Cuisine enthusiasts have the opportunity to join a new culinary movement at the Plant City Commons Community Garden next week.
The inaugural Garden Fresh Feast will feature seasonal food from local farms and gardens, including produce grown right there at the Community Garden. Chef Shannon Shearer will prepare a five-course dinner for attendees that will push the boundaries of “festive eating.”
“The funds from this event will help support our Garden programs and general garden maintenance,” Community Gardens President Karen Bornstine said. “Purchasing soil and amendments, germination and potting supplies, printed materials, irrigation parts, concrete block, seed library supplies, aquaponics supplies, weed control supplies, funds for our children’s programs, tools and repairs, tractor maintenance, expanding the fruit forest, expanding the container garden, upgrading irrigation, workshops and more. PCCCG is committed to providing a space inspired by food, health, organic gardening, caring for the earth and enhancing the quality of life for our diverse Plant City community.”
The event is held at the Community Garden, 2001 E. Cherry St., so attendees have the opportunity to experience one of Plant City’s hidden gems and mingle in the ever-evolving garden.
The Plant City Commons Community Garden is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that is located on the south side of the HCC Plant City campus.
Guests will arrive for a social hour at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 13 and will then begin the five-course dinner at 6:30 p.m. There will be music and entertainment as well as a silent auction to raise money for the organization. During the social hour, Katie Lombardo will sing and Zachary Frankowiak will perform during dinner with his ensemble “Zach and the Four Seasons.”
The silent auction will feature items like cigars and scotch as well as “A Taste of Downtown Plant City,” where a chef will prepare a dinner for four in the comfort of your home.
Shearer is a PCCCG member as well as a community chef. She said she’s looking forward to the opportunity to use her skills to “provide a real contribution to our community.”
The dinner will only highlight gardens and farms using organic vegetables and fruit growing methods, as well as local farms using organic and humane animal practices. Shearer has crafted a menu that mixes classic winter favorites with new traditions.
There will be cornbread bruschetta shrimp creole for the Hors d’oeuvre and dessert will be an assortment of tarts. Dinner is butternut squash bisque, salad mixed garden greens with honey balsamic vinegrette, roasted fall garden vegetables, creamed kale, sous vide herbed chicken breast or polenta-stuffed portobello. There is also a variety of assorted wines and beer as well as tea and coffee.
The entire community has thrown its support behind the event including sponsors like Wish Farms, 84 Lumber, Taylor Rental, Thrivent, Walmart, Dennis and Julie Carroll, Plant City Hillsborough Community College, Keel Farms, Ramon Ortiz-Roldan DDS, Coastal Dental Plant City South and Winn-Dixie.
Tickets for the inaugural event are $50 per person for the five-course meal and you can select an omnivore or vegetarian meal. You can sign up online at Eventbrite for tickets. For ticket and sponsor information contact the Event Chair Alaina Edgemon at 813-956-3453.
For more information about the Plant City Commons Community Garden, visit plantcitycommunitygarden.com.