Garden-to-Table Event: Fall Inspired Cheese Boards and Herb-Infused Focaccia

Our September event was so special (and delicious). The purpose of Monarch’s monthly gardening events? To let you see what’s growing in the Houston garden each month, teach you gardening tips pertinent for the season, and to help our clients learn how to use the delicious, organic produce from their gardens. Our monthly events are a celebration of the Houston garden and the incredible people in our community who inspire us with ideas for creating seasonal dishes with the herbs and vegetables we’re growing.

We started the evening with a garden-inspired fall cocktail! Sage-ginger simple syrup (made with honey!), vodka, organic apple cider, and spiced-apple Waterloo makes this cocktail taste like fall in a glass. (Recipe Below)

Then we toured the September garden. Fall is a slow transition in Houston. We talked through what we’ve removed from summer, what we’ve planted for fall, and what we’re waiting to plant until the weather cools down. There were so many great questions!

Miriam with MMH Provisions taught us how to make herb-infused focaccia bread (recipe below). She demoed how to infuse the herbs into the dough. Then she popped the bread into the oven to cook while Delaney with Berman Foods walked us through four seasonal cheese boards!

Delaney with Berman Foods demoed how to create a cheese board perfect for entering the holiday season. Spiced Fig cheese, salted honey, lemon zest, sliced fresh figs, edible flowers from the garden, and toasted chopped pistachios. It was delish!

She also taught us to make a board with caponata (made with eggplant), green peppercorn cheese, and fresh basil.

The Calabrian board was another favorite. Made with Calabrian cheese, garden-fresh cherry tomatoes and fresh basil, as well as lemon pesto - this board has a kick. So many flavors!

Once the herb-infused focaccia came out of the oven, we ate the cheese boards with warm bread. Heavenly.

Watch Instagram for the exact recipes for each cheese board. Delaney with Berman Foods will be showing us exactly how to make these four cheese boards for fall!

Get the Apple Sage Cocktail below! It’s perfect for fall, you can make it ahead, and it serves 8!