victory 44

Every now and then an event comes along that sets new standards -- for charity, for food, for collaboration. This Sunday at Solera in downtown Minneapolis has all of the makings for exactly that. Coming together for one special night to benefit Second Harvest Heartland are 16 chefs and 6 farms. Check out the press release below for the who, what, where and when!

Farm in the Cities 2011 is a fundraising event for Second Harvest Heartland to spotlight local farmers’ foods and the restaurants that serve them.  This event is presented by Six Rivers Cooperative and the participating restaurants on Sunday, October 30th at Solera Cocina de Espana in Minneapolis.

A lot of people have told Chef Erick Harcey what he can't do. He was about to open a restaurant in Northeast Minneapolis when the financing fell through. He found a place in North Minneapolis instead. The day he opened Victory 44, someone asked if he had sweet potato fries on the menu. When he said no, they said he'd never make it. In 2010, he reorganized away traditional servers and said the chefs would serve the food. Both the press and diners said it would never work. Harcey acknowledges the chalkboard menu on the wall and the tag team service, especially when the restaurant is busy, can make for an uneven experience. Yet fans and regulars praise the ambitious, changing menu, with healthful portions of high quality food at reasonable prices.