Starlike Summer: A Supper Beneath Borrowed Stars

Presented by Central Stem and Preserving the South

Join us for a dreamy dinner collaboration set among the historic gardens of the Highlands Mansion. Born from the fast friendship between Central Stem's Holly Adair and acclaimed chef April McGreger of Preserving the South—both of whom grew up in North Mississippi—this evening is a loving echo of the places they once called home.

This family-style feast celebrates late-summer abundance—sun-warmed tomatoes, tender corn, and perfumed peaches—with a Southern-style menu featuring local Philadelphia ingredients. As the evening drifts from golden hour into twilight, we'll savor the shift from sunlight to starlight, closing the night with dessert under the first flicker of stars.

Event Details

Location: The Highlands Mansion, 7001 Sheaff Lane, Fort Washington, PA
Tickets: $95 (Limited amount available)
Dietary Restrictions: A vegetarian option may be accommodated. Please contact Holly at hello@centralstem.co with any dietary needs or questions.
BYOB

Menu

COCKTAIL HOUR IN THE GARDEN

Enjoy a new take on sweet tea and lemonade, along with other non-spirited libations like N/A wild fermented homebrew, and sparkling buttermilk with lacy cornbread.

A Southern Spread:

Pimento cheese with fire crackers
Bacon straws
Pecan brittle and blue cheese
Chef's choice pickles & crudités
Tomato toasts
Boiled peanuts

FAMILY-STYLE STARLIKE SUMMER SUPPER

Charred okra with local labneh & herbs
Crowder peas & pole lima beans
Heirloom tomato salad
Sweet corn grits
Fried pork loin with shallot gravy
Buttermilk biscuits
Crookneck squash cornbread

DESSERT UNDER THE STARS

Homemade peach ice cream
Watermelon sorbet
Benne seed poetry cookies

* Menu Subject to change.
* Dinner will be in the gardens -- summer weather permitting.

A Central Stem Pop-up

Explore the Central Stem Pop-up, offering a selection of the artisan goods and local products you'll experience throughout the evening.

About Chef April McGreger

April McGreger is an award-winning food preserver, chef, and author. After serving as pastry chef at James Beard Award-winning Lantern Restaurant, she founded Farmer's Daughter, a small-batch pickling and preserving business that earned her national acclaim. She has since been recognized for her dedication to Southern foodways and has received numerous accolades, including 13 Good Food Awards and the Slow Food Ark of Taste Betsy Lydon Award. Now based in Philadelphia, she is the founder of Preserving the South and serves as Culinary Director at The People's Kitchen of Philadelphia, where she helps build community and food security through education. Her work has been featured in a variety of publications, including The New York Times, Bon Appétit, and Food & Wine.

Follow her on Instagram @preservingthesouth and @peopleskitchenphilly.

About the Venue

The Highlands Mansion is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and interpreting a historic 1796 Georgian mansion and its magnificent 18th-century gardens. Located just outside Philadelphia, its stunning architecture, lush landscapes, and rich history provide an elegant and unique backdrop for our "Starlike Summer" dinner.