It was a night to remember at Jaya Yoga studio in Clarks Summit last Friday. The Anthill Farm Kitchen worked it’s magic with fresh Anthill Farm vegetables and other local products to create a tantalizing five course meal for the guests of Body Bliss and Harvest Gifts, the candlelight yoga class and harvest dinner evening event. Before the yoga class, we started the evening with 3 imaginative herbal tea blends with herbs from the farm, a Calming Blend, Women’s Tea and Immunity Tea. As our relaxed guests trickled out of their candlelit class taught by co-studio owner Hilary they were greeted with roasted root vegetable canapes and wine from Nimble Hill Winery. They then settled into family-style tables set with tablecloths we hand-dyed early last week with plants from around the farm, hand-sewn napkins and living moss and amethyst centerpieces.

We served a warm winter squash and apple soup followed by an unbelievably fresh and tender baby greens salad with watermelon radish, tri-color potato gnocchi with a sausage ragu (with sausage from Mike Hardler’s farm in Honesdale) or a roasted garlic tomato cream sauce and a pumpkin custard with lavender ginger shortbread cookies and whipped cream to top it off, oh my! Lauren milked the cows and separated the cream herself for the event at the Hardler farm and the flour used in the entree and dessert was sourced from the Finger Lakes in upstate New York. Most everything else was straight off the farm!
We hope this is only the first of many Farm-to-table cooking and Yoga events a Jaya–there is talk of a “Chocolates and Chakras” event this winter…hmm, sounds decadent, I’m not sure how the farm veggies play into that one but we will make it happen!

We were honored to introduce a taste of the farm to so many wonderful new people and to show off everyone’s hard work all season. It is incredibly rewarding to be able to cook such decadent meals sustainably and responsibly and to facilitate a community meal experience that brings together local food and local people sharing a great night together. Bon Appétit!

Special thanks to Larry for these wonderful photographs and to Alex for taking a nap with Ceceilia in the car!

In Gratitude,
Monique and Lauren