It was delightful to see the mix of farmers and farmers’ market supporters chat together throughout the night, often mentioning their favorite producers or products by name. The brewery and spirits stations were also very busy and the site of some great conversations about local brew culture. The chef stations were located along one wall, and all seemed very busy throughout the night. People were excited to taste and discuss the chef’s creations.
The energy of the event was palpable once lines started to form at the tasting stations. The judges on the panel represented some of the best of local C-U food culture including chef Alisa DeMarco, chef Drew Starkey of bacaro, and Natalie Kenny Marquez, former director of the Urbana Farmers’ Market, along with two nationally known chefs, John Cagle and Dagan Stocks. The highlight of this presentation was hearing from the farmers who have benefitted from the programs offered by The Land Connection to help local producers get their businesses off the ground and into the local economy. A short program started off the night with speakers from The Land Connection and a description of the producers and sponsors involved in the event.
#REVIEW FOR ARTISAN SMILES FULL#
The atmosphere at The City Center was mostly subdued upon arrival at 5 p.m., but quickly became more lively as more people arrived and the chef stations went into full working mode. The event also featured a cash bar, but we felt that the samples were enough to slake our thirst. Upon arrival, we were given a ballot to vote for our favorite dish, ten drink tickets for samples of beer and spirits, and a chance purchase a ticket to participate in the raffle or bottle pull. We were disappointed to learn that Ramin Karimpour of Pizzeria Antica was unable to compete due to a family emergency, but the remaining four chefs had an excellent slate of offerings and we certainly did not leave hungry. This year’s event included five chefs presenting small plates for the contest, a chance to sample the beers and spirits of local breweries and distilleries, coffee from Columbia Street Roastery, and a selection of cakes from Heidi Leuszler of Berries and Flour. All of the funds raised help to support The Land Connection in growing the local C-U food economy and promoting the work of local farmers and producers. The winning plate is assessed by both the crowd and a panel of judges. The concept of the Artisan Cup & Fork is that local chefs use local ingredients produced by local farmers to develop one small plate item that showcases the producers they work with. The search for the entrance to the City Center was rewarded handsomely, though, with a delicious and fun food contest once we were inside. If you haven’t visited The City Center recently, it is a bit hard to figure out the parking situation because of the construction on Green Street. On October 15th, The Land Connection hosted its second annual fundraiser, The Artisan Cup & Fork, at The City Center in Champaign.
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