Imladris FARM JAM, Dinner & Solstice Concert

Have you heard about the FARM JAM, Dinner & Solstice Concert at Imladris Farm on Saturday, June 16^th, 2012?

The FARM JAM features Asheville’s own Swayback Sisters, a locally-sourced gourmet dinner, and a chance to see Imladris Farm at the peak of summer. Visit with Walter, Wendy, & Andy Harrill and (to quote Walter) other like-minded folks on this beautiful berry farm in Fairview, NC.  Tours of the farm start at 4 pm, dinner will be served at 6 pm, and the Swayback Sisters will start playing around 7 o’clock.

Walter loves to tell stories, and the farm has been in his family a very long time. Walter & Wendy’s son, Andy, marks the seventh generation of their family being on the farm. You have seen the Harrills at various tailgate markets selling their jams, and in front of Early Girl Eatery on Sundays, where their jam is served on the tables. Actually Imladris Farm Jam is served all over town, and dessert at the Farm Jam will feature ice cream made with Imladris Jam by another local favorite, Ultimate Ice Cream.

4 p.m. ~ Farm Tours begin

6 p.m. ~ Dinner is served

7 p.m. approximately ~ Concert with the Swayback Sisters

The MENU:

Appetizers ~ Local Cheese Plate and Pickled Pullet Eggs

Local Garden Salad

Entrée ~ Smoked Rabbit Tacos

OR a vegetarian taco option featuring a local smoked/grilled shiitake taco, a local vegetable taco, and a local tempeh taco (one of each taco)

Dessert ~ Ultimate Ice Cream made with Imladris Farm preserves

$30/person, admission by reservation only

Limited seating available ~

Secure your spot and purchase tickets by calling the Harrills at 828-545-2631. The deadline was June 6, so don’t delay, because admission is by reservation only.

Read Full Post »

Marc’s ‘Wild Side’ Salad & True Nature Country Fair Pictures

Marc Williams' 'Wild Side' Salad Sources

Marc Williams intended to tell the STORY of the salad at One Bowl, the local food dinner given at True Nature Country Fair 2010.  Serving dinner to over 60 guests waylaid his intention, but he did manage to display a bit of information about his ‘Wild Side’ Salad for those diners who were paying attention.  With his permission, I stuffed his scraps of paper in my pocket as we cleaned up.  The torn bits of paper do tell the story, and Marc filled in a few details for me.

On Saturday morning, Marc swooped down on the North Asheville Tailgate Market and gathered his salad and dressing ingredients.  I imagine him conversing with each farmer as he filled his market bags.  He arrived at the True Nature Country Fair later in the day with an incredible salad and two delectable dressings.

Marc Williams' Salad Dressings

FOR THE SALAD ~

Flying Cloud Farm: Lettuce, Radishes, Arugula

Mountain Harvest Organics: Lettuce, Broccoli, Sweet Peppers, Parsley

Gaining Ground Farm: Carrots

Full Sun Farm: Watermelon Radishes, Chiogga Beets

Pearson Garden: Wood Sorrel, Knotweed, Basella

FOR THE TOMATO BASIL FETA DRESSING ~

Ron Gagliano: Tomatoes

Frank Tenerelli: Basil

Spinning Spider Creamery: Feta Cheese

Other ingredients:  Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sea Salt

FOR THE RASPBERRY BALSAMIC VINEGARETTE ~

Walter Harrill: Raspberry Jam

Haw Creek Honey: Blackberry Honey

Other ingredients:  Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, Sea Salt

 

A little more of the story… Eve Davis had worked her magic by arranging flowers for each table…flowers donated by Meredith McKissick of Sweet Earth Flower Farm.  Set in a covered pavilion; candles twinkled on the tables during dinner, a nearby fire blazed, and the sounds of summer rose from the woods.  The band of musicians tore themselves away from their music long enough to share this meal.

Patryk Battle created a chunky Lamb Stew and Elizabeth Gibbs is famous for her delicious Candy Roaster Soup ~ both composed of local ingredients.  Candy Roasters are an heirloom “squash/pumpkin” that locals swear will make the very best pumpkin pies.  The soup was garnished with (my personal favorite) goat cheese.  I got in a conversation with two women; one was eating the Lamb Stew and her friend was having candy roaster soup. They tried each other’s entrees, and they both liked the one they had initially chosen the best.  Wonders never cease.

The Chocolate Lounge made dessert ~ an autumn tart set in swirls of chocolate and garnished with homemade whipped cream.  Are you jealous? There were two choices of Buchi; the one I tasted was pink, spicy and addicting.  Conversation was lively during dinner, and all the guests took home beautiful bowls that had been handmade by many generous local potters.

I didn’t think to whip out my camera during dinner and capture the beauty of the night, or the fabulous fare.  I did take a few pictures of some of the action and classes at the Fair.



Read Full Post »