Sustainable champions

Congratulations to the several regional winners among the 146 honored by the Good Food Awards this month in San Francisco. The program champions foods that meet a rigorous vetting process to verify they meet criteria for sustainability and social responsibility. The Good Food Awards honor producers who represent "the forefront of American craft food, making products that are delicious, respectful of the environment, and connected to communities and cultural traditions." Among the winners: In the beer category: Organic Belgium White from Lakefront Brewery Inc. in Milwaukee; in the cheese category: Bent River Camembert from Alemar Cheese Co. in Mankato and Martone from LaClare Farms in Malone, Wis.; in the confections category: Peanut Butter and Wild Grape Jelly Bar from the St. Croix Chocolate Co. in Marine on St. Croix; in the honey category: Raw Honey from Kloten Apiaries in Kloten, N.D., and in the preserves category: Pear Champagne and Rosemary Jelly from Heath Glen's Farm & Kitchen in Forest Lake.

Looking within the Ojibwe language

"A Feast of Words" features Brenda Child, an author, professor at the University of Minnesota and member of the Red Lake Ojibwe Nation, as she talks about "Speaking Ojibwe in the Great Lakes: From Reservations to Revitalization" on Jan. 29. The event begins with a 5 p.m. social hour at the Campus Club, on the fourth floor of Coffman Memorial Union, 300 Washington Av. SE., on the east bank of the University of Minnesota campus. Sponsors are the Friends of the University of Minnesota Libraries and the Campus Club. Child will draw on her own family experience to illuminate the connections between new labor roles, gender and marriage, and the essential role of the Ojibwe language in the past and today. The accompanying meal includes pan-fried walleye with roasted local mushrooms and leeks, stuffed squash with sweet corn, caramelized onions and greens, Minnesota wild rice with wild blueberries and hazelnuts, and maple cornmeal pudding with cranberries and apples. Cost is $26.99. To reserve, call 612-626-7788. To learn more, visit, http://bit.ly/1AReqqx.

Dining for a cause

Minnesota Monthly is putting a new twist on culinary fundraising this month with Twin Cities Table, in which 10 chefs, working in pairs, prepare four-course meals with wine pairings over the course of a week. All the meals take place at Open Arms, a south Minneapolis nonprofit that prepares and delivers free meals to those living with cancer, HIV/AIDS, MS and ALS. Open Arms chef Asei Tendle plays host to Jim Kyndberg of FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar on Jan. 26; Philip Dorwart of Creative Catering and Mike Rakun of Marin Restaurant & Bar on Jan. 27; Derik Moran of Dakota Restaurant & Jazz Club and Jonathan Hunt of Al Vento on Jan. 28; J.P. Samuelson of Red Stag Supperclub and Lucas Almendinger of Third Bird on Jan. 29, and Donald Gonzalez of Forepaugh's and Marshall Paulsen of Birchwood Cafe on Jan. 30. Tickets are $125 per person and may be purchased by visiting MNMO.com/TwinCitiesTable, where each evening's menu also is listed.

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