26.01.2008

A tasting of cheeses

A talk about the history of Gad Cheeses – a family firm which is now one of the leading quality small producers of cheeses and still makes its products in the traditional manner. After the presentation the group had a chance to try its own hand at making Mozzarella. The ensuing sampling of the cheeses was accompanied by home made cheese bread and a tasting of Pelter's wines.

29.01.2008

Program Planning

The organizational committee met to draw up the program for the rest of the year. Thought and planning was accompanied by home smoked trout and sausages served on freshly baked bread and washed down by some interesting new wines from the area.

05.05. 2008

Local beef cattle production and sampling of the beef

The Convivium group and guest got together at one of largest local beef producers. After a talk by the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and the owner of the ranch the group went forth to tour the grazing pastures and admire the beautiful views as well as the interesting cross breeds. The tour was followed by a plentiful and delicious BBQ of the meat prepared by two of the members who are restauranters and chefs with a liberal supply of Cabernet Sauvignon from two small local family wineries.

14.06.2008

Cultivation of olives for the production oil

The meeting was held at the Reshef Farm, which also produces its own olive oil, and a panel of six olive oil producers from the Upper Galilee discussed the varying methods of their production and how they used different species to give the tastes and qualities they wanted. Naturally there was a liberal tasting of the various oils together with different foods that were all prepared using olive oils.

30.08.2008

Summer fruits from the Upper Galilee

Soft fruit farmers came along to discuss and to show the fruits of their labors. One of the main problems of the present in fruit production is the scarcity of water and this was discussed. The group also heard about a new species of eating apple from its developer and this was followed by a talk from a local dietician about the assets of fruit consumption. The talks were accompanied by a non-stop tasting of the fruits and followed by a sampling of local sweet wines, fruit pastries and fresh juices.

15.09.2008

The world of bees and honey

On the verdant hillsides of the Napthali Mountains the Convivium met to sweeten the coming New Year as is the local custom. Veteran bee breeder and local honey producer from Kibbutz Ayelet HaShachar talked of his years of experience and the very ancient history of bee and honey production in this area going back to pre-biblical times. The group then heard about scientific research which is in progress to try to trace the reasons for the recent declines in the swarms of the bee population across the world. Fresh apples dipped in honey followed and this was rounded off by a picnic to which each member and family contributed food and their favorite local wines from home.