Fresh, local fall vegetables and the skills of Chef Joseph Motter of Malabar Farm Restaurant were featured in yesterday’s Farm to Plate program in Shelby. The first-of-its-kind live chef demonstrations featuring local chefs from surrounding restaurants is an effort to bring farmers and consumers together and to promote eating healthy, local produce.
OFBF County Office Administrator Eileen Eisenhauer remarked,” I’m really glad we had such good weather today, a great turnout, over 100 people.” Eisenhauer added,”It’s a great program the community council came up with, it’s exciting to be a part of it.”
Chef Motter’s menu consisted of Ratatuoille, Butternut Squash Soup and, for desert, a classic Apple Crumb. Motter said he chose to recipes with ingredients that were abundant in the fall and could easily be integrated into any person’s tastes or budget.
“Eggplant, green peppers, squash, tomatoes and onions all grow great here in Ohio, so I chose to do dishes that highlighted them,” said Motter.
Along with Sous Chef Rachel Mitchell-Doggett, Motter chopped and stirred and seasoned while interacting with the crowd from a mobile kitchen supplied by the Shelby FFA. The trailer was outfitted as a standard kitchen with all the necessary amenities and the entire demo was televised on a flat-screen as it happened.
“I support Chef Motter in everything he does and this is a great opportunity to show that healthy cooking is simple and delicious,” said Mitchell-Doggett. Mitchell-Doggett said she believes the Farm to Plate program and the opportunity to connect local farmers with consumers is a good thing, that it helps promote healthy eating and brings families together.
Fred Cooke, Council member of the Hazelgrove Farm Bureau remarked,”It was all very much a group effort every step of the way.” He added the time and effort of those who volunteered were an important part of making it all work.
”It’s all very positive, I am very pleased and look forward to next week,” said Cooke. Susan Vander Maas, chef and owner of Doc’s Deli in Mansfield will be the featured chef on August 31.
Roger Baird, president of Hazelgrove Council remarked he was very pleased with the response from the public and the promotion of local farmers and the local farmers markets was going well.
The ongoing event was made possible by the combined efforts of the Hazelgrove Farm Bureau Community Council, Richland Community Development Group, the Shelby Foundation and the Shelby FFA.
Baird added,”We are hoping it becomes an annual event.”
