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Allerton hosting Farm to Mansion dinner

The Allerton Park and Retreat Center is hosting a farm to mansion dinner, and the deadline to get tickets is tomorrow, Wednesday, September 17. 

The dinner is Sunday, September 28 at 5:00 p.m. and will feature a menu by Thad Morrow of bacaro. Here’s the press release:

Allerton’s fall fundraiser to feature local chef, foods

Monticello – Allerton Park & Retreat Center will host a Farm-to-Mansion Dinner Fundraiser on Sunday, September 28, 2014. The event will begin at 5:00 p.m. at Allerton Park, 515 Old Timber Road, Monticello. Tickets are limited and are available for $100. Call 217-333-3287 or visit allerton.illinois.edu.

Guests will enjoy an evening of farm-to-table food and conversation as Chef Thad Morrow, of Champaign’s Bacaro, highlights the flavors of the season with produce grown at the University of Illinois’ Sustainable Student Farm and meat sourced from Triple S Farms in Stewardson, IL. Tasting-portion samples of Chef Morrow’s culinary mastery will be complemented with beer from JT Walker’s Brewery in Mahomet, IL. Wine will also be available.

The event will raise money for continued stewardship and educational efforts in Allerton’s natural areas. “Our inaugural Garden Party fundraiser this Spring was a huge success, and we wanted to shift the focus from the gardens to another well-known and loved aspect of the Park,” said Bridget Frerichs, Allerton’s Director of Development. “We are looking forward to working with these local organizations to not only raise funds for Allerton, but to highlight their businesses and all that they are doing for our community.”

One of the first to get involved with the fundraiser was Stan Schutte of Triple S Farms. “I was excited to learn about the fundraiser for Allerton Park. Allerton is known for teaching 4-H groups, which we were heavily involved in, so it holds a special place in my heart,” Shutte said.  “I’m looking forward to the event.”

Besides being the site for the well-known 4-H Memorial Camp, operated  by the U of I Extension Service, Allerton Park & Retreat Center has hosted an increasing number of public events in the recent future, including summer nature camps and the U of I Credit Union Concert Series.

Tickets for the Farm-to-Mansion Dinner are $100 and must be purchased by September 17. Call 217-333-3287 or visit Allerton’s website to purchase tickets online.

Allerton Park & Retreat Center, located in Monticello, Illinois, is comprised of 1,500 acres of woodland, prairie areas, a Georgian-inspired manor house, a 10-acre meadow, formal sculpture gardens, and interpretive and primitive hiking trails. There is no admission fee to the Park; open daily 8 a.m. to sunset. For more information and to view other events, visit allerton.illinois.edu or call 217-333-3287.

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