6th ANNUAL FARMLAND FEAST: FRESHFARM MARKETS
CELEBRATES LOCAL FOOD & FARMERS
— Celebrity Chefs Collaborate, Create Fabulous Five-Course Meal —
Washington, D.C.—On Monday, November 5, FRESHFARM Markets hosts its sixth annual Farmland Feast fundraiser celebrating the magic equation: seasonal food from local farmers + great chefs = a delicious revolution. A roster of immensely talented chefs will be in the kitchen cooking and donating their talents and time in support of FRESHFARM Markets and the 55 plus farmers who sell at its markets. The menu highlights the delicious autumnal harvest of the freshest seasonal local foods from farms in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed region. The proceeds of the fundraiser allow FRESHFARM Markets to continue its work operating six producer-only markets in the D.C. area, supporting chef-at-market demonstrations, supplying local food banks and running FoodPrints, a local foods program in D.C. public schools.
Award-winning Chef Cathal Armstrong of Restaurant Eve, Eammon’s and The Majestic chairs the chef committee for the Farmland Feast. He is joined by coordinating Chef Richard Arnoldi of The Ritz-Carlton Washington, D.C.—a VIP sponsor of the Feast. This year, Chefs Armstrong and Arnoldi will coordinate 16 stellar chefs from D.C., Baltimore and New York to create a sumptuous menu highlighting local food (see menu on page 2). The roster includes Nathan Anda of Tallula/EatBar; Heather Chittum of Hook; Anthony Chittum of Vermillion; Brendan Cox of Notti Bianche and Circle Bistro; Jerome Giradot of the Ritz-Carlton; Todd Gray of Equinox; Cesare Lanfranconi of Spezie and Tosca; Leonardo Marino of Westend, A Bistro by Eric Ripert; Johnny Monis of Komi; Frank Morales of Rustico Restaurant and Bar; Morou Quattara of Farrah Olivia; Barton Seaver of Hook; and Josh Short of Buzz. Joining these Washington area favorites are three out of town chefs, two from New York, Cesare Casella of Maremma and Peter Hoffman of Savoy, and from Baltimore, John Shields of Gertrude’s.
“Chefs are the farmers’ best friends, translating what they grow in the region’s fields into delicious flavors on the plates and pleasure on the palates of Washington’s diners,” said Ann Harvey Yonkers, co-director FRESHFARM Markets. “We rely on chefs to carry the message of the enjoyment and importance of local food to a wider audience, and we are so grateful for their support of FRESHFARM Markets and our mission.”
In addition to the wonderful five-course meal, guests will have the opportunity to bid on a terrific array of live and silent auction items, from a Harley ride with the District Hogs (chefs on motorcycles) to a pig roast with Chef Eric Ziebold of CityZen, a week in a lovely villa in Vence in the south of France, and a San Francisco package featuring two nights at the Ritz-Carlton, dinner at Restaurant Gary Danko and a behind-the-scenes tour of the famous Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market.
MENU
Hors d’Oeuvres
Warm dates stuffed with mascarpone, finished with olive oil fleur de sel
Pumpkin & Crawfish Fritters with Salsa Peverda (green mustard)
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First Course
Farrotto con Fungi e Guanciale
Farro with Mushrooms and Cured Pork Jowls
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Second Course
DelMarVa Style Brodetto
Lump Crabmeat, Rockfish & Eastern Shore Shrimp
in a Smoked Ham Broth with Herbed Focaccia
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Main Course
Stoudt’s Fat Dog Imperial Oatmeal Stout braised Short Ribs
Glazed Chestnuts, Celery and Celery Root Salad and a Vegetable Brunoise
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Dessert Course
Poached Pear with Blue Cheese Ice Cream, Candied Walnuts and Port Wine Reduction
In addition to the sixth annual Farmland Feast’s VIP sponsor, the Ritz-Carlton, other sponsors include: Katherine & David Bradley, Lynne & Joseph Horning, Joan Fabry & Michael Klein, Virginia & Ed Murphy, Patrice & Herb Miller, Pamela Johnson & Stephen Lintner, Elm Street Development, Inc., Calvert Group, Ltd., Organic Valley Family of Farms, Pepco, Prudent Management Associates, Nora Pouillon & Steven Damato, Marijke & David Dupree, Betty King, Debra Moser & Mitch Berliner, Hattie Ruttenberg& Jon Molot, Susan & August Schumacher, Bernadine & Raymond Prince, Ann & Charlie Yonkers, Ayrshire Farm, Home Farm Store, Hunter’s Head Tavern, Robert Friedman, Gardiner & Nicholas Lapham, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw, Chatel Real Estate, Inc., Amy Phee, and Kaiser Permanente.
FRESHFARM Markets, a nonprofit 501© (3) organization, was founded in 1997 with the opening of its first producer-only market at Dupont Circle. Inspired by a vision of a more sustainable and flavorful regional food system, the markets were created not only to connect urban residents with local farmers, but also to educate the public about food and farming issues and to provide tangible economic opportunities for farmers. For the 2007 growing season, FRESHFARM Markets operates six producer-only farmers’ markets in the Washington, DC metro area, with farmers from Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. More information is available at www.freshfarmmarkets.org.
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