DooF-a-Palooza 2007

“Doof-A-Palooza was exactly the opportunity we’ve been looking for to live the values we share with Doof – promoting sustainable and healthy food and eating. Since the event, the emails of praise have been pouring in from attendees and the chefs. There are festivals and events of all kinds, but everyone seemed to agree they had never seen anything like this before. Everyone wants to do it all over again. As one chef told me, his child couldn’t stop saying ‘Doof!’ all weekend. He wants to know when we’ll start planning for Doof-A-Palooza 2008. The only response I can give, is ‘not soon enough.’”

—Mirit Cohen, Sous Chef Google Cafe 150 & DooF-a-Palooza Co-Organizer

Just a couple of days ago, on the occasion of Hannukah, I finally opened my vacuum-sealed applesauce provided by Google’s Cafe 150 at DooF-a-Palooza. Though joined by sour cream and greasy latkes, the delicious, mellow-crisp apple flavor was well-preserved. My experience on that fine, October Saturday at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View is preserved in just the same way: sealed in my mind, fresh and accessible as I reach for it a couple of months later.

Occupied for most of the day running the silent auction platform, I only made it to half of the 30-odd activities, but I still had the satisfaction of dunking an Oreo well past my fingertips in Charles Chocolates impressive vat of milk-chocolate, seeing my Acme Bread-dough pizza-creation come to life exactly as planned, Pollocking a pumpkin, and grooving on the effervescent beat-boxing of Felonious and crew.

I saw a lot more as DooF’s roving reporters transmitted live feed back to Google’s jumbo screen. Walking around or staying put, I basked in the joy and success of the event, along with nearly a thousand others.

DooF Executive Producer Mike Axinn reflects, “DooF-a-Palooza was an opportunity to put into practice our mission to make good food fun and to energize the work of organizations that share our commitment to healthy and sustainable methods. A lot has been said about Google and their business model. What impressed me was their incredible commitment, their generosity and collaboration in the creation of this amazing– and hopefully annual– event.” Indeed, the event would not have been possible without the indefatigable Googlers, and dynamo chef Mirit Cohen in particular, who first suggested that Google could host a DooF event. “Not wanting to presume too much,” recalls Mike. “I imagined a small garden party with wine in plastic cups.”

“DooF-a-Palooza was by far the best family event we have been to in a long time,” emailed one enthused mom. Denis Lynch of Google, added, “If you don’t have kids, and didn’t think to borrow any for the occasion, you really missed out!”

For those who didn’t–and those who did, DooF-a-Palooza 2008 is currently in the making. Which gives you ten months to shmooze with your extended family and your neighbors so that they can partake of the joy and excitement that good food brings to kids when you let them get their hands on it . Guest Andrea Price marveled, “My kids thanked us over and over for taking them.” Honestly, how often does that happen?

DooF

DooF-a-Palooza 2007

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