Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and edible South Florida hosted Dinner for Farmers, a progressive dinner honoring local farmers and the work they do to feed the community, at the historic Vizcaya Village on Tuesday evening, Jan. 22.
In the spirit of Vizcaya’s agricultural origins, the 100-plus-person event brought together farmers and agricultural organizations that support the farms and the grow-your-own movement for dinner using produce donated by local farms.
Grow2Heal, Hammock Greens, Seasons Fresh Farm, Taste of Redlands and Vizcaya’s Kitchen Garden provided produce for chefs Niven Patel and his team from Ghee, Melanie from Crown Fine Wine & Spirits, Thi Squire from Grow2Heal, Drew Thomason from Homestead Hospital, Aaron Dreilinger from Hammock Greens, Carolina Quijano from Exquisito Chocolates and mixologist Gabe Urrutia.
Earth and Sugar Bakery and Abuela Mami Coffee joined in with Anthology Floristry & Event Design, Unearthed Rentals and Johnson & Wales University students to provide a perfect outdoor dining event featuring a new logo for the dinner created by artist Jesse Peterson.
The Vizcaya Village is an original part of James Deering’s winter estate. Sheltered under large banyan trees, the Vizcaya Village features 11 architecturally significant buildings on 12 acres. In the 1910s and 1920s, laborers, gardeners and various staff lived and worked throughout the village. Produce, along with fresh milk and eggs from the cows and chickens onsite, supported a farm-to-table lifestyle. A farm stand sold surplus eggs and produce to the community.
This year, farms leading the way in innovation and inclusivity were honored. By using farming to serve others’ needs within the community—whether by providing opportunities to people coming out of homelessness or those with disabilities or making use of any land available from donated backyards to shipping containers—these farms challenge us to reconsider what a farm looks like. Awards were presented to Box Greens, Cerasee Farm, Empower Farms, The Fruitful Field, Fullei Fresh, Green Thumbs, Healthy Bodies, Grow2Heal, Hammock Greens and Redland Community Farm and Market.
Bamboo plates and other disposable materials used during Dinner for Farmers were eco-friendly and support Vizcaya’s mission of sustainability and preservation of the environment.
To learn more about Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, visit www.vizcaya,org. To experience other farm-to-table community and family programs at Vizcaya, visit www.vizcayatickets.org.
