Top farmers to gather in Petaluma for Agrarian Games

Continuing his collaborative dinner series, Thistle Meats owner/butcher Travis Day has invited a pair of Canadian chefs to join him in creating a one-of-a-kind menu, using products from local farmers and ranchers.

The Sunday, Sept. 10 supper features Chefs Christie Peters and Kyle Michael, all the way from Saskatoon, Canada. Travis, Christie and Kyle became friends while Travis was working at Boneta, in Vancouver, where he was honing his skills at butchering and breaking down fish.

Using their chef experiences in Vancouver, San Francisco, Amsterdam and Spain, Christie and Kyle opened their first restaurant, The Hollows, in 2011 in Saskatoon. Focused on natural and seasonal products, the duo balances both traditional and modern cooking techniques.

A few years later, they would add an Italian restaurant to their portfolio when they opened Primal, where they highlight traditional Italian cuisine with pastas made by hand using Saskatchewan heritage grains and whole animal butchery.

Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. with snacks created by the three chefs from Thistle Meats’ cases, before moving to the backyard for a four-course family style sit-down dinner. Surrounded by ivy-covered walls and lit from above with strings of globe lights, Thistle’s backyard is the perfect setting for such an organically created meal.

The fourth in the series, the Sunday Suppers give Travis a way to collaborate with his vast network of chef friends to create unique menu items and dining experiences. The cost is $95 per person for food, with beer, wine and cocktails available for purchase. Seating is extremely limited so call soon if you’d like a spot at the table this Sunday, 772-5442.

Cutting and creating everything by hand, Thistle Meats has the well-earned reputation as Petaluma’s premier whole animal butcher shop and salumeria. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., customers can stay up to date with Thistle’s offerings at www.thistlemeats.com or by following them on Facebook and Instagram.

Agrarian Games

After last year’s successful move to the Petaluma Fairgrounds, the Agrarian Games, formerly known as the Farmer Olympics, returns on Saturday, Sept. 16, from noon to 6 p.m. for more ag-related fun and games, along with an expanded farmers market. Organized by the Farmers Guild, this event celebrates sustainable agriculture, local food and family farms, which are all things that help keep Petaluma the unique and well-grounded community that it is.

With games ranging from wheelbarrow races to watermelon tossing, all ages and experience levels are welcome. Whether you are a city slicker transplanted to Petaluma, or a regular Petaluma-raised Farmini, like my good friend Jennifer (Camozzi) Crayne, who as a child would wake in the wee hours of the morning so she and her brothers could get the milking done before school, everyone is welcome at the Agrarian Games. The Farmers Guild’s main goal is the help educate the general public on just how important it is that we stay connected to the land, and recognize and support farmers’ efforts to put healthy food on our tables.

Other hands-on activities include oyster shucking, tomato tasting, apple pressing, hay bale tossing, butter churning, goat milking, pedal tractor racing, and many more family-friendly attractions. Food trucks will be on hand to satisfy your hunger, as will libations to quench your thirst, and live music to keep your toes tapping.

Tickets are a very affordable $15 for adults ($10 for kids under 13 years old; free for kids under 5) and you can even arrange for a carpool through their website. Visit www.farmersguild.org/aggames2017 for tickets, more details.

Penngrove Luau

The Penngrove Social Fireman will hold their 8th annual Hawaiian Luau at Penngrove Park on Saturday, Sept. 9 starting at 3 p.m., with dinner at 4:30 p.m. Dinner will include Kalua pork, Hawaiian chicken, Asian salad, Hawaiian rice, yams, and dessert. This year’s head chef is Kim “Luana” Hanson, with assistance from Kathryn “Kalea” Wickstrom.

Always a highlight, this year’s raffle is for a six-day, five-night Honua Kai Resort vacation, in Ka’anapali, Maui, including airfare and car rental. Tickets are $10 each, or $50 for 6.

This event helps the non-profit Penngrove Social Firemen maintain and improve Penngrove Park and the Clubhouse. Event tickets are available for $25 ($10 for kids ages 6 to 12) at JavAmour Café in Penngrove or by phone at 794-1516. Special thanks to sponsors Lagunitas and Marilyn Herzog of Marilyn Can Travel. www.penngrovesocialfiremen.org.

Coffee tasting

Petaluma Coffee & Tea will hold a special coffee tasting evening on Friday, Sept. 15, starting at 6:30 p.m., highlighting the coffee farming practices of El Salvador’s Prieto Estate. Guests will receive 20 percent off any El Salvadorian bean purchases. Although this event is free, reservations are strongly recommended and can be made through Facebook or via email at beans@petalumacoffee.com.

Yanni’s sausage

For the second month in a row Chef Christos (Chris Adams-Albrecht), has created a new sausage sandwich special. So excited after last month’s excellent Greek Capri, we were one of the first to try the Yanni’s Po’ Boy. Starting with

Yanni’s Hot Italian Sausage, served on Full Circle’s incredible Sweet Italian Bread, this sandwich is topped with frickles, grilled tomatoes, and a Remoulade Sauce. However, these aren’t any old frickles. These deep-fried pickles are made using a special Lagunitas Beer Batter.

We also got an order of Yanni’s Orzo salad, which is new to the menu and is a rich mixture of orzo pasta, Kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, and feta cheese. Tell them you want to go “all Greek” and for just $2 they’ll add a side of Orzo salad or Greek chili to your sandwich order. It’s definitely worth the extra $2.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and in honor of Jackson Hildreth, who is the cancer-surviving son of The Block – Petaluma’s owner Cody Hildreth, The Block will hold a month-long childhood cancer awareness fundraiser. In conjunction with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, The Block will donate 100 percent of all lemonade and hard lemonade purchases during the month of September to help the cause.

Alex’s was started by Alexandra Scott, with the help of her older brother. Alex was only 5 years old at the time, and even though her health was failing, she wanted to do something about pediatric cancer. To date, the foundation has raised over $140 million, which is used primarily to fund research into new treatments and cures for childhood cancer.

Unfortunately, Alex succumbed to her illness at the age of 8, but her legacy and spirit lives on through brave children like Jackson Hildreth, who will just so happen to be throwing the opening pitch at an Oakland Athletics game this weekend for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Even if you aren’t a fan of lemonade, I encourage you drop an extra $5, $10, or $20 at the bar to help Jackson reach his goal of raising $2,000. Alternatively, if you can’t make it down to The Block this month, you can still donate directly at Jackson’s donation page, www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/1361782.

(Contact Houston Porter at houston@avant-larde.com.)