Nashville Farmers' Market Farmhand Dinner
Chef Kahlil Arnold walked into the back of the farmers’ market with a dainty bucket of turnip greens to the laughter of the other chefs. “I got the greens, you think this will be enough,” joked Kahlil, owner of the landmark diner, Arnolds Country Kitchen.
It was September 26th, and things were buzzing at the Nashville Farmers’ Market as the chefs were getting ready for the sixth annual Farmhand Dinner. Rebekah Turshen, pastry chef at City House and Mop/Broom Mess Hall was helping Tony Galzin of Nicky’s Coal Fired plate the Tomato-Cucumber Salad. Pastry Chef at Marsh House, Lisa White, put cornbread and rolls on plates. Chef and owner of Grilled Cheeserie, Crystal De-Luna Bogan, chatted to everyone as she got ready to plate her macaroni and cheese. Hal Holden-bache and partner Cara Graham of Lockeland Table assembled Korean Street Nachos. It’s not often you see this many chefs helping each other, each taking a back seat to the other. But there’s something more important than egos or awards at this dinner—the farmers who grow their food.
In the fall of 2013, at the suggestion of Troy Smiley, fifth generation farmer, the Nashville Farmers’ Market (NFM) hosted the first Farmhand Dinner. According to NFM director, Tasha Kennard, the goal of the dinner was to celebrate the hard work and dedication of the farmers and artisans at the market, raise funds for the NFM, and increase awareness of our local food system.
The menu is designed each year to reflect a typical meal served to farmhands after a long day in the field harvesting vegetables, moving cattle, or cutting tobacco. The meal is served family-style at long tables inside the Market House with elected officials, sponsors, farmers, and merchants all seated next to one another.
According to Tasha, the dinner brings great benefit to the farmers, chefs, community, and the Market as it celebrates and encourages stronger connections in our community. It never fails – every year we introduce a farmer to a chef or vice versa and those introductions forge long term relationships. The Nashville Farmers’ Market is a busy place—with everyone in a constant state of hustle and bustle—so it’s nice to slow down, sit across the table, and share a meal together.
And about those greens...Kahlil had them in a large cooler filled to the brim—enough for the crowd of hungry farmers. Greens provided by farmer Troy Smiley of course.
