**You can read more about my advertising & sponsorship policies here. I was gifted a complimentary ticket to this special event.
I grew up just a few miles down the road from Meckley’s Flavor Fruit Farm, & it was always our destination for our fall apple cider, donuts, and pumpkins. The parking lot was always packed full on the weekends so we would stop in fast trips during the week for our treats!
Steve & Adrienne are the second-generation Meckley family owners, & Meckley’s now has expanded to having their own wines & brews, food truck rallies, craft & vendor shows, a wistful sunflower field with 64 different varieties of sunflowers, & a cutie ‘lil shed that changes seasonal decor so families can have some nice family pictures taken. & of course, families are still having tasty bakery treats while enjoying all of the family fun traditional fall outdoor weekend activities.
This week, I attended the very first of their newest traditional event, the Orchard Dinner. We all gathered around elegant tables among the apple trees to be serenaded by gentle country songs from Genevive Rose Music.
As plates were lining up to be served, I could tell that we were really going to enjoy a true farm-to-fork delicious 4-course journey. 2 other nearby small family businesses, The Deck Down Under & Lane View Farms collaborated together to create the perfect current growing & harvest seasonal summer menu.
Our 1st course was 2 delicious bruschettas, spread with goat cheese, Meckley’s own honey, herbs, & fresh summer peaches, strawberries, & blackberries.
For course #2, I was very shocked in the best way. This was no ordinary dinner salad. All of my tablemates agreed that our grilled romaine lettuce had a wonderful & unique smokey flavor that was enhanced with the sprinkled lemon, feta, tomatoes, roasted red peppers, & bacon.
Lane View Farm provided delicious & fresh striploin steaks, perfectly seared by Chef Megan. I even liked the mushroom sauce (not a normal liking for me!) along with tender potatoes, broccoli rabe, & carrot puree.
We topped off with an apple streusel, of course! Being a Halloween baby, apples definitely are 1 of my comfort desserts!
Each course was thoughtfully paired with a Meckley’s wine. By the way, all of the wines are themed with dogs. How cute is that! All 4 were delicious to me, even for me who normally doesn’t choose much red in my usual tastings.
We had a Sparkling Reisling 1st, which of the 4 is more of the type of wine that I myself would naturally gravitate to. Our 2nd wine was a Chardonnay Reserve, which I traditionally drink when I am with certain friends (it’s just a fun tradition of my own!). Our red wine for steak was Merlot Reserve & was a great compliment. Steaks are mostly the only time I drink reds. Our 4th wine was my favorite though, the Northern Highbush. It is very sweet & perfect for pairing with dessert. This wine is unique because it is made from blueberries instead of grapes.
After dinner, we were able to enjoy a sunset tractor ride, purchase our favorite wines in the shop, snack on macron cookies, & take our wine glasses home. Y’all, I love keeping my wine glasses from my tasting adventures; what a treat! Meckley’s is truly a destination worth the road trip to the Irish Hills area.
I believe these dinners are the perfect way to celebrate special summer events, have a romantic date, or just relax in the hustle & bustle of life. Tickets are on sale now for the next orchard dinner on July 9th, & Meckley’s will host a sunflower field dinner in August.