Local Foods Local Spirits event celebrates the region’s bounty and local chefs

Popular Cooperstown Farmers’ Market fundraiser is October 19

Otsego 2000 will showcase the bounty of the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market and the talent of area chefs at the Local Foods Local Spirits party on Sunday, October 19 from 5pm – 7pm. This fundraiser for the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market showcases 14 local restaurants and chefs who will be creating savory and sweet tapas-style tasting bites made with local produce, meat, cheese, honey, and maple syrup from the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market. The event will be held at the Farmers’ Market, 101 Main St, in Pioneer Alley in Cooperstown.

Participating for the first time are Aaron Wratten of the Horned Dorset Inn in Leonardsville, Tim Atticus and Chris Riffle of The Gatehouse in Morris, Allison King of The Sugar Beat in Oneonta, and Kat Wisnosky of The Elm Inn in Milford. Cooperstown restaurants and chefs taking part are: Ryan Cross, the new Executive Pastry Chef at The Otesaga Resort Hotel; Dasang Gurung from Norbu; Brian Wrubleski from Mel’s at 22; Tim Searles from Doubleday Café; and Kristen Leonard and Dana Leonard Saunders of Origins Café.  Returning chefs also include Anthony Leberto from Brimstone Bakery in Sharon Springs and Q Khashaei from the Empire House in Gilbertsville. Four of the chefs are also Market vendors: Chloe Ford of Chloe’s Bakeshop, Jesse Pascale from Rock Hill Farm, Alex Webster of Alex’s World Picnic, and Aaron Wratten of the Horned Dorset Inn.

Chefs will create their dishes using ingredients from Market vendors, including Arabeth Farm, Bison Island Ranch, Black Willow Pond Farm, Byebrook Farm, Chloe’s Bakeshop, Gaia’s Breath Farm, Heller’s Farm, Middlefield Orchard, Mill Hollow Maple, Mountain View Dairy, Nectar Hills Farm, Painted Goat Farm, Rock Hill Farm, and Straight from the Hive.

Local musicians Fast Friends will perform and there will be a raffle of artisan-made crafts, home goods, skincare, art, and other items you can find at the Market.

Tickets are $50 each and available at www.otsego2000.org, by calling 607-547-8881, or at the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market on Saturdays from 9 am to 2 pm. All proceeds benefit the year-round Cooperstown Farmers’ Market and its food access initiatives.

The Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, a program of Otsego 2000, is open year-round on Saturdays and features farmers, makers, growers, and artisans located within 50 miles of Cooperstown. SNAP is welcome at every Market, and through two matching programs, a $20 SNAP spend results in $60 worth of local food.