Sunday, September 12, 2010

The Farm Dinner

Tonight, Steve and I, along with our good friends Chris and Mike Hale, were lucky enough to have reservations for the Sassy Cow Creamery Farm Dinner.

This spectacular event is held just once a year (see how lucky we are!) and is limited to a mere 27 guests. The adventure began out in the country at the Sassy Cow Farm Store where we met our host, James, one of two brothers who own the farm and dairy. After a lovely cheese tasting, we were treated to a brief but informative tour of the inner workings of the dairy. We then travelled down the road to a freshly mowed hayfield and up a small hill to a beautiful, serene setting right in the middle of the family farm. Three tables under canopies were set with linens and china and glassware, and the view was just magnificent.

After an impromptu visit from the farm patriarch (who later joined our table for dinner and shared many great stories), we were introduced to Chef Eckles, who provided details of the four-course meal he had prepared. The first course, a butternut cream soup, was a-mazing. Creamy and rich, with crusty bread for dipping, we were all tempted to pick up our bowls and lick them clean. Our second course, a caprese salad with balsamic laced greens, included juicy tomatoes purchased Saturday from the Madison Farmer's Market. Fabulous!

The main course was a wonderful grass-fed beef tenderloin with boursin cheese, garlic mashed yukon gold potatoes and carrots glazed with Sassy Cow butter. The beef had a wonderful, fresh flavor, the potatoes had just the right combination of chunky and creamy and the carrots were perfectly cooked. And, as if it had not already been a dinner to die for, we finished off the evening with a huge slice of creamy pumpkin cheesecake with a gingersnap crust, topped with Sassy Cow butter pecan ice cream.

I am already begging for a place at the table for next year's event, but I truly cannot imagine having a more perfect evening than the one we just had.










































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