Dinner On The Farm, Paradise Farms, Homestead, Fla.

Homestead, Fla.—What’s better than dinner on a South Florida farm? How about a six-course dinner, made out of local ingredients, hosted on a certified organic farm and served with all the fresh microbrewery beer you can drink for just $55 a person.

From left to right: Monica Walch, Chef Andrew Gerson,
Aniece Meinhold, Chef Cesar Zapata, Dinner On The Farm,
Paradise Farms, Homestead, Fla.
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

Last October, on a sunny Sunday afternoon such a dinner happened. It was held at Paradise Farms where The Brooklyn Brewery Mash Tour joined forces with Minnesota based, Dinner On The Farm and three Miami based companies: The Federal Food, Drink & Provisions, Bee Heaven Farm and Sublicious Farms.

Tropical fruit salad dessert created by Aniece Reinhold, made with
Bee Heaven Farm dried organic tropical fruit,
Dinner On The Farm, Paradise Farms, Homestead, Fla.
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

"Dinner On The Farm is a family oriented, affordable, no tables, bring your own cutlery organization," said Monica Walch, founder of Dinner On The Farm.  

Tangy starfruit, tangerine Komulicious, Dinner On The Farm,
Paradise Farms, Homestead, Fla.
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

The event started with luscious samples of organic tropical dried fruit from certified organic Bee Heaven Farm, tangy sips of starfruit, tangerine Kombulicious (unpasteurized kombucha) from Sublicious Farms, smoky bites of roasted zucchini appetizers, and indulgent gulps of fresh microbrewery beer from The Brooklyn Brewery.

Roasted organic Paradise Farms grown oyster mushrooms
with corn puree, Dinner On The Farm, Paradise Farms,
Homestead, Fla.
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

A short tour of Paradise Farms, by owner Gabriele Marewski came next giving Chef Andrew Gerson, of the Brooklyn Brewery, and Chef Cesar Zapata of The Federal Food, Drink & Provisions, a chance to finalize their dishes.

Delicious, colorful, local organic food, Dinner On The Farm,
Paradise Farms, Homestead, Fla.
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

Tables loaded with food were waiting for the hungry audience of 20 or so people when they came back to the outdoor pavilion. "Ninety percent of everything today was Florida sourced," said Chef Gerson, waving an arm over the table.

Foraged green and herb salad with edible flowers, Dinner On The
Farm, Paradise Farms, Homestead, Fla.
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

A fresh salad of forged greens, edible flowers and herbs was followed by a scrumptious tomato ceviche decorated with papaya flowers. 

Avocado, tomato ceviche with sour orange, edible flowers,
and red onions, Dinner On The Farm, Homestead, Fla.
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

Smoky, roasted oyster mushrooms with creamy and crunchy corn went well with the mug of Brooklyn Brown Ale I had chosen to drink. The ale also went very well with the creole seasoned Florida Pompano fish course.

Florida Pompano fish dish with creole seasoning and micro-
greens, Dinner On The Farm, Paradise Farms, Homestead,
Fla. Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

Dessert came from the imagination of Aniece Reinhold, of the Federal Food, Drink & Provisions. It was a tropical fruit salad using both dried and fresh jackfruit along with watermelon, edible flowers, micro-mint and fresh whipped cream. 

The night ended with applause for the chefs and the farmers.

If you are interested in getting into one of these affordable dinners you can go to The Mash By Brooklyn Brewery or Dinner On The Farm.

You can also check out Paradise Farms for thier affordable Brunch In Paradise series.