Every once in a while, we like to include our Vegan fans into the mix and do something that we feel is a statement of our culinary style while at the same time challenges what we normally do on a daily basis. Basically, get us outside of our comfort zone.
For March, we based it on the “Worm Moon”, and since we didn’t want actual worms on the menu, we decided that because worms are known for helping aerate the earth, we should feature foods that also push through terra firma, hence the title for this month. Ground Breaking refers to the roots and tubers that take the ground and make it their bitch home.
We had so much fun designing this menu and the lovely Holly Chipman came up with some fantastic cocktails to match, who worked with the energetic Paul Kessock, Jr. of Bellows and West Indies to curate the beverage selections.
Chef Vince Alterio and his associate Patrick Ryan also recently joined our team and are making tremendous contributions. Ben Lewis is continuing his progression in our kitchen and with Mathew Gibney in the garden, our culinary team is looking as strong as ever. Erik LaFontaine was also helping us for our dinner and we credit him with many of the photos you are about to feast your eyes on. Pun intended (more to follow).
Check out a copy of the menu:
As you can see if you read the menu, Vegetable Puns were on our minds. Dad Jokes aside, the food came out beautifully.
The Artichoke Cup held a handful of White Beans cooked with Roasted Garlic. It was a simple enough dish, accented with Green fresh from our Windy Level Garden, a Lemongrass-Sun Choke Shooter, and Sweet Potato-Hemp Crisps made to resemble bacon. (EVERYONE likes the smell of bacon, even Vegans).
On the second course, we went with Radishes and Greens from the Gifft Hill School EARTH program, and substituted Moringa Powder (also from our garden) for the Beet Powder. We really should just put an asterisk next to everything grown local; we use so much of it.
Course number three was hands down the favorite of the night for our guests. The Celebration of Celery Soup was rich, but light; creamy, yet dairy-free; simple-looking, but complicated in flavor.
So smooth, it was like eating silk, if silk were flavored like Celery Root and Truffles.
The “Main” Course consisted of another combination of mushrooms and white food. That might sound boring, but it came out very understated and elegant. See for yourself:
One of the guests who attended was someone who was cajoled into coming, his reluctance coming from being a dedicated “meat-eater”, and he wasn’t sure if he was going to be satisfied at the end of the evening. He even went so far as to ask, “Why is the main course the smallest?”. At the end of the night, however, he changed his tune.
The dessert was an incredible Carrot Cake with a White Chocolate_Walnut Frosting. You may have read about it when you looked at the menu. We ended up taking Baby Carrots from our garden and doing a quick candy on them for use as the garnish. They were “the most carroty carrots” some of the guests ever had. Kudos to our gardener!
All in all, our guests had a unique experience that they will hopefully remember for a long time to come. Many of them came from St. Thomas and used our Free Shuttle Service. We look forward to seeing them at our next event on April 11th: Raw Deal – Uncooked and Cured
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Can you find the gardener?
As a bonus this month, we are sharing our recipes for the cocktails, courtesy of Holly Chipman. Some of them are easy. Some of them are not. Feel free to contact us with questions or to book your spaces for our next FMD! 340-777-5464
Cheers!
FMD Cocktails April 2017
- Not Your Mother’s Tiny Bubbles
1 oz Chopin Vodka, ¼ oz Carpano Antica, ¼ oz lemon juice,
Fill bottom of chilled champagne flute with mixed berry puree, top w/ booze and juice, fill with ginseng and mixed berry kombucha – garnish w/ lemon twist.
- Strong + Straight Up
1 ½ oz Chopin Vodka, ½ oz grenadine, ¼ oz lemon juice, squirt thyme simple syrup
Shake hard with ice – Serve in chilled martini glass with fresh thyme garnish.
- Cool as a Cucumber
1 ½ oz Hendricks Gin, fresh muddles basil, cucumber slices + fresh lime juice, apple juice
Muddle lime juice, cucumber + thai basil in cocktail shaker – Top with Hendricks and shake over ice – Strain in tall glass filled with crushed ice – Top with organic apple juice +garnish with fresh cucumber.
- Put on Your Smokin’ Jacket
½ oz Woodford Reserve, ½ oz Mezcal, ¼ oz fresh oj, squirt smoked maple syrup, 3 dash bitters.
Shake all over ice and strain over large cube in rocks glass – Garnish with fresh orange wheel.
- A Mule
1 oz Chopin, ½ oz fresh oj, splash fernet
Layer in the glass – vodka + oj then top with ginger beer – Splash fernet on top.
St. John Catering 