Check, Please!, Chicago's favorite restaurant television show, is turning the tables on traditional food festivals by bringing an all-star lineup of award-winning chefs to a working farm in Michigan for its first annual Farm To Table Festival. The Check, Please! Farm to Table Fest, taking place on Sunday, Sept. 2, in the beautiful rolling countryside of Southwest Michigan, will pair chefs with family-owned Michigan farmers and boutique food artisans for an afternoon of sampling and sipping-in of the local bounty. Festival goers can travel to the source of their food and experience outdoor cooking demonstrations, gourmet tasting samples, meet renowned chefs and interact with working farmers - all celebrated under a big-top tent!
"We're honored to be a part of this inaugural festival and join forces with many of the farms that we source from," says Mindy Segal, James Beard Award winner, chef/owner of Mindy's HotChocolate Craft Food and Drink. Joining Mindy will be over 40 chefs, farms, artisans, wineries and breweries at the idyllic Round Barn Winery in Baroda, Michigan, located just a short drive from Chicago, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis or South Bend. Participants include:
Table
- Alpana Singh | Check, Please!
- Cleetus Friedman | City Provisions
- Mindy Segal | Mindy's HotChocolate Craft Food and Drink
- Michael Kornick | MK
- Chris Pandel | The Bristol, Balena
- Matt Troost | Three Aces
- Jason Vincent | Nightwood
- Ben Sheagren | Hopleaf
- Mike & Pat Sheerin | Trencherman
- Kevin Church | Owen & Engine
- Roger Herring | Socca
- Rick Gresh | David Burke's Primehouse
- Guy Meikle | Nana
- Rick Miranda | Cafe 28
- Chad Miller | Cafe Soe
- Jenny Drilon | Bentwood Tavern
- Tim Sizer | Timothy's
- Ryan Thornburg | Bistro on the Boulevard
- Joe Lindsay | David's Delicatessen & Coffee
- MORE TO COME!
Farm
- Mick Klug Farms
- Iron Creek Farm
- Leaning Shed Farms
- Green Acres Farm
- Granor Farms
- Blue Star Produce
- Ryan Thornburg & Co
- Jakes Country Meats
- Hillside Orchards
- Sunny Harvest Farm
- Green Spirit Farm
- Local
- Alex's Veggies
- Bluebird Meadows
- MORE TO COME!
Glass
- Round Barn Winery, Brewery & Distillery
- Free Run Cellars
- Domaine Berrien Cellars
- Wyncroft Winery
- Greenbush Brewing Company
- Journeyman Distillery
- Hickory Creek Winery
- MORE TO COME!
"It's a unique opportunity for people to come out to this incredible area in Southwest Michigan and see firsthand what Berrien County has to offer," added Abby Klug of Klug Farms.
Berrien County, is the second most diverse agricultural region in the country (second only to California), and a leading source for local produce and meats in Chicago and the Midwest. It is also home to Maytag brand, an event sponsor and local appliance leader committed to dependability. Based in Benton Harbor, Mich. with factories and distribution centers across the country, consumers have counted on Maytag brand for more than 100 years.
"Depend on your local farmers for fresh food and Maytag brand appliances to keep your food fresh and bring every meal to the table" said Monica Teague, senior manager PR and brand experience.
"We've put together an amazing line-up of restaurants who've embraced the farm to table movement and teamed them up with the incredible farms and artisans of Southwest Michigan. It promises to be an awesome tasting event," says David Manilow, Creator & Executive Producer of Check, Please!.
The Fine Print
DATE: Sunday, September 2, 2012; 12PM - 4PM (Eastern Time)
LOCATION: The Round Barn Winery's estate at 10983 Hills Road, Baroda, MI 49101.
TICKETS: $75 General & $150 VIP experiences available at ticketweb.com
WEBSITE: checkpleasefestivals.com
MAYTAG SPONSOR: Find out more at www.maytag.com and connect online: www.twitter.com/maytagbrand, www.facebook.com/maytag and www.youtube.com/maytag.
CHARITY: A portion of the event's proceeds will be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor. The mission of the Boys and Girls Club of Benton Harbor is to enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. The club serves over 200 at risk youth ages 6 to 18 on a daily basis and has an active "Garden Club" where children ages 6 to 14 learn master gardening tecniques.
