Farmtable Chef’s Dinner at Sugartown Strawberries

After the long wait our September 18th dinner went off without a hitch.  We could not have asked for better weather with the sun shining and the wonderful feel of fall in the cool air.  Guests arrived at 5 o’clock and met under a 300 year old oak tree.  Here they were treated to fruit laden sangria and two hors d’oeuvre.  The hors d’ouevre, like the other dishes served, were comprised of all locally sourced ingredients. Sugartown Strawberries butternut squash was artfully turned into a butternut squash soup shooter served in a shot glass whose rim was first dipped in cider reduction glaze and then into chopped toasted almond for a margarita style service.  The second was a Kennett Square wild mushroom crostini topped with Shellbark Hollow goat cheese.

At quarter to six guests boarded the hayride that would take them up to the dinner seating which was set up on a hill overlooking the farm below.  The group of tables was in a beautiful stone wall enclosed flat section of a meadow.  Each table had a chocolate brown linen with a mason jar centerpiece filled with sunflowers; the napkins accented the table in a pale yellow.  The event is byob so guests had a wide assortment of wines, champagne and beer.  Prior to the first course a few speeches were made by Bob from Sugartown Strawberries, the girls from Hives for Lives and our very own Executive Chef Erin Morrison who explained the autumnal menu.

The first course was SIW Farms baby arugula tossed in honey Dijon dressing made with Hives for Lives honey, roasted thinly sliced SIW Farms red beets, Shellbark Hollow sharp goat cheese, sliced pears, toasted walnuts and lemon thyme syrup.

The second course was petite layered dish starting with Sugartown truffled sweet corn puree, melted leeks, a Cape May seared golden scallop, Kennett Square shiitake and crimini mushrooms and Branch Creek micro greens drizzled with herb oil.

The third course was Countrytime Farm’s pork loin with natural jus and crispy pork belly with a lemon and honey glaze made from Hives for Lives honey, zucchini puree & SIW grilled sweet potato batons.

As if the first three courses weren’t enough, dessert was a warm gingered SIW Farms zucchini carrot cake, green apple sorbet and cinnamon crème fraiche.  The bonfire crackled as the sun set on a delicious meal and a wonderful evening.  By candlelit walk guests boarded the hayride back down to the parking lot, to return to the hustle and bustle of our daily lives.  But for a few blissful hours, everyone returned to a simpler time with pure foods, simple cooking and the chance to catch up with friends old and new.

A big thanks to everyone who made the evening possible including Bob, Lisa, and the young ladies from Hives for Lives who were the servers for the evening.  Very much looking forward to October 2nd for the second and final farmtable dinner for this year.  We hope to see you there!

Farmtable Chef’s Dinner Series

  

Sugartown Strawberries is excited to announce our 2011 dates for our Farmtable Chef’s Dinner Series in partnership with J. Scott Catering and Hives for Lives!

All of our past dinners have been held with great success and we are looking forward to carrying on the same tradition!  Each event has been attended by over 80 “farm-loving” friends that have come out to enjoy a wonderful evening on the farm.  The meal, which will be prepared by J. Scott Catering, will feature a menu of seasonally inspired, locally sourced ingredients.  The events kick-off with appetizers and sangria served under a 300 year old Oak tree where guests can socialize, see old friends and meet new ones!  We then take a sunset hayride tour of the farm, which will include multiple educational stops along the way.  Upon arrival at our open air dining site, which provides breathtaking, romantic views of a Chester County Century Farm, guests will enjoy a full-course menu made entirely from locally-sourced ingredients.  By the end of the evening, guests will be mingling and table-hopping.  New friendships will be formed and fun will be had by all!  As an added bonus the event will enable us to donate funds to Hives for Lives, a non-profit organization dedicated to cancer research.

The dates for our upcoming dinner events are June 12th, September 18th, and October 2nd.  Dinner will be served under candlelight and bonfire.  Tickets to the event are $95 per person.   The event is BYOB.  Sugartown Strawberries is located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, a 230 acre working farm in Chester County that has been in the family since 1896!  The farm has 100 acres of tillable land and is registered as a Natural Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

Since founding J. Scott Catering in 1995, Scott Walsh has worked hard to establish a reputation for exceptional food and superior customer service.  His efforts have not gone unnoticed.  J. Scott Catering has been recognized locally and nationally for culinary talent and fine attention to detail, including being named for six consecutive years as “Best Caterer” by Main Line Today.  Scott also strongly believes in the Buy Fresh/Buy local movement and sources ingredients locally, thereby supporting our local farm community.

Hives for Lives is a non-profit organization started by two teenagers in 2004 as a result of their grandfather’s death.  They harvest and sell local honey and donate all the money to various cancer societies.  In total, over the course of five years, they have donated close to $300,000 with the hope of finding a cure.

Please join us in what will be wonderful celebrations of Chester County farmers and food artisans!

Sugartown Strawberries, Malvern, Pennsylvania, 610.647.0711, www.sugartownstrawberries.com

J. Scott Catering, Malvern, Pennsylvania, 610.725.9420, www.jscottcatering.com

Hives for Lives, Devon, Pennsylvania, www.hivesforlives.com

For media and public relations inquiries, please contact Lisa Leigh Bennett at lisa@sugartownstrawberries.com  or by phone at 610.613.0525.

Looking Forward to Warmer Months

This weekend we had a tasting for a couple getting married in August.  We created a menu for them to reflect the season; light, fresh and full of flavor.

  

Hors d’oeuvres included vegetable pot stickers, lime marinated chicken skewers with avocado cream dip and sesame California rolls to name a few.  Our guests especially enjoyed our house smoked salmon and dill spread in mini cucumber cups.  This hors d’oeuvre delivers a full range of flavors in just a tiny bite.  The smokiness of the salmon melds well with the smoothness of the cream cheese and the added dill gives it a touch of freshness at the finish.  To balance the spreads intensity is the cool, crisp, fresh cucumber.  The combination, though simple in concept, is complex in execution.

  

The first course was a red & green leaf salad with mandarin orange and honey balsamic vinaigrette.  This refreshing, light salad is perfect for a hot summer day.  It opens the palate for the decadent summer entrée that follows.  Sliced beef sirloin with bourbon gorgonzola sauce, fresh wild salmon with mustard seed horseradish crust and pan fried trout with pancetta and tomato ragout all gave the couple the feeling of enjoying a summer meal on a terrace under the stars. 

 

Their favorite though was the chicken sienna with sundried tomatoes, mushrooms and shallots.  The pan seared chicken, while a hot dish, was lightened with a tomato and stock based sauce, giving the illusion of a lighter dish while still holding fast to a full bodied flavor from the sundried tomatoes and mushrooms.  Entrees were accompanied by long grain and wild rice timbale and fresh haricot vert with almonds and brown butter.  Concluding the tasting the couple enjoyed a sampling of wedding cakes.

 Cooking in season and using local produce is just one way you can help reduce your carbon footprint.  At J. Scott we are dedicated to buying in season from local purveyors with the highest quality meat, dairy and produce.  Take the time to visit a local farmer’s market and see what is currently available.  You’ll be surprised at the amazing foods grown in your area and you’ll feel good for doing your part to help preserve our environment.