"Farmer in the House"

Hello Fine Dining Friends,

Pat Duncan and chefsPlease join 8 of my favorite chefs and me, as we celebrate spring in Arizona. I started this dining series to spotlight an exclusive group of the valley's most creative and innovative chefs, most of whom have been sourcing locally grown produce since they began their culinary careers. These special evenings allow our talented chef clients to venture outside of their daily menus, and create unique dishes featuring fruits and vegetables from my sustainable Laveen farm. Each restaurant partners with a vineyard, or multiple vineyards, for course by course paired wines or beers.

I hold the series in spring, because some of our more exotic fruits and vegetables come into season. One of our farm's specialties, the "calabacitas con flor", which translates into baby squash with blossoms, is a particular favorite of both the diners and the chefs. We grow a dozen varieties of multicolored summer squash, which we harvest very small, with the living, open blossom still attached. The chefs stuff the edible squash blossoms with a variety of savory ingredients, including shellfish or cheeses.

Pat Duncan and Vincent GuerithaultA few years ago, the chefs and I agreed to align with the Association of Arizona Food Banks, so that our elegant, indulgent celebrations could assist in lessening childhood hunger throughout our state. We're very pleased that the AAFB's CEO, Angie Rodgers will be joining us for a few of our dinners this spring. Please note the letter below from Terri Shoemaker, the Association's Director of Development.

These are the chefs and restaurant/resorts that I invited to participate in our 12th Annual "Farmer in the House" dining series. Menus, vineyard partners and prices will be posted to our website and the individual restaurant's websites, as they become available. Please make your reservations at each restaurant, as most evenings will sell out. I look forward to seeing you on multiple occasions.

Very best wishes for a beautiful Arizona spring,

Pat Duncan

12th Annual "Farmer in the House" Dining Series
Spring 2018 Dining Schedule:

  • Friday, April 6th - Chef/owner Vincent Guerithault and multiple French vineyards: Vincent on Camelback, Phoenix
             (602) 224-0225
  • Wednesday, April 11th - Chef Ron Dimas & Huneeus Vintners: Orange Sky @ Talking Stick Resort, Scottsdale
             (480) 850-8606
  • Thursday, April 19th - Chef/owner Carolyn Ellis and Chateau Montelena Winery, Calistoga, CA: Arcadia Farms Café, Old Town Scottsdale
             (480) 941-5665
  • Wednesday, April 25th - Chef Christopher Nicosia & multiple Italian vineyards: SASSI Ristorante, Pinnacle Peak
             (480) 502-9095
  • Monday, May 7th - Chef Russell LaCasce & Justin Vineyards & Winery, Paso Robles, CA: Café Zuzu @ Hotel Valley Ho, Scottsdale
             (480) 421-7997
  • Wednesday, May 16th - Chef Sean Currid & Clown Shoes Brewery: Blue Hound Kitchen @ Hotel Palomar, Downtown
             (602) 258-0231
  • Sunday, May 20th - Chef Chuck Wiley & "Legion d'Honneur" recipient Kermit Lynch's French wines: Hearth '61 @ Mountain Shadows Resort, Paradise Valley
             (480) 624-5400
  • Thursday, May 24th - Chef Beau MacMillan & Plumpjack Winery: elements @ Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, Paradise Valley
             (480) 607-2325


    • A Letter from AAFB

    AAFB logoThank you for supporting the Farmer in the House series hosted by Pat Duncan at Duncan’s Trading Company.

    Support like this is so crucial to the AAFB mission: “Because healthy people and communities prosper and flourish, we promote public awareness, build coalitions and partnerships, engage in advocacy to influence public policy, and support food banks to achieve a hunger-free Arizona.”

    More than that, this support is essential to the thousands of Arizonans who struggle with hunger in our state – including one out of every four children.

    Our work distributing food to our partner food banks, getting more children access to meals at school and in the summer, helping people who call our hunger hotline and ensuring policies help people in poverty is so critical, and couldn’t happen without the help of people just like you.

    Together, we can achieve our vision of a hunger-free AZ.

    Thanks once again to Pat and all of the wonderful restaurants and chefs that are a part of Farmer in the House this year.

    Terri Shoemaker
    Director of Development & Marketing
    Association of Arizona Food Banks
    2100 N. Central Avenue, Suite 230
    Phoenix, AZ, 85004-1400
    602-528-3434


    Click here to find this year's menu from elements at Sanctuary.