Farmers, friends, feasting and a rain dance at Chicago’s Uncommon Ground

Anda Creative spent the end of last week and weekend visiting our farm and agriculture clients in the northern Illinois cities of Princeton and Chicago. AgriEnergy gave us a tour of their campus nestled in the middle of farm fields desperate for rain. We were happy to bring rain to the town of Princeton on Saturday and brought it along with us to Chicago, just in time for the rooftop happy hour for the Iroquois Valley Farms Midsummer Feast at the Uncommon Ground restaurant. You’re welcome, Illinois, Anda is just happy we could deliver.

Once everyone realized what the wet substance falling from the sky was, they didn’t let it damper (just dampen) the festivities. Everyone huddled under small umbrellas and most didn’t complain too much about getting wet. As soon as the rain stopped, it was our cue to move indoors for the farm feast. The food was donated by Iroquois Valley Farms growers, and the menu was conceived and prepared by Uncommon Ground (menu below). Anda worked closely with Iroquois Valley Farms president, David Miller, to design the invitations, presentation, promotional items and menus.

The country’s first certified organic rooftop farm (M.O.S.A. Oct, 2008).

Iroquois Valley Farms president, David Miller, welcomes guests to the Midsummer Feast.

A full house for the Midsummer Feast.

Iroquois Valley Farms Midsummer Farm Feast

Appetizers on the Roof Garden
Holy Moses Wheat Ale

Sustainably Brewed by Great Lakes Brewery
Donated locally by Louis Glunz Beers, Chicago

Fromage de Chevre with Mushroom Tapanade
Down to Earth Farms, Indiana and Wind n Oak Farms, Will County, IL

Pastured Beef Tartare
From the organic fields of Waseda Farms, Door County, WI

First Course
Three Sisters “Trois Soeurs” Salad
Corn, summer squash, pole beans, plus organic tomatoes
From Down to Earth Farms, Indiana

Second Course
Grass Fed Prairie Meats Stew with vegetables and corn bread
Beef supplied by Black Earth Meats, WI
Pork supplied by Faith’s Farm, Bonfield, IL

Dessert
Summer Berry Cobbler
Organic wheat berries from Janie’s Farm, Iroquois County, IL