FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Dana Vollmer, Development Director
PHONE: 217-840-2128
EMAIL: [email protected]
(Champaign, IL) The Land Connection Board and Staff are thrilled to announce that the 6th annual Artisan Cup & Fork chef competition will take place Saturday, Sept. 11 at Bluestem Hall (1401 E Old Church Rd., Urbana, IL 61802). Tickets are on sale now!
The Artisan Cup & Fork isn’t your typical fundraising gala — it’s a joyful celebration of local food and the people who produce it! Champaign-Urbana chefs will team up with central Illinois dairy, meat, vegetable, and grain farmers to produce the most delicious, locally-sourced meal they can concoct. Guests will get to try dishes from each of the chefs and, along with a panel of judges, will crown a winning chef-farmer team! This year’s participating chefs include:
- Leah Bodine of Blue Dragonfly Catering
- Mubanga Chanda of Stango Cuisine
- Curtis McGhee of C&C Kitchen
- More to be announced!
Attendees will also enjoy beverages from local craft brewers and indulge in desserts from a local baker. On top of delicious food and libations, guests will get to meet-and-greet with producers to better understand where their food comes from and why it matters.
Tickets cost $75 per person to attend in-person. The Land Connection recognizes that such gatherings might not feel safe for all of our community members. That’s why we’re also offering curbside tickets for $65 (excluding beverages), so attendees for participate from the comfort of their home. The Land Connection is also offering VIP tickets ($125), which include a pre-event social featuring a honey tasting with Two Million Blooms, as well as a specialty honey cocktail and appetizers from Hendrick House. VIPs will also get to take home a “Local Makers Bag” full of goodies from local artisans and small business owners.
Tickets are available online at https://www.thelandconnection.org/event/artisan-cup-fork/. You’ll also find more information on participating farmers, brewers, judges, and more!
The Land Connection is watching and listening to all that is happening with COVID-19. While we couldn’t be more excited to reunite our local food community after 18 months apart, we are prepared to shift Artisan Cup & Fork completely curbside, should things continue trending in the wrong direction. The health of our community is our top priority.
About The Land Connection
The Land Connection supports farmers, food businesses, and consumers so that, together, we can build a more resilient food system, from soil to supper plate.
For more than 20 years, The Land Connection has equipped farmers with the training and resources they need to become better stewards of the land and build resilient enterprises. We have fought to ensure our neighbors have year-round access to nutritious local foods through our farmers markets, and offered training to turn those foods into a nourishing meal.
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