Vermont Fresh Network Dinner Celebrates 25 Years

The Vermont Fresh Network's annual dinner turns 25 -- the tour of Vermont’s finest foods and creative beverages returns to Shelburne Farms on Sunday, August 6th

RICHMOND, Vermont - The Vermont Fresh Network (VFN) invites the public to a delicious tour through Vermont’s finest food and beverages at the 25th Annual Forum Dinner on Sunday, August 6, 2023. 

The Annual Forum Dinner is an opportunity to enjoy a dinner celebrating local food on the shores of Lake Champlain with Vermont Fresh Network's chefs, farmers, and specialty food and beverage makers.

Hosted in the Coach Barn at Shelburne Farms, guests begin the evening with a 5 p.m. cocktail hour in the courtyard filled with local food producers offering food and beverage samples and tastings with live music provided by jazz band The Cordials. The cocktail hour participants represent Vermont’s continued leadership in specialty food and drink, guests can anticipate  award winning Vermont beer and cocktail sips using local distilled spirits, charcuterie, kimchi and pickles all made by VFN members using locally sourced ingredients.

At 6 p.m. the doors to the Coach Barn open for diners to enjoy a menu of small dishes prepared by Vermont Fresh Network chefs from across the state, including:  VFN Board president Cara Tobin of Honey Road in Burlington, Chef Christian Kruse of Black Flannel Brewing & Distilling in Essex, Chef Justin Wright of The Tillerman in Bristol, and Chef Sean Blomgren of  the Lodge at Spruce Peak in Stowe.

The sweet ending of the evening includes an old-fashioned Ice Cream Social on the lawn overlooking the sunset on Lake Champlain with entertainment by Vermont fire performance troupe Cirque de Fuego.

Ticket sales are limited to provide an evening with space for diners to talk with chefs, food producers, and each other as they taste their way through the night. This dinner is a fundraiser for Vermont Fresh Network.  All proceeds from this event provides vital funding for annual programs and resources that allow Vermont Fresh Networks’ work to have a greater impact on the health of the rural economy, and the sustainability of Vermont's restaurants. 

Attendees will be able to vote for the evening’s  “Best Bite” and “Best Sip.” The winners will receive prizes provided by Simon Pearce and Narin Custom Knives. The event’s silent auction offers attendees an opportunity to bid on a variety of Vermont food and beverage themed experiences, from VIP dinner packages in local restaurants to romantic getaways.

Tickets to the 25th Annual Forum Dinner are $150. Vermont Fresh Network partner and supporting members receive 20% off tickets to the event.  In recognition of industry-wide restaurant staffing challenges, $25 of each ticket sold goes directly to the restaurant teams at this event. For tickets and more information, visit www.vermontfresh.net. Diners are asked to pre-purchase their tickets; there are no ticket sales at the door.  Vermont Fresh Network thanks the generous sponsors who make this event possible, including our Gold level sponsors: Community National Bank, Farrell Distributing, Foley Services, Shelburne Farms, Vermont Farm to Plate, and Vermont First.  A complete sponsor list is found at http://vermontfresh.net/programs/annual-forum/. 

The following is a list of participants for 2023:

Vermont Fresh Network

The Vermont Fresh Network (VFN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, building a strong local food system through the connections between farmers, chefs, and consumers who value their contribution to healthy communities, environment, and local economies. Since 1996, we have worked to ensure that the farmer-chef connection is a strong part of agricultural development and that consumers can support this work by where they choose to dine. For more information on Vermont Fresh Network, visit www.vermontfresh.net. Follow Vermont Fresh Network on Facebook and Instagram.