I was recently invited to attend a wonderful dinner outside at Brambles Bistro located at Tanglebank Gardens 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.

This Back to Our Roots dinner featured wines from Mann Farms and Mt Lehman Winery along with a 6 course meal.

1^st course:

Mini Bacon-confitted Duck Cabbage Rolls with ginger-bramble berry wine reduction

-featuring One Love Farm cabbage, Mann Farms Blackberry wine and Cambells Ginger honey

2^nd course:

Chicken Veloute with early harvest vegetables

-featuring Rockwelds chicken, Lepp Market corn, Brambles carrots and turnips

3^rd course:

Tomme Goat Cheese and duo of beets

-featuring Mt. Lehman Goat cheese, Brambles beets, honey and micro-greens, Apple Barn elstar apples

4th course:

Cider Braised Pork with caramelized Russian garlic jus; Blue capri and hazelnut twice baked soufflé; and Honey roasted pumpkin and harvest vegetable puree

-featuring Lepps pork shoulder, One Love Farms Russian garlic and winter luxery pumpkin, Mt Lehman goat cheese, Apple Barns cider and Cinderella pumpkin, Cambells squash honey and comb

^5th course:

Mead Poached Pear and brown butter shortbread tart, Concord coulis and Pecan praline ice cream

-featuring Cambells Mead, Lepps pears and Birchwood ice cream

^6th course:

Blueberry Bonbons

-featuring Omnink’s Blueberry farm

Last year I met many of these farmers 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 under an hours drive from Vancouver.

Tanglebank Gardens and Brambles Bistro is located at 29985 Downes Rd., Abbotsford

You can call them at 604 856 9339 and follow on Twitter @Tanglebank

Make sure you visit Brambles Bistro the next time you are in the Abbotsford area and watch for longtable farmers dinners at the bistro.

By: Richard Wolak