Announcing Restaurant Widow Educational Dinners

In an effort to help you navigate the farmer's markets and learn simple dishes to create with your finds, I am planning a series of summer dinners.  Here are my thoughts so far - I look forward to hearing your imput if you have any ideas, including a space for these events. 

• The dinners will (probably) take place on Sunday evenings.
• Unfortunately, because I do not have unlimited resources, I can't offer these dinners for free; however, I will make every attempt to keep them as low-cost as possible by begging some of my favorite restaurant workers to lend their services for free, or at least for food & wine.
• These will not be cooking classes per se, however the recipes for the dinners will be provided at the event.
• I will provide resources for finding the ingredients used.
• It is my plan at this point, to focus on a particular market for each dinner, although because you know me, you can expect them to include items from the North Market, and the Worthington & Clintonville Farmer's Markets.
• These dinners will focus very heavily on seasonal, local ingredients.  At this point, I have translated some traditional recipes to use local ingredients.
• Husband will provide a brief education on each beer or wine selected for each course.
• Dinners are limited to around 16 people.  20 if demand is high and you are willing to wait a few minutes between courses!
• Ideally I would like to limit the dinners to people who I don't hang out with on a regular basis; because you have to listen to me ramble on ad nauseum.
• I would also like to limit these dinners to non-food bloggers, for the same reason as above, and because most of you are already pretty well educated on local foods.
• The basic layout of the evening will be:
  arrive, meet & greet with a cocktail and light canapes
  brief introduction on the season we are in & ingredients used
  each course will have a brief introduction on ingredients, farms, inspiration for dish, and discussion of wine pairing from Husband
• There will be around 4-5 courses.
• I promise you will get your money's worth.
• The first dinner is planned for Sunday, June 8th.  I really wanted to start in May, but with Memorial Day being the last weekend, and being unsure what will be availale earlier than that (with the late start our farmers are getting), June 8th it is.  Expect lots of strawberries and asparagus.
• There will be no free passes for press members, not surprisingly.  I can't afford to bring anyone for free.
• If you have an idea for a location, say an empty loft apartment with a fabulous kitchen and view, for example, please let me know.  Galleries would also work, although room for a kitchen would be good.  Obviously, the cheaper (or free-er!) the rental the better.
• Please let me know any and all of your suggestions/critiques/criticisms/ideas/cost limitations/etc.
• If you have any interest in being the high end of a sliding-scale payment, so that those with more financial restrictions can attend, please let me know; this will be on the honor system, so I'd ask people to not take advantage of the kindness of others.
• If you are a farmer who would like to be featured, please let me know!
• If you would like to attend a dinner, please send me an email.

There will also be a limited number of spots to join me for shopping on Saturday morning; this will include a tour of the farmer's market chosen, which will be very helpful if you are new to farmer's marketing.  Must be willing to get up very early and walk fast!  You will also get a behind-the-scenes look at the process I go through when shopping - how to get inspired by the market, the finished dishes I see when looking at raw product, etc.

Okay!  let's see how it goes!

Comments

[jodi]

sounds a bit like talula's table, http://www.talulastable.com/, that everyone's been raving about lately. i'd love to check it out!

[Amber]

When I mentioned this to hubby over the weekend it brightened his day. We're definitely interested in attending but will have to pass on the June dinner for dietary reasons.

[sarah porto]

This is exactly what I'm looking for! I'm interested in reserving two spots for dinner and one for going to the market. Thanks!

[Lindi]

Hi Lisa - put me down for 2 for dinner, and one for the farmer's market tour. I'm thrilled that you're starting to reach out to your audience on a more personal level. Can't wait to meet you!

[Melissa]

Yum! I'd love to "lunch and Learn!" Please add me to the list.

Thanks!

[kim]

please put me on your list for dinner if there is room. what a great idea!

[michael]

Sign me up! I'll make sure I'm in town that night...

Just wondering, is this the list or should i email?

[Jenn]

Farmer's market-ing sounds like a lot of fun! Would love to learn the ropes from you.

[Jenny]

I was so excited when I saw the title of your post! What a fantastic idea. Although we're away on June 8th, hubby and I look forward to the announcement for the second dinner.

[Colleen]

Hi RW,

These sound great and very in line with Slow Food! How can we help?

[Ann B.]

My husband and I are in, and we can be high end sliding scale.
Ann B.

[amy]

would love to shop the worthington market with you

[Brian]

Heck, I'll sign up!

[Tammy]

You'd be more than welcome to do these in the clubhouse where I live. I'll take photos of the kitchen. I emailed you with more info.

Tammy

[Tammy]

Wonderful idea! Where can I sign up?!

[Katie]

I would definitely sign up myself and fiancé for Sunday, June 8th.

As far as locations go, if you are looking for something free, possibly a local wine shop would accommodate dinner for 16 in exchange for purchasing beverages through their establishment?

[M]

That sounds great! Are you officially taking RSVPs now? Or sometime in the future?

[Marilou]

What a wonderful idea! Count me in, I would also love to tag along on your Saturday shopping since I live in Dayton and I'm not familiar with the Columbus farmer's market etc.

[Stephanie]

Oh my goodness, the dinners and the farmers market tours are brilliant ideas! If we weren't moving at the end of June I would be begging and pleading to save me a spot!

Everytime my friend and I see someone taking a picture of their food, we wonder if it's you and after meeting you, we would finally know!

I have sort of an adopted mom who lives in Clintonville and loves the farmers market and her birthday is this week. It isn't possible to get a gift certificate for the farmers market, is it? Or maybe a one time CSA box since I can't afford to gift a whole year? I'd love any suggestions that you have.

Thanks!