This Grill Fest is More Than Hot Dogs and Hamburgers

Summer isn’t complete until you enjoy some grilled food, drinks and good music. It’s even better when that food is grilled by eight area chefs using local ingredients, and the live music is provided by regional bands that will keep your feet stomping through the night.

That’s why Shire 935 Productions — a Hillsdale-based event team comprised of residents and partners Barbara Olsen Pascale, Joanna Virello and Meghan McCann — has organized the first Grillsdale event, which will be held in the Hilltop Barn at Roeliff Jansen Park in Hillsdale, N.Y., on Saturday, Aug. 27, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.

 “The food is so good here in Dutchess and Columbia counties,” Virello said. “And I’m a fanatic for cycling. We’re holding this event to shine light on chefs and food in region, but also to make people aware of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail.”

The trail currently spans 15 miles over two paved sections in the two counties. When complete, it will stretch nearly 50 miles from Wassaic to Chatham.

“The goal is to be able to ride to the Chatham Brewery or the Wassaic Project or The Lantern,” she said. To help make that dream a reality, a portion of the net profits from Grillsdale will go toward the trail’s completion, and a bicycle will be given away as a raffle prize at the event.

Virello and her team reached out to chefs whose restaurants can be found along the Harlem Valley Rail Trail. The chefs who will be featured at Grillsdale include Dafna Mizrahi of Monte’s Local Kitchen and Tap Room in Amenia; Charlie Norman of 52 Main in Millerton; Justin Panzer of The Oakhurst Diner in Millerton; Jack Peele of Jacuterie in Ancramdale; Rolo Scarpetti for The Farmer’s Wife in Ancramdale; Josephine Proul of Local 111 in Philmont; Rob Scott of The Outlaw BBQ for The Mount Washington House in Hillsdale; and David Wurth of CrossRoads Food Shop in Hillsdale. 

“It’s not going to be hamburgers and hot dogs,” Virello said with a laugh. “This is an artisanal and locally sourced, yet globally inspired, small plate mash-up with local music and local libations.”

For example, Mizrahi — who was a champion on The Food Network’s “Chopped” — will make a slider created with beef from Meiller Farm and Slaughterhouse in Pine Plains. “It’s my award-winning recipe. Everything is homemade, from the pickles to the condiments,” Mizrahi said. “It’s an all-American burger with a twist.”

Norman will craft pork belly tacos with an Asian flair. He said he feels “honored to be a part of a great fundraising event,” and noted that he enjoys using the Harlem Valley Rail Trail. “I would like to see every past rail bed converted to trails in this area. There are a lot of great rail beds between here, Shekomeko, Pine Plains and Millbrook.”

Panzer’s dish will feature a farm-fresh seasonal mix of vegetables, while Scott’s will be grilled pork loin stuffed with apple chutney. Peele will make a bite-sized open-faced Vietnamese sandwich using sausage and pâté from Jacuterie and vegetables from Moon in the Pond Farm in Sheffield, Mass.

Scarpetti runs a restaurant called Cocinero Nomade (The Nomad Cook) in southern Brazil. During his off-season, he has been cooking around the area, including at The Farmer’s Wife with chef Job Yacubian. Scarpetti will make an Argentinian dish — grilled pork shoulder with smoked purple cabbage and chimichurri sauce.

Attendees will be able to cast their votes for the best grilled item of the night, and a panel of judges will also weigh in with their opinions. The judges are “BBQ Pitmasters” Producer John Markus; Hillsdale Supervisor Peter Cipkowski; Rory Chase of Chaseholm Farm Creamery in Pine Plains; and Ancram resident Steven Abrams, who is the CEO and owner of Magnolia Bakery and the New York City location of burger restaurant JG Melon.

Chase, who makes cheese on his family’s third-generation farm, is looking forward to the competition.

“It will be a fun and lighthearted event. I’m really excited,” Chase said. “The real winners will be those eating the food.”

The Roeliff Jansen Park Barn is located at 9140 State Route 22 in Hillsdale, N.Y. Grillsdale tickets cost $65 and may be purchased at www.grillsdale.com.