With so much fertile land in the Hudson Valley, many farms take advantage of the pastoral scenery not only to grow food but to host intimate dining experiences where patrons eat together on the farm and feast on locally grown produce at the source. These farm dinners create community through food, all while supporting local farmers and helping the environment. Each chef at each farm has their own vision of culinary excellence that’s worth experiencing. Here’s our roundup of Hudson Valley farm dinners this summer that make driving to the middle of nowhere worth it.
Soon Orchards’ Dinners at the Farm, New Hampton
July 27; once monthly
Soon Orchards offers farm dinners throughout the summer, with seasonal menus that promise the freshest produce. Culinary Institute of America-trained chef Anthony Acevedo prepares the dishes for the dinner. Guests are seated family-style in the farm’s rustic tasting room. The dinners double as a cooking lesson, as the chef prepares the food in front of patrons and offers culinary advice along the way. The next dinner will take place on July 27. Tickets are $75. Patrons are also free to peruse the farm’s store, selling fresh produce and homemade cider and desserts.
Bovina Farm Fermentory, Bovina Center
June 21, July 5, July 12, July 19, July 26, August 2, August 9, August 16,
August 23, August 30
This farm has both summer dinner parties and twice-yearly summer feasts. Outdoor summer dinner parties are held every week throughout the summer, starting June 21. The dinners are illuminated by candlelight across a stretching table amid a grassy field, epitomizing the Fermentory’s own special homestead-chic aesthetic. Tickets start at $85, or $100 with house-made beer pairings. Four courses are served at these meals with ingredients from Bovina Farm and nearby farms. For the summer feasts, tickets start at $110 or $120 with homemade beer pairings. Five courses are served at this family-style dinner, and the next feast is slated for August 30.
Taliaferro Farms, New Paltz
June 21, July 26, August 30, September 27, and October 25; 6-9pm
For $125, chef David Cruz serves a five-course meal full of seasonal produce at this second-generation Ulster County farm. A tour of the 32-acre farm is included in the evening, allowing guests to see exactly where their food was harvested. Wine pairings will be offered with the starter, soup, and main course. The dinners are held outside on a banquet-style table with a greenhouse overhead and the fields surrounding the guests. Each dinner has a different menu, ensuring the peak freshness of the produce. New Paltz’s bustling downtown is full of spots worth exploring, too, so the evening can turn into a full-day event.
Stonewood Farm, Millbrook
June 29, July 27, August 24, September 7, October 5, and November 16
Stonewood Farm is a nonprofit organization that utilizes and educates on regenerative farming practices. They’ve hosted these indoor Sunday dinner events for five years now, with all proceeds going to First Harvest Food Pantry and other community outreach programs. Guests dine in the massive cedar-shingled barn, featuring dazzling floor-to-ceiling windows. Each dinner has a different chef helming the menu, like cookbook author Whitney Otawka or chef Adrian Lipscombe. $285 is the suggested minimum donation per guest. To make the dinner into a full-day affair, Millbook’s Main Street has plenty of shops and galleries to explore before the meal starts.
Bannerman Castle’s Farm-to-Table Dinner, Beacon
September 6, 3-7pm or 4:30-8pm
This once-annual fundraising event takes guests on a boat and a tour across the sprawling Bannerman castle, with beautiful vistas of the river and the Hudson Highlands as well as a fascinating history to learn. The locally sourced dinner will have a cheese plate, soup, salad, a main course, and a dessert. Guitarist Dan Garcia will perform live music at the event. Although this dinner doesn’t take place on a farm, it’s still a sought-after location with farm-fresh ingredients and the chance to support a good cause. Tickets are $150, and seats fill up fast.
