The summer may be winding down, but there is still time to celebrate the fruits of the season at Yacht Rock: Summer Cocktails of the Farmers Marketon
Wednesday night. Thirteen members of the local chapter of the United States
Bartenders Guild
will whip up seasonally inspired sips with a nautical flair,
taking cues from the America’s Cup World Series races. The evening’s full-sized signature cocktails, created by Christina Cabrera of Bourbon Steak and Keli Rivers of Hotsy Totsy Club, will feature pirate-worthy rum from Mount Gay and Sailor Jerry.

Though the evening is focused on cocktails, we’ve also invited some of our
favorite chefs to come on board and serve bites inspired by the farmers market. I caught up with Jasper’s Corner Tap & Kitchen’s Adam Carpenter, one of the six participating chefs, at The Peach Farm stand this week as he stocked up on ingredients for his sausage sliders.

“I’m going to take some onions, peppers and tomatoes and make a reduced sugo to spread on ciabatta rolls with spicy mustard,” Adam told me. He’ll be using sweet gypsy peppers and a variety of farmer Ed George’s heirloom tomatoes for the spread to create a bright, sweet compliment to his house-made spicy pork sausage. Jasper’s bartender Taylor White will also be on hand to dazzle the crowd with his cocktail, “Icelandic Decadence,” featuring Reyka Vodka, Bella Viva white peaches and Happy Quail Farms Serrano peppers.

As the Yacht Rock name suggests, our theme for this season’s event evokes
tropical breezes, slow island jams and sailing away. In addition to food and
libations, landlubbers will enjoy smooth sounds of the ’70s and karaoke. Epicuring will host a nautical costume contest, and the best-dressed
guests will receive a prize and honorable mention in the CUESA e-letter.

Tickets are still available but going fast, so dust off your deck shoes and come
ashore with us this Wednesday, August 29. Proceeds from the event benefit
CUESA’s education programs, which include farm tours, free weekly cooking
demos and Schoolyard to Market.