If you visited us here during the spring or summer of last year, you may have seen the cows grazing in the fields behind Farm & Table and Sol Harvest. You may have even seen them on the loose, causing mischief on the farm! In May of last year, 11 baby calves were born and raised in the pasture behind the farm. This spring, three of those cows were “harvested” for us at Farm & Table.
By raising, slaughtering, butchering, and preparing these animals all right here on our own grounds, we have been given the privilege of coming closer to our food than ever before, and of understanding and acknowledging its source with even greater intimacy and respect. Over the winter, Cherie wrote a beautiful blog about being present for the slaughter of one of the cows, and the solemnity and gratitude she felt to have witnessed it.
With these cows, we’ve been able to launch a whole animal program at Farm & Table – which means that no part of these animals’ tremendous sacrifice will be wasted. Every part of these cows have been or will be used in our kitchen. Chef Sinclair and his team have made braised tongue and beef sausages, chicken fried steak and green chile beef stew. We’ve made ground beef for our burgers, and pates with the livers, kidneys and hearts. And we’ll keep going until every part of the cow has been utilized. So be sure to ask about what we’re doing with our whole animal program the next time you come in! It is an amazing experience to be a part of.
Also, steak from the whole animal program will also be returning to the menu soon! We have exhausted the cuts of steak from our first two cows, but the third was just sent to be butchered at the beginning of this month. After that, the beef is dry-aged for 25 days – it’s almost ready! Soon, those unbelievably flavorful, grass-fed steaks straight from our backyard will be back on the menu. If you didn’t get a chance to try them the first time around, you NEED to come in before they’re gone again.
We are so blessed to have the opportunity to honor our food source in such a profound way. We hope you will share this wonderful experience of connectedness with us!