Harvest Table with Chef Jessica Baldus
Join us for a dining experience like no other! Enjoy a 4-course meal sure to delight your tastebuds as you take in the sights, sounds, and smells here at Tailwind Acres. We’re pleased to welcome Chef Jessica Baldus of Taste Restaurant to our farm. Chef Jes marries the flavors of local foods in unique and innovate ways. The Harvest Meal menu will be crafted and refined as the dinner approaches based on what’s available seasonally. For a sampling of what Chef Jes creates for her chef tables visit this link. Chef Jes is able to accommodate food allergies; however please be very specific during check out.
We look forward to welcoming you to Tailwind Acres for a evening of dining!
About the Chef
Chef Jes Baldus is a celebrated chef and community advocate whose work blends culinary creativity with a deep commitment to service. Based in Iowa, she’s been recognized for her leadership in the kitchen and her dedication to supporting youth and local programs. In 2018, she was honored by the Iowa Restaurant Association for her community impact, and two years later, named one of their “40 Women to Watch” in the industry. Chef Jes has shared her love of food on national stages, appearing on Guy’s Grocery Games and Supermarket Stakeout, and was nominated for a James Beard Award in 2024. This year, she earned top honors at the Taste of Elegance’s Superior Chef competition and was selected as one of just 20 chefs across the country to take part in the Culinary Institute of America’s Culinary Enrichment and Innovation Program. Her cooking is grounded in generosity, bold flavor, and a desire to bring people together.
Harvest Table with Chef Pete Kerns
We are thrilled to welcome you to Tailwind for an evening of exquisite dining. We’re so excited to welcome Chef Pete back this year as someone who really understands the full circle of what it takes to bring quality produce to the table. Chef Pete is offering a meat and a vegetarian option and will accommodate dietary restrictions within his capacity.
This meal will be served indoors in a historical henhouse. Once a home to flocks of broilers and layers, it is now a flexible space with cozy aesthetics. This meal and the ambiance will be steeped in all things autumn and feature some of the best local vegetables and cuts of meats around. On the off handed chance the weather is mild, we might opt for al fresco dining; however this call will be made the week of and communicated with you!
About the Chef:
Pete Kerns is a dedicated farmer and passionate cook who brings years of hands-on experience growing sustainable, high-quality produce in Eastern Iowa. He’s an advocate for good food and thoughtful cooking, with a background that includes farm to school work through FoodCorps in Montana, and years of hosting monthly Taco Tuesday dinners at Turkey River Farm. Most recently, Pete spent five months cooking with the Rome Sustainable Food Project at the American Academy in Rome, building on a style that celebrates fresh harvests and shared meals. His cooking is rooted in simplicity, care, and a deep respect for the food he grows and serves.