Chef's Dinner Table Presents... Farmhouse Dinners!

159 Middlefield Road, Durham, CT 06422

Chef's Dinner Table invites you to celebrate our partnership with Gastler Farm, a historic family farm in Durham, Connecticut. Chef Julie Carrión and farm manager Leah Gastler have collaborated on a series of Farmhouse Dinners to celebrate the best produce picks of the season! Canapés  and three courses will be professionally paired with an exquisite wine program.  Menus are designed to highlight the peak crops of the season, including custom floral arrangements created for each evening.  As you enter the grounds, you will be greeted by a reception, passed canapes, cocktails, and farm tours led by Leah Gastler.  Leah is a fourth generation Connecticut farmer (and accomplished musician) who maintains the idyllic property with meticulously crafted stone walls, gorgeous flowers, and verdant gardens. At the ring of the dinner bell, diners will gather at an intimate farm table to enjoy a memorable meal lovingly prepared and served by our team.  

For this installment, we look forward to Sunflowers and Succotash, a farm favorite of Tim Gastler.  The menu will celebrate the New England history of this early American staple.   "The word succotash comes from the Wampanoag word msíckquatash, meaning “boiled corn kernels”. Learning from the Wampanoags, the English settlers prized the dish for its year-round accessibility, affordability, and sustenance when other food was scarce.  Today, nearly all succotash recipes maintain the marriage of corn and beans, but in its many adaptations, corned beef, salt pork, potatoes, tomatoes, okra, and peppers have all made their way into the succotash pot, along with butter, fresh herbs, and sometimes even a splash of cream.” ~Yankee Magazine

There are only 4 events in the series, so you won't want to miss this one.  As with all of our events, you will be surrounded by like-minded individuals who also like to eat, drink and be merry without being too fussy about it.  Or, as we like to say: "There are no strangers here, only friends we have yet to meet".  

Note: all food, drink and gratuities are included with your ticket purchase, so you don't need to worry about settling a bill at the end of the night.

THE MENU

Canapés

Wild Mushroom and Gruyere Tartlets

Corn Scallion Pancake~ sweet hoisin

 Shrimp Remoulade Sliders

Sausage Balls~ apple mustard

Welcome Cocktail: TBD

1st Course

Tomato Gazpacho ~ farm herb chimmichurri

2nd Course

Duck Leg au Vin~ farm succotash, heirloom corn polenta

or

Herb Butter Halibut~ farm succotash, heirloom corn polenta

(fish is available as an alternative entree, please request in advance)

3rd course

Brown Butter Walnut Cake ~ poached pears, vanilla bean gelato

*Please note: vegetarians will be well-cared for, just let us know in advance!

ABOUT THE TEAM

Chef Julie Carrión spent the early years of her culinary career in New York City training under culinary masters Anita Lo, Montreal-based chef Normand Laprise, and Daniel Boulud.  After nearly a decade with Yale University as Executive Chef, catering to the university’s President and elite guests, Julie is now the Culinary Director of Chef’s Dinner Table, a private dining venue and culinary salon in New York City.  A resident of central Connecticut, she became enchanted by Gastler Farm when she was introduced to Tim Gastler before his passing in 2023.  They dreamed up the farm dinners together, and now his daughter Leah keeps the dream alive!  Our service team is led by Jeannie Nocera, a hospitality veteran whose vision for each event is realized with the beautiful tablescapes, beverage program, and exceptional service that are essential to the experience.  Wines provided by Missing Link.  Table linens courtesy of Amelie Michel.

ABOUT GASTLER FARM

Gastler Farm has been a working farm for several generations and contains a Smithsonian-registered garden.  From 1937-1990 Gastler Farm was locally famous for their pansy fields, which blanketed the front fields with color every Spring. Charles H. Gastler bred his own unique strains of pansy seed, known for their large faces and robust stems, and the farm became a springtime destination for CT residents, including Katharine Hepburn!  Leah Gastler is the 4th generation to bring new life and business to Gastler Farm. As a classically trained violist, started in the event business hosting classical music concerts in the farmhouse through a non-profit that she founded: Kalmia Garden Chamber Music and Arts Foundation, which will continue its annual performances in the Fall.

FAQs:

Do you accommodate dietary restrictions?

• Yes. Please email Info@ChefsDinnerTableNYC.com with your dietary needs with at least 3 days notice. With less notice, we will undertake our best effort (but cannot guarantee) to accommodate your dietary restrictions.

Is there a dress code?

• Nobody will be barred at the door for their garb. The tone of the evening will be somewhere between smart-casual and elegant. 

Are there any ID requirements or an age limits to enter the event?

• Guests must be at least 21 Years of age with valid ID.

What is the refund policy? Is my registration/ticket transferable?

• While tickets are not refundable, they are transferable to anyone of legal drinking age. If you are unable to use your ticket, we will undertake to re-sell your ticket on a best-efforts basis subject to a 20% service fee.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

• No. (just have some ID handy)

Where can I contact the organizer with additional questions?

• Please email Info@ChefsDinnerTableNYC.com