ONE PLANT AT A TIME
We're two school and industry educated chefs who are looking to gain a better appreciation of where the food we cook with comes from and who grows it. In order to evolve and learn, we've teamed up with the Lansing family to do twenty person dinners on their farm weekly, using crops from the fields surrounding the farm stand. We hope to better understand what goes into growing the produce we use everyday, by not only cooking with it, but by being a part the process from beginning to end.
THE RESEARCH BEHIND OUR FIELD NOTES
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CHEF JOAN PORAMBO
Joan brings a lifelong love of cooking and years of culinary experience (not to mention heaps of passion and plenty of talent) to Field Notes. Growing up in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, Porambo's first memories in the kitchen started at a young age creating soups from scratch for her family, and baking as many brownies and cakes as they could handle. She graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 2012, and began working at New World Bistro in Albany. As the former Sous Chef at Prohibition Pig in Waterbury, Vermont, what excites you the most about your new venture? I'm not only excited to work with people who are so passionate about growing produce that's the best quality, but also about the opportunity to show case the level those ingredients can be taken to. What was your first cooking job? At FLOW Restaurant in my hometown of Jim Thorpe, where I quickly learned that if I couldn't do a little bit of everything, perfectly, while going 100mph, I wasn't going to last long in the restaurant industry. How would you describe your food? I enjoy playing with flavors with cooking and preservation methods. Each ingredient should be good on its own, but enhanced in a dish. |
CHEF KYLE MACPHERSON
Kyle hails from Laconia, New Hampshire and grew up with a family who embraced the New England culture of food, which influenced MacPherson's cooking style immensely. The experiences of his youth, whether baking bread with his grandmother or fishing lobster off the coast of P.E.I. with his uncle, left an indelible imprint on the sensibility of his style. He graduated from the New England Culinary Institute in 2005, and began working at Spire in Boston. As the former Executive Chef of The Cliff House at Stowe Resort in Vermont, what excites you the most about your new venture? The ability to see, touch, interact and appreciate the produce in real time as it's grown, brings a child-like wonder back which becomes extremely creative. That plays a prominent factor in the way we approach dishes at Field Notes . What was your first cooking job? Dishwasher and prep cook at "Christmas Island Steakhouse" in Laconia How would you describe your food? Flavor forward, seasonal, and hopefully memorable. |
THE LANSING FAMILY FARM
Lansing's Farm Market and Greenhouse is an 8th generation family owned and operated farm. Al Lansing has been farming the family land since 1964 when he was just 14 years old. He was given his seed money by the owner of the Schenectady Agway store, who recognized the passion Al had for farming. Since his modest start as a 14 year old boy, Al has expanded his farm and farm stand operation to include greenhouses in 1980, Farmers Markets in 2006, greenhouse tomatoes in 2008, and a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program in 2010.
Al and his wife Donna, along with their children Sabrina, Jessica, Albert Jr. and Patrick currently run the farm operations. Their mission is to grow the freshest fruit and berries, herbs and vegetables, along with a wide variety of flowering annuals and perennials all while creating a sense of community. The family is dedicated to supporting local agriculture and their community which is evident through their fundraising activities, leadership in farmers markets and farm organizations.
Al and his wife Donna, along with their children Sabrina, Jessica, Albert Jr. and Patrick currently run the farm operations. Their mission is to grow the freshest fruit and berries, herbs and vegetables, along with a wide variety of flowering annuals and perennials all while creating a sense of community. The family is dedicated to supporting local agriculture and their community which is evident through their fundraising activities, leadership in farmers markets and farm organizations.
