Riot in the kitchen leads up to Riot in the Pasture
By Deirdre Parker-Smith for the Salisbury Post
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Entering the kitchen just a couple hours before Riot in the Pasture can be a dangerous undertaking. Knives are furiously chopping, sweet potatoes fly through the air, cries of "Hot behind you!" break out.
For the second year, chef Jason Nain and Morgan Ridge Vineyards played host for the Sunday afternoon event of music, games, beverages and, most importantly, local food.
Amid the chaos of last minute prep, Nain says "Come here, let me show you something." He leaves the kitchen and walks into the constantly-cool barrel room where the wines age. "We got so much produce, so many lettuces and stuff, I didn't have anywhere to put it." So there with the wines are boxes of fresh greens of every sort, from leaf lettuce to collards to kohlrabi. And there's three enormous bowls of prepared salad, multiple lettuces topped with strawberries, radishes and goat cheese, waiting to be set up.
"The produce we got this year is just amazing. It was clean and beautiful. Last year, I was scrubbing dirt off some stuff," Nain said.
David Correll of Correll Farms is out in the pasture, relaxing at his vendor booth, filled with the same fresh vegetables. "I like coming out here and seeing people I usually only see at the Farmers Market. We're happy they're using our stuff."
Back in the kitchen, Scott Graden is wrist-deep in the chicken filling for the crepes with wild mushroom sauce. Nain offers a taste of the sauce, full of plump shiitake mushrooms grown by the woman who happens to stick her head in the door, Brenda Garner of Cedar Creek Farm in Davidson County.
Read more: Riot in the kitchen leads up to Riot in the Pasture
2014 Annual Riot in the Pasture
Riot in the Pasture, a local farm-to-fork dinner, is held annually the Sunday before Memorial Day. Our next Riot will be Sunday, May 18, 2014. Riot in the Pasture is a celebration of local food with a farm-to-fork meal, music, entertainment, kids' activities, and a full afternoon of fun! This year, Riot will again be hosted by Morgan Ridge Vineyards, the NC Wine Grower of the year, in their gorgeous, sun-kissed location in southern Rowan county. To learn more about our venue, read this profile article.
We are gearing up for this year's event! The menu looks amazing and we will feature multiple stations of food items. We've lined up several breweries to participate and are excited that Morgan Ridge has added a brewpub to their offerings so there will be plenty of local wine and beer to enjoy.
We have a wonderful line-up of music that will perform on the newly built stage overlooking the Morgan Ridge pond. Families can spread out on the front lawn and enjoy their afternoon. Tickets go on sale soon - so follow event plans on Facebook and our e-newsletters. But most importantly, reserve the afternoon of Sunday, May 18 on your calendar to enjoy the 4th Annual Riot in the Pasture!
Welcome to the Bread Riot
The Bread Riot is a local food advocacy group in Rowan County, North Carolina that connects the community to local food producers. Specifically, our mission is:
The Bread Riot cultivates a thriving local economy by facilitating a supply of locally produced food, utilizing sustainable farming practices and focusing on whole-life issues, education, and environmental concern.