First farm-to-table event slated for Oct. 2; it will benefit Cape Riverfront Market

Local growers, vendors, chefs and volunteers are joining forces to create a meal that promotes local agriculture, highlights locally sourced ingredients and benefits the Cape Riverfront Market.

A farm-to-table dinner will be served beginning at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus, overlooking the Mississippi River.

The farm-to-table movement has become increasingly popular nationwide, encouraging consumers to consider where their food comes from and consciously choose to buy direct from the producer at venues such as local farmers markets. This social movement was the catalyst for the event.

"What we're trying to do is get that outdoor feel, using things from the market, and bring all that together in the meal," Marla Mills, executive director of Old Town Cape, said.

The produce in the autumn-inspired meal will be provided by Cape Riverfront Market vendors, and Missouri-raised meats will come from Root + Holler.

Different chefs will each create a different course or dish for the meal using those ingredients.

Appetizers will be prepared by Matt Ruesler, executive chef of Perryville, Missouri-based Mary Jane Burgers & Brew.

Chef Ray Leung of Isle Casino Cape Girardeau will provide a main dish featuring pork.

Chef James Cain of Port Cape Girardeau will offer a kale salad.

Sides will be provided by 36 Restaurant & Bar.

Allen Findley of Socials Cafe & Coffeehouse will offer a dessert featuring locally grown apples, Mills said.

Each chef contributing to the meal will come to the River Campus to plate their creations, Mills said. The event will be staffed by Old Town Cape volunteers.

Carisa Stark, owner of Mary Jane Burgers & Brew, is a newcomer to the Cape Riverfront Market and looks forward to the Old Town Cape dinner.

"We just had our own event here in Perryville," she said. "It was phenomenal, a beautiful night."

Ruesler will serve appetizers featuring locally sourced goat and pork at the event.

"We're really excited to be a part of it," he said.

Mills said her organization had been considering a farm-to-table event for a while, but it wasn't until a team from Leadership Cape came together and laid the groundwork so the dinner could come to fruition. Leadership Cape is an annual program sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce designed to help local professionals build leadership skills and discover what Cape Girardeau has to offer.

The team created a stylized menu of locally sourced produce and meats, incorporating a variety of businesses, knowing it could help Old Town Cape in the future. Several members of the Leadership Cape team joined the steering committee for the official event.

"We really had a great resource in that group," Mills said.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Cape Riverfront Market. The goal, Mills said, is to allow the market to grow and improve year to year. While the proceeds have not been earmarked for anything specific, Mills said new tents and more seating are needed, and this year a need arose for new bathroom facilities on the site.

The Cape Riverfront Market also added a part-time market manager, transitioning the Cape Riverfront Market beyond an all-volunteer staff.

Sustainability, Mills said, is key.

"We've always had great support from the community in all of our efforts. And we feel the market is ... a great resource to the community -- not just as an event, but also to have access to locally produced food and items," she said. "We definitely want to continue that."

Tickets for the farm-to-table dinner are limited but available for $100. Reservations can be made by contacting Old Town Cape at (573) 334-8085 or emailing heatherwinston@oldtowncape.org before Sept. 30.

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