FRESHFARM's Feast Is Back This October!

DC’s original farm-to-table fundraiser is back and reimagined as the fall gathering of your dreams. Edible DC checks in with DC-based nonprofit FRESHFARM for the inside scoop on what guests can expect at this year's Feast. Spoiler alert: the event is sold out, but there is a waitlist!  We did a Q&A to find out more about what to expect. PS: This is one of our favorite events of the year.

Edible DC: Last year you did a virtual Feast. What made FRESHFARM decide to return to an in-person fundraiser this year?

FRESHFARM: Last year’s virtual Feast was a huge success, and we’re so grateful for the support our community showed at the height of the pandemic. But after 18 months of isolation, we’re eager to gather in person and celebrate the spirit of the farmers market and all who make the bounty of our region possible -- from local farmers and makers who fill our tables, to shoppers who show up in all kinds of weather, to our partners who invest in a strong and equitable food future. 

This year, we took the opportunity to rethink and redesign the Feast to maximize guests’ ability to mix, mingle, and socialize. Instead of the multi-coursed seated dinner of past Feasts, this year’s celebration (taking place on Tuesday, October 19th from 6pm to 9pm) is an outdoor cocktail party featuring seasonal small bites on the rooftop of The LINE Hotel DC. Guests will enjoy live music from Baltimore-based Charm City Junction and mission moments from two storytellers who will share how FRESHFARM nourishes our local community. Guests can bid in a live auction and raffle of one-of-a-kind culinary experiences. For decor, we’ll be surrounded by The LINE’s rooftop gardens and panoramic views of downtown DC and Rock Creek Park in autumn. We’ve also enlisted local plant retailer and floral designer PLNTR to create dried arrangements to enhance the fall vibe throughout the space.  

Edible DC: Sounds great. But given the unfolding recovery and the Delta variant, will the event be safe?

FRESHFARM: Of course, our top priority is the safety and well-being of our guests and event staff. We picked an outdoor space with that in mind. We are also requiring all Feast guests to show proof that they are fully vaccinated (accepted forms of proof include a physical COVID-19 vaccine card, a photo or copy of vaccination card, or a government-provided digital record (MyIRMobile.com).

Edible DC: Tell us more about the food and drink. 

FRESHFARM: We’ve assembled an incredible roster of DC chefs and mixologists, all committed to highlighting the fall bounty of the Mid-Atlantic region and featuring ingredients grown and made by our farmers and producers. Leading the charge is Opie Crooks of The LINE DC, who will be roasting both oysters and meat on an open fire for the celebration. Other dishes will be prepared by a dazzling chef line-up that includes: Ann Coleman and Jon Sybert of the Michelin-starred Tail Up Goat; DC newcomer Kristen Essig of Dauphine’s; Jerome Grant, inaugural executive chef of the Sweet Home Café in the National Museum of African American History and Culture, who is now top toque at Jackie; St. Anselm alum chef Kat Petonito who is now chef at La Collina, The Duck & The Peach, and The Wells; Michael Rafidi, chef/owner of Albi, which earned a coveted spot on Esquire’s 2020 Best ​​New Restaurants in America list; and The LINE DC pastry chef Alicia Wang. Finally, Glendon Hartley and Chad Spangler of foodie-insider favorite Service Bar are making two seasonal cocktails. As the menu evolves, we’ll be sharing sneak peeks on social media @freshfarmdc, so stay tuned!

Edible DC: What’s on offer at the auction?

FRESHFARM: We’re really excited about the auction line-up of truly unique culinary experiences. For instance, the Santa Monica Culinary Experience includes a stay at a luxe oceanfront condo in the heart of Santa Monica, plus meals prepared by Kim Floresca of Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop Food Group, and dinner at Alice Waters’ not-yet-opened restaurant in the Hammer Museum. Not up for travel? Bring authentic Mexican cooking directly to your home with the exclusive Embassy Chef Experience! Patricia Cruz, chef at the Mexican Embassy in DC, will come to your house and prepare traditional Mexican cuisine with farmers market-sourced ingredients for a party of 10 to 12. Chef Patricia also owns and operates Sabor del Taco, a food truck which can only be found at our Saturday Columbia Heights market, serving such specialities as her scratch-made moles and tortillas. To accompany your meal, you’ll enjoy margaritas batched and prepared by Service Bar and a variety of local beer from Right Proper Brewing Company, plus gelato from Dolcezza for dessert.

Edible DC: Where can readers get tickets?

FRESHFARM: We’re sold out! But we have a waitlist and are hoping to free up a few more tickets, so if the Feast sounds like your kind of celebration, add your name to the list.

Learn more about the FRESHFARM Feast: freshfarm.org/feast