Dinner at fruit farm to aid UW

Staff report

CANFIELD

The inaugural Farm to Fork Dinner, presented by Key Bank to benefit the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, is July 29 at White House Fruit Farm, 9249 Youngstown- Salem Road (state Route 62).

The $100 per person fresh-from-the-farm, multi- course gourmet dining event, which begins at 5:30 p.m., includes wine and beer tasting, private shopping in the White House market, wagon tours of the farm and orchards and musical entertainment by the Teddy Pantelas Duo.

The dinner and desserts, featuring ingredients from White House Fruit Farm and several other local suppliers including Catullo Prime Meats and Handel’s Ice Cream, will be prepared by Stephen Grant, executive chef of The Youngstown Club.

“The local food, or locavore, movement has become increasingly popular across the country,” said Debbie Pifer, White House owner.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our locally grown produce, meats and dairy products,” she said.

Appetizers, some passed during the cocktail hour, include smoked salmon on flat bread with goat cheese mousse, brie and pear quesadilla, mini chicken pot pie with truffle oil and eggplant arancini.

Starters are chilled peach and local white or blush wine soup; and roasted corn and beet salad with a citrus and white balsamic dressing.

Entrees include blackberry or blueberry barbecue chicken parmesan and local red wine-braised short ribs, lamb chops with a mint cilantro vinaigrette and smoked pork belly over a white bean puree. Seasonal vegetables will accompany the entrees.

For dessert, there are pies provided by White House and white chocolate cheesecake with a White House blueberry doughnut crust.

Tickets to the event still are available. Seating is limited to 100. For reservations, call Tara Mady of the United Way at 330-746-8494.