8 farm-to-table dining experiences in Wisconsin this summer

Savor the taste of green acres and farm living at a farm-to-table dining event, and help support farm families and local producers. Farm-to-table generally means the ingredients are sourced directly from a local farmer. Restaurants sometimes offer menu items using locally sourced products, but a farm-to-table dining event offers a curated menu in a communal dining setting, with the meal often served family-style. Due to limited seating capacity at these venues, advance reservations are required. Farm-to-table dining events are scheduled throughout the summer, suitable for day trips or weekend travel in Wisconsin.

Urban Farm Dinner Series, Milwaukee

Brazen Standard Hospitality has two farm-to-table culinary events scheduled for Aug. 18 and Oct. 6 at The Starling. Weather permitting, the dinners will be served family-style on the riverwalk at the Third Ward restaurant, 102 N. Water St., and each dining event will have a specific theme, with appetizers, cocktails and dessert. The Aug. 18 dinner theme is Summer White Party, and the Oct. 6 dinner will have a Fall Harvest theme. Tickets begin at $125 per person and can be purchased at tallguyandagrill.com/urban-farm-dinner.

Fondy Farm Feast, Mequon

The Fondy Farm at the Mequon Nature Preserve, 10150 N. Swan Road, Mequon, will hold its annual Farm Feast on Aug. 18. The dinner features a family-style dinner incorporating ingredients grown on the 40-acre Fondy Farm Project. The chefs cooking for the 2024 feast include Zakiya Courtney of Vegan Soul, Mary Kastman of The Driftless Cafe, Gregory León of Amilinda, Martin Maga?a of Troublemakers Cocina, Travis Martinez of The Pfister, Sam Sandrin of Midwest Sad, and Kristin Schwab of Uncle Wolfie's Dinner Diner. Tickets begin at $150 and can be purchased at fondymke.org/fondy-farm-feast.

Folk Song Farm, Richfield

The Washington County Mauer/Mayer family farm, 4811 Pioneer Road, Richfield, will hold two farm-to-table events. The July 14 dinner is a five-course family-style meal made from locally sourced vegetables, Mayer Farms beef, and artisan farmstead cheese. The Aug. 25 dinner is a five-course Mexican dinner complete with carne asada, a grilled and sliced beef, salsas, farmstead ice cream, and the music of a Mariachi band. Guests dine in the barn, which had been used to store the crops, but is now used for hosting community dinners and special events. Tickets begin at $80 per person. Purchase online at folksongfarm.com.

Riveredge Nature Center, Saukville

The annual Farm to Table dinner will be held Sept. 7 in the yard of the visitor center at the Ozaukee County nature center, 4458 County Highway Y, Saukville. The menu is sourced from local farms, including the Riveredge Farm, and the event includes a social hour, beer and wine bar, presentation, and silent and live auctions. Recommended attire is garden party or casual. The benefit supports conservation, environmental education and community programming at the center. Individual ticket is $150. Purchase online at riveredgedinner.org.

Creamery Creek Farms, Bangor

The Wisconsin Farm to Table organization has selected a dairy farm in La Crosse County for its annual dining event to be held Aug. 10. The event includes a self-guided tour of the farm at W1250 County Road U in Bangor, a reception showcasing Wisconsin cheeses, and a chef-prepared five-course meal of beef and local meats, vegetables and fruits, wine and beer. All food items, beverages, appetizers and floral arrangements are sourced locally. Proceeds from the Wisconsin Farm to Table dinner go to a charity chosen by the host farm. Tickets are $150 per person. For more information, visit wifarmtotable.com.

Door County Underground

Five-course dinners are held at Hidden Acres Farm, 11128 Beach Road, Sister Bay, on the first Saturday of the month. The Farm & Forest to Table dinners use locally grown and foraged organic ingredients, and menus are announced within one week of each dinner. The dinner dates this summer are July 6, Aug. 3 and Sept. 7, with seatings each night at 5 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. The cost is $195 per person. Reserve online at doorcountyunderground.com/farmdinners.

Flyte Family Farm, Coloma

An actively farmed, century-old farmstead in Waushara County is the setting for the July 25 farm-to-table dinner prepared on-site in the certified farm kitchen. The dinner is made with the farm’s seasonal produce and includes appetizers, a salad, main course, bread and desserts. Full bar service is available with drink specials all evening. The event includes live music, wagon rides and a bon fire. The cost is $60 per adult and $25 per child ages 6 to 12. The farm is at W10770 Highway 21, Coloma. See flytefamilyfarm.com/farm-to-table for more information.

Stoney Acres Farm, Athens

Pizza on the Farm is held from 4 to 8:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday. Visitors to this 12-acre organic farm in Marathon County will find seasonal pizzas made from scratch with organic vegetables, mushrooms, venison, pork from pasture-raised pigs, and local cheeses for the pizza toppings. The dough for the crust is made from the farm’s organic spring wheat and ground into flour at the stone mill. The menu changes weekly with new ingredients and specials. No reservation is required. The farm is at 245728 Baldwin Creek Road, Athens. For more information, visit stoneyacres.farm/pizza-on-the-farm.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Summer farm-to-table dining experiences in Wisconsin