Articles : Local Farms Take a Bite Out of the Big Apple

Local Farms Take a Bite Out of the Big Apple

Special Event to Benefit the Farm to Chef Express Program A Success

Nearly 100 people turned out and raised over $4,500 at the "Take a Bite Out of the Big Apple", the first benefit event for the Farm to Chef Express program at NYC's famous Cornell Club on April 5. On this special evening, six of New York City's famous chefs came together donating their time and talent to create unique dishes using the fresh meats, produce and cheeses of participating Farm to Chef Express farms.

The chefs featured the following menu: Chef Peter Hoffman of Savoy serve roasted pork belly with braised pork, oyster mushrooms and rutabaga featuring Flying Pigs Farm and Winters Garden. Chef Galen Zamarra of Mas served braised veal and fingerling potato puree featuring Bornt Family Farms and Sheldon Farms. Chef Ed Witt of il Buco served pickled beef and buffalo tongue and grilled beef and buffalo heart featuring Lewis Waite Farm, Manx Station Farm, and Gem Farms Buffalo. Chef Bill Brasile of 360 served duck terrine and armangac and pate campagne featuring Flying Pigs Farm and Spann Farm. Chef Michael Rizzo of The Cornell Club served roasted stuffed leg with sheep's milk feta-balsamic vinegar glaze, rack of lamb with minted sheep's milk yogurt sauce and tagine of lamb featuring Elihu Farm and 3 Corner Field Farm. Chefs Marco Canora of Hearth served rabbit ballotine with frisee, prosciutto and green olives featuring Champlain Valley Rabbitry. Apples and cheese were also served featuring Saratoga Apple, Gillis Acres, and Nettle Meadow Farm.

The fabulous food was topped off by a silent auction, organized by Dan and Deko Stone, featuring donations from 3 Corner Field Farm, Annette Nielsen, Beanheads Coffee House, Bowman Orchards, The Cambridge Hotel, The Green Table, iCi Restaurant, Il Buco, Nettle Meadow Farm, Liquid Assets, Manx Station Farm, Maple Land Farm, Murray's Cheese, The Nuns of New Skete, Saratoga Apple, The Sheldon Mansion, Union Village, Ltd, West Village Market, Diner, Rice Mansion Inn, Hubbard Hall, and Bright Food Kitchen.

The benefit event helps Washington, Saratoga, and Rensselear Counties producers to reach their goals of establishing Farm to Chef Express as their own entity and continue to supply distinctive fresh products from upstate New York farms directly to the kitchens of New York City's renowned chefs.

Farm to Chef Express is a program of the Agricultural Economic Development program of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Washington and Saratoga Counties. For more information, visit www.farmtochefexpress.org.

Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities

April 19, 2005 by Paula Schafer

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