Celebrating The Bounty of California with "Farm-to-Table" Fundraising Dinner

The first weekend of June was unseasonably rainy, but on Saturday night the clouds relented long enough for LEAF's first ever farm-to-table fundraising dinner in the Niles District of Fremont.

Local Ecology & Agriculture Fremont (LEAF), a non-profit group, hosted the event to raise funds to support further community gardening efforts. The group has plans to establish more community gardens on otherwise unused land in Fremont.

Over 100 guests and volunteers enjoyed an al fresco meal in LEAF's Niles garden location, complete with live music and 10 different dishes prepared by local chefs, restauranteurs, and even students. The term “farm-to-table” refers to the fact that the meal’s main ingredients came directly from LEAF’s own gardens and local farms in Fremont, Pleasanton, and Watsonville.

Fremont chef Lalitha Visveswaran, who served as head chef for the event, said that food from local producers is fresher and therefore tastier, and it reduces our carbon footprint by requiring less transportation.

"It's amazing the bounty we have in California," Visveswaran said. "We need to appreciate what we have here."

Han Trinh of Niles Cafe, 121 I St., Fremont, prepared pea dumplings in garlic broth, which featured spinach, mushrooms and mint.

The salad course was prepared by LEAF's own director of development, Justine Burt. A salad of freshly plucked lettuce was garnished with edible flowers and a dressing made with honey from the hills of Fremont.

Chef Annie Wood of The Vine, a restaurant coming soon to 37553 Niles Blvd., Fremont, served risotto bites, roast lamb infused with rosemary, potato mash and fresh garden greens with tender carrots.

Carolyn Berke of Niles Pie Company served a savory goat cheese and asparagus galette, and for dessert, two different choux a la creme, a kind of creme puff: with strawberry-Meyer lemon and apricot-almond-amaretto. 

Washington High School senior Julien Malard prepared a dessert of tuile cookies with lavender creme patissiere custard, garnished with Fremont-grown navel oranges and blueberries. Malard, who is interested in food sources, will study international agriculture and food systems in college next year.

Fremont City Council member Anu Natarajan attended the event and noted that she helped LEAF secure grant funding. "My daughter now wants to have an organic garden in our backyard," she said.

Guests were serenaded by musicians including the Will Matlak Band, East Bay Jazzinators, Bob Raym & Brenda Paddon, and Michael McNevin with Chris Olinger and Mat Hayden.

Marketing Coordinator Kim Pham was pleased with the turnout.

"Even in the rain people still came out," she said. "We're fulfilling a much needed purpose in the community."