On Farm Dinners - The Newest Trend in Country Dining.

DELHI, NY (07/22/2009)(readMedia)-- New York State's Great Western Catskills in Delaware County are steeped in the history of sustainable farming. Settle by Scotsmen and Germans, the rugged mountains reminded them of home and they brought their hardy sheep, cows and farming experience with them. These traditions are carried on today by enthusiastic farmers - and you can meet them while enjoying a great on farm dinner.

Local farmers and producers share stories about life on their farms at Fable, Stone & Thistle Farm's on-farm restaurant this season. This summer, Fable's dining guests will have an opportunity to learn about growing grapes and making wine, making absinthe and opening a local absinthe distillery, raising lamb and poultry on pasture and making cheese. The five-course, prix-fixe menu, will feature the presenting farmers and producers' products in each of the courses. The Meet the Farmer Dinners provide intimate, relaxed forums in which to converse with farmers and producers and to taste their products.

• July 25: Absinthe - Cheryl Lins of Delaware Phoenix Distillery in Walton. Absinthe tasting and absinthe dinner
• August 1: Field Raised Lamb - Elizabeth Phillips of Faraway Farm in Treadwell
• August 15: Goat Cheese - Linda Smith and Morgan George of Sherman Hill Farmstead in Franklin; Cow Cheese - Ron and Corinne of Brovetto Dairy in Jefferson
• August 29: Pastured Poultry - Dan and Kate Marsiglio of Stony Creek Farm in Walton
• October 24: Wine - Jennifer Clark and Andrew Scott of Eminence Road Farm Winery in Long Eddy. Wine tasting and wine dinner

Fable is a unique dining experience at Stone & Thistle Farm in East Meredith, New York. Every Saturday evening, a five-course, prix-fixe dinner is created with the best of the farm's organic and grass-fed lamb, goat, pork, beef or poultry and the farm's organic goat dairy products and herbs and vegetables. Guests join farmer Tom Warren for a farm tour at 6:30 p.m. or enjoy a beverage on the stone patio and the view of sheep and cows grazing the hillsides. At 7:00 guests are seated communally at the harvest table to enjoy a seasonal menu which includes just-picked vegetables and herbs from the farm's gardens and the farm's fresh meats, milk and eggs. Organic and New York State beer and wine are featured on the menu.

Reservations are required. Meet the Farmer Dinner schedule and the weekly prix-fixe menu are available at www.stoneandthistlefarm.com. For information and reservations contact Denise Warren at Stone & Thistle Farm and Kortright Creek Creamery 1211 Kelso Road East Meredith, NY 13757 607-278-5800 www.stoneandthistlefarm.com.

The Meet the Farmers Dinners is sponsored through the Pure Catskills Buy Local campaign, an economic initiative of the Watershed Agricultural Council. Funding is provided by the WAC, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and other sources.

Travelers Welcome to the Table

Stay at nearby Harmony Hill Retreat and choose from two types of lodging - their main lodge or their treehouse yurts. The retreat is minutes away from the farm and offers 70 acres of private woodlands to hike and explore. If you can't make it for a Meet the Farmers weekend, Harmony Hill offers great lodging packages with Fable for the regular dinners and brunches on the farm. Visit www.harmonyhillretreat.com for more details and other services they offer at the retreat.

Great Western Catskills Tourism

The Great Western Catskills is an easy 2-3 hour drive from New York City metro area, Albany, or Binghamton and a great weekend getaway or vacation destination for all. To learn more about more vacation rentals and the great activities you can do on your visit here, log on to: www.greatwesterncatskills.com. For free travel literature, call toll-free: (866) 775-4425 or e-mail: info@greatwesterncatskills.com. For timely events in the area visit delawarecountytoday.com.