Totally Local VC’s
Farm-to-Fork Dinner Series
The innovative dinner series promoting Ventura County’s world-class agriculture and cuisine
Farm-to-Fork at
its very best
Our Farm-to-Fork Dinner Series returns
Southern California foodies typically have a lot to look forward to as the seasons evolve, especially on the Gold Coast with our powerful agricultural legacy. The anticipation rises a notch higher as Totally Local VC, Ventura County’s breakout advocacy network, announces this year’s Farm-to-Fork Dinner Series.
The Totally Local VC Dinner Series has been getting to the root of great taste since 2006. Our innovative farm-to-fork dining events marry iconic Ventura County locations with some of the area’s top-line chefs, purveyors, wines and brews, preparing seasonal selections harvested from the region’s most celebrated farms.
The Dinner Series is the brainchild of longtime Ventura resident and Totally Local VC founder Kat Merrick, who explains, “The goal is to draw attention not only to our local Agriculture community, but also to our outstanding local chefs and local businesses that have helped to make Ventura County such an amazing place to live. At the same time, we are bringing awareness to and deepening people’s appreciation of historic Ventura County locations.
The series is structured in two to three successive dinner events, all revolving around seasonal, local fare. Every aspect of the evening – from cuisine to libation to music, entertainment and decor – will derive from local auspices and is indicative of and in keeping with the incredible bounty that is Ventura County.
Proceeds from the dinners go toward programs offered by the Totally Local VC Agricultural Education Foundation, a 501(c)3) not-for-profit organization. These programs help students to connect the dots from field-to-fork and field-to-career.
Dinner Series tickets are now available
Get your tickets NOW before they sell out!
Totally Local VC's 2022 Farm-to-Fork Dinner Series Schedule
SOLD OUT!
| Date: | Thursday, October 6, 2022 |
| Time: | 5:30 pm |
| Cost: | $165.00 per person |
| Chef: | Executive Chef Alex Montoya Water’s Edge Restaurant and Bar, Waterside Restaurant and Wine Bar, Taste and Tales Catering, Honey Cup Coffeehouse and Creamery |
| Purveyors: | Lloyd-Butler Ranch, Underwood Farms, Limoeira Co, McGrath Family Farms, Baby Root Farms |
| Beverages: | Wine – Strey Cellars Winery; Beer – Poseidon Brewing Co; Spirits – Ventura Spirits; Coffee – Beacon Coffee |
| Music: | Francisco Leon |
| Rentals: | Ventura Rental Party Center |
Note: The location for the dinner is a private ranch in Ventura County. The address and directions to the location will be revealed to ticketed guests prior to the day of event.
Dinner at the Rancho
Guests will enjoy a dinner served al fresco in a communal, family style in the beautiful gardens of this historic ranch. The location is a virtual treasure trove of beauty with its winding garden paths, unusual species of plants it’s majestic home and agricultural legacy. We know it will make the perfect backdrop to kick off this long-awaited dining experience.
Guests will have an opportunity to talk with local farmers from whose land the food derives. As with the wine and beer, the producers will offer insight and context on the consumables, forging a true link in the diners’ consciousness between the fields to fork.
Proceeds from these dinner events help fund the continuing programs offered to students throughout the county by the Totally Local VC Agricultural Education Foundation.
About Totally Local VC Agricultural Education Foundation
Totally Local VC Agricultural Education Foundation is a collaborative initiative focused on promoting the importance and success of our local agriculture and business community. We are dedicated to educating our youth and community members on the important role that agriculture plays in the success of not only our county, but also the world, and the many links each of has to agriculture. Simply put, we educate from field-to-fork and field-to-career.
Totally Local VC Agricultural Education Foundation is a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Dinner at the Preserve
Guests will enjoy a dinner served al fresco in a communal, family style in an elegant but unusual setting at Ventura Land Trust’s Harmon Canyon Preserve. The location is a virtual treasure trove of beauty with its meandering trails, scenic views, wildlife, and majestic oak groves. We know it will make the perfect backdrop to kick off this long-awaited dining experience.
Guests will have an opportunity to talk with local farmers from whose land the food derives. As with the wine and beer, the producers will offer insight and context on the consumables, forging a true link in the diners’ consciousness between the fields to fork. A percentage of the proceeds from the dinner event will go to Ventura Land Trust to help with their conservation efforts.
About Ventura Land Trust
The mission of Ventura Land Trust (VLT) is to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife, and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations. Founded in 2003, Ventura Land Trust is the largest accredited land trust in Ventura County.
SOLD OUT!
| Date: | Thursday, June 2, 2022 |
| Time: | 5:30 pm |
| Cost: | $155.00 per person |
| Chef: | Chef Gabrielle Moes Seasons Catering |
| Purveyors: | Petty Ranch, Wicked Wire Ranch, McGrath Family Farm, Baby Root Farm, and more |
| Beverages: | Wine – Clos Des Amis Wines; Beer – Rincon Brewery; Spirits – Ventura Spirits; Coffee – Beacon Coffee |
| Music: | Francisco Leon |
| Rentals: | Ventura Rental Party Center |
Volunteers Needed
Be part of our crew
The Dinner Series, Taste of Local, Cheers for Charity, Ag Week and more all need volunteers like you to help us at these events.
If you would like to help, please fill out and submit the Volunteer Registration Form accessed by clicking the button below.
Our Sponsors
Please show some love to the Sponsors that helped make this year’s Farm-to-Fork Dinner Series possible.
Need more info? Have any questions? Let us know. Leave a message on our contact page.
NOTE: These dinners are for persons aged 21 and older.
10 comments
Hello, any chance you will do a plant-based/vegan event at some point?
Love the idea/concept.
Thank you for your comment. That’s a great idea and one we will consider.
Cannot attend on June 2 but please put me on list.
You have been added to our mailing list. We hope to see you at a future event.
So great to see these fabulous dinners are back on!
We are beyond excited that the Dinner Series as well as several other events are once again available to everyone this year. We hope to see you at our events.
Hi
Can you please tell me the venue for these dinners and if they are outside or inside?
How many tickets will you be selling, in other words how many people will be attending?
Is there a menu we can see?
Love this idea and hope we can participate.
The event is at Harmon Canyon Preserve in Ventura. All of our dinner events are outside. Directions and additional information are provided to ticket holders a few days prior to the event.
The number of attendees at our events varies. All of our dinners are limited seating events. Tickets always sell out and are only available prior to the event at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/297186220987
We do not provide the menu in advance as all of our dinners are farm-to-fork. The chef creates the menu using the freshest, just-picked items that are available a few days prior to the event. All servings are presented family style to attendees sitting at one very long table. If you have a dietary restriction, please let us know and we will let you know if it can be accommodated.
The Totally Local VC Dinner Series has been getting to the root of good taste for over 16 years. We hope that you will join us at our table.
I’m a total foodie and love the outdoors!!! Anything like this in Santa Barbara?
No not that we know of.
We truly are a unique field to fork experience.