From its beginnings Bowood Farms has pushed the envelope and delivered the unexpected to the neighborhood. The first indication that something was up last Sunday afternoon on the grounds across from the nursery at 4605 Olive was a grouping of round hay bales next to the hoop house. The YouTube video I've inserted here is something I thought was humorous and only indirectly related.
From 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday Magnificent Missouri,
a charitable organization founded by Dan Burkhardt and John McPheeters (of Bowood Farms), held its inaugural fundraiser at the nursery. Seventeen Missouri organizations
that promote conservation benefitted from the event which was completely underwritten by generous donors.
Some of the best chefs in St. Louis contributed their time and talent smoking meats and roasting fresh local produce over open fires. Mike Emerson's Pappy's Smokehouse was the first to set up on Saturday afternoon and chefs started smoking red wattle hog on a cherry wood fire.
Kevin Willman, of Farmhaus smoked chicken from Buttonwoods Farm and served it with sweet potato & smoked egg salad with corn and bacon. Sidney Street Cafe's Kevin Nashan roasted suckling pig Asador with Sofrito and pig head served with collard greens and peach cobbler; Josh Galliano smoked Sassafras Valley Goose and prepared Brunswick Stew with roasted wings.
Nate Hereford & Gerard Craft (not pictured) barbequed Doublestar Farms Lamb, whole
lamb Porchetta, and whole roasted lamb Asador, which was served with
roasted Brussels sprouts flavored with lemon and mint, below.
The Augusta Bottoms Consort entertained while 300(!) attendees visited with representatives from the 17 conservation organizations, enjoyed delicious food, Schlafly beer and a selection of Missouri wines.
Photo courtesy of Joe Carpenter
Publisher Catherine Neville (not pictured) of Feast, one of the sponsors of the Magnificent Missouri fundraiser, told me more about the series of smaller dinners to benefit the organization that are taking place later this year at different locations. The chefs who were part of Sunday's event are so enthusiastic about continuing their support of Missouri conservation groups that they have offered to cook for those events as well. Information about the first dinner, which will take place on November 4 at The Audubon Center at Riverlands, is available on the Magnificent Missouri website. Chef Josh Galliano will prepare a Native American repast following a short bird-watching expedition at Riverlands.
The lovely but simple table decorations at the Magnificent Missouri event paired plaid tablecloths and groupings of autumn flowers.
Magnificent Missouri is off to a great start thanks to all those who made Sunday's event such a wonderful success.