GrubGirl.

Aptly named Maureen Farmer, a master gardener and techie, built a site “where people can post free classifieds to sell, trade or give away their surplus backyard garden produce.” The Farmer’s Garden is the spot and it just needs more folks in the Bay Area to sign up (either as a provider or a consumer). I’ve done my part; registration is free and I’m trying to convince some friends with urban chickens to offer their eggs or Meyer lemons for donation.

This is a rare last-minute post to those in San Francisco today. Chef Tal Ronnen (a well-known vegan chef) will be cooking up food at the Whole Foods Market in Pacific Heights on California and Gough, on Thursday, Feb. 11 from noon – 2pm.

Specifically, he’ll be touting the product Gardein, which is supposed to be healthy garden-based protein. I dare not compare this to Tofurkey, and am really really bummed that I won’t be able to sample it as I’ll be on another secret assignment. However, if you’ve seen the ingredient list of some other meat-substitute makers, you’ll know that there’s some not-so-organic stuff included in other products that makes me wonder if I shouldn’t just return to eating butter and meat. Well, Gardein is supposed to contain no crap contents. Someone go there and let me know how it is!

Yum – free Ciao Bella Gelato if you can time it just right!

They tell me they’re handing out 1 million samples of gelato and sorbet on a summer promotional campaign. They want people to pick up one of their new Single Serve cups, available in:

• blood orange sorbet,
• mango sorbet,
• lemon sorbet,
• Tahitian vanilla gelato, or
• chocolate hazelnut gelato

They’ll be in the following locations on the following dates:

7/30: Whole Foods Market, San Francisco, 11AM—7PM

If you’d like any additional information, please feel free to visit www.CiaoBellaGelato.com for a full schedule.

I got me a piece of Kentucky Fried Chicken’s new Grilled Chicken the last time they were giving it out. The skin’s still on the meat, and it’s grilled, which makes it still pretty crispy (and very salty), and the chicken is still juicy. So if you missed out last time, Oprah’s promoting a free KFC coupon that’s hot: 2 pieces of chicken (chosen by the manager), two sides, and a biscuit…for FREE! Anytime from now until May 19, 2009, except for Mother’s Day. 

Now that’s a deal that GrubGirl can dig.