The spirit of Hilltop Hanover Farm’s former head farmer, Brett Alcaro, was woven throughout the nonprofit’s farm-to-table dinner and fundraiser on Oct. 5, announced in a previous WAG Weekly.
Alcaro spent five years working at the farm and educational center in Yorktown Heights before his premature passing in 2015 at the young age of 37 following a six-month battle with cancer.
“The memory of Brett is very much alive in this place and in our hearts,” said Lucille Munz, the farm’s executive director.
To honor the memory of Alcaro, proceeds from Hilltop Hanover’s dinner benefitted a farm scholarship fund in his name. Additionally, 25 percent of money raised was allocated to a college fund for his two sons.
The dinner featured a variety of dishes prepared on-site, including mizuna and dry cherry cornbread muffins, spicy enchiladas, butternut squash and mushroom soups and slow-roasted chicken thighs with fingerling potatoes. A standout was a sweet purple carrot slaw with candied shallots.
North Salem-brewed Hardscrabble Cider was on hand to pair with the dishes, along with red ale and sour strawberry wheat craft beers from Tuckahoe’s Broken Bow Brewery.
Silent auction items up for grabs at the event included tickets to see “Hamilton” and a chance to take a Tesla for a spin for 24 hours. Attendees enjoyed live jazz music, local brews and views of REMAX Realty’s hot air balloon. (Although windy weather conditions prevented any from hopping on board the balloon, there’s always next year.)
Dignitaries, including Deputy County Executive Kevin J. Plunkett, former County Executive Andy Spano and county Legislator Michael Kaplowitz, paid tribute to the farm and to Alcaro during the evening.
For more, visit hilltophanoverfarm.org.
-Aleesia Forni
