This past Saturday evening, my husband Thom and I had the immense pleasure of hosting a 5 course “Wild and Local” dinner party at our home as a fundraiser for our daughter’s school. All our guests were friends from the school community and every ingredient, from the sugar snap peas for the appetizer to the whipped cream on the dessert, was locally grown and produced. We chose to host this event not only to highlight the delicious flavors and nutritional benefits that can be found in local and sustainable ingredients, but to remind ourselves that the roots of a strong community can be formed, fortified and sustained over good food, good wine and great company.

Thom, an avid fisherman and bow hunter, brought in the “Wild” element with the wild steelhead trout he caught and venison he hunted. He also handpicked, from Central Park, the mulberrys we used in the dessert. I cannot believe how sweet those berries are! I brought in the “Local” element by being a native New Yorker myself, and by procuring nearly all the rest of the ingredients from the Union Square Market, a mecca of locally produced goodies. Check out the entire delicious menu…

My trusty neighborhood wine merchant, Costas from Gotham Wines, helped me pair each course with wines from various New York State producers. We even had a New York state Bourbon along with dessert. Now, as I reflect upon the evening, I still don’t know what I enjoyed the most – the wine, the food, the company, or being able to contribute a small slice to a great cause!