Creating a healthier community takes teamwork and collaboration. What better place to start than bringing restaurants and local farmers together for tasty, fun and educational experiences.

Tadros educates guests during the tour as sunflowers bow to the sunset.

That is precisely what Kathrine Gonzalez of Chula Artisan Eatery and Mark and Nicole Tadros of Aziz Farms are doing.

In November, they introduced a Fall Farm Dinner held outdoors at The Packhouse at Aziz, complete with a tour of their organic fields, live music and a family-style dinner featuring freshly harvested vegetables
and herbs.

Vegetable fritters and stuffed dates served in the greenhouse.

The enchanting evening under the stars was one to remember. We started in the greenhouse with cheese-stuffed dates from Aziz and Gonzalez’s scrumptious corn fritters. A guitarist played as guests gathered before Mark and Nicole shared their vision for the property and educational work with local schoolchildren. They are creating the future we’d all like to see for the Coachella Valley, and their commitment is commendable. Chula Eatery and Gonzalez’s second restaurant, The Blushing Peony, are two of their many local restaurant clients, and they hope to see that number grow.

After a sunset tour and the opportunity to pick and eat fresh heirloom carrots, we took our places at the long communal table. Set in a country motif with fresh-flower bouquets and string lights above, the scene was set for a warm and wonderful feast.

We passed the homemade hummus with farm-fresh cucumbers and savored warm tomatillo vegetable soup. Next came Aziz Farm greens, sweet potato puree, and succulent date-glazed short ribs, all served with exceptional wines. After the churro and vanilla-bean custard, hot toddies were offered as the talented musician continued to play.

The collaborators are planning another farm dinner in March, and all are encouraged to attend. This unique experience is just another reason we love desert life, and the people and places that make it so special.

For more information on upcoming events, visit www.ChulaEatery.com or www.AzizFarms.com. Lauren Del Sarto is founder/publisher of Desert Health and can be reached at Lauren@DesertHealthNews.com.