Local Foods Local Spirits Celebrates the Region’s Bounty, Chefs
COOPERSTOWN—Otsego 2000 will showcase the bounty of the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market and the talent of area chefs at the Local Foods Local Spirits party on Sunday, October 19 from 5-7 p.m.
According to a press release, this fundraiser for the market showcases 14 local restaurants and chefs who will be creating savory and sweet tapas-style tasting bites made with local produce, meat, cheese, honey, and maple syrup from CFM vendors. The event will be held in the market building at 101 Main Street, in Pioneer Alley.
“This year will be bigger and better than ever before, with three new restaurants participating,” said Alex Webster, CFM manager. “Local Foods Local Spirits is a chance to experience all the wonderful flavors of the market.”
Participating for the first time are Tim Atticus and Chris Riffle of The Gatehouse in Morris, Allison King of The Sugar Beat in Oneonta, Kat Wisnosky of The Elm Inn in Milford, and Aaron Wratten of The Horned Dorset Inn. Cooperstown restaurants and chefs are: Ryan Cross, the new executive pastry chef at The Otesaga Resort Hotel; Dasang Gurung from Norbu; Brian Wrubleski from Mel’s at 22; Tim Searles from Doubleday Café; and Kristen Leonard and Dana Leonard Saunders of Origins Café. Returning chefs also include Anthony Leberto from Brimstone Bakery in Sharon Springs and Q Khashaei from the Empire House in Gilbertsville. Three of the chefs are also market vendors: Chloe Ford of Chloe’s Bakeshop, Jesse Pascale from Rock Hill Farm and Alex Webster of Alex’s World Picnic.
Chefs will create their dishes using ingredients from CFM vendors, including Arabeth Farm, Bison Island Ranch, Black Willow Pond Farm, Byebrook Farm, Chloe’s Bakeshop, Gaia’s Breath Farm, Heller’s Farm, Middlefield Orchard, Mill Hollow Maple, Mountain View Dairy, Nectar Hills Farm, Painted Goat Farm, Rock Hill Farm and Straight from the Hive.
Local musicians Fast Friends will perform and there will be a raffle of artisan-made crafts, home goods, skincare, art, and other items you can find at the market, officials said.
“Local Foods Local Spirits is a festive opportunity for attendees to mingle with local chefs, who get to share their culinary creativity using ingredients grown and produced by our market vendors,” said Ellen Pope, Otsego 2000 executive director. “Tasting what our local chefs create will inspire folks to try new restaurants and new recipes at home.”
Pope recommends purchasing tickets soon, as the event consistently sells out.
Tickets are $50.00 each and available at www.otsego2000.org, by calling (607) 547-8881, or at the market on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All proceeds benefit the year-round Cooperstown Farmers’ Market and its food access initiatives.
The Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, a program of Otsego 2000, is open year-round on Saturdays and features farmers, makers, growers, and artisans located within 50 miles of Cooperstown. SNAP is welcome at every market, and through two matching programs, a $20.00 SNAP spend results in $60.00 worth of local food.
