Wednesday, March 30th was a sunny day with warming temperatures, inviting and primed for an outdoor experience hosted by LOFO and Horsford Farms.
Written by Kim Cordell
Visuals by Hannah
Hosts Bob and Sharon Horsford grow greens and vegetables and have been supplying LOFO with fresh whole organic foods. The half circle hoop houses are covered by plastic which protects the plants from critters and surly weather. This allows the growers to get an early start on the season and provide produce year round at the Farmer's Markets, and also apparently host the occasional dinner party.
'Table to farm' is their twist on the pop-up locations they choose to host very special dinners. Abigail, Bob and Sharon thoughtfully wove a local influence into the detail of the Horsford Farm hoop house experience. Syracuse native Sara Marsh officially opened the evening’s festivities with a hula hoop dance, a play on the hoop house theme.
The 'farm to table' concept that LOFO embodies is growing in Syracuse as the ideals of sustainable local eating spread. LOFO partners with organizations such as Slow Food Syracuse and the Syracuse Real Food Co-op. LOFO stands for “Love of food - Local focus” which owner, Abigail Henson, supports by developing lasting relationships with local farmers.
Chef Luke served bowls of gnocchi with green pesto family style, as well as a raw mild cheddar and cheese curd pie sourced from the Ithaca Dairy. Dessert was a homemade apple knotweed pie with a dollop of homemade spruce tip ice cream. The elements of every dish made for a complex pairing of flavors on the palate. Delectable, every bite.
There is a comfortable feeling of family among those who participate in the LOFO events. While enjoying every course, I chatted with musicians, artists, and farmers. All of them support the farm to table movement and one another.
And though the chill of the evening air began to creep in through the makeshift door of the hoop house’s plastic covering, the warmth of the people speaking casually over candlelight was palpable.
It’s this combination of lightness and fervency that draws diners back to LOFO, even outside of its traditional downtown setting. It’s more than sharing food, it’s sharing community.