By Sarah Fertsch
Candlelight flickers across the barn, and golden light illuminates the rustic space. Your feet settle over the hay-covered floor as you take your seat at the family-style long table. It smells like amber and fresh herbs.
You’re here to taste the freshest farm-to-table dinner in South Jersey, and it won’t disappoint.
Beach Plum Farm, a Cape Resorts property, offers back-to-nature experiences on the working farm. Adorned with quaint cottages and garden beds, the farm welcomes guests to connect to fresh food and homestead service.
The farm hosts farm-to-table dinners throughout the year and Shore Local News attended the Autumn Harvest Dinner as part of a series that takes place between September and November annually.
Hosts served apple cider sangrias and appetizers, while guests perused the farm. Dahlias blossomed across from the pear tree, nestled beside the market. Chickens pecked seeds near their roost under shady trees, leaves vibrant in orange and red.
At 6 p.m., guests settled into their seats and were served sourdough loaves with elderberry butter. The bread was soft in the middle with a delicate crust, and the butter’s smooth richness was cut by the tart berries. The elderberries gave the butter a beautiful periwinkle color.
The event was BYOB, so waiters poured chilled bottles of wine into glasses for guests. Folk music played in the background as dusk settled over the farm.
As the diners mingled, they tasted the first course: Pear and Radicchio Salad, with turnips, radish, and honey vinaigrette. The watermelon radish was sliced so finely that it looked like flower petals. The dressing was subtle and the radicchio was earthy and bitter, which paired nicely with the sweet pear.
The second course featured charred broccoli over celeriac paste with black garlic vinaigrette and crispy shallots. The celeriac paste reminded diners of mashed potatoes with its smooth, creamy texture and mild flavor. The broccoli with shallots and vinaigrette was savory and hearty, with an almost steak-like mouthfeel. The perfect bite, which included every element of the dish, was balanced and perfectly-seasoned.
Rainbow carrots were the star of the third course, featured both as puree and roasted whole. It was served on a bed of farro and topped with homemade scallion ranch dressing. The color of the carrots popped. The squash-like flavors whet the palate for the entree.
A short break was included between the third course and main course, and guests chatted with their tablemates.
The writer of this article was seated beside Darlene, a long-time lover of Beach Plum Farm.
“I’ve loved the foraging experience and the farm-to-table dinner at the gazebo in the forest,” she said. “I’m a Beach Plum addict. The food is always fantastic and the staff are really personable.”
When the entree was served, guests gasped. Beautiful chops of Heritage Pork were presented with a cabbage and bacon side. The skin of the pork was crispy and the meat was flavorful and tender. When the mustard au jus was poured over the meat, the taste was heavenly. The combination of components was an ode to Pennsylvania Dutch/German flavors, and it all felt very local.
And yet, the dessert was the grand finale. A creme brulee was baked into miniature butternut squash and topped with creme fresh and a pepita crumble. It tasted like pumpkin pie. The creme brulee was perfectly caramelized on top and custardy in the middle.
Our chef shared that it takes nine hours to make these special treats and that the farm has considered swapping out this dish because of its labor-intensive nature. When the diners raved about the offering, the staff said, “If it’s worth it, it’s worth it!”
Every group, from coworkers enjoying a company retreat, to couples traveling hours to attend this special meal, smiled between bites. A young couple celebrated an engagement proposal at the table, and their tablemates applauded. Laughter echoed across the barn.
After a practically perfect farm-to-table experience, guests (including this writer) were already planning their next meal at the farm. Beach Plum Farm hosts Thanksgiving dinners, holiday dinners and New Year’s Eve dinners.
For more information on dinners and offerings, check out Beach Plum Farm online at https://beachplumfarmcapemay.com/.
Beach Plum Farm is located at 140 Stevens St, West Cape May.
