Outstanding in the Field in Chicago

I am enjoying traveling across the country and visiting different types of farms. It is fascinating to see how each place is different - everything from the ways the farmers grow their crops to the environment around the farm. City Farm in Chicago was an unique experience compared to our other farms we have visited.

I enjoyed learning about urban agriculture and seeing how it positively effects a city and the people in it. City Farm is on an acre and a quarter of city-owned land that is mile and half away from the city's largest skyscraper. It was founded in 2000 by Ken Dunn to give opportunities for fresh produce, jobs and learning for children in surrounding neighborhoods (Cabrini-Green and the Gold Coast).
They grow thirty varieties of tomatoes as well as beets, carrots, potatoes, gourmet lettuces, herbs and melons. All produce is grown in composted soil generated from various sources, such as restaurant trimmings from some of the city's finest kitchens.

When we first arrived to the farm children from the community were painting a mural that went along the outskirts of the farm that they have been working on for two years. Each Season they add an image to the piece and the names of the children that help around the farm. I talked to them the farm and enjoyed watching their enthusiasm as the worked on the moral. The farm is a community that brings people together.

Mindy Segal & Mark Steuer with Hot Chocolate were our guest chefs for the evening. Mark grew up in Charleston, South Carolina - so the meal had a great southern influence. Mindy's desserts were fabulous and an amazing treat to our guests. Mindy won the Jean Banchet award for Best Celebrity pastry chef in Chicago, Chicago Magazine’s pastry chef of the year and the James Beard Foundation 2007 nomination for outstanding pastry chef in the country.

Menu:
Deviled Farm Egg Mousse on Mindy's Blue Marble Family Farm Buttermilk Cracker.
Frogmore Soup: Puree of Nichols Farm Sweet Corn, Baby Red Potato, House Made Gunthorp Farm Pork Sausage with Cilantro & City Farm Coriander Seed.
Rachel's House Made White Bread with Nichols Farm Heirloom Tomatoes, Farm Egg Mayo, Sea Salt & City Farm Chives.
Plapp Farm Gruts with Grilled Head On Prawns with Cremini Mushrooms, Baby Purple Onions, Bacon and Chilis.
Braised & Fried Gunthrop Farms rabbits, braised City Farm collards, "pickled" potato salad, Plapp Farm Corn Bread & Honey Butter.
Sow Little Farm's Rasberry Granita with "Dreamsicle" Blue Marble Farm Cream.
Peach Cobbler & House Made Buttermilk Ice Cream.
Pecan Pie with Carmel Cream.