Perennial grains are having a moment, and we couldn’t be more delighted. Recently Restaurant Olivia, along with the Land Institute, showcased locally grown kernza, perennial wheat, sorghum, and Baki Bean in a special dinner. For those who missed the one-night-only celebration, you have another chance to see what perennial grains are all about at GriTogether: A Micro-Food Festival and cooking competition on November 16 in Lyons.
The event is hosted by Mad Agriculture (MAD), an organization that helps farmers transition to regenerative agricultural models. Perennial grains like kernza, nitrogen fixing crops like chickpeas and lentils, ancient grains like millet, emmer, and farro are critically important for farm systems, said Elizabeth Candelario, chief strategizing officer for MAD. According to Candelario, there’s a big need to introduce the grains to people and teach cooks how to use them.
The celebrity chef competitor is Cody Candelario, a Food Network Star and champion of Cutthroat Kitchen, Chopped, and a finalist on Hell’s Kitchen. He is joined by local chefs including DeAndre Smith of Rueben Brown’s Kitchen catering, Stefy Devita of Bar Dough, and chef-turned-farmer Josh Olson.
Also on the docket are judges including Gruff Grains founder Crystal Manuel, New Hope Network‘s Carlotta Mast, MAD’s board chair Robbie Vitrano, and author Sophie Egan who wrote Devoured and How to Be a Conscious Eater: Making Food Choices That Are Good for You, Others, and the Planet.
The crux of the competition is Crystal and Jody Manuel’s farro-based product, Gruff Ancient Grain Grits. The grain Gruff uses is grown on a 106-year-old family farm in Montana. Each chef will create a dish made from the farro. GriTogether also gives the crowd a taste of the kernza grain through beer, and cocktails using Dry Land Distillers, which we just showcased for the distillery’s own use of perennial rye.
Join the grand grain experience on November 16 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $90, and you can get $15 off with the discount code MAD. The event takes place at Lyons Farmette, 4121 Ute Highway, Lyons. Purchase tickets here.
