A Crunchy Friendsgiving: Our Greenhouse-to-Table Brunch at Eden
Eden’s Chief Culinary Officer, Devon Quinn, was our greenhouse tour guide.
When you hear “Friendsgiving,” you probably envision a casual potluck hosted in the living room of your most hospitable friend’s house. I love the idea behind this intimate seasonal celebration, and I wanted to gather the Crunchy Culture community for a Friendsgiving celebration this year. Hosting an event in my family’s humble abode (inhabited by a toddler and a wild puppy) did not seem like a good plan, however.
Instead, I consulted my friend Paul Sippil, the “farm-to-table guru,” as I call him. Paul, who founded Community Dining, has a knack for bringing folks together over mindful meals and thoughtful conversation. He graciously agreed to team up for a Friendsgiving brunch; and when I asked for his venue recommendation, he didn’t even hesitate…“Eden!”
It was decided; we booked a private dining space at the farm-to-table restaurant in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood to bring our communities together for an inaugural Friendsgiving. I had been following Eden for a while, admiring photos of the lush greenhouse, vintage-inspired décor, and seasonal menus.
Having only admired the restaurant from afar, I was filled with anticipation for the event. While browsing Eden’s website, I saw a note that private groups have the option to tour the restaurant’s on-site greenhouse. “Maybe optional for some groups…” I thought, “but it’s a heck yes for ours!”
The Brunch
When ‘Friendsgiving Day’ arrived, we gathered in Eden’s Selenite dining room, a sleek and intimate space that accommodates 18 guests. The room was filled with folks from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds: business people, engineers, farmers, chefs, teachers, and retirees (just to name a few). It was truly inspiring to see how everyone came together over a shared passion for mindful food enjoyed in good company.
After we settled in, I asked everyone to introduce themselves and share one resource that had the biggest impact on them (i.e., a book, podcast, documentary, person, etc.). An inspirational list and conversation unfolded, with more than one reference to author and journalist, Michael Pollan.
As for the table decor, about a week before the brunch, Eden’s team asked if I would be getting centerpiece flowers delivered…Good question! I had been so busy getting the word out about the event that I had not even considered centerpieces.
I knew I wanted the event to be authentically local, right down to the table adornments. Fortunately, I knew just where to turn: I reached out to farmer Dan at Arlington Crest Farms, a sustainable farm and greenhouse in Palatine.
Dan grows produce, houseplants and cut flowers which he sells at local markets, through a CSA and his small farm store. Thankfully, he still had some zinnias and a few other varieties growing. He invited my toddler and me over and harvested the flowers while giving us a few interesting tidbits about the farm. We purchased several of these bright “farm-to-table” bouquets, which were the perfect touch for our brunch.
The Menu
The brunch, served family style, came from a customizable seasonal menu. I placed my full faith in Eden’s team and did not stray far from their recommendations. That turned out to be a smart choice - all the items were delicious.
The gluten-free pancakes with a variety of decadent toppings stood out the most because I enjoy experimenting with gluten-free recipes at home. “Crunchy” pancakes have become a weekend tradition in our household.
My friend Sofia gives her review of the Eden experience.
My foodie friend, Sofia Jouravel, agreed: “Eden + Crunchy Culture + Community Dining is the trifecta for crunchy foodies…” said Sofia, who serves on the board of the Institute of Soil and Soul, a regenerative farm in Long Grove. “From the beautifully set up private dining room that smelled like a pine forest, to the mouth-watering bread and pastry board that greeted us (and fluffy quinoa pancakes!), coupled with fascinating conversations ranging from raising kids with diverse palettes to home cold plunge setups. This was all before the impressive greenhouse tour!”
“Seasonal, fresh and flavorful” is how I describe the menu.
Pastry & Bread Board: mini seasonal danish, mini cinnamon morning buns, country bread slices, served with house made seasonal jam & whipped butter
Avocado Toast: medium-boiled egg, candied fresno, radish, pickled shallot, toasted seeds, sourdough
Gluten-Free Quinoa Pancakes: blueberry-thyme jam, lemon mascarpone, blueberry maple syrup
Farmed Mushroom Scramble: shallot, gruyère
Eden Breakfast Sandwich: gruyère, egg, jalapeño remoulade, milk bread bun
Green City Market Fruit Bowl: seasonal fruit & berries, greenhouse herbs
Breakfast Potatoes: cheddar and parmesan dust, paprika
Greenhouse Tour
After we finished our meal, it was time to check out the greenhouse. We were fortunate to have Eden’s Chief Culinary Officer and co-founder, Devon Quinn, as our personal tour guide. Chef Quinn was friendly and welcoming, chatting with us on the short walk over to the greenhouse.
Quinn opened Eden in 2016 with a community-driven mission: “It is a very seasonal restaurant, where I hand-curate produce from local markets and farmers, wrote Chef Quinn in response to my question about his mission. “It is a way for me and our other culinary members to truly have a connection to our food. We have had a greenhouse for 12 years which allows us to grow unique herbs, blossoms, and other highlights to inspire and accent our food.”
Once everyone had gathered, Chef Quinn gave us an inside look at the sustainable, organic practices used to grow dozens of plants and herb varieties; the majority are put to use for the restaurant or catering menu. We even tasted some of the more unique herbs the chef picked for us.
Dealing with pests in my own backyard garden is a constant struggle because we do not spray any chemicals, so I was most intrigued by the greenhouse’s organic pest management techniques. For example, yellow sticky traps are used in place of harmful pesticides and serve a double mission: to capture and identify the perpetrators.
While Eden has a dedicated staff member responsible for tending to the greenhouse, Chef Quinn gets his hands in the dirt regularly. We often hear that we should have a deeper connection to where our food comes from, and this is a terrific example!
What did the guests think of the greenhouse tour? I asked my friend, Chef Ernesto Rodriguez, founder of El Molcajete Sauces: “Building your own indoor green house - it’s the proof that pasión doesn’t have limits,” said Ernesto. “This brunch showed that you can eat amazing local food, build community and share where we are coming from so we can [keep] sustainability alive."
Eden’s Story: Rooted in Community
As soon as you walk into Eden, you’ll recognize the restaurant's commitment to local community. There is a thoughtfully curated shop filled with local gifts, books and kitchen tools with a “Shop Local” message on the wall.
After our brunch, I connected with Chef Quinn and his team to learn more about Eden’s history and mission. In addition to sourcing and growing local ingredients for the menu, the chef is actively involved in Chicago’s Green City Market where he’s formed relationships with numerous farmers. Want to know more? Read our Q&A with Chef Quinn.
So, what did the farm-to-table guru think of the Friendsgiving experience? As expected, it was all about connection and community for my co-host Paul: "I really appreciated the opportunity to meet such a unique and diverse group of people who shared a mutual interest in health, wellness, and regenerative farming,” he said…I would wholeheartedly agree.
