Greens N Grains has been offering Dinner and a Movie for several years. I was always curious and eager to attend one, but could never fit it in my schedule. I recently had a Thursday night available and was excited to find out there was Dinner and a Movie that night. Space is always limited to 20 guests, so as soon as I learned of it, I quickly called and made a reservation.
Dinner and a Movie nights are simple; arrive at 6pm for a healthy, organic dinner, then the movie starts at roughly 7pm. The movie is free to watch if you’re not interested in dinner, although I highly recommend it. For only $10, you can enjoy a natural and organic dinner consisting of a homemade soup, fresh organic salad, bread, and a cup of Rishi tea.
In Defense of Food was the documentary shown at the Dinner and a Movie I attended. I arrived at Greens N Grains at 6pm and was warmly greeted by the owner, Kathy Navis, and her staff. I chose my tea (blueberry rooibos), then settled in to a table to wait for my food.
First course was a big bowl of curry vegetable soup – outstanding! There were also delicious flatbread crackers at the table. Salad was delivered as a second course; a large plate of fresh greens, carrots and celery with a tangy ginger dressing. My tea was fresh brewed and was warm and comforting on a cold February evening. It was a large cup, so I was able to keep enjoying it as the movie began.
The group of 20 gathered upstairs where there where chairs and film projector set up to view the documentary. Popcorn was passed around to those who wanted it as the movie began. In Defense of Food was hosted and narrated by author and journalist, Michael Pollan. Traveling the globe and exploring the supermarket aisles to illustrate the principles of his bestselling “eater’s manifesto,” Pollan offers an answer to one of the most urgent questions of our time: What should I eat to be healthy?
“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”
With these seven words, Pollan reports the prescription for reversing the damage done to people’s health driven by the Western diet. He insists that eating meat in moderation, with a good amount of fruit and vegetables, is what we need to stay healthy. Pollan debunks the daily media barrage of conflicting claims about nutrition, i.e. diet fads, most notable “low-fat” diets, etc. He mentions to steer clear of the inside isles of the grocery store and to stick to the outside walls while choosing what to fill your cart with.
Pollan is the author of five New York Times Best Sellers: The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, The Botany of Desire (which was also adapted for PBS in 2009), In Defense of Food, Food Rules and, most recently, Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation. In 2010, he was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine.
The 2-hour documentary was fascinating and time flew by for me as I viewed it! I will definitely plan to attend another Dinner and a Movie the next time my schedule allows. What a fun way to join your community in a cozy setting with great conversation and a thought-provoking movie.
Greens N Grains’ Dinner and a Movie takes place once a month. The next event will take place on March 8, 2018 with a showing of ‘The Emissary,’ a sci-fi epic adventure film shot entirely in Door County, created by Tim and Holly Erskine of Ellison Bay and featuring a talented cast of local actors. Reservations are required. Please call 920.868.9999 to reserve your spot. Greens-n-grains.com
-Laurel Ciohon