Market & farm-to-table tours and lunch

Some good eating opportunities this weekend -- two farm tours: urban and not-so-urban.

SATURDAY IN MANHATTAN
Join Gramercy Tavern’s Executive Chef Michael Anthony on a special tour of the Union Square Greenmarket followed by a four-course lunch at Gramercy Tavern. 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Space is limited, and tickets cost $110. More info and reservations here.

Chef Anthony was formerly part of the team that opened Blue Hill at Stone Barns -- the acclaimed restaurant that produces most of its food on the Rockefeller family farm in Westchester County. Discover how the Greenmarket’s ingredients influence this chef’s menu, find out what he loves most about this famed farmers market, and feast on a unique meal at Gramercy Tavern featuring the Greenmarket’s vast bounty (some of it coming from our very own Hudson Valley farmers). This event is endorsed by Slow Food New York City.

SUNDAY IN ORANGE COUNTY
There’s a farm tour taking place from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday in Orange County's famed Black Dirt region. The W. Rogowski Farm, a biodiverse farm in Pine Island, is run by Cheryl Rogowski, an innovative community-oriented farmer, MacArthur genius grant awardee, and Hudson Valley Connoisseur magazine’s first Notable. Here are more details on the event, sponsored by Slow Food Hudson Valley:

Cheryl developed one of the earliest CSAs in the area, serving East New York and Williamsburg Brooklyn, leading the Glynwood Center to honor her in 2003 for her innovative work connecting urban communities with agriculture. Her Certified Naturally Grown farm includes winter growing tunnels, a year-round farm store that, in the spirit of encouraging local agriculture, sells products from many farms throughout the region. A professional kitchen hosts cooking classes and may also be the production site for some foods in the store -- join us Sunday to find out more! We'll begin with a farm tour and then sit down to enjoy a potluck meal together in her warm farm kitchen. Gather in the kitchen (in back room of the store) at 11:30 this Sunday. Local wineries may also participate. Bring a dish of food to share and your own mess kit (plates, silverware, napkins, etc). We'll have an opportunity to purchase locally grown products from her farm store, so bring your grocery list. More info and link to rvsp for Sunday's event.

(And yes, I am a member of Slow Food, but unfortunately won't be able to attend either of these two events. If you go, please send me a note or leave a comment about how they went!)