SUNDAYS AT THE RANCHO

‘Two restaurateurs invite old and new friends to this Homestead, Florida, farm for a family-style supper that celebrates the land

- BY BETSY CRIBB WATSON

CHEF Niven Patel and business partner Mohamed "Mo" Alkassar's first real attempt at hosting a community dinner at Patel's Homestead, Florida, farm should have been a waterlogged disaster. "It wasn't just rain," says Alkassar, who recalls the sudden downpour with a hearty laugh. "Our staff was drenched, and the guests were drenched. The band was super wet. We were like, 'It's the Titanic. Just keep playing!" "Somehow, in spite of the veritable monsoon, Patel produced a farm-to-table feast (albeit a slightly watery one) on a wood-fired grill beneath a rickety tent. Alkassar remembers making the rounds apologizing to patrons. To his surprise, folks voiced their encouragement rather than complaints. "People were so happy to be in that setting that they were forgiving," he says.