Jerad Nutall, the chef at Gatsby's Diner when they were featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, has joined West Sac's Vierra Farms as their on-site caterer.

I ran into Chef Jerad a few weeks ago when I was visiting Vierra Farms to load up on black watermelons. Chef Jared - who also runs the produce stand at Vierra Farms - told me that about 9 months ago, he left Gatsby's Diner after a nearly 4 year run and sold his interest in the restaurant. Running a restaurant didn't let him spend enough time with his young child, he explained.

Prior to working at Gatsby's, Chef Jerad worked at River City Brewing Co. (alongside Tuli and Restaurant Thirt13en chef Adam Pechal), Esquire Grill and Culinary Specialists, the catering arm of Mulvaney's B&L. In total, he's been cooking for more than two decades.

With his new job at Vierra Farms, Chef Jerad has started doing special Farm to Fork Brunches. (What's more farm to fork than eating at a farm?) The first brunch drew 50 diners, despite only having a week to publicize the event.

The next brunch will be Sunday, Aug. 11 from 10 to 2 p.m. Advance tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for children, with 50 percent of the proceeds benefiting the River City Food Bank. Those purchasing the day of will pay an additional $5.  The price of the brunch also offers either sangria of mimosas.

While the menu's not online, Chef Jerad described one dish that I can't wait to try. As his take on ketchup and eggs, he plans on starting with an heirloom tomato, scooping out enough to crack an egg inside and cooking that over a wood fire. (Note: the menu's not online so I don't know if it's changed. But even if it did, it gives you an idea of the creativity behind his dishes.) Actually, due to space constraints, the entire brunch will be cooked over a wood fire.

While we're talking about Vierra Farms, they've also become an event space. You can hold either an indoor event inside an old farmhouse or a larger, outdoor event on their giant lawn, where they can set up picnic tables or long "Italian-style" tables.

If you can't make it to the brunch, they're planning a Pre-Harvest Hoedown on Saturday, Aug. 31.

For more information, visit VierraFarms.com and for Chef Jerad's catering company, visit Facebook.com/FlyingBoarCatering.

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