ON-SITE REPORTING from MARTHA STEWART'S “AMERICAN MADE” 2013 AMERICAN MADE EVENT
Nine of the country’s most innovative entrepreneurs are recognized across the categories of craft, community, food, design, technology, sustainability, garden, style and industry.
American Made
Researching the November issue of Martha Stewart Living
magazine for Thanksgiving food and drink features, the “American Made” story
popped off the pages.
These narratives are exciting, enduring, plucky American success
stories that dare you not to be inspired.
With their down-home doggedness and their homegrown
optimism, one is hard pressed not to replicate their fuel-injected American
dreams.
This project – its recognition and the makers who nurture
the concept are important. Recognize the need to support local businesses.
These are the true local, homegrown job
creators. They are the doers and the dreamers…
I was an invited guest to the Second Annual “American Made”
awards event held at the very fitting “Crossroads of America:” Grand Central
Station’s Vanderbilt Hall.
Here, the glittering chandeliers and marble-walled event
space paid homage to the cocktail and awards show, tastings, and showcase for
the artisans and entrepreneurs honorees and their hand made creations.
(At last year’s American Made premiere, I also attended the
intimate kick off cocktail reception and the awards showcase http://www.examiner.com/article/martha-stewart-american-made-awards-honors-game-changers
The halls were abuzz with guests, honorees, tastings and
anticipation.
Indeed.
In addition to Martha - stars of the celebrity media walk
included the evening’s co-host, Bravo Network’s, Andy Cohen. He is a good co-presenter as this man
seemingly knows everyone and can talk a blue streak!
Christie Brinkley was scandalously pretty.
Brinkley was also somewhat curiously, the presenter for the Garden Maker Award…
Yes; Brinkley has a garden on the East End but still…I hope it’s not cheeky to point out that there are so many other true gardeners who could have been a presenter. I know, I know – Christie is an avid supporter of the Land Trust and for that all thank her. Plus she remains irresistible eye candy.
Brinkley was also somewhat curiously, the presenter for the Garden Maker Award…
Yes; Brinkley has a garden on the East End but still…I hope it’s not cheeky to point out that there are so many other true gardeners who could have been a presenter. I know, I know – Christie is an avid supporter of the Land Trust and for that all thank her. Plus she remains irresistible eye candy.
The Chew’s Carla Hall was pert and oh-so-much taller than she appears on the small screen.
And the former “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy’s interior designer,
Thom Filicia was styling and showing that sockless-loafer look. Conversing the Concourse
Rather than take the ubiquitous and evidently popular route
that most guests chose; which was to sample and taste the food and drink to the
exclusion of the honorees, I did the over-achiever-girls-do-extra-credit thing
and visited all the showcased Makers, interviewing them and learning what
brought them to this hallowed moment.
No worries, readers can take it to the bank that there was
still plenty of time to sample the craft cocktails (the whisky cocktail was
wowsy – smooth and nutty in flavor) fresh oysters and other treats.
Not unlike a dynamic museum, the Martha team curated and
displayed the honorees in a way that screamed, “More time, please.”
Yet moving from cherished Maker to enterprising craftsperson
around the perimeter of the “room,” I was able to sample a kaleidoscope of
creators from the guitar-making specialist that got him into wood craft.
His designs now include adventures in walnut, maple, birds eye woods to Mohawk papers
to Sweet Too Hills Candy to America’s Oldest Confectionary: Shane Confectionary known for their buttercream chocolates and clear glass-like creations - they make memories they say.
His designs now include adventures in walnut, maple, birds eye woods to Mohawk papers
to Sweet Too Hills Candy to America’s Oldest Confectionary: Shane Confectionary known for their buttercream chocolates and clear glass-like creations - they make memories they say.
There was also the Heirloom Chiles–grown in Maryland for
award-winning Woodberry Kitchens.
Woodberry’s Spike and Amy Gjerde devotion to local food and
their growers should earn them sainthood.
“In a conventional model, so little of the food dollar gets back to the
growers,” says Spike.
Loved the Back to the Roots mushroom growers. Founders sell
grown mushrooms “kits” to give American families the opportunity to grow their
own from – drum roll – food waste! https://www.backtotheroots.com/about-us
This family owned business used local flour, chees and
produce to make pastas and raviolis. Dream wild ramp, scape, basil and zucchini
blossom – and more – for fresh and dried raviolis and pastas to melt into pasta
heaven. “We grew own business in Brooklyn from our farm Roscoe, New York
location and the homegrown pastas are available at more than 25 local
Greenmarkets. They work with Cayuga Pure Organics http://cporganics.com
“We pick up 500 pounds of flour at about 2 am Saturday to make our 100 bags of pasta.”
“We pick up 500 pounds of flour at about 2 am Saturday to make our 100 bags of pasta.”
The McClure family recipe uses their family’s Brooklyn pickle recipe and local produce: http://www.mcclurespickles.com/pages/our-story
Awards:
Nine of the best garden, craft, community, food, design, technology, sustainability, and industry makers were recognized at the awards ceremony and in the November issue of the MSL magazine.
Every category was introduced by a guest presenter - an expert in their field, and a short video preceded their award acceptance.
www.marthastewart.com/americanmade
The food and drink award-winning artisans were presented by Bobby Flay:
Food Award winners:
Community: Archi’s Acres, Karen & Colin
Archipley – Escondido, California
Archie’s Acres www.archisacres.com
was founded by combat-decorated Marine Sgt. Colin Archipley and his wife, Karen, and has demonstrated there is profit, public interest, and a compelling story in joining one of our country’s most pressing needs—sustainable food—with our country’s greatest untapped resource—our returning veterans. Archi’s Acres developed sustainable, hydroponic, organic farming to create opportunities for returning veterans.
was founded by combat-decorated Marine Sgt. Colin Archipley and his wife, Karen, and has demonstrated there is profit, public interest, and a compelling story in joining one of our country’s most pressing needs—sustainable food—with our country’s greatest untapped resource—our returning veterans. Archi’s Acres developed sustainable, hydroponic, organic farming to create opportunities for returning veterans.
Food:
Woodberry Kitchen, Spike & Amy Gjerde – Baltimore, Maryland
Woodberry Kitchen www.woodberrykitchen.com
relies on longstanding relationships with the growers of the Chesapeake area to provide the ingredients that nourish and delight their guests. Founded by Spike & Amy Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen supports sustainable agriculture that respects the abundance and traditions of the region while helping to ensure its future.
relies on longstanding relationships with the growers of the Chesapeake area to provide the ingredients that nourish and delight their guests. Founded by Spike & Amy Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen supports sustainable agriculture that respects the abundance and traditions of the region while helping to ensure its future.
Sustainability:
Portland Meat Collective, Camas Davis – Portland, Oregon
The Portland Meat Collective www.pdxmeat.com
brings local meat to local people. It’s a network of Portland citizens who are looking for a cost-effective way to buy meat directly from Oregon’s small ranchers and farmers. While the PMC draws on meat CSA models that have popped up around the country, it is also an up-close-and-personal traveling butchery school.
brings local meat to local people. It’s a network of Portland citizens who are looking for a cost-effective way to buy meat directly from Oregon’s small ranchers and farmers. While the PMC draws on meat CSA models that have popped up around the country, it is also an up-close-and-personal traveling butchery school.
Garden: Back
to the Roots, Alejandro Velez & Nikhil Arora – Oakland, California
Back to the Roots www.backtotheroots.com
was founded by Alejandro Velez & Nikhil Arora. Inspired by the idea of turning waste into wages & fresh, local food, they decided to forgo the corporate route and become full-time urban mushroom farmers, producing grow-at-home mushroom kits
was founded by Alejandro Velez & Nikhil Arora. Inspired by the idea of turning waste into wages & fresh, local food, they decided to forgo the corporate route and become full-time urban mushroom farmers, producing grow-at-home mushroom kits
The standing room only Ceremony began with delightful video
welcome from NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg who said she was proud to say she is a
crafter. Nyberg noted she brought her
craft to space with her.
A true enthusiast.
“American Made” is a movement for individuals
and communities that have turned their passion for handcrafted, well-designed
goods into small businesses. With small businesses in the U.S. creating the
majority of new jobs.
In addition, Martha
Stewart and Richelle Parhem, vice president and Chief Marketing Officer of eBay
announced details about a new partnership and continuation of the American Made
initiative: the Martha Stewart American Made Market, exclusively on eBay.
“Handpicked by Martha
and her team at Martha Stewart Living magazine, the American
Made Market on eBay will honor a new generation of American makers who will
sell their products in categories such as crafts, food, garden and more. The
editors at Martha Stewart Living magazine will be scouting for
new makers and new products each week to ensure that the assortment reflects
consumers’ desire for quality craftsmanship and well-designed goods that have
the Martha Stewart seal of approval.”
Be sure to check out
the web sites of these crafters – a holiday gift from any of them is vote of
love and support for these American treasures.
Cheers.