Culinary Vegetable Institute

Loved it! We were here for the Mangalista pork dinner on October 2^nd and it was awesome! 8 courses all with an optional wine pairing if you wanted it. You might be wondering why we had pork at a vegetable institute but it turns out the feed the pigs the unusual veggies and then do a pork butchering class in the fall.
Everyone we sat with (dinners are served family style for most courses) recommended the Christmas dinner in early December too. We probably won’t do Christmas but will definitely be back for another event soon!

The gf and I attended the September Earth to Table dinner and are so glad that we did.
This was a special occasion with guest chef Einar Gustavsson from Reykjavik, Iceland preparing a menu featuring his own take on local ingredients. The evening also featured various goat cheeses from Mackenzie Creamerie, which featured prominently in each course.
The dinner was served family style at tables in a large banquet hall while a piano played in the background. Guests are seated around large tables. In that respect the evening almost took on the feel of attending a large wedding, and being seated with a number of strangers. Our table mates were very pleasant and friendly, and everyone in attendance seemed to enjoy the meal very much. One thing to note, the dining room does get very loud due to a high ceiling and lots of reflective surfaces.
The cost of the dinners is usually $ 55-​$ 65 paid in advance, with tax and gratuity included. Wine, beer, soft drinks, and sparkling water are available at the table for varying prices. This experience was well worth the price and the hour long drive from Cleveland to get there.
Farmer Lee Jones, the Owner/​Face of the institute MC’d the occasion, and was a wonderful host, frequently making rounds to see how the guests were enjoying themselves. The CVI and it’s Chef’s Garden farm are truly treasures in our own backyard. Make it a point to visit.