Taste of Granor Farmhouse Dinner

"The fondest memories are made gathered around the table."

Food has such a special way of bringing people together and helping us to appreciate the land around us. Granor Farm, located in Three Oaks, Michigan, was founded in 2006 with a commitment to creating an environment respectful of the land they cultivate, the products they grow, and the local community they serve. In addition to growing and selling certified organic produce, farm operations also include organic berries, cut flowers, pasture-raised eggs, and grains.

Throughout the year, Granor Farm also hosts Taste of Granor farmhouse dinners designed to connect people to the farm and the food they grow. The dinners are a multi-course, family-style meal featuring produce and grains grown by Granor Farm as well as meats, cheeses, and fruits from other farms in the area. I recently had the opportunity to attend one of the winter farmhouse dinners and it was truly an experience I won't forget.

Disclosure: Granor Farm hosted myself and a guest for the Taste of Granor dinner. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Upon arriving at Granor Farm we followed the lantern lit path to the farm house where we were greeted by chef, Abra Berens. I was instantly in awe of the space which featured three, long candle-lit farmhouse tables and the chef's kitchen where our meal would be prepared. The seating style itself fosters connection and we quickly struck up conversation with the other couple seated at our table who were visiting from Chicago for the weekend. They shared that this was their third Taste of Granor dinner and still one of the best meals they've ever had.

When all guests had arrived, Abra shared a brief overview of the farm including its history and what they grow while we dined on an appetizer of sweet pea dip with house sourdough. Dinners from May through October offer an optional, pre-dinner farm tour led by Granor farmers. The tour lasts 20 to 30 minutes and gives participants a behind the scenes look into how the farm operates including the barns, fields, and hoop houses.

All dinners are BYOB and you are encouraged to bring your own wine to pair with the meal. Abra reccomends a buttery white or light red but if you need a little help selecting the perfect wine pairing, stop by P&E Bottle Shop in Three Oaks before heading to the farm and they will be happy to help you pick something out. 

No Taste of Granor dinner menu is ever the same so you can come back again and again and have a completely unique experience. Ingredients are inspired by the season and sourced locally. One of my favorite parts of the dinner was, as each dish was being brought out to the table, Chef Abra would describe the ingredients and share where they came from whether it was lettuce preserved in the farm's hoop house, cherries from Mick Klug farm, or black beans from her family's farm in South Haven. 

The menu for our Taste of Granor dinner included:

• Sweet Pea Dip with House Sourdough
• Roasted Pumpkin, Preserved Tomatoes, Pickled Feta, Fried Sage, and Pepitas
• Butter Lettuce, Tahini, Lemon, Parsley, Sunflower Seeds
• Carrots, Beet Cream, Pickled Cherries, Microgreens, and Coconibs
• Slow Roasted Pork, Squash Puree, Black Beans, Kohlrabi, and Lime
• Cheese Course: Bandaged Bismark with Grape Mustard and Caraway Crackers
• Eaton Mess with Ginger Plum Mascerated Rasberries and Vanilla Custard

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Abra has a special way of combining ingredients, textures and flavors. I can truly say I've never felt more connected to the food I was eating and savored each bite. While each dish was mouth watering, my favorite from the night would have to be the the roasted pumpkin with feta as well as the squash puree and grape mustard. Neither pumpkin or squash are vegetables that I incorporate into my meals on a regular basis so I was pleasantly surprised to discover how much I enjoyed both. 

If you're looking for a unique and intimate dining experience that is both delicious and educational I would highly recommend Granor Farm. Taste of Granor dinners are offered on a limited and seasonal basis. If you are interested in making a reservation, click here to find tickets. You can also find a number of their recipes online if you're looking to make your own dinner at home.