12:30 p.m. Farm Tour
The tour will begin at Agritopia in Gilbert. Agritopia is a mixed-use project located in the heart of Gilbert. It is noteworthy for its focus on community and neighborliness, combined with the preservation of agriculture.
Then participants will board buses and head to three of these Southeast Valley Farms:
Crooked Carrot Farm with Chef Greg LaPrad, Quiessence
Desert Roots Farm with Chef James Porter, Tapino
One Windmill Farm with Chef John Sharpe,Turquoise Room at La Posada
Queen Creek Olive Mill with chef Alicia Popple, del Piero
Schnepf Farm with chef Aaron May, Sol y Sombra
At the end of the Tour, we’ll head back to Agritopia where those guests participating only in the Farm Tour will return to their cars. Those participants staying for dinner will meet up with the rest of the group for dining and entertainment.
6:00 p.m. Rustic Italian Style Harvest Dinner Under the Stars:
Dinner at Agritopia will be a held at long tables in the open air. Chef David Traina from Liberty Market has dreamed up a multi-course Italian-themed dinner using local, seasonal fare. Chef Tracy Dempsey provides a modern Italian dessert. Wine and non-alcoholic beverages will also be available.
Dinner at Agritopia will be:
hors d'oeuvres
Assorted bruschetta served on ficelle by Simply Bread, bagna cauda with farm tour vegetables
antipasto
Multiple varieties of olives, roasted garlic, sliced Molinari Salumi, Vella Mezzo Secco cheese, free range frittata wedge and morning-picked market vegetables
pasta
Pasta with sage butter sauce and toasted breadcrumbs
entree
Arizona pecan-wood smoked brisket with balsamic-glazed carrots and onions
salad
Mixed greens from The Farm at Agritopia with caramelized pecans, Black Mesa goat cheese and a citrus vinaigrette
dessert
Queen Creek Olive Mill olive oil cake with a citrus glaze
coffee
Mr. Espresso oakwood roasted espresso, cappuccino and Americano
Tickets:
Tickets must be purchased in advance by the March 26 deadline online at www.slowfoodphoenix.org or www.ediblephoenix.com/farmtour/. Participants may join the Farm Tour only, the dinner only or both. The fee for the Farm Tour is $20, the Harvest Dinner is $85, or a combined ticket is available for only $90. (Slow Food members receive a $5 rebate per person.) For more information, contact Edible Phoenix at 602-361-7363.
Participants and Sponsors:
Slow Food is Local: Eating from our Farmers’ Markets is sponsored by Slow Food Phoenix, Downtown Phoenix Public Market and Community Food Connections, Maya’s at The Farm and Edible Phoenix.
Slow Food Phoenix is the local chapter of Slow Food USA. Slow Food USA is a nonprofit eco-gastronomic organization that supports a biodiverse, sustainable food supply, local producers, heritage foodways, and rediscovery of the pleasures of the table.
The Downtown Phoenix Public Market at McKinley Street and Central Avenue marks the spot where community revitalization, economic development, and a showcase for local small-scale agriculture and local artists and crafters intersect in the heart of the city. Look for their new indoor market in July 2008.
Maya’s at The Farm is a Saturday morning farmers’ market featuring produce grown on The Farm, eggs and other local products.
Edible Phoenix is quarterly magazine dedicated to celebrating the abundance of the Valley season by season through articles on farmers, chefs, restaurants, markets, food-related charities and other food producers.
Our local farm hosts are Agritopia, Crooked Carrot Farm, Desert Roots Farm, One Windmill Farm, Queen Creek Olive Mill and Schnepf Farm.
At Agritopia, the Johnston brothers will tell us how they came up with a unique way to preserve their family by transitioning to urban agriculture. The production of the farm is sold to the on-property restaurants, Joe’s Farm Grill and The Coffee Shop, as well as at the Farm Stand.
Crooked Carrot Farm owners Clark and Susan Furlong will show us around their small family farm and their seasonal farmstand which operates on the honor system.
Desert Roots Farm is a community supported agriculture operation. Farmer Kelly Saxer will explain what that means and how it allows you to participate in the farm’s success (or challenges).
At One Windmill Farm, long-time farmer John Scott will talk with us about the joys and challenges of running a family farm for 25 years and how he works with the Valley’s Farmers’ Markets.
At Queen Creek Olive Mill, Owners Perry and Brenda Rea will show us where they press local olives into oil, and talk about growing olives in our desert climate.
Third generation Schnepf Farm owners Mark and Carrie Schnepf will share how the farm has changed from being a large commercial farm shipping produce around the world to an agri-tourist or agri-tainment farm that brings over 250,000 visitors a year that has recently been named an Arizona Treasure.
Support for the event is also provided by Cowboy Ciao/Digestif, del Piero, Liberty Market, Quiessence, Sol y Sombra, Tapino and the Turquoise Room at La Posada.
Cowboy Ciao is a long time Scottsdale favorite providing modern American food with a western twist. New sister restaurant Digestif has a Cal-Ital flair serving seasonal, local ingredients in the new SouthBridge complex.
Del Piero at the Market serves Tuscan-inspired local ingredients featuring products from the Queen Creek Olive Mill.
Liberty Market is a café and marketplace located in Gilbert’s Heritage District that is slated to open this October in the historic Liberty Market Building offering wood-fired pizza, a bakery and other local specialties.
Quiessence Restaurant is located at the Farm at South Mountain. The cuisine is passionately driven by classic culinary techniques and traditions using local, seasonal, and consciously-grown ingredients to create a delightful garden to table dining experience.
Sol y Sombra brings quality and authentic Spanish tapas, wines and other delicacies to the Valley’s DC Ranch.
Tapino marries a love of wine and food to produce globally-inspired dining in a casual atmosphere.
The Turquoise Room, located in the historic La Posada hotel in Winslow, bakes and cooks everything from scratch, using only the finest and freshest ingredients from its nearby neighbors and around the country.
At the Farm Tour and Harvest Dinner, we will proudly feature contributions from these local Arizona farmers and farmers’ market producers: Black Mesa Ranch, Maya’s Farm, Rainbow Valley Nursery, Simply Bread and more.
Directions:
Bring hats and sunscreen and wear casual clothes and comfortable footwear to the event as we will be outside in the fresh air and visiting real, working farms for all of the activities.
Both the Farm Tour and the Harvest Dinner begin at Agritopia. Please follow the signs to park in the west lot and then meet at the check-in table near the cafe. (Contact us to make special arrangements if your mobility is limited, info@slowfoodphoenix.org).
Agritopia located 1/4 mile west of Higley Road on Ray Road. There is a convenient exit on the San Tan Freeway (202) at Higley Road. Ray Road is the next major street south of the exit. |
