Feed Your Soul, the producer of the hit series Nickel City Chef, is proud to announce its summer programming.

Foodie-to-Farm 2010 Farm Tours

Our farm tours sell out every summer. We love that what started three summers ago as a way to connect chefs to our local harvest has become an annual series not only well-attended by our region’s top chefs, but also by foodies, health practitioners, nutritionists, culinary students and everyday people interested in seeing another side of Western New York. With our unique and remarkable climate and prime soil ratings, it is no surprise that our 8,500 farms (most of which are small and family owned) are a major contributor to our country’s food supply. In addition to a large dairy, maple and produce industry, we also are home to two wine trails, talented artisan foodmakers and a variety of farmers raising livestock.

Join us this summer for one of our three farm tours, where great meals prepared by chefs, farmer-led field walks, sampling and information about sustainability and our agrarian bounty will be discovered. 

Foodie-to-Farm: Erie County 

(Sponsored by Lexington Co-operative Market) 

Sunday, July 18, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Visit three remarkable Erie County farms using different methods to raise produce, experience farmer-led tours and sampling. We’ll visit Weiss Farms in Eden, Promised Land CSA in Alden, and the Roycroft’s original farm, Arden Farms in East Aurora. A catered lunch will be provided by Chef Bruce Wieszala. Visit www.feedyoursoulbuffalo.com for details and tickets.

Foodie-to-Farm: Urban Agriculture

Sunday, Aug. 22, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Visit four exciting examples of urban agriculture within the Buffalo city limits. Experience farmer-led tours and sampling. We’ll visit Wilson Street farm, Curbside Croft, Cold Spring Urban Farm and MAP, Buffalo’s first urban farm replete with straw bale greenhouse and fully-sustainable aquaponics system. A catered lunch will be provided by Chef Bruce Wieszala. Visit www.feedyoursoulbuffalo.com for details and tickets.

Foodie-to-Farm: Niagara Escarpment

Sunday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Visit three remarkable examples of Niagara’s agricultural bounty. Experience farmer-led tours and sampling. We’ll visit Flavor Farm of Lockport, heritage hog farm, T-Meadow and have a lovely lunch and vineyard walk at Leonard Oakes Estate in Medina. A catered lunch will be provided by Chef Bruce Wieszala. Visit www.feedyoursoulbuffalo.com for details and tickets.

Chef & Market Lunches

Discover the beauty of one of our favorite urban farmers’ markets by joining us for one of the three Chef & Market Lunches offered by Feed Your Soul this summer.

We will start each adventure by meeting at the Elmwood-Bidwell Farmers Market, where we will take a tour led by food writer and FYS’s owner, Christa Glennie Seychew, and one of Buffalo’s best chefs. During the tour we will meet some of the farmers and vendors, talk about their growing methods and seasonal offerings, and sample some of their wares. The chef will be able to answer questions you may have about some of the more unique vegetables and fruits sold at the market, offering tips for both storing and preparing them.

Throughout the tour, the group, with the guidance of our chef, will gather the freshest of what’s in season (and maybe a few extra treats) before we make our way down the street to Delish, Elmwood’s favorite cooking demonstration school and bakery. At Delish, our chef for the day will then lead us through a simple and impromptu lunch preparation using all of our market purchases. Finally, we will sit with cold lemonade and our fresh, farmers’ market meal and enjoy one another’s company.

While similar tours offered elsewhere charge between $50 and $150 for a tour, cooking class and lunch, Feed Your Soul’s Chef & Market Lunches are only $35 per person. This low fee is made possible by our chefs’ dedication to local agriculture and the generous support of Delish!

Saturday, July 24, 10:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Tour the Elmwood-Bidwell Farmers Market with Chef Jim Guarino of Shango Bistro. Meet farmers, ask questions, sample items and take the group’s purchases back to Delish for a hands-on seasonal cooking demonstration and lunch! Visit www.feedyoursoulbuffalo.com for details and tickets.

Saturday, Aug. 14 10:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Tour the Elmwood-Bidwell Farmers Market with Chef Kate Elliott of Juniper. Meet farmers, ask questions, sample items and take the group’s purchases back to Delish for a hands-on seasonal cooking demonstration and lunch! Visit www.feedyoursoulbuffalo.com for details and tickets.

Saturday, Sept. 18, 10:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Tour the Elmwood-Bidwell Market with Chef Steven Gedra of Bistro Europa. Meet farmers, ask questions, sample items and take the group’s purchases back to Delish for a hands-on seasonal cooking demonstration and lunch! Visit www.feedyoursoulbuffalo.com for details and tickets.

About Feed Your Soul

Feed Your Soul is a company dedicated to developing and executing both private and public events focused on the food and agriculture of Western New York. Feed Your Soul was founded on the firm belief that agri-tourism and culinary tourism should not only be a major aspect of living and traveling in WNY, but are a fundamental component to Buffalo’s renaissance.

Feed Your Soul’s events focus on showcasing the bounty that is Western New York’s legacy. Often they are a one-of-a- kind event with limited seating, so making your reservations quickly is important!