Our 5th annual Feast was held on August 23, 2009.  Conceived by Tamara Murphy of Brasa Restaurant, this event is one of Seattle's premier food events and showcases an astounding variety of local flavors, all prepared using fresh farm ingredients.  Held outdoors in a farmers market setting, guests can sample over 30 gourmet dishes, enjoy excellent local (Salmon Safe certified!) wines and beers, and meet the chefs and farmers behind the food.  The event also features country-fair-style games with fabulous prizes, live music and a dessert auction.  All proceeds from the event support the Good Farmer Fund (emergency relief for local farmers in need) and the NFMA's educational programing.  

Samples from 2006; Setting up in the rain 2008; Serafina's table 2007

This year's Feast was held at the University District Market site under one enormous event tent, complete with chandeliers to light up the farmer and chef tables.  The U-District market is the oldest and largest 'farmer-only' market in Washington state, celebrating 15 years of operation in 2008.  This market is 'home' to thousands of shoppers each year, including many of Seattle's best-known chefs and foodies. 

Farmers participating in the 2009 Incredible Feast:

Alden Farms, Alm Hill Gardens, Appel Farms, Billy's Organic Farm, Bluebird Grain Farms, Dog Mountain Farm, Foraged and Found Edibles, Full Circle, Growing Things, Hayton Farms, Jerzy Boyz, Kittitas Valley Greenhouse, Langley Fine Gardens Nursery and Farm, Lee Lor Garden, Let Us Farm, Local Roots Farm, Loki Fish Co., Nash's Organic Produce, Nature's Last Stand, Olsen Farms, Pipitone Farms, Port Madison Farm, Rama Farm, Rents Due Ranch, River Farm, River Valley Cheese, Rockridge Orchards, Schuh Farms, Skagit River Ranch, Stokesberry Sustainable Farm, Taylor Shellfish Farms, Tiny's Organic, Toboton Creek Farm, Tonnemaker Family Orchard, Two If By Seafoods, Whistling Train, Willie Greens Organic Farm

Chefs at the 2009 Incredible Feast include:

Angie Roberts, Boka - Johnathon Sundstrom, Lark and Licorous - Holly Smith, Café Juanita - Seth Caswell, Emmer and Rye - Julie Andres, La Medusa - Carlos Caula, Carmelita - Cameon Orel, Fall City Road House - Taichi Kitamura, Chiso and Kappo - Sabrina Tinsley, La Spiga - Amy Mcay, Eva - Dana Cree, Poppy - Christine Keff, Flying Fish - Craig Herington, TASTE - Renee Erickson, Boat Street Café - Zephyr Paquette, Elliot Bay Café - Maria Hines, Tilth - Dustin Ronspies, Art of the Table - Gabriel Claycamp, Swinery - David Lazo, Brasa - Don Curtiss, Volterra - Philip Mihalski, Nell's - Rachel Yang, Joule - Ethan Stowell, Union - Joshua Henderson, Skillet - Autumn Martin, Theo Chocolate - Chester Gerl, Matt's in the Market - Dylan Giordan, Serafina - Daisley Gordon, Campagne - Anthony Polizi, Steelhead Diner - Craig Serbousek & Jesse Thomas, Crow and Betty - Matthew Mina, Sorrento Hotel - Scott Emerick.

This fundraiser was conceived by Chef Tamara Murphy of Brasa Restaurant and is organized by Chef Tamara and the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance.  Tamara’s inspiration for this event comes from her personal experience of cooking with local farm and sea products.  She says: “Good dishes can only come from good food…Chefs get all the glory for their creations, but it is vitally important to acknowledge the local farmers who are the backbone of these culinary successes.  Citywide farmers markets have made us rethink what tastes good and the value of local, seasonal, sustainably-grown food."

With farmland continuing to disappear across the nation (due to development and urban sprawl), it is more vital than ever to support and protect our local farmers, farmland, and the markets where small family farms earn the full dollar value of their products.  Our health, our environment, our local economies cannot thrive without healthy, sustainable systems of food and agriculture.

A very special THANK YOU to our wonderful 2009 sponsors: PCC Natural Markets, Salmon Safe, Puget Sound Fresh & Cascade Harvest Coalition, Town & Country Markets (Ballard and Greenwood Markets), Rosella's, Cedar River Group,  Comcast, Pierce/King County Farm Bureau, Organic Valley, Smith & Greene, Cleanscapes, University Heights Center for the Community, Mrs. Cook's.

of Pierce/King County

Look for the Salmon Safe logo at many of our market stalls!  Farmers and vintners are opting to be safe for salmon by practicing clean, sustainable land stewardship practices.