Last month at the Free Harvest Supper where the rich, the poor and everybody in between eat for free, there were a couple of surprises: for one, grass-fed lamb as a "passed app" for those waiting in line with hats, forks and plates in hand. As usual, the chefs were presented with tons of free food to serve no less than 700 people. For the meal, Maggie Zaccara, Evelyn Wulfkuhle and the crew from Hope and Olive in Greenfield created yet another miracle of the loaves and fishes.
"Holy crap," said Maggie to no one in particular on the day before the Free Harvest Supper when she took a look at her walkin. Since all food and labor is donated and the weather is whimsical at best, Maggie has to punt. Last year, there was more corn than could be shucked or eaten, and this year, last-minute lamb from Leyden was a nice addition to the turkey, blueberries, corn, carrots, greens, beets, onions, potatoes, bread, beans and melon as well as peaches, basil and, of course, ice cream. Tomatoes also made a strong entry in spite of the late blight. The walkin full of leafy things transformed into a menu of 15 dishes that ranged from wheatberry and blueberry salad to turkey peach salad to roasted eggplant with peppers and more.
Are the best things in life free? Hope and Olive's owner Jim Zaccara believes that if the time comes that we outlive our oil resources, community, cooperation and cunning might shore us up. "The future will have to be in the hands of engineers and farmers," says Zaccara. Let's hope he is right about that.
This Month's Harvest
This fall, especially on September 20, the very bountiful harvest of 2009 will be laid before us. Even with a bit of rain and lack of sun in the middle of summer, the soil of the Connecticut River Valley continues to deliver nourishment in the form of veggies, fruit, meat, fish and now bread.? On this Sunday, at least, there are reasons to be cheerful about the harvest: an eight-course Locavore menu of French food at a high-end bistro, an afternoon at a bucolic farm and a noontime procession through the center of Northampton where you can shout from the rooftops, "The wheat is in, the wheat is in!"
The Valley's nascent, fledgling but valiant wheat-growing effort can finally be tasted at Hungry Ghost Bakery at Wonder Not, an event recalling the "Lammas," a holy day celebrating the first loaves of the season. Owners Jonathan Stevens and Cheryl Melfi will offer their famous sourdough bread, made in a wood-fired, clay oven, although this time the wheat will be local.
The Ghost is not without followers. Many devotees have joined the effort this growing season to give wheat a try in their own back yards. Taste the results at this free event that will feature music and stuff like honey and cheese with the bread.
In North Amherst, the fourth annual celebration will take place at Simple Gifts Farm, a vegetable and livestock CSA. Established in 1999, Simple Gifts Farm produces meat, certified organic vegetables and pasture-raised eggs. North Amherst Community Farm, which leases the property to Simple Gifts managers, will host the Harvest Celebration honoring Simple Gifts. Activities will include a pig roast, live music and kids' activities such as cow plop bingo with plop provided by bulls from the state of Vermont.
Eat eight courses at Bistro Les Gras from food produced not more than 22 miles away for $85 (including wine, not from here). The menu on September 20 will feature classic bistro fare with local meats. Bistro Les Gras owners Elizabeth and Dan Martinez have put together a bill of fare with food that is grown, crafted or bred within 22 miles of the Northampton restaurant. According to Elizabeth, the only reason they had to go as far as 22 miles is that fish are raised in Turners Falls.
"We were very surprised at how much you can get in such a close proximity," she said, adding that Dan, who used only butter as a cooking oil in the spirit of Locavoreism, loves a challenge. She says that local food is one of the reasons the couple chose to open shop here last year. The only Locavore exceptions on the menu are salt and wine.
Events: September 20
Sixth Annual Wonder Not! Bread Festival
Hungry Ghost
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
62 State Street, Northampton
Admission: Free
(Rain date is September 27)
Eight-Course 22-Mile Locavore Dinner
Bistro Les Gras
25 West Street, Northampton
Admission: $88
www.bistrolesgras.com
4th Annual North Amherst Harvest Festival
Simple Gifts Farm
North Pleasant St., Amherst
Noon to 6 p.m.
Admission: Free
www.simplegiftsfarmcsa.com
Bread, Wine, Thou—And a Table for the Eats
Let's say you're just moving into a new space and have decided that this year you would live a minimal life. Nothing extraneous, just the clothes on your back, a couple of books, a laptop and maybe a lamp. If you are that person, you are probably committed to eating locally to reduce your carbon footprint.
At the Amherst Town Common, most of your needs can be met. This weekend (Sept. 11-13) there will be a furniture sale there on the green from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m, conveniently close to the sprawling stands of food and flowers, not to mention yogurt smoothies from grass-fed cows. Proceeds from the furniture sale go to the Amherst Survival Center, located on Main Street, which provides services to low-income residents of Hampshire and Franklin counties. For more information, call 413-549-3968 x207.
