The Farm to Fork Picnic, which has become a celebrated annual event in the Triangle, is coming to the Charlotte area for the first time September 23 with Southminster as a sponsor. Piedmont Culinary Guild (PCG) has partnered with The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) to celebrate year-round local food served in a beautiful outdoor setting.
In keeping with Southminster’s dedication to serving its residents fresh local food as often as possible, the retirement community’s executive chef, Ryan Forte, will be among two dozen featured farmer/chef pairings. The region’s most renowned farmers and chefs will team up to create 20 tasting stations.
The new Charlotte-area event, called Farm to Fork in the Garden to celebrate its inspiring location in the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens, will also feature multiple food artisans, local brewers, distillers, and wineries. Guests can bring a blanket to the lawn for their tasting station picnic, stroll through the gardens, enjoy live music, and listen to speakers who will talk on food-related topics. There will also be activities for children.
“We are so excited to be part of this amazing event,” said Salem Suber IV, director of culinary services at Southminster and a member of the PCG board. “It’s a unique opportunity for us to collaborate with people best known for creating Charlotte’s rich dining culture alongside the growers who work so hard to build our community’s reputation for celebrating fresh, local ingredients and healthy lifestyles.”
The Farm to Fork Picnic will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, September 23 at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Belmont. All proceeds support beginning farmer programs at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) and farmer scholarships at Piedmont Culinary Guild (PCG).
For more information about other sponsors, featured chefs and farmers, artisan foods and how to get tickets, visit https://piedmontculinaryguild.com/.