes Develop “taste memories” Provide social food experiences around the table

In October 2008, Spoons launched the 14th annual Days of Taste® to over 2,000 public school children in 24 New York City public schools representing Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island. Participating restaurants, food companies and culinary schools: A Yen For Food, Inc. Christos Steak House Fresh Direct Ruby Foo’s Amorina Cucina Rustica Cibo Gracie Mansion Stone Park Café Applewood Cinque Terre - City of New York Telepan Artisanal Premium Cheese The Jolly Hotel Gramercy Tavern Terrace in the Sky Beacon Restaurant Madison Towers Jimmy’s No. 43 The French Culinary Institute Beppe City Crab & Seafood Co. KidVille NY The Union Club Blue Water Grill Commodore Grill Restaurant - Kuma Inn The Penn Club of New York Brawta Caribbean Café Grand Hyatt NY Mamajuana Café The Riverdale Garden Bread Tribeca Counter Restaurant Maremma Tribeca Grill Butter Restaurant Craft Restaurant Monkey Bar Vento Restaurant Cafe Centro Dos Caminos Naples 45 Waverly Carniceria Fiamma Nonna Wildlife Conservation Society Centovini Restaurant Five Front Olives (partial list) Centrico Fleur de Sel Peacock Alley at The Waldorf Astoria Chanterelle Fornino - The Art + Science of Pizza Public

Good news! Days of Taste® has been featured in local newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and television, along with coverage in national print publications, national food service trade publications and websites: NY Daily News • Brooklyn Daily Eagle & Daily Bulletin • Brooklyn Heights Press & Cobble Hill News • Brooklyn Heights Courier • NBC Universal • Telemundo Local News • Noticiero on Ch. 47 • Epicurious. com • Grand Central Partnership eNews bulletin • The James Beard Foundation • Main Course • The Institute of Culinary Education • PS 223 Mott Hall School Weekly Bulletin • Institute of Culinary Education “News from Career Services” alumni e-newsletter • Start Healthy Magazine • NYC TV • New York University’s Steinhardt Faculty Newsletter • New York Times/Education Section • News 12 Brooklyn • NY 1 • Univision TV • Queens Chronicle • Food and Beverage Media.

Our mission: Spoons Across America® is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating children, teachers, and families about the benefits of healthy eating. We work to influence the eating habits of children through hands-on education that celebrates the connection to local farmers and the important tradition of sharing meals around the family table.

Our Partners: Volunteer services and corporate participation were provided by The American Institute of Wine & Food – New York Chapter, Borax Paper Products, the Institute of Culinary Education, James Beard Foundation, The International Culinary Center – the home of The French Culinary Institute, Spoons Across America, New York City College of Technology – Hospitality Management Department, New York University – Food Studies Department, Greenmarket Farmers Market, The Mayor’s Volunteer Center, Slow Food and New York Women’s Culinary Alliance.

Our Ethical Stewardship: Spoons Across America is committed to the ethical stewardship of our donors’ and partners’ dollars. From Farm to Table, Inc. (d/b/a Spoons Across America) is a registered charitable organization; Federal Tax ID# 74-3030135. A copy of our most recent financial information may be obtained directly from the Office of the Attorney General, NY State Department of Law, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. For more information, visit www.SpoonsAcrossAmerica.org.