Farmers Harvest Feast Contest

Announcing the "Thank-Your-Farmers Harvest Feast" Contest for the best and most direct-from-the-farmers-market Thanksgiving Dinner of 2009!

Sponsored by the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance, which operates seven farmers markets in Seattle, including the year-round University District (Saturdays) and West Seattle (Sundays) farmers markets, and the Broadway Sunday market which is open through Dec. 20. (For hours and locations of the markets, please visit www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org.)

Grand Prize: a meal cooked in your home by award-winning Chef Tamara Murphy of Brasa Restaurant for you and up to 5 guests!!*

Second place prize: $100 shopping spree at any of our seven Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets*, plus two bottles of wine from market farmers, and a Farmers Market apron. Third place prize: $75 Farmers Market gift certificate, one bottle of wine and a Farmers Market apron.

The Grand Prize will be awarded to the host/cook who makes the most farmers-market-sourced, delicious, unique and beautifully presented Thanksgiving dinner for 2009. As much as possible, everything from the wine to the centerpiece should be sourced directly from local farms at the Broadway, U-District or West Seattle Farmers Markets.

This contest is sponsored by the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance to draw attention to the importance of eating local for the holidays, and also to generate additional support to the hard-working farmers at these three neighborhood farmers markets which are open in fall and winter.

This is a fabulous opportunity for you (and your cohorts) to get creative in the kitchen and support local farmers in the process—and hopefully inspire others to also think about what it means to "eat local." This is also a great opportunity for you to help your friends, family and neighbors to remember your local farmers markets throughout the holidays and the chilly months ahead. Without your support, these markets would not exist, and local, diverse farms would not be able to continue providing us with their unparalleled variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs and other farm products. Our seven markets support over 100 family farms, and are an essential component in the sustainability of our local agriculture.

How to enter:

1. Host a Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 26, 2009, of any size, featuring ingredients sourced from either one or all of these three Farmers Markets: Broadway, U-District, West Seattle. The dinner can be pot-luck style or cooked all by you, but you (and your group) must be prepared to provide written recipes of all dishes served, and the source of all the ingredients. (This contest is about supporting these three local winter farmers markets, which keep numerous small, diverse local farms in business.) Also, as much as possible, the ingredients that you cannot purchase at the farmers markets should be locally sourced (eg, check out Stone Burr's line of Washington-sourced flour, available at various Seattle grocery stores). Also remember: the original harvest feast held by the Pilgrims featured what was available, including fish, deer and other game. Turkey and pumpkin pie are traditions that were only invented in the late 1800's. SO, celebrate what's local, and be creative!

2. Take pictures of the dishes and the table setting, and also of the preparation in the kitchen (you don't need to detail every step of the process, but enough to give us an idea of what you did). Write down your dinner menu and all recipes, plus where all the ingredients were sourced, including the drinks, wine and any decorations such as bouquets, etc. Write down the name of the farm, and which farmers market the ingredient was purchased at.

3. Your entry will be judged on: the extent to which ingredients were sourced directly from local farmers at these three farmers markets, the quality of the recipes (they need not be elaborate to be good - simple can be exquisite too!), the uniqueness/creativity of the overall menu, and the presentation (again, simple can be just as beautiful as elaborate). Our judges are nationally-known Chef Tamara Murphy of Brasa Restaurant, one of our market farmers, and local food writer Cynthia Nims. It can be dinner for two or for twenty, elaborate or simple.

4. Submit your photos and written menu/recipes to the NFMA by December 4, either via email or snail mail, or by dropping it off at the info table at any of the three farmers markets. Winner will be chosen by December 16, and first, second and third-place entries will be posted on the NFMA website as well as displayed at our winter markets, to inspire others to think creatively and locally for the holidays. Please also give your dinner a 'name' - eg., the Smith Family Feast, or the 34th and Yesler Street Party.

5. This contest is open to home cooks only please, not professional chefs and cooks (i.e., anyone who makes their living via catering or cooking or restaurant).

6. We'd love to know in advance if you are entering the contest so we can better track the number of entries. Please send us an e-mail at nfma@seattlefarmersmarkets.org or call our office at 206 632 5234 and let us know of your intention to join the contest.

*The Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance is a 501 (c) 3 organization that operates seven farmers markets in Seattle: Broadway, Columbia City, Lake, Magnolia, U-District, West Seattle, Phinney. The NFMA is dedicated to supporting local family farmers and preserving our local agriculture. The NFMA is also registered with the WA Secretary of State Charitable Solicitations Program. For more information about our markets, please visit www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org.

*Grand prize must be redeemed after the 2009 holidays. Dates to be mutually agreed upon by Chef and winner. Dinner does not include wine (winner will provide wine or beverages of their choice).