I’ve been wanting to participate in a farm to plate dinner for quite a while, and I finally got the chance this Saturday.
Topaz Farm is a 130-acre farm on Sauvie Island, just outside of Portland. They do not use pesticides or herbicides. The farm store features produce grown on the farm and from other local farms. In the summer they host farm to plate dinners under a large oak tree as well as concerts. Jim, the owner, told the crowd of diners gathered for Saturday night’s feast that to make the farm work financially, as it is expensive to farm the way they do, they had to be creative. The farm to plate dinner was born, and we are all better off for them.
The setting is beautiful, under a large oak. On this mid August evening the temperature was perfect and the sunflowers were blooming. Two long tables were set for an all vegetarian menu, the only all vegetarian menu of the summer.
The food is served family style, with a platter for each group of 6. We greeted our neighbors and enjoyed conversation with our meal and wine pairing.
We started with the Mushroom Arancini and Tomato and Melon Salad. It was watermelon, which was a nice surprise. It was delicious.
By the time our main course came around, summer corn lasagna, I was already quite full.
We thoroughly enjoyed the evening and plan to attend next year. What we didn’t know in advance is that you could bring your own wine, for a $25 cork fee. We may do that next time.
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