Harvest Dinner at Mt Lehman Winery

abbotsford dinner 1

Last night I attended a wonderful dinner at a long table inside the barrel room at Mt Lehman Winery in Abbotsford. This unique dinner featured farmers from the Abbotsford area who supplied all the ingredients for the chefs to create this wonderful local feast. At the long table members of the media were seated next to a farmer and this gave us a great opportunity to learn more about the farmers and hear their stories.

Paul Sweeting (owner) Ravens Brewing Co.

Paul Sweeting (owner) Ravens Brewing Co.

Ravens Brewing Co.

Ravens Brewing Co.

Ravens Brewing Co.

Ravens Brewing Co.

Ravens Brewing Co.

Ravens Brewing Co.

Prior to sitting down for the family style dinner, I had an opportunity to taste some local craft beer from Abbotsord based Ravens Brewing Co and to meet founder, Paul Sweeting.

Mt Lehman Winery

Mt Lehman Winery

A selection of wines from Mt Lehman Winery were served alongside the family style multi-course meal which was made by Chef Jeff Massey of Restaurant 62.

1st course:

Campbell's Gold Honey Roasted local delacata squash

Campbell’s Gold Honey Roasted local delacata squash

Campbell’s Gold Honey Roasted local delacata squash with pumpkin seeds, and Abbotsford’s Mt Lehman Cheese Frisky button

2nd course:

Maple Hill Farms Chicken Roulade

Maple Hill Farms Chicken Roulade

Maple Hill Farms Chicken Roulade with creamy polenta and kale chips

3rd course:

Organic Fraser Valley Rice Risotto

Organic Fraser Valley Rice Risotto

Organic Fraser Valley Rice Risotto with roasted shitake mushrooms

4th course:

Yarrow Meadows Duck Breast

Yarrow Meadows Duck Breast

Yarrow Meadows Duck Breast with balsamic pearl onions

5th course:

Lepp Farm Market’s pork loin

Lepp Farm Market’s pork loin

Lepp Farm Market’s pork loin wrapped in bacon with a savoury shallot and plum marmalade

6th course:

Roasted local beets and parsnips

Roasted local beets and parsnips

Roasted local beets and parsnips

7th course:

Birchwood Dairy’s Vanilla Ice Cream

Birchwood Dairy’s Vanilla Ice Cream

Birchwood Dairy’s Vanilla Ice Cream topped with Gojoy Berries Goji Berry compote with Oninks chocolate blueberry bonbons.

I had the opportunity to meet Cheesemaker Jason Dykstra who has been making cheese for his company Mt Lehman Cheese Co since 2013.

Last year I met many of these farmers at the Farm to Table dinner on the Abbotsford circle farm tour which is a great way for you to learn about all things local, it is a great chance to see where our food comes from and it’s all pretty much an hours drive from Vancouver.

Mt. Lehman Winery is located at 5094 Mt. Lehman Rd in Abbotsford, BC

A great way to learn about the local producers and farmers in Abbotsford is to plan your own visits on the Circle Farm Tour 

By: Richard Wolak

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