Dinner at Taliaferro Farm - A Magical Night
I was immediately intrigued when I heard about the monthly dinners hosted at Taliaferro Farms, a certified organic farm in New Paltz, NY. Recently, a good friend described the vegetables grown by the Taliaferro family as, "nearly mystical." I knew I had to taste for myself.
At first glance I thought I would be enjoying a home cooked meal eaten on the farm, and while that is certainly part of the story, I must tell you that the evening of dinner, friendship, and entertainment that I enjoyed last Saturday is something that anyone seeking a new top notch dining experience must try for themselves.
The location is incredibly beautiful. The farm is a slice of Hudson Valley heaven. The land spreads out as far as you can see down to the Walkill River. That water is then pumped, filtered, and used to irrigate the fields. Maybe there's something in the water?
We were greeted with glasses of hard cider (soft beverages were also available) and tapas. A trio featuring violin, accordion, and bouzouki played gypsy folk songs - enchanting music beneath the shade of an enormous tree.
It was fun sitting around the patio, watching the sun set, listening to live music, and meeting our dinner companions. We would all eventually be seated together at long tables on the porch.
There were quite a few returning guests at the monthly dinner, all of whom assured us that we were in for a memorable night. There were several dinner guests who lived nearby, and some traveled from as far as Long Island. I was seated with two couples whose daughter and son (respectively) had recently married. The newlyweds gifted their parents with this dinner party as a thank you for the wedding. A terrific gift!
The weather was lovely and the ground was dry so we were treated to a strolling tour of the nearby fields and the farm store. Sylvester Taliaferro (sometimes known as Pete) told our group about their method of farming, which adds rich nutrients to a complex ecosystem. Basically, they've got real good dirt.
And then the meal.
On a monthly basis (during the peak growing season), executive chefs from NYC and the nearby area come to Taliferro Farms and prepare a five course gourmet meal with whatever vegetables are ripe that day. Dairy, meat and nearly every other ingredient are procured from the Taliaferro's neighbors - small family farms in the Hudson Valley and from trusted fishmongers.
The menu changes with each dinner. Each chef creating a menu with whatever was picked, gathered, harvested, and otherwise procured, mostly within a few miles, within the past couple of days.
We began with the farm's famous mesclun mix, tomatoes, and roasted root vegetables. Second course was a tomato and mozzarella Napolean with edible flower.
Third course was a divine piece of cod with green beans, roasted potatoes and radish in a delicate butter sauce. The Fourth course was braised short ribs with roasted parsnips.
Dessert was apple cake. I wish I had a picture. It was a very pretty piece of cake with chunks of apples, whipped cream, and a raspberry coulis. You'll have to take my word for it because all I have to show is an empty plate.
The evening concluded with another gathering on the patio, drinking coffee and resting from our feast. The band continued to sing and play, while we pointed out constellations to each other, promising new friends that we'll stay in touch and share our photos.
Later Pete escorted us with a flashlight back to our car. We played with the dogs one last time and thanked our host for a truly wondrous evening. Full of good food and good cheer we drove back to our city lives dreaming of future dinners on the farm.
Corinna Makris Village Green Markets
For more information about Taliaferro Farm Dinners, to become a member of their CSA, or to find them at a farmers market: Sylvester and Robin Taliaferro: http://www.taliaferrofarms.com/
