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Upcoming: Dinners with Purpose at Tulip Tree Gardens, Mick Klug Farm
- Bob Benenson
- May 10
- 3 min read
Delicious Meals in the Country to Raise Money for Good Causes
Many of our local food lovers are passionate about attending summer dinners held by farms around the Chicago region. Local Food Forum tries to keep up, but... if you are planning farm dinners in the upcoming season, PLEASE let me know. If you want our help publicizing, the odds are best if you contact me directly.
Two upcoming dinners have grabbed my attention because they combine promise of delicious and memorable experiences in the country with the purpose of raising money for important causes.
SAVE THE RED BARN DINNER
TULIP TREE GARDENS
1236 E. EAGLE LAKE RD., BEECHER, ILLINOIS
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
DOORS OPEN 5:30 P.M.
Tulip Tree Gardens is a regenerative farm in Beecher, located about 40 miles due south of downtown Chicago. Owners Rachael and Jesse Smedberg recently experienced one of farmers' worst nightmares, as a tornado touched down on their farm. Thankfully there were no injuries to the family or their livestock, but there was some severe property damage — especially to a historic red barn that the couple was renovating as a community event space.
Here is how the organizers describe the Save the Red Barn Dinner:
Save the Red Barn at Tulip Tree Gardens is your chance to enjoy an unforgettable farm-to-table dinner while helping preserve a piece of local farm history. Chef Matt Ryan and Charlie Funk from Good Mood Food will be crafting a special menu featuring pasture-raised meats and local regenerative produce. (Vegetarian option available.)
Every bite not only supports the restoration of the soil but also restoration to the Historic Red Barn.
Backdropped with some amazing local music and crafted cocktails, this is a perfect time to engage and see the very finest that Tulip Tree Gardens has to offer.
Three ticket options make it easy to show your support. Grab a dinner ticket for the meal alone, choose the merch ticket for a dinner plus exclusive t-shirt, or go all in with the Barn Raiser ticket and take home a premium meat box alongside your dinner and merch. Limited tickets available, so grab yours before they’re gone!
More details on the tornado that hit our historic barn Fundraiser by Jordan Smedberg : Help Tulip Tree Gardens Rebuild After Tornado
PEAK SEASON FARM DINNER
MICK KLUG FARM
5795 SCOTTSDALE RD., ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN
SATURDAY, JULY 25
4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
I have been a fan of Mick Klug Farm since I started visiting their stand at Chicago's Green City Market 14 years ago after Barb and I moved here from Washington, D.C.
I am certain that their annual "Peak Season" farm dinner would be awesome under any circumstance, but whoa, check out this lineup of participating chefs for the July 25 event on their St. Joseph, Michigan farm!
Stephanie Izard, Girl & The Goat
César Murillo, North Pond
Devon Quinn, Eden
Javauneeka Jacobs, Frontera Grill
Leigh Omilinsky, Daisies
And the purpose part: proceeds from the dinner will benefit Green City Market's efforts to promote healthy and sustainably produced food, support our region's farmers, and enable the market to continue to triple individuals' SNAP benefits to increase their access to nutritious food.
The Peak Season dinners tend to sell out fast — click the button below to get tickets. Mick Klug Farm is about 100 miles by car from Green City Market's Lincoln Park flagship location; bus transportation from Chicago is available for an extra fee.
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