The Bolder Life: Dining Under the Stars

Photo by Jenifer Harrington

Summer is officially here, and aside from a little rain, it’s been blue skies and perfect hiking weather in Boulder County for the past few weeks. Farmers’ Markets have once again become the most popular place for weekly grocery shopping trips and the number of cyclists on the road has tripled in past month. Ski racks have been replaced with bike racks and storage racks to hold camping gear and winter-friendly events have been replaced with outdoor festivals and picnics.

It’s finally appropriate to wear half the amount of clothing that you usually do and to leave work at noon only to return three hours later in your hiking boots, sporting a little extra sweat on your brow.

When it boils down to it—summer is really about three things: soaking up as much sunshine in the great outdoors as possible, enjoying the company of good friends, and indulging in enough seasonal food items to propel your active lifestyle.

Aside from slaving away throwing your own event sunshine, friends and good food-filled event—the next best option is to visit the source—and by source, I mean farm. With a handful of farms dotting the Boulder County landscape, it isn’t tough to find a way to enjoy an authentic farm-to-table dinner.

My favorite local farms to enjoy an expertly prepared, fresh bite—are at the quaint Lyons Farmette and at Longmont’s Olin Farm. Both places also serve as a venue for weddings and other private events, so you know the atmosphere at each place is going to be exceptional.

Invite your friends, get outside, breathe in the fresh Colorado summer air and gaze at a sky full of stars as you dine on menu items harvested from the same patch of group it’s prepared and served on.

Pretty cool.

So give your kitchen the night off, call up your friends, and enjoy a relaxing evening supporting your local farms and noshing on a menu based on seasonal local ingredients and grown and prepared with love.

Olin Farms is located at 8627 North 95^th Street. Farm-to-table dinners kick off of June 22^nd and run through August. Guests are welcome to bring their own libations and encouraged to make their reservations online.

The Lyons Farmette is located at 4121 Ute Highway, and offers a slew of farm-to-table dinners through the fall. Check out their upcoming May 24^th pizza dinner and check out their current calendar filled with dinners and classes at their gorgeous Lyons property.