Dinners on the Farm
Come dine with us on the farm and experience the pleasures of eating locally and sustainably. With our Culinary Institute of America-trained chef, Alisa DeMarco, we are creating multi-course, slow food meals crafted from the freshest local ingredients. Many of the vegetables and fruits served are grown organically on our farm; we also use the milk, eggs, cheeses from our farm.
Our dinners highlight the finest local produce and meats, and feature the farmers who grow or raise this food. Each meal has a theme and featured guest farmer, allowing our guests to experience peak season freshness and conversations with the farmer/food artisan who contributed to our table. Not only do you get a tour of our farm with the dinner, but you also get to learn about the guest farmer’s practices and their passion for local food. Of course, our cheeses are always featured! We just can’t resist!
We'll kick off the 2013 season in late May. In total, we will be hosting 14 dinners every two weeks well into the late fall. For inclement weather dinners, we have a fully furbished dining room inside our barn, so all events will be held rain or shine. You never know what is going to happen with Illinois weather!
Most of the dinners are held on Saturdays at 4 p.m., with the occasional exception. When guests arrive, they are typically greeted with appetizers, immediately followed by a 30 minute tour of our farm. Following the tour, dinner is served. Guests can enjoy the setting of the sun, and watch the stars come out during the dessert course. It is a truly slow food evening, and worth every minute. We encourage guests to meet new people, ask questions, and even wander the garden between courses. While we strive to create an elegant, peaceful and delicious evening for our guests, we need to acknowledge that this is a farm and the meal is served outdoors.
Outdoor events can be subject to inclement weather, farm smells, insects and the usual "assaults" from nature. If outside conditions become challenging, we will move the dinner into the dining room. Please wear or bring appropriate clothing and hats for the weather of the day. Insect repellents are also a good idea, especially if they find you more attractive than the food.
**Accommodations for special dietary needs, food allergies, vegetarian options, etc. can be arranged, but need to be stated with the purchase of the seats. Because of the select dates, themes, menu items, guest chefs, etc.; last minute accommodations cannot be guaranteed.**
To make reservations for one or more of the dinners, please CLICK ON THE LINK IN THE DESCRIPTION OF EACH FARM DINNER ON THE "DINNER SEASON" PAGE OF OUR WEBSITE.
Our policy regarding children and pricing: Given the limited number of seats for each dinner, we are not able to offer a reduced price on meals for children. We don't discourage people from bringing their children; however the meal would remain the full price. Please let us know in advance if you plan to bring your children.
CANCELLATION POLICY: You can receive a full refund if you cancel your reservation one week prior to the date of the dinner you are scheduled to attend. Please email or call us as soon as possible, if you need to cancel (prairiefruits@gmail.com or 217-643-2314). If you cancel less than one week prior to the dinner, we won't be able to issue you a refund.
WAITING LIST POLICY: We no longer take names for waiting lists for each dinner. If we receive cancellations, we will repost the seats on the website, notify folks through our email list, sell them at the Farmer’s Market, and/or post them on Facebook.
