Mark your calendars for the 17th annual Minnesota Cooks™ Day at the Minnesota State Fair, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 25 at Dan Patch Park. This is the premier event of Minnesota Farmers Union’s local foods education and outreach program.
MFU is organizing another edition of the Minnesota Cooks calendar, featuring Minnesota family farmers working in partnership with chefs and restaurants. The calendar will debut at the Farmers Union Coffee Shop at the State Fair and will be available at Minnesota Cooks Day.
These featured farmers and chefs in the calendar are featured in Minnesota Cooks Day. This program that demonstrates the economic value-added agriculture that benefits some farmers who produce locally grown food. It also brings celebrity tasters on stage to interact with the farmers and chefs, as they discuss the importance of food and agriculture to all Minnesotans. There are also delicious samples available for the audience of each dish made.
We will have local musical group The Home Fires return to entertain the audience between the six program segments.
We have restaurants and farmers from across Minnesota participating this year, covering both the Metro area and Greater Minnesota. This presents a nice mixture, demonstrating that locally grown food can make a difference throughout the state.
We would like to thank our program sponsors: Farmers Union Insurance Agency, Farmers Union Industries and Minnesota Grown.
See the full program schedule below for 2019:
10 a.m.
Chef Ryan Nitschke of Sol Avenue Kitchen (Moorhead) & Noreen Thomas of Doubting Thomas Farms (Moorhead): Mushroom Bacon Panzanella with Farm Fresh Egg Gribiche & Seasonal Vegetables
Judy Harder of Jubilee Market & Peacemeals & Steve Harder of Jubilee Market & Peacemeals (Mountain Lake): Superberry Smoothie & Take 10 Cookie
11 a.m.
Harry Brand of Harry’s Scratch Kitchen (Lakeville) & John Peterson of Ferndale Market (Cannon Falls): Harry’s Turkey Quinoa Burger
Troy and Diane Domine of Pizzeria 201 (Montgomery) & Dean and Jean Braatz of My Minnesota Farmer (Montgomery): Pizza al Pastor
Noon
Chef Chris Homyak of Lutsen Resort (Lutsen), Kim Corliss of North Shore Winery (Lutsen), & John Jacobson of Pine Tree Apple Orchard (White Bear Lake): Cider Braised Pulled Pork Sandwich
Chef Butch O’Brien of Wise Acre Eatery (Minneapolis) & Dean Engelmann of Tangletown Gardens’ Farm (Plato): Cauliflower Three Ways with Everything Bagel Seasoning
1 p.m.
Chef Erik Kleven of Bleu Duck Kitchen (Rochester) & David Berryhill of The Berryhill Farm (Pine Island): Braised Lamb with Chickpeas, Tomatoes, Kalamata Olives & Peashoots
Chef Mateo Mackbee and Erin Lucas of Model Citizen (New London) & Nick and Joan Olson of Prairie Drifter Farm (Litchfield): Charred Broccoli with Herbed Yogurt & Hummus
2 p.m.
Tom Hanson of Duluth Grill (Duluth) & Janaki Fisher-Merritt of Food Farm (Wrenshall): Red Flannel Hash
Chef Erick Harcey of Willards (Cambridge) & Carla Mertz of Iron Shoe Farm (Princeton): Dirty Bird Chicken with BBQ Spiced Carrots
3 p.m.
Chef Yia Vang of Union Kitchen (St. Paul) & Hmong American Farmers Association (Vermillion Township): Tiger Bite Sauce
Anna Christoforides of Gardens of Salonica (Minneapolis) & Pam Benike of Prairie Hollow Farm (Elgin): Dolmades