From atop a tractor, Bellport resident, philanthropist and actress-turned-farmer, Isabella Rossellini is every bit as comfortable as she is on the big screen.
This past Saturday, Rossellini’s stage was a tractor, where she welcomed guests to a farm-to-table dinner at Isabella’s Farm, her 28-acre organic farm in Brookhaven. The intimate evening (only 100 tickets were available) benefitted the Bellport-Brookhaven Historical Society and gave Rossellini the opportunity to showcase her plans and to thank her Bellport neighbors. Rossellini bought the property in early 2013 and been working with Patty Gentry of Early Girl Farm, who overseeing its development. With dedication and enthusiasm firmly rooted, ground has been broken, cover crops planted and compost piles started. Isabella’s Farm should be running full-throttle next season.
Saturday evening’s supper took place smack dab in the middle of the farm. One long burlap-covered table was set with lanterns, flowers, glass crocks of breadsticks, bottles of wine and water and place settings for 100. There was one word to describe it: magical. Early guests nibbled on local crudités and sipped wines from Channing Daughters, Lieb Cellars and Paumanok Vineyards as well as Blue Point Brewing Company’s Toasted Lager. The locally sourced meal, which was prepared by chefs Candy Argondizza, Marité Acosta, Josh Crane and Ben Buckley, featured a summer harvest salad (tomatoes, peaches, corn, basil, red onion, goat cheese and fennel with a citrus and olive oil dressing), marinated grilled chicken, roasted summer vegetables (squash, zucchini, peppers, egg plant and tomatoes with a curry sauce drizzle), farro salad (cucumber, mint, black olives, roasted red peppers and shallots) and a citrus olive oil cake with crème Celeste and berries for dessert.
Chefs Marité Acosta, Candy Argondizza and farmer Patty Gentry
All in all, it was an enchanting evening in an unpretentious setting, hosted by a lovely down-to-earth Long Islander. Thank you, Ms. Rossellini; we look forward to our next visit.
