Sunday, June 26, 2011

Our "Sustainable Materials" Luncheon at Ford (But Please Don't Eat Your Car!)

While visiting Ford earlier this week for the Forward with Ford press event, our most memorable meal was the luncheon inspired by the sustainable materials Ford is currently using or researching to make more eco-friendly auto parts. Ford has already incorporated many sustainable materials into production and continues to identify opportunities to use recycled or renewable material in place of nonrenewable virgin material. Some of the products already being used are:

• Soy-based polyurethane foams used for seat cushions, seatbacks and headliners
• Wheat straw and other plant fiber-reinforced plastic used for vehicle storage bins and interior door panels
• Engineering wood technology (recycled and renewable) used for interior trim
• Sugars made from corn, beet and cane under consideration for biodegradable plastic parts

On to the fun stuff - the food!  Besides dishes incorporating the sustainable materials Ford is using and researching, the meal was rounded out by locally sourced Michigan food products.  Below is a copy of our menu with the sustainable materials highlighted in green:

Salad Course:
Whole WHEAT Rolls
Local Baby Greens Salad with Hearts of PALM, Orange Segments, Red Onion Rings, and an Orange Poppy Seed Dressing
Baby DANDELION Salad with Shaved Onions, Cracked Black Pepper, Olive Oil and Vinegar
Michigan Asparagus Salad

Entrées:
Pan Seared Great Lakes Walleye with SWEET POTATO Hash
Wahtenaw County Organic Chicken with Locally Grown Shakti MUSHROOMS served with Brown RICE Pilaf mixed with CARROTS and CORN
4H Grand Champion Braised Beef with Grand Traverse Cabernet
Baby Michigan Potatoes with Michigan-Based Raclette Cheese
Steamed Local Vegetables
Buckwheat Alfredo made with Calder's Dairy Cream (Michigan Cheese Farm)

Dessert:
COCONUT Dessert
Raspberry Tarts
Michigan Grown Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp with Organic Streusel OATS Topping
Michigan Grown Blackberry Cheesecake Lollipops

As far as my highlights and lowlights.... I had always wanted to try dandelion greens but never had the nerve to just pluck them out of the yard (yes, our yard has plenty to pick from).  I found out I haven't been missing anything....they are way too bitter for me.  On the other hand the coconut/chocolate dessert was far from bitter - it was sweet and delicious.  It's a good thing that Ford is using the coconut shell to make sun visors and not the coconut meat...otherwise I would be constantly blinded by sun after polishing off my visor snack.

Disclosure: I was invited to participate in this program by Ford and Ogilvy PR. Ford Motor Company paid for my travel and accommodations at the event, I was not compensated in any other manner for my time. My opinions posted here are my own.  

2 comments:

  1. I don't think I could eat dandelion greens. A lot of the other stuff sounds yummy and it's unbelievable what can be used to build a car!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ha an edible car! That sounds yummy.

    ReplyDelete

Leave us a comment. We would love to hear from you!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
 
ss_blog_claim=0b73aa675a55aa69277b531cfaa016dd