Feast of the Fields

Preserving local foods, farms, trails: One Delicious Bite at a Time! Unique culinary event benefits Saratoga PLAN, Sept. 15 Feast of the Fields takes place Thursday, September 15, from 5:30 to 9:00 PM at Saratoga National Golf Club to benefit Saratoga PLAN. The event supports the group’s mission of promoting local agriculture, trail systems, wildlife habitats, the importance of buying and eating locally raised food, and a great quality of life. “There are few times when the chefs and farmers really get together and collaborate to create special dishes,” said Maria Trabka, Executive Director of Saratoga PLAN. “This event is unique because it’s a chance to gather in a relaxed yet elegant setting to share the harvest bounty. Feast is a homegrown, locally-produced event where people come together to celebrate the landscape that sustains us.” This year’s Feast theme is BERRIES. Chefs and farmers are challenged to incorporate local berries into their dishes, with mouth-watering results. For instance, Mack Brin Farms, Gardenworks Farm and Winney’s Blueberry Farm will be providing Chef Thomas Gulbrandsen of the Saratoga Marriott Courtyard and Excelsior Springs with the featured ingredients for his dish: pan seared duck breast raspberry gastrique and blackberry basil-infused port poached pear, and blueberry mint foam. “Feast of the Fields is a great showcase for the interaction between farms, restaurants, and customers,” said Gordon Sacks, owner of 9 Miles East farm. “The community gets a chance to meet the people who produce their food, which really helps people enjoy and appreciate the quality available in this market.” The evening will also include musical entertainment and a silent auction. Additional food providers and farms will be showcased at tasting stations, including Common Roots Brewery, Yankee Distillers, Saratoga Cracker, Rock Hill Bakehouse, Native Farm Flowers, amongst other culinary artisans. More information can be found on the Feast of the Fields event page at: http://www.saratogaplan.org/whats-new/upcoming-events/feast-of-the-fields/ “By attending Feast of the Fields, you are truly supporting your local economy- food as well as agricultural,” said Leah Stein, of Leah’s Cakery in Round Lake on the Zim Smith Trail, an example of Saratoga PLAN’s results. “It’s a delight of variety from sweet to savory and everything in between.” Featured chefs and farms include: Vivian Brammer, Prime at Saratoga National Golf Club Chuck Brucculeri, Prime at Saratoga National Golf Club Thomas Gulbrandsen, Saratoga Marriott Courtyard and Excelsior Springs Heidi Hoyt, Parkside Eatery & Black Diamond Caterers Kim Klopstock, 50 South and Lily & the Rose Yono Purnomo, Yono’s and dp Brassarie Braden Reardon, Salt & Char Leah Stein, Leah’s Cakery Gordon Sacks, 9 Miles East Farm Daniel Chessare, The Merry Monk Old World Farm Winney’s Blueberries Thomas Poultry Farm Wm. H. Buckley Farm King Brothers Dairy West Wind Acres Saratoga Apple Willow Marsh Farm Mack Brin Farms Greenfield’s Forever For the eleventh straight year, Feast of the Fields will be set amid the beautiful grounds of Saratoga National Golf Club with spectacular views of 135 acres of forest and wetlands protected through a conservation easement held by Saratoga PLAN. Tickets for Feast of the Fields are $85 per person. Space is limited. Proceeds from the event will help to conserve farms, woods, waters, and trails in Saratoga County. Additional information is available online at www.saratogaplan.org or by calling 587-5554. Saratoga PLAN is a nonprofit land trust that preserves the rural character, natural habitats, and scenic beauty of Saratoga County so these irreplaceable assets are accessible to all and survive for future generations. PLAN assists landowners with fulfilling their conservation goals for their land and provides stewardship for over 4,400 acres of farmland, forest, natural habitat, trail corridors, historic places, and water resources in Saratoga County.