Everything You Need to Know about Terra Madre Americas

It’s no secret that Sacramento is America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital. After all, it’s surrounded by acres upon acres of farmland and has a rich agricultural heritage. But what many people might not know is that it’s also a leader in the Slow Food movement. To that end, Sacramento has been selected as the host city for Terra Madre Americas, a celebration of the Slow Food movement.

What, exactly, is Slow Food? Slow Food is a global campaign that promotes good, clean, and fair food for all. It champions delicious, nutritious food; sustainable and environmentally friendly production; and fair labor practices. Most notably, it encourages people to skip the drive-through and instead slow down and enjoy meals with loved ones. In summary, it supports small, local farms and seasonal produce — everything Farm-to-Fork is about!

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Terra Madre Americas, held in conjunction with Sacramento’s annual Farm-to-Fork Festival, will celebrate all things Slow Food. There will be educational panels, hands-on workshops, chef demonstrations, live music, and of course, plenty of food and wine tasting. This year, Farm to Fork at Terra Madre Americas will be held Sept. 26–28 at the Safe Credit Union Convention Center in Downtown Sacramento.

Terra Madre Americas in Sacramento

Photo Courtesy of Terra Madre Americas

The free, three-day event in Sacramento consists of several food-centric activities, beginning with the Grand Tasting on Friday night. The tasting features bites from more than 20 acclaimed chefs, as well as libations and live entertainment. Some of the local restaurants represented include Kru, Hawks Public House, and the 7th Street Standard, among many others. Tickets to the 21+ event include unlimited tastings and two drinks.

Saturday and Sunday will feature educational panels, interactive workshops, and cooking demonstrations by renowned names in the food industry, including the following:

• Alice Waters, founder of Chez Panisse in Berkeley and leader of the farm-to-table movement
• Jeremiah Tower, chef/restaurateur and a pioneer in developing California Cuisine
• Sean Sherman, an indigenous chef promoting and revolutionizing indigenous cuisine
• Crystal Wahpepah, an indigenous chef educating communities on preserving native food cultures 
• Elizabeth Falkner, chef/restaurateur and educator, is known for her appearance on Top Chef
• Drew Deckman, chef/restaurateur advocating for ethical farming and environmental sustainability
• Matthew Beaudin, chef/writer, promoting sustainability and conservation within the food service industry

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The weekend will also feature an enoteca, in which vintners will be pouring wine from across the world; a pop-up bistro offering a three-course tasting experience by acclaimed chefs; and a marketplace offering gourmet cheese, meats, seafood, coffee, and spirits from local and international vendors. There will also be outdoor vendors selling handmade artisan goods.

Music at Terra Madre Americas 

Music is a big part of the Farm-to-Fork Festival, and this year, the lineup will include notable DJs and local and national musical acts. Performers include the following:

• The War on Drugs, American rock
• Spoon, indie rock/post-punk
• Big Head Todd and the Monsters, blues rock/jam band
• Jade Bird, Americana/folk/singer-songwriter
• Passion Pit (Michael Angelakos, Solo Acoustic), indie pop

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In addition, there will be a handful of performers from the Sacramento region, including Jon Wiilde, psychedelic rock/singer-songwriter; hotplug, indie pop/rock; The Golden Cadillacs, country; and Son Café, Latin.

Other Farm-to-Fork Events in Sacramento

In addition to Farm-to-Fork at Terra Madre Americas, other Farm-to-Fork events are slated throughout Sacramento during September as well. Legends of Wine is an annual tasting event featuring wine from across Northern California as selected by wine legends Darrell Corti and David Berkley. Area restaurants will also be on-site with farm-to-fork cuisine. The event will be held Sept. 4 from 4–6 p.m. at the State Capitol.

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Another notable event is the famed Tower Bridge Dinner, which will be held Sept. 7 along the iconic bridge separating Sacramento and West Sacramento. This year, the event welcomes lead chefs Bucky Bray from Nixtaco, Devin Dedier from Vacanza Romana, N’Gina Guyton from the former Jim Denny’s and South, and Jeana Marie from Omakase Por Favor.

Celebrate Slow Food at Farm-to-Fork at Terra Madre Americas

The Saturday and Sunday event is free and open to the public. However, tickets are needed for Legends of Wine, the Tower Bridge Dinner, and the Grand Tasting. Musical performances are also free and open to all. Learn more at Terra Madre Americas.