I was provided 2 complimentary tickets to attend this event, opinions expressed are that of my own.
Thanks to Whole Foods Market Sarasota and Geraldson Community Farms, I was invited this past week to attend a dinner to sample locally grown organic food coming straight from the farm.
The “Field to Fork” Dinner Event allowed attendees to taste prepared vegetables that are grown locally, dine under the stars, and enjoy family fun activities like lawn games along with music and dancing.
Initially my husband was scheduled to go with me to this event, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, this ended up being a girl’s night out. He got put in charge of the baby sitting responsibilities.
However, I was happy to have a good friend come along, and I think we were both excited to sample the unique dishes that would be served during the evening.
When we arrived at the event, the first items we were directed to were the utensils. These were neatly wrapped in twine along with a piece of farm themed material AKA our napkins.
In addition, they were placed in a mason jar which was our reusable beverage container for the evening.
After this, we made our way to the food and wine pairings. Our first stop was a Kohlrabi Slaw with Tangerine Dressing. This slaw was a light dish, and had a great color and fresh taste.
Neither one of us had tasted Kohlrabi before, and it reminded me of cabbage. Of course, I immediately went to the internet to see what this vegetable was all about, and actually learned something new.
Next, we tried the Beet Salad. I have to admit upfront that I am not a big fan of beets, but I do love goat cheese and since that was one of the ingredients, I was open to trying it. I was not disappointed.
The goat cheese really enhanced the recipe, and I would definitely want to try to make this at home to expose my kids to the dish.
After this, we walked the grounds and checked out a few of the other items that were up for sampling. Shortly there after, dinner was served.
The meal via buffet style included Chimichurri Steak, Vegan Squash Gratin, Key West Shrimp, Wilted Greens Salad, Eggplant Stew, Grilled Vegetables, and a Raw Kale Salad.
The grilled vegetables were really good, and the Key West Shrimp was amazing. My only regret was that I did not go up for seconds of the SHRIMP.
I also accidentally found out that there were some carrots cooked with some amazing heat. I am sure those who like SUPER hot food were absolutely loving this.
Although many of the foods at this event were items that I probably would have never been exposed to, and I was happy to try something new and broaden my horizons. I was also happy to end my evening with a piece of Candy Striped Beet Baklava with Walnuts and Local Honey.
Between the decorations, the dishes, and the atmosphere, this event truly had a farm feel about it, and I am looking forward to touring the Geraldson Community Farms facility in the future.
Do you grow your own vegetables or are you a part of a (CSA) Community Supported Agriculture Farm? If not, do you try to shop local for farm foods?
Whole Food Market is America’s first national certified organic grocer and is the leading natural and organic food retailer. For your nearest location, visit wholefoodsmarket.com
Geraldson Community Farms is a 20 acre Certified Organic (CSA) Community Supported Agriculture Farm located in Bradenton, Fl. To learn more about this operation, visit geraldsoncommunityfarm.org. For additional photos of the event visit field2fork.
FFM
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