Bike Ride Through Eastern Iowa Highlights Chefs, Local Food Feasts and Farms

A bike ride next month will bring riders through eastern Iowa's countryside to stop at farms and feasts on local foods prepared by chefs.

The third annual Culinary Ride will be held on Sunday, Sept. 22. This year the route takes cyclists south of Iowa City to Hills, Kalona and Frytown, with a variety of options for total distance ranging from 10 miles to 60 miles.

"Help us support the health of our amazing community as we merry the local food and bicycle movements," an announcement from Culinary Ride says "Savor food prepared fresh by local chefs, and enjoy handcrafted beverages while roaming the farms and enjoying the company of friends."

Proceeds of the event will benefit the ICCSD Farm to School chapter, a project of JCLFA.

You can register, here. The cost is $45. 

Here's coverage from past Culinary Rides:

Here's information about stops for the 2013 Culinary Ride:

• Terry Trueblood Recreation Area

The lake itself has about 95.5 acres of surface area and the total site is approximately 207 acres. It offers fishing, bird watching, and hiking

• Hills Access

• Muddy Miss and Dirty Face Creek Farms

These farmers are passionate about maintaining biodiversity in agriculture, preserving heirloom crop varieties, and protecting Iowa’s prairies, woods and wetlands. In the 2013 season Muddy Miss Farms has partnered with USDA certified organic Dirty Face Creek Farm (coincidental name associations but they work!) to expand production and distribution of both farms’ products.

• Belgum Grove

• Kalona Brewery

New Brewery and Restaurant in Kalona's historic downtown. 

4-Square Meals is a weekly prepared meal service in the Iowa City Area. Chef and owner, David Burt, formerly at The Red Avocado, prepares whole foods meals fIngredients are organic, vegetarian and nutritionally complete. Menu changes weekly for 13 weeks then rotates back through. Sign up long term, short term, or whenever there's a menu you like. More information, menus and sign up at burtfamilyfoodservices.com

• Bontrager Farm

The Yoderville Biodiesel Collective was formed to stimulate knowledge and usage of locally produced renewable biofuel. Its mission is to engage in the dissemination of biodiesel information and to promote its ease of use and production.

• Geyers and Anna's Cutting Garden

• Webb garden

Farm with gardens and a band!