IT'S BEEN TOO LONG, AGAIN. .. . . .

TOMATO, LEMONGRASS, YOGURT, BASIL SEEDS, BLACK BUTTER, YEAST

PORK BELLY, PEAR, EGG YOLK, BUTTERMILK, BASIL

NC STURGEON & CAVIAR, SUNCHOKE, PINE, BRUSSELS, MEYER LEMON

CHICHARRON, GINGER JUICE, LEMONGRASS OIL

PORK BELLY, CHERRYWOOD SMOKED CABBAGE, CRANBERRY, WHEAT BERRY SPROUTS

NC TROUT, GRITS, FUMET, RADISH, RUTABEGA, MACHE

IT'S BEEN A BUSY MONTH

TOO BUSY FOR BLOG POSTS . . . . . BUT HERE ARE A FEW PICS

WILD BOAR, CREAMED RICE, AUTUMN OLIVES, BIRCH MILK, BASIL, WATERMELON RADISH

THE BEGINNINGS OF OUR CHARCUTERIE PROJECTS.  IT IS OFF TO A GREAT START!  

HEART OF PALM, PEANUT BUTTER, COFFEE, WHEATGRASS, NEEDS WORK

OSTRICH ANDOUILLE

NEWEST MEMBER OF THE FAMILY

A FEW RECENT CREATIONS

AMUSE OF ROASTED TOMATO, BLACK GARLIC, STURGEON CAVIAR

POBLANO

KURI SQUASH, SHIITAKE, PEANUT BUTTER, TOMATO, RADISH, POBLANO, CARROT, SPINACH, MUSTARD, FENNEL, 

LAST NIGHT'S AMUSE

CHEVRE, ORANGE, TARRAGON

PIG TAIL

PIG TAIL, PURSLANE, BLUEBERRY, LOCAL HONEY, WINTERGREEN

POLENTA FLAN

POLENTA FLAN, LOBSTER MUSHROOMS, SORGHUM, PISTACHIO, WILD GINGER

I LOVE OSTRICH NECK!

OSTRICH NECK, SUNCHOKE, CHARRED PIMENTOS, PICKLED JALAPEÑOS, TARRAGON, LOVAGE

A FEW PICS, MORE TO COME

THESE ARE A FEW PICS FROM THE SECOND 'FOOD FOR A CHANGE' DINNER.  THERE WERE ALOT OF PHOTOS TAKEN SO I WILL POST MORE WHEN I RECEIVE THEM.  WE ENDED UP WITH 8 DINERS AND DECIDED TO SET UP A TABLE IN THE KITCHEN, WHICH WAS REALLY COOL.  WE HAD TALKED OF THIS CONCEPT SINCE OUR CATERI NG KITCHEN IS GOOD SIZE, AND IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TEST IT OUT ON A GROUP OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY.  EVERYONE REALLY ENJOYED IT.

SNACK :  PURPLE POTATO, BANANA PEPPER CREAM, BALD GUY COCOA NIBS, REINDEER MOSS, HONEY, ROCK TRIPE, SALT & VINEGAR

BUTTERMILK CHEESE, BLUEBERRY, HOP HONEY, NASTURTIUM, HEMLOCK, HONEY VINEGAR 

PORK LIVER, PORK STOCK, AUTUMN OLIVES, HORSERADISH, LEMON BALM

PETITE LETTUCE : MIZUNA, TAT SOI, BOK CHOY ; CHEVRE, WILD GINGER, SCUPPERNONG, CORN, TOMATO

PIG TAIL, WHEY, YOGURT, WINTERGREEN

TROUT, APPLE, PURSLANE, MUSTARD, BONITO

BEEF, NC RICE, PEACH, PEAS, BASIL, XVOO

CANTALOUPE, SASSAFRAS, GEORGIA OLIVE OIL

COCOA CAKE, COCOA NIBS, CURED BLACKBERRIES, MINT, OXALIS

ROTTEN PEACH, FENNEL POLLEN

LAST NIGHT'S AMUSE

SHELLEY BEANS, CREME FRAICHE, NC STURGEON CAVIAR, GEORGIA OLIVE OIL, ARUGULA

FRESH FROM THE GARDEN (NOT MY GARDEN)

ROSE CURD, TROUT FUMET, SHELLY BEANS, OKRA, BANANA PEPPER, LEEK, SQUASH BLOSSOM, SOUR GHERKINS, RADISH

WILD THINGS

CHANTERELLE, LION'S MANE, DECOMPOSING HEMLOCK, WILD GINGER, CRISPY ROCK TRIPE, JUNIPER MOSS

(OVER-RIPE BANANA, THAI YELLOW BEAN PASTE, PEANUTS, JAPANESE MAYO)

THE BANANA & BEAN PASTE WERE USED TO SEASON THE HEMLOCK

PEANUTS & MAYO ARE UNDER THE CHANTERELLE

THE FINEST BLACK TRUMPETS

BLACK TRUMPET, CORN, APPLE BUTTER, COCOA, MASA SESAME STRUESSEL

FIRST 'FOOD FOR A CHANGE' DINNER

  'FOOD FOR A CHANGE' IS A DINNER SERIES THAT HAS BEEN CREATED BY A GREAT TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SERIOUSLY COMMITTED TO HELPING THE LOCAL FOOD MOVEMENT IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.  THE TEAM IS MADE UP OF THE FOLLOWING:

EDWIN & JEANNIE BLOODWORTH OF THE GAMEKEEPER & BLUE RIDGE VICTUALS

SARAH & TRAVIS SPARKS OF SEED TO PLATE CATERING

KEN & WENDY GORDON OF THE GAMEKEEPER

MARY & JEFFREY SCOTT OF HIGH COUNTRY LOCAL FIRST & HEIFER INTL.

JACK & LORI SHARP OF CAMP SKY RANCH EVENTS

AMY FORRESTER OF THE GAMEKEEPER

THE FIRST DINNER WAS A HUGE HIT WITH THE DINERS AND SOLD OUT!  WE WILL BE DOING THESE DINNERS EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY THROGH THE END OF OCTOBER AND PICKING THEM BACK UP THE FIRST OF JUNE.

WE STRIVE TO UTILIZE AS MUCH LOCAL PRODUCE AS POSSIBLE AND TO BRING THE FARMERS AND DINERS TOGETHER TO HELP EDUCATE, PROMOTE, AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER!  THE MAJORITY OF PRODUCE FOR THIS DINNER WAS HARVESTED FROM CHEF TRAVIS' GARDEN.  THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT CAME OUT TO EAT AND EVERYONE THAT WORKED HARD TO MAKE IT A SUCCESS!  ENJOY THE PHOTOS!

LEMON GRASS, BASIL, PINEAPPLE SAGE, APPLES, ONIONS, CARROTS 

READY FOR THE GRILL

ELDERBERRY SAUSAGE IN CAUL FAT

LIVER MUSH

LIVER MOUSSE, BREAD & BUTTER PICKLES, MUSTARD SEED & HONEY, PEA FLOWER

ELDERBERRY SAUSAGE

DINING HALL

TOMATO WATER, PARSLEY OIL, TOMATO JELLY

RED WINE MARINATED SPLEEN

BABY CARROTS

LEMON SQUASH

TOMATO SALAD

VERY GRASSY

CHEF JEFF GIVING HIS BOYS A PEEK

PARSNIP, CHANTERELLE, BLACK TRUMPET SALAD

KALE, SUMAC, PEANUT SALAD

RAW BABIES WITH ELDERBERRY, HONEY GLAZE

LIVER MUSH, PICKLED ONIONS, WINTERGREEN OIL

 SUGAR CURED & GRILLED KIDNEY & HEART

HOR D OURVES TABLE

THE KIDS HAD A BLAST TOO

SERVING A GREAT CAUSE 

POTATO, SAUSAGE, & FENNEL STUFFED STOMACH

WENDY AND HER PECAN, ZUCCHINI, BOURBON, CRACKLING BROWNIES