What is a Farm Dinner Really Like?

By Anthony Todd in Food on Sep 12, 2011 7:00PM

In the last few months, farm dinners have been popping up everywhere. And, let's be honest, they are often quite expensive. Readers often ask us what exactly goes on at a farm dinner. Do you just, like, go to a farm and eat? We asked Slagel Family Farm, host of last month's Publican farm dinner, to share some moments from a typical farm dinner. Hopefully, these will start to answer your questions.

A farm dinner is a chance to get a look around a working farm, but it's much more than that. It's a chance for us jaded city dwellers to get out into the country and breathe the (occasionally pig-scented) air. While many of us are deeply committed to sustainable food and love our farmers markets and blackboard-adorned farm-to-table-restaurants, there is no substitute for actually getting to watch your food growing right in front of you.

We'll wait while you look at the pictures...

Hungry yet? If you want to join in the fun for yourself, Slagel Farm is running a few more events this season. In partnership with Chef Jared Wentworth of Longman & Eagle, the farm will be hosting a dinner on September 17. The price is $125 - not bad, compared to many farm dinners - and includes transportation, a tour, a butchering demonstration by John Slagel and a family-style dinner with wine, lemonade and water. But if the event doesn't sell enough tickets, it may get cancelled - so if you're on the fence, buy now.

UPDATE (9/13): The L&E dinner has been cancelled. If you're still interested in attending a farm dinner, Slagel will be hosting another on October 8. More details to come - check the ticket website linked above.

All photos: Karl Knize photography, courtesy of Edible Chicago.