Geraldson’s Community Farm, 1401 99th Street NW, 941-792-0985

Geraldson Community Farm is woven into the fabric of the Sarasota food community as intricately as the pattern of a handmade quilt. Since I began writing about restaurants and chefs in Sarasota over five years ago, I have heard the name ‘Geraldson’ in almost every interview and from the mouths of every fantastic local chef from Steve Phelps of Indigenous to Evan Gastman of The Cottage. On Sunday, Geraldson hosted a gathering called the Dinner Bell Supper Club. The barn was transformed into a country kitchen party with tables decorated with mason jars full of fresh flowers and charmingly mismatched cutlery. This monthly event aims to highlight local produce, dairy, fruits and meats with suppers cooked by the effervescent farm manager, Christa Leonard, and various guest chefs. This particular Sunday, we were treated to a vegetarian meal where Leonard and guest chef Patrick Loughery (executive sous chef of Tommy Bahama's) presented us with bountiful platters of charred eggplant and tahini studded with cucumbers and pomegranates and Sungold tomato and Little Pond Farm sweet potato tatins. We filled bowls and teacups with spiced winter squash soup and indulged in heavenly biscuits called bouikos made of spring onions and feta cheese. Baked duck eggs nestled on a bed of collard greens and kale elicited murmurs of admiration. Tickets for this dinner are inexpensive but those on a budget can trade volunteer work such as clean up or cooking in exchange for a seat at the table.

Geraldson’s Community Farm, 1401 99th Street NW, 941-792-0985