We are already fans of Cobine in Surrey, the global farm to table, modern cafe/restaurant, so were excited to try the cuisine as a literal farm to table dinner, on a farm.
This is Southland’s Long Table Harvest Dinner, hosted by Grange in Delta. A soon to be fully developed community that has the Southland’s market and Four Winds Brewery as neighbours.
The dinner was hosted within their event space, a stunning barn with vaulted ceilings.
As guests trickled in we were given free roam of the space, while enjoying a welcome glass of wine to start. You had your choice of white, red, or rose from Frind Winery in West Kelowna. Wanting more, you then had the option to order additional glasses or wine by the bottle at the bar. This was along with beers and a non-alcoholic option from Four Winds; and highballs.
We started off with a glass of their Chardonnay and Cabernet, Sauvignon, and decided to grab a bottle of the latter to have with our 4 course meal ahead. This we would serve ourselves at our assigned seats. The red was viscous with dark berries. There was enough tannis and tartness to wash the palate clean in between bites. It was also complimentary to the squash in the salad and in the buttery soup below.
There were also show tables set up to display local made shortbread that was baked in this kitchen and sold at their farmer’s market. We would get a taste of this for dessert.
And additional tables for L’aromas Coffee and Bakehouse for those who wanted some tea and/or coffee. This was more popular towards the end of the night, with fresh cups of pour over coffee in medium and/or a dark blend. We would grab a cup of each and enjoy it with the bottle of keepsake honey that each guest was given by their place card. Honey harvested at the farm’s apiary, courtesy of their bees.
L’aromas also provided the bread that was served at the start of our meal. We had the option of white or multigrain with softened butter or to dip into your bowl of hot soup.
As we mingled there were three different canapés being brought around the room, all of which vegan and very vegetable forward. Much like the full dishes to come, the vegetables were the stars, as all the produce came from the land we were on, and this event was created to help support local businesses here. Even the servers this evening were volunteers from the developers of the Southlands.
The Bruschetta Crostini was topped with whipped ricotta, Southlands cherry tomatoes and basil, a balsamic reduction, and Vancouver Island sea salt. I found the bread tough and the need to tug with teeth and jaw. I wanted more of the toppings to combat this mouth-feel. More cheese and balsamic for a brighter bite.
This was a nice way to serve a dip. Cucumber Tomato Hummus Bites with Southlands cucumber, pickled tomato hummus, charred chili powder, and senbei crumble. A very rustic and peppery hummus to contrast the freshness of the juicy cucumber slice.
The Savoury Ants on a Log was nostalgic, and sadly left me craving the way I had it growing up, with sharp cheese whiz instead of the elevated, refined, and light version that this was. Southlands celery, miso cream cheese, rehydrated raisins, and microgreens. I would love to see Chef Ocean do a whole nostalgia menu in his style. Popular from-frozen or quickie hosting dishes given a face lift. Pigs in a blanket, potato chip casserole, meatloaf, we did get a pot pie below.
When time, guests were asked to take their seats across either of the long tables. As we got comfortable we enjoyed live music, with the ability to request songs from the artist’s long listography.
Everyone started with the Tsawwassen Salad. Southlands roasted winter squash, arugula, radicchio, endive, balsamic glaze, and extra virgin olive oil. A simple offering to wash the palate, like washing your hands before you eat. The squash was really the star: sweet and creamy, not roasted, but sweet. The bitter greens was tempered by the acidic balsamic drizzle, tying it all together.
The Rustic Fall Soup had me inspired to recreate this at home with Southlands carrots, ginger, curry spice, balsamic glaze, and crispy shallots. It very much so felt like fall with its mellow curry notes picking up on the spiciness of ginger, and highlighting the sweetness of the carrots in contrast.
For mains we had a choice between the chicken or the vegetarian option pot pie. Between my partner and I we got one of each, and found that they were best together.
The Roasted Chicken Breast with Harvest Vegetables didn’t look like a meat dish, all green with a Rossdown chicken breast wrapped in Southlands cabbage. Served with Brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes, and green beans in a ginseng jus.
The chicken breast was incredibly clean and perfectly tender. Our knife cut into it with ease and its cabbage wrap a complimentary texture. We thought the filling was a pesto given its colour, but it was very muted, falling inline with the other gently seasoned vegetables. This was tasty, but missing something; like a starch that the pie below was able to fill the blanks in for, below.
The Vegan Pot Pie was perfect with its flaky pastry shell housing a gravy drowned collection of Southlands Rainbow carrots, garden peas, shallots, sweet corn, celery, and mashed potato. So much flavour that it was able to lend some out to the above, along with the spoon of umami mushrooms in gravy on the side. Hearty like a stew in a pie bread bowl.
For dessert it was Chef Ocean’s seasonal crème brûlée served with the above mentioned farm made shortbread in a lavender flavour. I got a sweet and buttery pandan kaya from the crème brûlée. It was thick like pudding, with an generous layer of burnt sugar. A satisfying crack, but a little too sweet for me. The shortbread would have been a nice blank bite, but as a lavender crumbly cookie, I didn’t find that one matched the other.
The evening ended with a few draws. Each person got a ballot to be entered to win one of the 12 centre pieces, when they entered and checked-in. My partner was one such winner, claiming his hurricane glass candle sitting in layers of coloured beans and lentils.
And buying our bottle of Frind wine gave us 4 ballots towards a draw for their wine and wine glass gift basket. This we unfortunately did not win.
In short, this was a special occasion and a great way to get a feel of the area through food, drink, and socialization. This was the epitome of farm to table.
Southlands Grange Centre for Farming & Food
6313 Market Ave, Delta, BC V4L
(604) 655-4769
southlandsgrange.ca