Over the weekend, we hosted our annual Forage & Feast event in collaboration with nature and our friends Proper Flower and Field & Forage Farms. We host the event in early spring, typically the last week of March, first of April in hopes of finding some morel Mushrooms growing in our forest (they only grow for two weeks out of the year!).

We welcomed forty guests to the Farm for five hours of adventure, connection and a beautiful meal made for an incredible day! We explored the forest, found some (hit the gold mine, actually!) illusive morel mushrooms, created shiitake mushroom logs and enjoyed time around the table making new friends.

Can we talk about the table? Proper Flower’s team really brought the event up a notch by foraging for materials in our woods to create an enchanting table-scape for all to enjoy.

For dinner, our Chef Joy and her team prepared a wonderful menu for guests which included Pork, pastured raised here at North Corner Haven and ingredients grown around the region. This truly farm to table experience was enhanced through our collaboration with Partners and Grapes, an organic wine company that has recently launched in the Charlotte area.

It was truly a wonderful afternoon on the farm filled with laughter, connection and learning. We can’t wait to do it again next year!

Forage & Feast Event at North Corner Haven by Proper Flower Charlotte, Family Style Table for this Farm to Table Adventure Experience. Photo by Comma Photo

WHAT WAS ON THE MENU?

first

Cheesy Gougers

mushroom duxelles + goat cheese

Partners & Grapes organic Xarel-lo

second

Oyster Mushroom

herbed garlic butter and mushroom based carolina gold rice

Partners & Grapes organic Rosé Blend

third

North Corner Haven Pork Medallion

seasonal vegetables, potatoes and

a simple mushroom pan sauce *this turned into a morel pan sauce with our forest finds!* 

Partners & Grapes organic Red Blend

fourth

Lemon Mousse

crispy cookie, lemon milk crumble

 

Please enjoy the photos below by our talented event partner Comma Photo, and we hope to see you at our next event in June (details coming soon!). In the meantime, check out our Event Calendar for more information!

Did you see us on the News? North Corner Haven’s Forage & Feast event was featured on WCNC Charlotte Today, WBTV QC Life and QC@3. 

Whether you are an eggs-for-dinner family or looking for the perfect brunch option to wow your house guests, this one pan egg dish should be your new go-to! Traditionally an Israeli breakfast food, this hearty dish is served with challah or pita on the plate.

The only way to make a favorite recipe better? Incorporate our pasture raised eggs over store bought – we truly believe you can taste (and see!) the difference.

Shakshuka 

serves (3 – 4)

Ingredients: 

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (we love this one from Graza)

1 small onion, thinly sliced

1 red pepper, thinly sliced

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 jalapeno chili, thinly sliced

1 tsp smoked paprika

⅛ tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp ground cumin

salt & pepper to taste

28 oz crushed tomatoes (Use fresh tomatoes when possible, skin & seed removed – we love these if you are going the store bought route)

2 tsp vinegar, sherry vinegar preferred

6 large pasture raised eggs

Cilantro leaves (optional)

Cooking Instructions: 

Preheat oven to 400 F

Preheat skillet over medium heat on the range. Add oil and allow to heat for a minute. Add onion, pepper, garlic, chili, paprika, cayenne and cumin to the pan. Cook until the onions begin to soften, 2-4 minutes.

Remove from heat, stir in the vinegar and add the tomatoes. Simmer on the stove until tomatoes have thickened, should take about 8 -10 minutes.

Make 6 small wells with the back of a spoon in the Shakshuka base to accept eggs. Crack eggs into a small dish then carefully pour eggs into each well.

Place Shakshuka into the oven. Eggs should cook in approximately 7-10 minutes. We  prefer our egg whites to be cooked while the yolk is still soft.

Once the eggs are cooked to your liking, remove from heat, garnish with cilantro leaves and serve with pita or challah on the side. To level up your meal, we reccommend serving it with any of our grilling sausages.  Enjoy!

Saturday, February 11th 2023

THE EXPERIENCE: Everyday, our goal is to create meaningful experiences at North Corner Haven and this year’s Valentines Dinner was no exception. This sold out evening invited guests to the Farm to enjoy live music, delicious food and even better company. An intimate affair, guests mingled around the fire pits and gardens before entering the Cedar Barn for dinner. A truly memorable night, we were honored to help our guests celebrate their love. As the sun set on the day, the night faded into a blur of smiles, laughter, candlelight and even swaying on the dance floor for our guests…

 

THE MENU: Our Executive Chef Joy Turner dreamed up a menu to satisfy the senses and carefully curated a plate with ingredients grown locally and regionally.

The ingredients on your plate came from many wonderful growers + purveyors:

North Corner Haven, Freshlist, Bush ‘N Vine, Street Fare Farm, Bluebird Farm, Boy & Girl FarmBarbee Farms, Ashe County Cheese, Homeland Creamery, Coldwater Creek, Wild Hope Farm, Urban Gourmet Farms, Small City Farm, Tega Hills Farm, River Bottom Dairy

BEHIND THE DESIGN: We worked closely with our friends at Curated Events Charlotte to design a romantic tables-cape for this valentines dinner. Their updated inventory includes a wide range of specialty tables, chairs and tabletop decor to match any desired design aesthetic.

To view the details behind the design, click here. 

A special thank you to our partners for this event: 

Amy Ledyard Photography

Curated Events Charlotte

Falllift

Firefly Productions 

Rose Transportation 

EXPERIENCE THE FARM: Join us for our next Community Event, Forage and Feast on Saturday April 1st for an afternoon of Foraging, Mushroom Log Inoculation and a four course feast. Click here for details.

Have you been intersted in visiting North Corner Haven but haven’t figured out how you can? Our team is so excited to rollout our new a la carte adventures for this season. The perfect way to enjoy time on the farm in a shorter, more accessible format.

Adventures are offered à la carte Monday – Friday, based on availability. Every à la carte adventure includes a delightful farm lunch for all participants. Please note, all Al a Carte adventures require a minimum number of guest-or equivalent rate.

We know these adventures are the perfect fit if you are looking for:

  • Team Building
  • Client Entertaining
  • Family Outings / Celebrations
  • Birthdays
  • Restoration and Relaxation
  • + More!

Inquire today for more information. 

Adventure Description
Pond Fishing – Two Hours Leisure Fishing

Grab a traditional spin rod or cane pole and drop a line in our stocked six acre “Lower” pond. Bait, tackle and attendant included.

Fly Casting Lessons Learn how to cast a traditional fly rod with the help of a local pro, then wet a line and enjoy your time at the pond.

Guided Jon Boat Head to our stocked ten acre “Sherrill’s” pond for this classic southern experience. Spin rods, bait and tackle included.

Wild Goose Chase Scavenger Hunt

Ready, Set, Go! It starts with team spirit. This scavenger hunt is fast paced and a great way to utilize different skill sets from team members. Groups will interact through a series of riddles and challenges spread out across the farm (think collecting eggs from a farmer or visiting our goat friends by the pond). In this 60 min game teams will have some friendly banter and crown a winner based on challenge completion and pace of play.

Slow Flow Yoga + Sound Bath

As you settle into your serene farm surroundings, the instructor will guide you through a series of seated yoga poses as you hear several different instruments including crystal singing bowls, frame drums and the didgeridoo. You’re invited to allow the vibrations to reach deep into the body offering profound relaxation and rest. We recommend a minimum of 60 minutes for this experience.

Additional Wellness Opportunities Include:

Forest Bathing, Mindfullness, Meditations Breath work Journey, Breath Work & Ice Bathing, Vinyasa Yoga

Chef Joy’s Cooking Demonstration – “Sous Vide & Seared” (Sample)

Guests will enjoy a hands on cooking demonstration in the Farmhouse followed by a gorgeous lunch on the Farmhouse porch. This particular demonstration will include learning the sous vide technique using delicious pasture raised chicken paired with the Season’s Best Market Vegetable and Carolina Gold Rice. To end on a sweet note, guests will learn the proper way to make a classic creme brûlée and get to torch dessert before it’s served. Please note, demonstration offerings change seasonally.

Foraged Art Workshop

Let nature inspire your creativity! Head into the woods and explore the acres of native flora and fauna living in our forest. In this guided experience, guests will will identify and collect forest finds before returning to the Five Acres to create a unique piece of art to take home as a souvenir.

Additional Hands On Workshops Include:

Foraged Terrarium, Painting Al Fresco + more

Mobile Axe Throwing

Add some excitement to your next outing and allow your guest to try their hand at mobile axe throwing. This state of the art trailer provides two axe throwing bays with all supplies and supervision.

Wine and Walk

Explore the gardens at North Corner Haven while you sip + learn from a wine expert about the varietal of wine that stylistically aligns with the seasons and what’s blooming in the garden and orchards. We recommend a minimum of 90 minutes for this experience. Includes 3 – 4 selections and stations setup in our “garden rooms”.

Sporting Clays Escape

Join us for a sporting clays experience at our state of the art Five Stand. A hybrid shooting experience, there are seven different machines throwing endless combinations that will keep you engaged with a variety of simulated flight paths. Package Includes: Two Hours of Skeet Shooting | Facilitation | Protective Ear and Eyewear Beretta Silver Pigeon Gun Rental Unlimited Ammo & Clays

Fig, Apricot & Blue Cheese stuffed NCH Pork Chops

Surprise and delight with this sweet and savory approach to our Pork Chops. 

Serves 4

Ingredients: 

4 dried figs, stem removed, cut into quarters

6  dried apricots halves, cut into quarters

¼ cup pecans, toasted then chopped

3 tbsp blue cheese, we are fans of this one from the local Orman’s Cheese Shop. 

1  shallot, minced

½ tsp fennel powder

¼ tsp salt

pinch of black pepper

4 thick cut bone in North Corner Haven pork chops

3 tbsp vegetable oil

¼ cup brandy

1 cup chicken broth

½ cup heavy cream

2 tsp Dijon mustard

 

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350℉.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spray with pan spray.

Have a culinary thermometer ready. This one from amazon is a favorite and reminds you of cooking temps!

Put the dried fruit in a bowl. Pour ½ cup boiling water over the fruit and set aside for 15 minutes to soften. Drain fruit, reserving the liquid.

In a food processor, process the fruit with the nuts, cheese, fennel and half the shallot until finely chopped. Season with salt and pepper.

In a small sealable plastic bag or piping bag, transfer the mixture. Cut a ½ inch off the corner of the bag. Taking each pork chop, make a hole with a knife in the rounded portion of the chop and make a pocket to receive the filling. Place the cut end of the piping bag inside the pork chop pocket and squeeze a quarter of the filling inside the chop.

Dry the both sides of the pork chops. Season both sides of pork chops with salt and pepper. Heat a large saute pan over medium high heat.

Add the oil to the pan and heat the oil to a shimmer, maybe one minute. Add the pork chops and brown the first side for 5 minutes. Turn the pork chops with a pair of tongs, browning the other side an additional 2 minutes. Remove chops from the saute pan and place on the prepared baking sheet. Cook in preheated oven until the internal temperature is 135℉ or until desired temperature. About 15 – 20 minutes.

While the chops are cooking – it’s time to make the sauce! Drain the oil from the sauté pan. Place the shallots in the same pan and cook over medium high heat for a minute. Remove the pan from the heat and add the brandy to the pan. When returning the pan to the burner, be careful as the alcohol from the Brandy is flammable and could flambé. Cook over high until the alcohol is reduced to a syrup. Add the broth and the fruit liquid and boil down until the liquid is reduced by a ⅓. Add the cream and continue to simmer until it thickens slightly. Whisk in the mustard and season with salt and pepper. Once pork chops are finished cooking, remove from the baking sheet and place on a platter. If any juices have accumulated from the pork chops add it to the sauce. Pour the sauce over the chops and serve.

This dish is excellent served with white rice and asparagus! We particularly love our rice from Anson Mills, find info here. 

 

Have you ever seen the incredibly colorful and thoughtful window’s of Anthropoligie’s stores? The color, texture and overall design is mind blowing and unexpected – a can’t miss!

Well, when we began scheming our Winter Sip + See design with our friends Honey + Thyme Events and Lord and Lady Studio, we decided to draw on that “Anthro” inspiration to craft a colorful wedding for all to see.

The bonus? We were able to celebrate Erika and Addison’s nuptials on the tail end of a wonderful day. See below for a few film snaps from the uber talented Erica Serrano.

Pressed Flowers, Bold Colors, Totem Candles and a whole lot of love played into this Wedding design, we invite you to take it with you as you plan for the year ahead… full vendor list at the base of the post!

 

Vendor & Production Team:

Venue: North Corner Haven

Design: @honeythymeevents

Photographer: @ericaserranophoto

Catering: @qc_catering

Cake: @flourandbatter

Entertainment: @keysignatureen

Hair: @blissfulmuse.co

Makeup: @makeupbycaitlyn

Florals: @lordandladystudio

Chandelier Bases: @chandelierevents_

Dresses: @lovelybrideclt

General Rentals: @partyreflections

Furniture Rentals: @prdesigncollection

Signage + Specialty Paper Goods: @tiedandtwoweddings

 

Just starting to plan your wedding? Good news! You’ve come to the right wedding venue. We still have some lovely 2023 dates available and are now booking 2024 weddings. Click here to learn more about our offerings or share your plans here. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Honey & Chili Pork Meatballs | Featuring North Corner Haven Ground Pork 

There is nothing better than a sweet honey dish mixed with a little bit of spice. These homemade Honey and Chili Pork Meatballs are perfect for any occasion. It’s a quick but delicious meal using our forest-raised pork coated with spicy ginger-honey sauce for some nice flavor.

Ingredients List 

For the Meatballs:

  • 1 1/2 pounds Ground Pork 
  • ¼ cup minced onion
  • 4 large cloves garlic minced
  • 3 tsp minced ginger
  • 1/2 tbsp sesame oil
  • Kosher salt & pepper

For the Spicy Ginger-Honey Sauce:

  • 3 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp minced garlic
  • 3 tbsp minced ginger
  • 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • ¼ cup honey (our raw honey is the best!) 
  • 1-2 tbsp Chili with Garlic Sauce depends on how much you enjoy heat
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • Cilantro for garnish

*you could also use our honey with this sauce recipe from Love & Lemons…. 

Cooking Instructions

For the Meatballs:

  1. Combine all ingredients together and form balls. They will be wet, thats fine! Just get them to hold together. Place on a baking sheet until ready to cook.
  2. When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  3. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until cooked through.

For the Spicy Ginger-Honey Sauce:

  1. In a frying pan with sides, combine sesame oil, garlic and ginger and saute for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add in vinegar, honey and chili with garlic sauce and bring to a boil. Add in cornstarch and whisk until combined and thickened. Taste & adjust. 
  2. Place meatballs in your pan, coat with sauce, garnish with cilantro leaves (if you like) and serve.

This special sauce helps add moisture and tenderness to create the perfect weekday lunch or dinner. You can serve these on butter leaf lettuce cups like we did, and even add some cilantro in there for an extra splash of spice! 

Enjoy ~ and share using #northcornerhaven

Interested in other ways to cook with ground pork – here are some awesome examples by Martha Stewart. 

 

Bone – In Pork Chops with Dijon Cream Sauce

Bring your regular pork chops to a whole new level with this flavorful mustard cream sauce. These bone – in pork chops topped with rich creamy goodness are pan-fried and finished in the oven. How good does this sound? Add it with your favorite fall vegetable or even better, blackened grits like these from Anson Mills – a fan favorite no doubt! Remember to always shop local when you can – our pastured raised chops are the perfect protein for this dish, with each pack having two chops. Want to ditch the bone? Try our boneless chops, perfect for a lighter fare. 

Ingredients: 

For the Pork Chops

For the Mustard Cream “Pan” Sauce

  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 cup chicken broth – I used low sodium
  • 2 tbsp whole grain dijon mustard
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ tsp salt, or to taste

Cooking Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Generously season pork chops with salt and pepper on both sides.
  3. In a large skillet over medium heat. Drizzle oil into the pan.
  4. Add pork chops to the pan and sear on both sides for 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.
  5. To prepare the sauce, add butter to the pan. 
  6. Add chicken broth. We love this one from kettle & fire. Whisk in dijon mustard, then cream. Stir in salt and pepper.
  7. Return pork chops to the pan, spoon some of the sauce over the pork chops, then transfer to the oven.
  8. Cook for 10 minutes. Spoon liquid from the pan over the pork chops. Cook another 10-15 minutes until pork is cooked through and sauce is thickened.
  9. Spoon more sauce over the pork chops, garnish with black pepper and fresh herbs if desired and serve.

Note – If you are using really thick bone in pork chops, they will retain a lot of moisture. Be sure to reduce the cooking time if using a thinner chop.

Bon appétit!

 

Traditional Braised Short Ribs

Add this classic meal that uses simple ingredients to your Fall menu. These traditional braised short ribs are cooked low and slow and will fill your home with the most delicious smells drawing everyone around the table. Have this cooking in the oven on a Sunday night while you prepare for your upcoming week or serve it up for a family gathering. Either way, it’s guaranteed to leave your crowd wanting more!

Ingredients List

  • 6 bone-in short ribs (about 5 3/4 pounds) – grab these from North Corner Haven!
  • Kosher salt
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 2 ribs celery, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 2 carrots, peeled, cut in 1/2 lengthwise, then cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 2 large tomatoes
  • 2-3 cups heavy red wine – a Cabernet Sauvignon would be great
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 bunch fresh thyme, tied with kitchen string
  • 2 bay leaves

Cooking Instructions

  1. Season each short rib generously with salt. Coat a pot large enough to accommodate all the meat and vegetables with olive oil and bring to a high heat. Add the short ribs to the pan and brown very well, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Do not overcrowd the pan. Cook in batches, if necessary.
  2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  3. While the short ribs are browning, prepare all the vegetables. When the short ribs are very brown on all sides, remove them from the pan. Drain the fat, coat the bottom of the same pan with fresh oil and add the vegetables. Season the vegetables generously with salt and brown until they are very dark and a fond (a crust of sorts) has formed on the bottom of the pan, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Scrape the fond and let it reform. Scrape the fond again and add the wine and scrape the bottom of the pan. Lower the heat if things start to burn. Reduce the volume of the mixture by half.
  4. Return the short ribs to the pan and add 2 cups broth or until the broth has just about covered the meat. Add water if necessary. Add the thyme bundle and bay leaves. Cover the pan and place in the preheated oven for 3 hours. Check periodically during the cooking process and add more water, if needed. Turn the ribs over halfway through the cooking time. Remove the lid during the last 20 minutes of cooking to let things get nice and brown and to let the sauce reduce. When done the meat should be very tender but not falling apart. Serve with the braising liquid.

Serve these short ribs with some buttery mashed potatoes or even some homemade rolls. A great homemade dish that is full of comfort food flavors. Yum! 

Don’t forget to grab your short ribs from our Farm Shop! Our pasture raised Beef is raised right here on the Farm and can be delivered to your door! Learn more.

As we welcome Fall, we’ve packaged up some amazing experiences perfect for your next Corporate Event, Private Event or Celebration. 

 

Oyster Roast

Fresh air, fire pits and plenty of space to spread out to make it an enjoyable and comfortable event for all guests. As you begin planning your holiday celebrations, consider our Holiday Oyster Roast package at North Corner Haven. The best part? This event can be hosted day or night offering flexibility for your team.

  • Private Venue Rental (Mon – Friday) for up to 6 hours with Concierge Event Management included
  • Oyster Roast with Steamed Oysters & Shrimp, Two Dinner Stations and an open bar for up to 4 hours
  • Live Music (three hours)
  • Optional activities / entertainment (think mobile axe throwing, cigar rolling, whiskey tasting + more!)

Pricing begins at $165 per person*

Wreath Making Workshop

Grab your team or invite your clients for this hands on experience at North Corner Haven! Join us and learn to create a gorgeous medium holiday wreath with fresh seasonal greens and textures – many items foraged directly from the Farm.

After you make your wreath enjoy an afternoon of refreshments and cocktails by the fire – and you get to take your wreath home with you!

  • Private Venue Rental (Mon – Friday) for up to 4 hours with Concierge Event Management included.
  • Wreath Making Workshop per attendee, all supplies included
  • Beer, Wine & Non Alcoholic Refreshments
  • Selection of Appetizers

Pricing begins at $140 per person*

clay shooting in NC

A Sporting Day

Grab your team or invite your clients for the ultimate outing on the Farm. Think flannels and fire pits with this interactive day – the best way to enjoy a southern fall day. Gain some outfit inspiration from this Garden and Gun article. 

  • Private Venue Rental (Mon – Friday) of North Corner Haven for up to 4 hours with Concierge Event Management included
  • 2 hours of Skeet Shooting at our State of the Art Five Stand
  • All supplies included: Ammo, 20g Gun Rental, Eye & Ear Protection
  • Facilitation + Instruction (if needed)
  • 1.5 Hour Cocktail Hour in the Courtyard or in the Farmhouse following shooting including a choice of three appetizers served with beer & wine + specialty cocktail

Pricing begins at $225 per person*

*All pricing subject to change based on date selection and desired guest count. Does not include applicable taxes & fees. 

Schedule your next event with the team at North Corner Haven. Email: [email protected] for more information or head to our contact page here.