On September 27, 2011, Sotheby's Auction House will host the second annual Art of Farming event to celebrate edible heirlooms and the art involved in their creation. Just in time for the harvest season, this special evening provides a unique platform for local farmers, purveyors, celebrity chefs, food industry experts and philanthropists to join together for a shared interest in supporting local agriculture and sustainable food options for all New Yorkers.

The evening is broken into two parts: first a family-style dinner of the season's best heirloom vegetables prepared by the city's top chefs. A true innovation, menu planning is already in the works with Chef Dan Kluger of ABC Kitchen acting as menu curator. Particpating chefs have already met once to plan their offerings and select their heirloom vegetable varieties. Check out photos from the menu planning meeting here.

Restaurant partners include: ABC Kitchen, Benchmark, Butter, Buttermilk Channel, Chestnut, Clinton St. Baking Company, Co., Cookshop, Great Performances, Hot Bread Kitchen, Jimmy’s 43, Joseph Leonard, Magnolia Bakery, Murray’s Cheese, Orwasher’s, Palo Santo, Plaza Food Hall, Print, Riverpark, Rouge Tomate, Salumeria Rosi Parmacotto, Telepan, Trestle on Tenth, Watty and Meg

Menu highlights include:

Dan Kluger/ABC Kitchen’s Halibut with Thai Basil, Summer Squash and Nasturtiums
Ryan Jaronik/Benchmark’s Heirloom Radish and Carrot Verrine with Roasted Radish Soup, Radish Gelee and Carrot Sabayon Marc Meyer/Cookshop’s Red Wine Braised Finger Lake Beef Shank, Corn Pudding, Remoulade
Robb Garceau/Great Performances’ Herb Roasted Bobo Farms Chicken with Kaleidoscope Carrots and Summer Savory Jus James McDuffee/Joseph Leonard’s Garlic Sausage with Roasted Heirloom Squash and Puffed Rice Sisha Ortuzar/Riverpark’s Raw Fluke, Sugar Baby Watermelon and Black Radish Salad
Bill Telepan/Telepan’s Sockeye Salmon with Green Tomatoes, Lemon-Thyme Compote and Squash-Stuffed Zucchini Flowers

The evening's highlight will be a live auction of incredible food and drink experiences led by a Sotheby's auctioneer. All proceeds from the event will benefit GrowNYC New Farmers Development Project, which identifies, educates and supports immigrants with agricultural experience to become local producers and establish farms in the region, and The Sylvia Center, a program that inspires and teaches children to eat well through hands-on experiences at Katchkie Farm and in school and community centers all over New York City.

Leading up to the event, there will be a weekly community greenmarket outside Sotheby's New York every Tuesday, beginning September 6th through September 27th.

Follow The Art of Farming on Facebook and Twitter at @artoffarming