I have ALWAYS wanted to go to a farm dinner. This has been so high up on my culinary list for how long I cannot say. So when I was casually looking at activities in my area and saw that not only was there a farm dinner coming up, but it was also with our favorite restaurant, I knew I had to go.
Okay so what is a farm dinner? Well it can mean a few things, but most commonly it is a celebration of local foods and farmers and set in the setting of the farm (we were in a field with cow pastures behind it). It highlights community, agriculture, and of course delicious food! Really letting ingredients sing in all their glory, since right from the farm is when they are at their peak. This late summer timing is also a wonderful time celebrate as so many great produce is in season, it’s a real treat to enjoy.
I think this year was a very kismet opportunity to attend a farm dinner. 1) Because this is my first year trying to grow a garden of my own. Which learning how hard it can be to grow your own, and how fragile plants and gardens can be was a real lesson and 2) this year, in CT especially, has been so extremely challenging weather wise. We have gotten drowned in rain through July, and among other factors it has really been affecting the crops this year. I really could appreciate the importance of our local farms and supporting them, because they have no guarantees year to year that they will have a successful growing season. Support local farms!! They are so important!!
So let’s dive into what we ate. My husband and I aren’t picky, but there are a few things we don’t eat, mainly seafood. But we said for this dinner we would at least try everything, so glad we did!
1) Passed apps & grazing station
To kick off the dinner there was an hour of passed apps and a dip grazing station. Our highlight apps included: Lamb bacon BLT, Duck nuggets, beet falafel, and pistachio whipped feta. They had two cocktails and wines/beers to choose from. Both cocktails were perfectly balanced and light (which is what you need heading into a 4 course meal)
Every app we tried during cocktail hour was honestly amazing (including the swordfish, which is not usually something we like). This part could have been the whole dinner and I would have been happy
2) Course 1 & 2
Course one started with lamb kibbeh, which is a raw lamb dish served with small crunchy toasts. I have never eaten raw meat before, but was pleasantly surprised. There was no gamey-ness you can sometimes find with lamb, the flavors were well balanced but not overwhelming. Example, there was raw red onion, but I didn’t have that taste linger in my mouth all night. Again, not something I would normally eat, but I enjoyed it!
Course 2 was a lovely salad with tahini ranch and crispy peta chips. Will be trying to replicate this at home. Just perfect
3) Course 3
Course three was a seafood “paella” of cous cous. This was the course I was most nervous for because I don’t like seafood… or paella (I have tried it enough times to be confident in that statement) But I thought it was a really fun play with the cous cous and this thing was generous with the seafood, a seafood lover would have been in heaven. I did try the mussels and there were peppers and eggplant in there that were perfectly tender and delicious also.
4) Course 4
This is the course I will dream about. Tomahawk steak with creamed greens and potatoes. The only problem was I was getting very full at this point, but I was determined to power thought (oh the sacrifice). The steak was unbelievable. I mean, I have been to one of the best steakhouses in Chicago, and this. THIS was a whole different category. I want to eat this meal for every special occasion through the end of time.
5) The Dessert
Now if I thought I was full before, dessert was ready to push me to the brink. A lightly floral rose custard topped with stone fruit and husk cherries. I have never had a husk (or ground) cherry, but I am adding it to the growing list for next year. They were delicious. It was a perfect finale for an unbelievable night.
Let’s talk vibe. This field was in the middle of two large hills, so we could watch the sunset over the hills and were treated to wide open sky to enjoy the light show and then the stars as the evening progressed. The meal was by candle light and string lights. Which was just a dreamy way to eat and enjoy at one long communal table. With linens and small florals dotting the table. We had the chefs at our backs preparing every meal. Which worked out as the night got cooler, we had the warmth of the fires to keep us warm. All the serves were incredibly skilled and diligent through every course. Remember, farm dinner means farm, working farms. So dress for that. And September means the summer nights are fading, so a jacket was important to have as the night kept going. Appreciate the farm for it’s glory, cow pies and all! All in all, it was a dreamy way to enjoy a fabulous meal.
This dinner was hosted at Sub-Edge Farm in Farmington with the restaurant being Zohara in West Hartford. The farm hosts several of these dinners with other restaurants too, we will definitely be returning for many years to come!!
The Home Taste 