The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Amish farmers, their produce star at dinner
Amish farmers who grew the food will be special guests at the farm-totable dinner at 6 p.m. Aug. 23 at Sapore, the Chester Township restaurant next door to sister operation the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking.
The dinner is a collaboration with Geauga Family Farms, the community-supported-agriculture program that will have a farm market set up outside the restaurant prior to dinner from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Meats will be included for sale along with the fresh melons, berries, honey, peppers, squash, tomatoes and greens available there. Menu for the meal includes goat cheesestuffed sweet peppers, cheddar corn chowder with bacon bits, mixed melon salad with champagne vinaigrette, pan-seared walleye with fresh vegetable ratatouille, grilled beef with tomato balsamic steak sauce, heirloom potato salad and peach and blackberry cobbler with honey gelato.
The dinner is at capacity, but call 440-729-1110 to see if there’s a chance to join those dining at the tiny restaurant at 8623 Mayfield Road.
Garlic Festival
Mark that calendar for next weekend, when the annual Cleveland Garlic Festival gets underway at noon Aug. 26 and Aug. 27 at the North Union Farmers Market at Shaker Square.
Top chefs will participate in garlic grill-offs, local craft beers will be poured and everything from garlic fries to garlic ice cream will be available to taste.
Proceeds make it possible for the North Union Farmers Market to operate the seven area markets it leads in various parts of Cleveland.
Tickets, at $9 each day, are available at ClevelandGarlicFestival.org.
Food dehydrating
Get the most from your garden by learning how to preserve your produce by drying it in a class at 7 p.m. Aug. 22 in the kitchen at Wildwood Cultural Center in Mentor.
Food dehydrating, the oldest known preservation method, will be taught by Judi Strauss for those who have gardens and/or dehydrators. From sun-dried tomatoes to vegetable soup mix and tofu jerky, there will be a lot to taste and learn.
Fee is $17, with a $3 discount for Mentor residents. And an additional $8 food fee is payable in cash to Strauss on class night. Sign up with a call to 440-9745735. Wildwood is at 7645 Little Mountain Road.
FARMAFARE
Don’t miss the 2017 FARMAFARE celebration of local foods set for 6 to 10 p.m. Sept. 14 beneath a large white tent at Holden Arboretum, 9550 Sperry Road, Willoughby.
A dozen of the area’s best chefs will offer their specialities so folks can put together their own farm-totable dinners. The meal is the centerpiece for the Lake County Soil & Water Conservation District’s annual meeting.
Tickets are $60 and can be ordered at bit. ly/2uFWqn5. Get details from the SWCD at 440-3502730.