Friday January 6, 2012
TIME: 3:00 p.m.
HOST FARMER: Hani Khouri, Hani’s Mediterranean Organics
GUEST CHEF: Alejandro Pinero, Sustain
PRICE: $190.00 SOLD OUT! Seats still available as of Dec 28.
Outstanding in the Field is hosting a farm dinner at Hani’s goat farm next week. The event is only one of two Florida stops on their North American Tour of dinners. (The next stop is at Lake Meadow Naturals farm in Ocoee outside of Orlando.) The organization’s mission is “to re-connect diners to the land and the origins of their food, and to honor the local farmers and food artisans who cultivate it.” Since 1999, the group has hosted diners all over the world, in all kinds of exotic settings. This coming week, guests will be dining near gentle Nubian goats safely contained in their pen.
Enough tables and chairs to accommodate 100 guests will be set up in the front yard, in a grove of oak trees with a view of the goat pen. Guests will be able to interact with the goats, and feed them roasted peanuts. (Goats are browsers, not grazers, and eat all kinds of things. Peanuts are one of their favorites.) “My farm is unique,” Hani said. “Where else will you find goats? And I’m the only cheesemaker, too.”
Hani will provide a variety of cheeses, and help source other local ingredients. Chef Alex from Sustain restaurant in Midtown Miami is creating the menu using fresh and local ingredients. “Sustain has been buying cheese from me for a long time,” Hani said. “I delivered extra cheese for them, 18 pounds of different kinds, mostly hallumi, on an emergency basis during Art Basel.” Chef Alex is also the one coordinating the event with Outstanding in the Field.
Outstanding in the Field is committed to honoring local farmers and food artisans. “Wherever the location, the consistent theme of each dinner is to honor the people whose good work brings nourishment to the table.” Several organic farmers — Margie Pikarsky at Bee Heaven Farm, Gabriele Marewski at Paradise Farms, and Robert Barnum at Possum Trot Tropical Fruit Nursery — have been hosting popular farm dinners and similar events (whether elegant affairs or humble events) for a number of years. Hopefully through this event, the local growers and Redland historic farming district will get a much-needed boost in agritourism.
Redland Rambles 
This is great. My friends fruits, veggies, and farm goodies will be celebrated. Great way for 2012 to start!
Hi, This dinner is not quite sold out! There are still a few seats available. Go to http://www.outstandinginthefield.com for tickets. Thanks!
Thanks for straightening that out. Heard from Hani that it was. My bad…
$190.00? Plus tax? This is much too expensive and gives and air of exclusivity which we would hope buying organic would not.
Oh… to breath such air of ignorance and envy. Not me.
I love these events and venues. Small or large. They celebrate hard work and missions to be. price is logistics and costs. So you buy a Mercedes? So you buy a Toyota. Both are good. Whomever gets to go… I wish them a fantastic time of all that is nice.
As for this particular event, the price is a bit steep for a farm dinner, agreed. Most similar dinners in Redland have from $100 to $165 for dinner, less for lunch, brunch, ice cream social etc. Keep in mind that food at Redland farm dinners not just organic but super local too, and prepared by top chefs. Not the same as gobbling a Mickey Dee’s drivethrough greaseburger in one’s car! Just more evidence that the food system in this country is very broken. Mass produced food is cheap and unhealthy. Local, artisinal, organic food produced in smaller quantities with higher labor costs is more expensive. In other words, you get what you pay for.
The comment of “Not the same as gobbling a Mickey Dee’s drivethrough greaseburger in one’s car!” was uncalled for… when people are making an effort. How many of us can afford $200 meals I ask you; do you think farmer Margie can? $400 for a young couple trying to support local efforts is way too steep and exclusive any way you put it! Get real.
Lupe, even I can’t afford these expensive dinners! But I do shop at farmer’s markets, and try to fit local and organic food into my budget. As I commented elsewhere, not all farm events are this expensive. Paradise Farms offers brunches and Learning Lunches during season for under $100 pp. Other farms had events that were moderately priced. Also keep in mind not all people, rich or poor, want to eat real, fresh, organic food, on a farm or in their home, for whatever reason. I have friends and co-workers who eat corporate food (as I call it) and they don’t want to know where their food came from or how it was produced. (Thinking about that is dangerous!) Fed some friends grassfed beef and they didn’t like it!! Tasted too strong, they said. Go figure!