The launch of Heirloom Fire was a dinner in partnership with Magdalena Events and Design, set in the middle of a farm, in the heat of the summer. To this day that is one of my favorite events we have done. Granted, there were many elements of that night that we could never replicate even if we tried, and mother nature seemed to be pulling for us. The dinner took place in the fields of Taft Farms, located in The Berkshires. The menu consisted of dishes crafted from what was available from the farm and also showcased mutton from Lila Berle, a well known lamb farmer in the area. Later in the evening, a nearby ski resort was having a summer festival which concluded with a fireworks show, that we watched from the quiet of our tables. Also, this evening had blessed us with a Super Moon. These are all obvious elements that we could never recreate, and was like capturing lighting in a bottle. All of our guests from that night, four years ago, will stop us in the street to recall what a memorable evening that was.
Needless to say, this was an invigorating experience. We decided that we wanted to hold one public event a year. We wanted to give those not on the wedding guest list, the opportunity to experience an Heirloom Fire event. The following year we held two dinners, one at Mill River Farm and the other a collaborative wine dinner at Crested Hen Farm with award winning sommelier, Victoria James.
Sadly, we were forced to take a year off due to remarkable growth in each of our companies. We decided that 2018 is finally the year we get back at it and at a level we have not done before. Both Magdalena and I knew we wanted to bring the dinner back and while on a site visit for a new venue, our imaginations were captured. We visited the future site of Gather Greene in Coxsackie, NY. Gather Greene will open later this year and is a reimagined outdoor destination where guests will be encouraged to escape their daily attachment to technology. A rooted relationship with our world is such an important element and I am excited to see a place like this so focused on fostering that exchange. Gather Greene is a new event space in the Hudson Valley, two hours north of New York City and sited on over one hundred acres of rolling hills and woods in Greene County.
In the middle of our tour with the owners, Amna and Jackie,I looked at Magdalena and it was clear we both had the same idea. she nodded in unspoken agreement. We then asked the ladies if they would be open to the idea of a dinner that would both show off the beauty of this land, as well as our of events and the answer was: yes. The drive back to the Berkshires was filled with conversation, and big ideas that left both Magdalena and I tired and inspired.
As with any of the weddings and dinners that we are a part of, the event is planned around the terrain of the location, as well as that moment in time. We began to imagine a post-fox hunt supper; the English countryside with a healthy dose of rugged wilderness. This will be an immersive and experiential dinner inspired by the wild aspects that are abound at Gather Greene.
I am not going to give TOO much away but I will say this: I have not been this excited for an event that we have put on in a while, if ever. Is there a level of fear? Of course. This is the most ambitious event we have ever done. That being said, I am so grateful for the team I have put together, and I would never build something like this if I felt like we couldn’t execute it with precision and grace. However, we are entering into territory unknown.
The evening will start with a cocktail hour, but not in the traditional sense. You will arrive at Gather Greene and receive a map that will guide you through various stops that will nourish and hydrate you, leading you to your place at the dinner table. The meal will be four courses and focused on the foods of the moment. I cannot disclose more than that, but I can tell you the meal will be interactive, surprising and satisfy eaters of all appetites.
To complete your retreat into the wild, you have the option to spend the night in your own cabins, full bellied and to the sounds of the deep woods. The following morning you can slowly awaken from your slumber to the sounds of the birds and slowly contemplate your trip home, that is, if you decide to leave at all…
Start the adventure here.
Secure your Cabin here.