Food lovers: Prepare to feast on fresh, local foods prepared by some of the Valley’s favorite local chefs—all for a good cause.
Two events, presented by The Local Food Alliance, whose mission is to create and nurture a resilient local and regional food system, are aiming to bring the community together around the culture of local food, as well as serve as fundraisers for the nonprofit. Other partners include the Wood River Sustainability Center and the Hailey Chamber of Commerce.
One event is an annual food festival in Hailey, and a new event, taking place the night before, is a cocktail reception, farm tour and dinner on a working farm south of Bellevue.
The Elevated Table
Friday, Sept. 15, The Local Food Alliance presents “The Elevated Table in the Field,” a cocktail, farm tour and dinner at Kraay’s Market & Garden, south of Bellevue. Three chefs, Sean Temple of Warfield (Ketchum), Brian Janego of Town Square Tavern (Ketchum), and Sarah Lipton of Hank & Sylvie’s (Ketchum and Hailey), will prepare a four-course dinner following cocktails and a tour of the small family-run farm. Served family style, in the spirit of the roving Outstanding in the Field national program, guests will be seated at long, decorated tables in the field, joined by the producers who contributed ingredients for the fundraiser. Music will be provided by Kevin Ware (Ware2), a single-guitar local act. The cost of the evening is $250 and tickets may be purchased through The Local Food Alliance’s website.
A volunteer at daVinci’s serving kabobs at the restaurant walk-around. Courtesy Local Food Alliance / Photo by Carol Waller
HarvestFest
The third annual Wood River Valley HarvestFest returns to Hailey on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. The one-day festival features three separate events, two of which are free to the public.
1) The food fair and market will be held on River Street behind the Wood River Sustainability Center. This free event, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., will feature local producers, food entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations. Many will have items to sample and sell. The purpose is to introduce the community to the many families that work to provide food for the Wood River Valley.
2) The restaurant walk-around takes place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and costs $45 (kids under 10 are free). This year, 16 restaurants are participating, each featuring products from local farmers and producers, in 2-ounce tastes. The $45 ticket price includes two drink tickets plus 10 tastes among the 15 restaurants. Pick up forks—your tickets for the tastes—at the Sustainability Center between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. A few of the participating restaurants, most of which are located on Main Street or a block off, include Zou 75, diVine, Dang’s, Smokey Bone BBQ and Sawtooth Brewery.
3) The street party, the day’s final event, is also free to the public, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. As with the food fair and market, the street party will be located on a blocked-off portion of River Street behind the Wood River Sustainability Center. Live music will be provided by the local band The Heaters. A longtime local favorite group, the band switches between rock and roll, alternative rock, Motown and their own original songs. Coffee and dessert will be served inside the Center, courtesy of several local businesses, including Atkinsons’ Markets, Hailey Coffee Co., and Hank & Sylvie’s.
Ali Long, founder and executive director of Local Food Alliance, said this year’s event is even more family-friendly than previous years, with the addition of the Kids Corral. For $20, parents can drop kids at the Kids Corral at the Sustainability Center from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., for games, face painting and snacks. This gives parents the opportunity to participate in the restaurant walk-around while the kids are supervised and entertained.
Last year’s street party at the Wood River Sustainability Center. Courtesy Local Food Alliance / Photo by Carol Waller
In three years, HarvestFest has grown from 10 participating restaurants with 267 attendees to 15 restaurants and an anticipated 500 attendees this year. Proceeds benefit Local Food Alliance, whose work includes farm-to-school food programs, community education and outreach.
“The HarvestFest is a wonderful opportunity to build community,” Long said. “It’s a chance to connect the community with our farmers and to give chefs the opportunity to serve their farmers’ products to their clientele. And with the addition of the Kids Corral, we are making this even more family-friendly. We want everyone to come out and support the community.”
The Details
The Elevated Table in the Field: Friday. Sept. 15, 6 p.m. at Kraay’s Market & Garden, 171 Schoessler Lane, Bellevue. Cocktails, farm tour and dinner, $250. Tickets: localfoodalliance.org
Third Annual Wood River Valley HarvestFest: Saturday, Sept. 16, 3-10 p.m. at the Wood River Sustainability Center (308 S. River Street, Hailey) and Downtown Hailey. 1) Food fair and market, free, 3-5 p.m. 2) Restaurant walk-around, $45, 5-7 p.m. 3) Street party, free, 7-10 p.m. Tickets: woodrivervalleyharvestfest.org
Restaurant Walk-Around Participants: Wood River Sustainability Center, Lago Azul, The Red Shoe, Restaurant 103, daVinci’s, Sawtooth Brewery, KB’s, Zou 75, Dang’s, International Cowboy Cocina, di Vine, Hailey Fire Department, Hank & Sylvie’s, CK’s, Smokey Bone BBQ, Sun Valley Brewery, Taste of Thai.
Coffee and Dessert Participants: Atkinsons’ Market, Black Owl Coffee, Hank & Sylvie’s, The Coffee House, Hailey Coffee Co.