Durham Chef Mark Shadle to Help Celebrate Local Farmers

For more than a decade, Connecticut chefs have been coming together once a year to make a meal off the local land.

This year   of Durham will be among the elite chefs of the state cooking up local fare on Sept. 8 at the 12th annual Celebration of Connecticut Farms.

This daytime smorgasbord offered by the Connecticut Farmland Trust will be hosted by Chip and Carol Dahlkes of Ashlawn Farm in Lyme. According to the event website, the farm is “known for its active farmer's market, amazing coffee roasting, and grazing home to 4 Mile River Beef cows.”

According to a press release, “the event will feature more than 25 of Connecticut's most acclaimed chefs preparing local Connecticut food; wine, beer and spirits from Connecticut craftsmen; locally-made ice cream; and a silent auction. Benefiting the work of Connecticut Farmland Trust, the Celebration captures participants' love of local food, wine, music, art, and the farming heritage Connecticut proudly claims.”

Christine Baranski of CBS's The Good Wife and Faith Middleton of WNPR will emcee Celebration of Connecticut Farms, which will take place from noon to 4:30 p.m. Live music by "Bone Dry" will highlight the artistic skill of Connecticut Plein Air Painter's Society who will be painting on scene and selling work.

"Celebration of Connecticut Farms is the signature event each year for the state to celebrate local cuisine, and more importantly, to focus on the importance of the future livelihood of the farms from which it comes," stated CFT Executive Director Jim Gooch.

"When this event began 12 years ago, we were one of the few organizations intent on highlighting local food and Connecticut farms. Now, even with the proliferation of fantastic farm-to-table events, this is still the largest, with the most chefs and the greatest variety. It's a gala for 600 of our closest friends in recognition of the farms that grow the food we love to eat."

Tickets are $150 per person; $75 is tax deductible.