You’re Invited! Join Us on August 29, 2020

The Growing Gardens Farm Gala is celebrating its 21st anniversary virtually this year. We are bringing together four restaurants that have been longtime partners and friends of ours: Blackbelly, Leaf, Mateo, and River and Woods. Guests will enjoy their choice of dinner from one of these four restaurants and join us virtually to participate in a silent auction, cocktail demonstration, and a live program from our farm with a special announcement. 

This year’s gala will put a wide spotlight on all of our programs at Growing Gardens that have all had to drastically adapt this year to allow us to continue to serve our community. All proceeds raised from the event benefit Growing Gardens’ education and food donation programs for children, teens, adults, seniors, and those with differing abilities. A portion of ticket sales will also go back to our restaurant partners to support them during this time. In addition, we are also partnering with our neighboring nonprofit, Mountain Flower Goat Dairy, who was not able to hold a gala this year and will be giving back a portion of ticket sales to their organization. They will be providing some adorable goat footage from their herd throughout the event that you won’t want to miss.

Here’s what you can expect: 

  1. On the day of the gala, your meal(s) will be ready for pick-up at your chosen restaurant(s) from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. We will open our live event on Zoom at 4:45 pm, where our farm chef, Carly Silberman, will provide a from-the-farm experience making a craft cocktail. You can mix along with her at home. We’ll also be featuring some goat entertainment from our friends at Mountain Flower Goat Dairy while you sip your cocktail and make sure everyone’s technology is working. 

  2. At 5:30 pm we will start our program with a welcome from our Executive Director. We will also have a surprise guest with an important announcement about the future of Growing Gardens. We will wrap up by 6:15 pm. 

  3. After the program, you’ll heat and enjoy your meal featuring local, sustainable ingredients.

View Our Ticket Options

Meal Options with Our Partnering Restaurants

By Chef Arun Astraelis

Sold out! Smoked Buckner Family Ranch Short Rib, Fried Rice with Roasted Corn, House Chi, and Scallions. (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

By Chef Lenny Martinelli

Summer Vegetable Strata with Zucchini, Beets, Carrots, Turnips, Cashew Basil Cheese, Carrot Coconut Coulis, Fresh Arugula, Pickled Kohlrabi, and Toasted Hazelnuts. (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

By Chef Matthew Jansen

Sold out! Chicken Boudin Blanc, Duck Confit, House Made Bacon, White Beans, Local Tomatoes, Local Summer Beans, Local Corn, Local Summer Squashes. (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

By Chef Daniel Asher

Sold out! Summer BBQ Plate: MacDonald Farm Ribs, Grilled Elk Cheddar Bratwurst, Candied Brussels, Chadillac BBQ Sauce, and Carolina Gold Sauce with a side salad. (Gluten-Free)

Sold out! Vegetarian Option: Pulled BBQ Jackfruit, Smoked Tofu, Candied Brussels, and Carolina Gold Sauce with a side salad. (Gluten-Free, Vegan with the exception of honey in the salad dressing)

Purchase Your Ticket

For the Kiddos

If you purchase a Meal + Program ticket, you have the option to add on a kid’s meal! Our Farm Chef, Carly Silberman, will be making a delicious Mac & Cheese that will be available for pick up at the restaurant providing your adult meal.

In addition, the kid’s meal includes access to a variety of kids’ activities, put together by our education team, and a live Zoom call with our Nutrition Education and Summer Camp Coordinator, Sarah Horowitz, to help keep your child entertained while you are participating in our program.

For the Adults

Included with your Meal + Program ticket, enjoy a special cocktail mix by Cocktail Caravan to make your own specialty cocktail at home! Mix with an on-hand alcohol of choice, or make a refreshing non-alcoholic spritzer with your favorite sparkling water.

Before the start of our program, our talented Farm Chef, Carly Silberman, will provide a cocktail demonstration to bring a little bit of our typical Farm Gala to you. Each meal ticket will receive 2.5 servings of cocktail mix, enough for two drinks.

Purchase Your Ticket

A special thanks to our event sponsors