Greenwood Lake’s Second Annual Farm to Table Dinner

On Thursday evening September 12, 2024, guests will gather under the pavilion at the Elks Lodge on Chestnut Street, to celebrate Grow Local Greenwood Lake’s Second Annual Farm to Table Dinner prepared by Jamie Heller, chef-proprietor of The

Village Buzz Café who will prepare a four-course dinner showcasing the freshness and quality of ingredients straight from local farmers and artisans.

The menu will include the following courses:

APPETIZER

Goat Cheese Crostini with Beans, Bitter Greens and Bacon

Source: Baguettes – Trattoria Italiana; Goat Cheese – LynnHaven; Bitter Greens Rogowski Farms; Bacon – Hillery Farms

SALAD

Sweet & Sour Cabbage Salad w/Cherry Tomatoes and Mint

Source: Cabbage – Madura Farms & R&G Produce; Tomatoes – J&A Farm; Mint – local gardens

DINNER

Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers with Beef, Pork, Rice & Mediterranean Spices

Source: Meat – Sweetman’s Farm; Tomatoes, Garlic, Parsley – J&A Farm; Peppers – R&G Produce; Rice – Great Joy Family Farm

Miso Polenta with Maple Sriracha Cauliflower and Sesame Cashews

Source: Cauliflower & Ginger – Madura Farms; Green beans – R&G Produce; Cornmeal – Great Joy Family Farm

Butter Roasted Hasselback Potatoes w/Citrus Tahini Sauce

Source: Potatoes – J&A Farm

DESSERT

Plum Cake with Bellvale Farms Vanilla Ice Cream

Source: Plums – Locust Grove Fruit Farm; Eggs – Beth’s Eggers; Ice Cream – Bellvale Farms Creamery

Each course has been carefully prepared and sourced from local producers throughout the region, many of whom are regular participants at the Lakeside Farmers Market that appears every Saturday, from 9AM-1PM at Winstanley Park on Windermere Ave. in the village of Greenwood Lake, which, this year is celebrating its Centennial birthday with a series of events commemorating its unique history.

“We are excited to be able to feature many different ingredients that are all sourced from local farms,” revealed Chef Jamie Heller, who is very passionate about showcasing the finest locally-available ingredients. “We have carefully curated every element of this feast to offer guests a true farm-to-table experience,” she continued.

The Farm to Table event will also include music featuring the Missyping Duo with Michael O’Brien and Melissa Mahoney;
followed by the James Katz and Matt Lambiase duo. Several sponsors have contributed to the event to ensure its success, including Illustrated Ideas, Lakeside Farmers Market, Howard Hannah Realty, Track 7 Postal & Printing, Warwickinfo.net, and The Flower & Dough.

“When it comes to fresh fruits and vegetables, however, the shorter the time and distance they spend traveling from farm to table, the higher the levels of vitamins and minerals,” offered co-founder Chad Pilieri. “There is no comparison to the flavor you can get directly from a local farm. Without having to spend time in transit (the average distance is 1,500 miles) in special packaging and inevitably trying to ripen in the process, local fruits and vegetables can offer consumers a terrific economic and nutritional benefit.”

In 2019 a few concerned individuals in Greenwood Lake met to discuss strengthening and recognizing the importance of local food. The group officially incorporated as a non-proﬁt organization in 2020. Using the pillars of Education, Food Sovereignty, and Community, this group focused on helping community members start their own home gardens and establishing the Common Ground Community Garden, sharing “love of the earth and growing their own food, a gift they can give to the next generation.”

Today, Grow Local Greenwood Lake offers a variety of programs for the community, that include such activities as Planting Workshops, Sweet Potato Digs, and a Spiral Herb Garden planting. Recently the group instituted a Food Scraps Collection at the Lakeside Farmers Market, Composting at the Community Garden, and Crop Sharing among fellow gardeners. Their objective is to educate the community on the benefits of a resilient local food system based on regenerative growing techniques, preserving food, and healthy eating.

For more information about this organization and its programs, click on https://www.growlocalgreenwoodlake.org/fundraiser-2024