Macdonald Farm
LLC
Where Farming Meets the Culinary Arts
Serving in Big Sur, Monterey, and Santa Cruz
The Story of MacDonald Farm:
From Tragedy to a Thriving Business
The Inspring Story of Michael MacDonald
Michael's life took a drastic turn when he was involved in a life altering accident while on vacation in Hawaii. He suffered a spinal cord injury that left him with paraplegia of his legs, among other serious injuries. During his recovery, he turned to his family land and discovered a newfound passion for gardening and raising livestock. His love for this helped him persevere through one of the most challenging periods of his life.
Despite the initial shock and despair of his injuries, Michael found solace in the quiet and peaceful surroundings of his family farm. As he spent more time tending to his garden and caring for his animals, he began to feel a renewed sense of purpose and direction. The daily routines of planting, watering, and harvesting provided him with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that he had not experienced before.
Looking back on his journey, Michael realized that his injuries had been a blessing in disguise. Without them, he might never have discovered his love for farming and the joy that it brought him. He is excited to continue to share his passion with others for many years to come.
His life-partner, Daniel, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, and his culinary expertise is truly unparalleled. With a passion for using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and a commitment to creating dishes that are both delicious and visually stunning, he has quickly become one of the most sought-after chefs in the industry. So if you're looking for a truly unforgettable culinary experience, look no further than the MacDonald Farm – it’s the farm that everyone is talking about!
Hear more about our story on The Beet Podcast by Epic Gardening!
Can be heard on all podcast platforms.
Click here to listen!
Our Food Philosophy
A
t MacDonald Farm, "farm-to-table" means more than just a trend. We pride ourselves on utilizing only the finest ingredients, harvested fresh from our farm and sourced sustainably. This approach allows our acclaimed chef to feature the finest ingredients that are in their natural state, without any chemical alteration or long-distance transportation. By using fresh, locally sourced produce, the flavor and quality are preserved, resulting in an exceptional culinary experience.
Why Choose MacDonald Farm?
Limited Availability to provide each client a VIP experience
Customized Menus
Direct Access to your Personal Chef and Gardener
Complimentary Garden Tasting
Ability to change details up to 1 Month prior to event date
LGBTQ+ Owned and Operated
Environmentally Cautious
True Farm-to-Table Cuisine
Me
nu
Nasturtium Pesto Pasta
Choice of Pasta tossed in Farm-Made Walnut, Nasturtium and Herb Pesto
Creamy Parmesan Garlic Risotto
Garnished with fresh parmesan cheese and fresh herbs.
Grilled Eggplant Parmesan
$35/pp
Thick slices of smoky grilled eggplant layered with rich tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese
Vegetable Tagine
A hearty and aromatic stew of chickpeas, zucchini, and bell peppers, golden raisins in a fragrant spice broth, served over a bed of fluffy couscous.
Seasonal Veggie Flatbread
Fresh vegetables are spread across a lightly seasoned sauce and melted mozzarella cheese, all on top of our signature crispy sourdough flatbread crust.
Vegetable Wellington
A vibrant medley of sautéed vegetables and baked until golden in a flaky crust, served with a side of tangy tarragon aioli.
Main Course.
Lentil and Mushroom Bourguignon
A classic French dish reimagined, featuring tender lentils and meaty mushrooms in a rich, full-bodied red wine broth, served over a bed of creamy polenta.
Sourdough Bread Rolls
Mushroom Mascarpone Lasagna
Served with Lavender Butter
Farm-made Lasagna layered in fresh made tomato sauce, sauteed garlic and herb mushrooms, cheeses, and a farm béchamel sauce.
Roasted Garlic Ceasar Dinosaur Kale Salad
Served with Garden-grown Kale, Farm-made Croutons and Parmesan Cheese
Strawberry Feta Kale Salad
Farm-grown Dinosaur Kale, fresh strawberries, feta, sunflowers, thinly sliced hibiscus pickled onions, strawberry-walnut vinaigrette.
Farm-Grown Seasonal Veggies
Tossed in fresh garden herbs
Lemon Parm Kale Salad
Roasted Garden Potatoes
Farm-grown Dinosaur Kale, fresh parmesan cheese, sourdough crouton crumble, and a farm-to-table lemon vinaigrette.
Herb Seared Chicken Breast
Romaine Garden Salad
Marinated in Garden herbs, Farm-grown Garlic, and Lemon Zest
Freshly harvested cherry tomatoes, heirloom cucumbers, red onions, and rainbow shaved carrots with sweet farm-made balsamic vinaigrette
Quinoa and Arugula Salad
Menu Substitutions and Additions
Freshly harvested cherry tomatoes, heirloom cucumbers, hibiscus pickled red onions, charred lemon vinaigrette
Red Wine Braised Beef
Garlic Confit Mashed Potatoes
Locally-sourced beef braised for 8+ hours in red wine and herbs.
Parmesan Truffle Mash
Citrus Seared Salmon
Sweet Potato Mash
Locally-sourced salmon seared in an citrus-herb marinade.
Citrus Smoked Turkey
Topped with a garden herb compound butter
Gluten-Free Bread
MacDonald Farm Cornish Hen
All bread products are freshly baked
with our 225+ year old Sourdough Starter
Cheesy Garlic Sourdough Bread
Cornish Hens grown right on our farm! Marinated and roasted
in garden herbs and spices.
*Based on availability and party size
MacDonald Farm Quail
add: adding an additional entree to the buffet
sub: subsituing an item from the buffet
Quail grown right on our farm! Served with a herb port sauce.
*Based on availability and party size
contains nuts
gluten-free
Vegan
*CONSUMING RAW OR UNDERCOOKED MEATS, POULTRY, SEAFOOD, SHELLFISH, OR EGGS MAY INCREASE YOUR RISK OF FOODBORNE ILLNESS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS.
Appetizer Menu
Can be served Stationary and/or Passed.
Small Bites
Heirloom Cherry Tomato Bruschetta,Grilled Baguette, Purple Basil, Red Wine Balsamic Reduction
Honeyed Ricotta and Strawberry Bruschetta, Farm-made Ricotta, Fresh Picked Strawberries, Sweet Reduction
Goat Cheese Truffles, Fresh Goat Cheese, Meyer Lemon Essence, Soaked Cranberries,Toasted Almonds, Lemon Balm
Blistered Shishito Peppers, Truffle Salt
Brie, Prosciutto and Arugula Crostini
Apple and Whipped Goat Cheese Crostini, Candied Walnut
Hand-Gathered Deviled Eggs, Parmesan Crisp, Borage Flowers
Proscuitto e Melon, Red Wine Reduction
Corn Fritters, Chard Green Onion Aioli
Fresh Sourdough Garlic Bread Bites, Garden-grown Roasted Garlic, Homemade Sourdough Bread
Strawberry Bisque, Strawberry Mint
Mushroom Bisque, Truffle Cream
Butternut Squash Bisque, Candied Pecan Crumble
Broccamole, Guac made with Broccoli and Avocado and served with Lime Zested Corn Chips
Premium Bites
Premium appetizers offered for an additional charge
Deviled Quail Eggs, Herb Parmesan Chamomile Crisp, Borage Flowers
Butternut Squash and Herb Arancinis, Chili Aioli
Candied Bacon Pops, Wine soaked bacon that is candied onto skewers
Chicken Meatballs, Orange Port Glaze
Mini Chicken Almond Apple Sandwiches, Dried cranberries, fresh sourdough bread
Red Wine Braised Beef, Truffle Mash Puree
Braised Quail Tostadas, Chimichurri
contains nuts
Vegan
Gluten-free
Farm Grazing Table Display
This can be combined with the appetizers listed above.
Comes with:
Grilled Sourdough Crostinis or Crackers, Fresh Fruit and Veggies from our garden and local farmers market, and garnished with edible flowers. .
Choose 2 Dips:
Whipped Herb Chèvre, Meyer Lemon Hummus, Herb Hummus, Broccamole, Carmelized Onion Bacon Jam, Strawberry Salsa, Tatziki Sauce, Olive Tapenade, Jalapeño Pepper Jam, Strawberry Jalapeño Jam, Creamy Feta Dip, Fig Jam, Fresh-Made Ranch.
Cakes
Fresh from the Farm Bakery
*Fresh eggs from our coop and fresh garden ingredients are used including an array of edible flowers.
12 in. Round Cake
Feeds approximately 50 people.
10 in. Round Cake
Feeds approximately 35 people.
6 in. Round Cake
Feeds approximately 35 people.
3 in. Personal Cakes (1 dozen)
3 in round mini cakes.
Dozen Cake Truffles
Cake Flavors
Cake:
Buttercream:
Additional charges will apply for custom flavor combinations.
Cake Flavors:
Apple-Cinnamon
Olive Oil And Rosemary
Apple Spice
Carrot
Carrot And Brown Butter
Chocolate Carrot
Orange Chiffon
Lemon-Thyme
Lemon Blueberry
Meyer Lemon
Lemon Plum
Lemon Drop (contains alcohol)
Blueberry Buttermilk
Strawberry Thyme
Chocolate Strawberry
Chocolate Raspberry
Chocolate Pumpkin
Chocolate Vanilla Swirl
Espresso Chocolate Chip
German Chocolate
Black Forest
Vegan Chocolate
Chocolate Stout
Almond Amaretto
Strawberry Champagne
Lavender Champagne
Raspberry Champagne
Red Velvet
Raspberry Pink Velvet Cake
Amaretto Spiked Red Velvet
Tres Farm Leches
Honey Lavender
Mocha Lavender
Maple Walnut
Praline Turtle
Pistachio
White Chocolate
Hazelnut Praline
Caramelized Banana
Brown Butter
Classic Hummingbird
Maple Pumpkin
Tiramisu