And so it was-

I spent the majority of my 20’s in the military, not as a chef, and during that time I had a crippling secret. I was bulimic. I was terrified of food, and at one time, terrified of even an organic carrot.

At the age of 30, I had begun eating food successfully. I fell in love with food! My fear was taken away, and I was a kid in a candy shop when it came to eating…. and living. After relearning what food meant for me, I saw for myself that I felt best when I ate '“cleaner vegetables and meats” etc. A good way for me to know what I was eating, was to shop locally. Thus my interest in the concept of farm-to-table began.

And so it is-

On September 29th this past year (2023) I catered my first private supper since leaving a farm I had worked on, as the Executive Chef. I remember how full I felt. So rich in gratitude as I looked up, stepping off of the stoop of that porch, realizing that it was in fact the Harvest Full Moon. I later learned that Mōnan Lēoht meant “moon light”. I found the name fitting, seeing as the supper that evening was in support of the local harvest.

While at that large organic farm in Indian Hill, Ohio, I taught the appreciation for the land in the form of elevated, but rustic cuisine. The richness in the truth of the harvest and the taste, is so fresh. What does a charred radish even taste like? The warmth in a bite of a local piece of seared bread, dipped in a locally sourced artisanal olive oil and cracked salt flakes. So much flavor has been lost due to added flavor. It’s one of the relatively newest examples of natural beauty being diluted. So therefore, the truth in the harvest is lost.

I took such an interest in sourcing from the land that I asked to execute my own slaughter of a large animal, with my sharp knife and a lot of prayer. As hard as it is to think about, trust me I know, I found it important to understand on a deep level, all parts of this craft, not just how to cook the meat supplied to me as the chef. This act was a spiritual one. The animals on that land were beautiful, resilient and impressive to say the least. I truly respected them, and so as a very sensitive human, that incredibly difficult act was a vision I hung on to for the days to come… a true testament that I was, and still am, executing a labor of love I believe deeply in.

Food is no longer just a necessity, but has become the strongest gift I could give, as it embodies everything I have come to appreciate about life today.

So it became essential to me that I spread this love to others by way of charming suppers in support of smaller farms and hidden gems of producers, right here in our own town. Your celebration contributes to the wellbeing of all of those suppliers, not just my own. Thank you.

With deep gratitude,

Katy Turner