Let’s Talk about Food

If you’re hungry for something different to do tomorrow, the Museum of Science has just the thing: its second annual Let’s Talk about Food Festival, which aims to teach Boston residents about the importance of good food practices while offering lots of cooking demonstrations, educational seminars, and booths with free samples.

What began as an education initiative by the museum and local food and lifestyle writer Louisa Kasdon has turned into an event they hope will become a major voice in the national dialogue about food. The goal is to get people to look a little differently at what’s on their plates.

The festival is being held along the Cambridge Parkway, outside of the Museum of Science, all day tomorrow, Saturday, June 25. More than 40 exhibitors are participating, including event cosponsors Whole Foods Market and Finagle a Bagel, Stonyfield Farm, Boston Organics, and Harvest Co-Op.

In addition to the various booths and exhibitions, there will be a series of events throughout the day on a main stage. The Five-Minute Chef cooking series will offer demonstrations by prominent local chefs, among them Rialto’s Jody Adams (lobstering), Bergamots’ Keith Pooler (chilled marjoram and minted pea soup), and Grill 23’s Jay Murray (the perfect short-rib minute steak). Other demonstrations on the main stage include cooking with honey, cooking with herbs, summer fruits, and the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet. The day’s full schedule can be found at online.

If grazing on small samples throughout the day doesn’t fill you up, there will also be a food court featuring some of the city’s best food trucks—among them Bon Me (Vietnamese), Go Fish (offering lobster rolls and clam chowder), Grilled Cheese Nation, and Kickass Cupcakes. So bring your wallet. You can also visit the demo kitchen, where something will always be cooking, and learn techniques from some of the best chefs in the area.

The Let’s Talk about Food Festival wants to highlight all aspects of food culture, so attendees can expect to learn about sustainability, cooking, food justice, food safety, obesity, agriculture, the science of nutrition, and more. The Endless Table will feature talks about nutrition, food access and food safety, and labeling. Experts will be on hand to answer questions.

The Let’s Talk About Food Festival is tomorrow, Saturday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Cambridge Parkway, behind the Museum of Science; it is free and open to the public. A full schedule of events and list of exhibitors, as well as a downloadable festival booklet, are available online.

The Museum of Science is within walking distance of Kendall Square, on the MBTA Red Line. It is also close to the Green Line’s Science Park and Lechmere stations, which are currently closed for reconstruction. Shuttle buses run between North Station and Lechmere. Details are available on the MBTA website. CambridgeSide Galleria, a short walk from the museum, at 100 CambridgeSide Place, offers free shuttle service to and from the Kendall Square T stop, with a new stop at Binney and Sixth Street, near the Cambridge Police Station. The bus runs every 20 minutes during operating hours. Public parking is available at both the Museum of Science garage and the CambridgeSide Galleria garage for a fee.

Nicole Shelby can be reached at nicolelshelby@gmail.com.