I just had the most amazing lunch – a medley of leftovers from last night’s Slow Food potluck. Slow Food, if you are just joining us, is an international movement that celebrates, and increasingly advocates for, a way of eating that is local, sustainable, leisurely and fun. Read all about it here, here, and here.

So last night Slow Food Bloomington had its irregularly scheduled semi-annual potluck dinner. It was like a farmers market brought to life and put on a plate. The ingredients were fresh and in season and the cooks — Slow Food members, chefs, farmers, food writers and just plain foodies — were in rare form.

Here’s just some of what we had – bruschetta with a Spanish caponata-like jam of zucchini, peppers and onions, and a Capriole Farms chocolate bourbon goat cheese torta to start. Then and these are in no particular order, a golden gazpacho with crispy croutons, a creamy, crunchy potato salad and a roasted, balsamic potato salad, and lots of bean salads –- one of mixed beans with carrots, one with corn, shiso and a miso-apricot dressing, one of braised yellow romas with onions, tomatoes, and kalamata olives.

There was a wheat salad with mushrooms and cashews, an eggplant salad, several tomato salads (one of tiny cherries and one of heirlooms with fresh mozzarella in a balsamic vinaigrette), and a puckery Greek cucumber, tomato, onion and dill salad. There were grilled summer squash and eggplant (three kinds!) and roast leg of lamb with a mint salsa, a rabbit terrine with pistachios, smoked pork and fresh corn salad with tarragon, a lamb and white bean ragout, and buffalo and noodles. Oh, and homemade baguettes, right out of the oven.

And then, sigh, dessert. A blackberry and peach galette with sweet corn ice cream, a peach and peanut tart, a blueberry cobbler, cookies with dried fruit and white chocolate, and some gorgeous fruit salads. BLU chocolates to finish.

Fortunately I had the foresight to pick up zip-lock to-go containers, and everyone could take leftovers home. But we barely made a dent — there was still plenty for my lunch.

For those who couldn’t make it this time, we will do it again. Local folks who want to be on Slow Food Bloomington’s mailing list, just holler and I’ll add your name. Non-local folks, check the Slow Food web site and find a home. We’re everywhere.

[Update — We got press!  Check out Feed Me Drink Me Girl’s report on the dinner here. She doesn’t say so, but she was the creator of the bruschetta and of the corn, bean, shiso salad (pictured above in the blue bowl) —– yum!!!]