A Day at the Farm

Have you ever wandered through a field of tomatoes, picked one warmed by the sun and popped it in your mouth?  We did and it’s an experience we will not soon forget. This week, chefs from Big Bowl, Big Bowl Chinese Express, Twin City Grill, and L. Woods gathered in Chicago and kicked off our annual Summer Chef’s conference. Focusing on local foods, we spent Tuesday afternoon with Lloyd Nichols and his sons, Nick and Todd, touring their 200+ acres of orchards, berries, and vegetable fields in Marengo, Illinois and gathering fruits and vegetables for our Million Dollar Dinner the following day.                   

Unlike the monocultures of corporate farms, Nichols Farm, first planted in 1978 by Lloyd and his wife Doreen, specialize in variety.  The original ten acres, planted with apples, pears and a small vegetable garden, has grown to include endless varieties of tomatoes, potatoes, squash, and beans. This summer the Nichols family harvested 10,000 lbs of garlic and last weekend they picked 9000 lbs of heirloom tomatoes!  Tomatoes and garlic, potatoes and squash, apples and pears, all fresh from the fields, were carefully packed for our chefs as we sat on the porch at the end of the day enjoying drinks and stories with Lloyd and his family.   

Looking ahead, the rest of summer and fall promises plenty of excitement for our chefs and guests.  Inspired by the fresh air, sunshine, and truly fresh, wholesome fruits and vegetables, our chefs expect to include even more delicious locally grown foods on our menus.  We are grateful to the Nichols family for their hard work and generosity in providing us with the finest fruits and vegetables in the Chicago area.