Dinner in the Garden, Gateway Farm, Clearwater, Florida
by Louis S. Luzzo, Sr.
There are moments when it truly dawns on me how lucky Elaine and I are to do what we do. A few months back, we brought you a terrific feature about Gateway Organic Farm in Clearwater, Florida. They had indicated at that time that they were interested in hosting dinners out in the garden. Well folks last night (3/29/09), they held their first official "Dinner in the Garden" and it was a smashing success.
What a spectacular setting for a five star wine dinner. On tap for the evening was an intimate line up of some of the area's stellar chefs, who wowed us with fresh, hours before picked produce and sustainable organic ingredients, delivering a meal 
that was an experience to remember.
With a backdrop of rows of fresh greens and herbs, Pamela and Hank produced what was a unique and remarkable evening. It wasn't just the jazz trio sending out smooth cool vibes across the field.......or the perfect weather the evening
produced. It wasn't the sunset, bathing the greenhouse and guests with warm Florida sunshine.... or the guests dressed for an evening in the field, mingling, picking and tasting fresh herbs. It wasn't even the spectacular meal, served in fine style by bowtied waitstaff.
Nor was it the seeing of friends and sharing a glass of bubbly. Now, I'll grant you, the Prosecco may have helped, but I realized as I stood in the midst of the garden, wine glass in hand, having stopped to take in the scene before me, that it was all those things combined together at this one place and time that had created what 
was almost a perfect dining experience. One of those unforgettable culinary moments that we foodies live for.
My gift on this evening, aside from spending quality time with good friends in such a wonderful setting, was that somehow fate had allowed me to glimpse the uniqueness of the moment and see it while I was in it. You know what I mean, one of those moments in time that we usually say to ourselves, looking back, "I wish I was aware at the time how special 
that moment was."
These two folks, Pamela and Hank, are doing wonderful things. The money raised by these outstanding dinners will go to help the farm set up educational programs and facilities, designed to make kids and parents aware of the benefits of eating healthy, through organics, sustainables and farm-to-table initiatives. To find out more about how you can get involved, go to the farm's website at www.gatewayorganicfarm.com.
Third Course 
Chef's 
