Thursday, April 23, 2009

Lentil of the Month Club!

If anyone is fortunate enough to know what a lentil is, the most likely know one variety. "Lentils are those brown flat pea-things" is a common reply to the question "What is a lentil?" In reality, there are several varieties of lentils, each with different cooking characteristics, tastes, colors, and growth patterns but all very good for the soil and good for you!

In an effort to educate people about the many types of lentils, we have started a Lentil of the Month Club. Each month club members will receive a new variety of lentils or lentil products that are grown right here on the Palouse. In addition to a new type of lentils, you will receive an exclusive recipe to try and additional fun facts about lentils and the Palouse. See our website for how you can become our next member!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Well Under Way

The National Lentil Festival is 123 short days away. This quickly diminishing number fills me with both fear and excitement. It also means that here at the Lentil Festival office we are deep in preparation mode. Our Lentil Festival Committee has been hard at work planning new, exciting things to do for this year's festival. One of the biggest changes will be a new "I Hate Lentils" Category in the 16th annual National Lentil Festival Legendary Lentil Cook-off.

Every year people from across the country (37 states in 2008) submit their favorite lentil recipes for this cook-off. While we have received many delicious recipes including lentil-stuffed mushrooms, colorful lentil salads, and lentil spice cake and brownies, some people still refuse to try these award-winning recipes for the simple fact that they contain lentils. This new category will offer a special prize to the chef who creates the recipe that has the best aroma, texture, appearance, and taste but has cleverly hidden lentils. Good luck to all our chefs! All recipes are due June 3, more details on our website.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Sponsor Support UP Even During Hard Times

I have been reading reports from Festivals and Events all over the State of Washington and the Pacific Northwest about how terrible the economy is and how difficult it is to find sponsor money. SeaFair, a major summer festival in Seattle, is down 15% and similar reports are coming in from across the country.

This is just not the case in Pullman. Maybe it is because Pullman took the economy hit later than most and maybe it is because we are a smaller Festival that doesn't require as much funding but I genuinely believe that it is because Pullman cares about this Festival and will do whatever they can to make sure that their business helps contribute to the biggest party in town. No matter how you slice it, the National Lentil Festival has INCREASED cash sponsorship by 10%, not including added support from the City of Pullman, and In-Kind sponsorship has INCREASED 40%! A tremendous jump in any economy.

Thank you to all our generous sponsors of the 2009 Festival. We promise to have a good show for you.
National Corporate Sponsors: Avista Utilities, Beasley Realty, City of Pullman, Coca-Cola Company, Dissmore's IGA, Inland Cellular, Inland Northwest Broadcasting, James Toyota, Old Post Office Wine Cellar & Gallery, Palouse Ridge Golf Club, Time Warner Cable, USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council, Washington State University, and Whitman Senior Living.
Tase T. Lentil Club Sponsors: Bank of America, Border 104/KQQQ, Daily Grind Espresso, Northwest Public Radio, Pullman Disposal Service, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, and Sun Rental Center.