Foodies & Farmers Come Together in Connecticut

Connecticut has been ahead of the curve when it comes to locavorism. Ten years ago, the Connecticut Farmland Trust held its first annual Celebration of Connecticut Farms fundraiser where chefs and food-and-beverage producers serve up food and drink from across the Nutmeg State. This year's massive party was held at John and Joan Morosani's Laurel Ridge Farm in Litchfield and raised funds for the Trust, which has now protected 24 family farms totalling nearly 2,100 acres. The trust is currently working to keep an additional seven farms (420 acres) in agricultural production. Tony and Emmy-winning actress Christine Baranski, one of the event's honorary chairs who raised her children in Bethlehem, spoke movingly to the crowd of nearly 1,000 guests about the importance of sustainability and the joy she's experienced by having neighbors who are working farmers.

Bridget Riordan & Chris Rixon of Charmard Vineyards in Clinton; chef Mark Shadle of It's Only Natural, a vegan restaurant in Middletown, with Maureen Dodd of Charym Spa and Yoga Studio in Litchfield.

The team from Community Table, the three-month-old farm-to-table restaurant in Washington Depot: Lija Nullendorfs, Mariah Dice, and chef Joel Viehland.

Janice Cronk and Ed Herrington; Elizabeth Wheeler, who helped start the Celebration of Connecticut Farms ten years ago, with Carlos Niederhauser.

Dyani Tisdol & Zach Maloney.

Virginia Reynolds and Mary Adams of Edible Nutmeg; Richard Lockhart of Edible Nutmeg with Robert Reynolds.

Musician Jerry Vigorito whose band Bone Dry played the party, with honorary chairs chef Jacques Pépin & actress Christine Baranski, and musician Jim "T-Bone" Stone.