Posts Tagged ‘restaurants’
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
Chefs. I’ve heard they have a lot of ego. And if you watch the ones on tv, it seems many even think they are God (sorry Gordon Ramsay but you DO NOT rule the world). Maybe that’s why they’ve decided to play God and take up the task of growing ingredients. A hot trend right now in the restaurant world is rooftop gardening with chefs taking command of the hoe. The Baltimore Sun recently reported on area chefs and restaurant owners who are taking advantage of outdoor square footage to cut costs and expedite the procurement of the very freshest ingredients by raising the roof – the roof’s potential that is. Some chefs have even invested in starting their own farms to provide for their restaurants. They say the venture is time consuming but worthwhile, even giving them a new sense of purpose and energy. “Being out there in the daytime and pulling a beet from the ground, knowing that you’re going to cook it that night, you feel kind of energized,” Jamie Forsythe, chef of b restaurant, said to the paper. “I come back so ready to cook, really just charged up to do it.”
And of course, these chefs want ” locavore bragging rights. In an era when the provenance of nearly every ingredient is promoted on menus, when house-made charcuterie, house-cured bacon and the like have become de rigueur, why not house-grown produce”? I gotta say, who can blame them. Putting insanely fresh, local foods on the table at low costs is something which is worth bragging about. If it makes their ego bigger, fine by me. More power to you, just keep up the good work.
-Jess
Al Morstein, owner of Regi's American Bistro in Baltimore shows off his 55 rooftop tomato plants for the Baltimore Sun.
Tags: baltimore, buy local, eat local, local foods, local ingredients, locavore, maryland, restaurants
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Thursday, August 12th, 2010
On a recent last-minute trip up to northern Virginia, I found myself stressed, sweltering, and rambunctious by early evening. I had been late making it to Dulles airport to pick-up some very valuable individuals on a day where the heat well surpassed the 100-degree mark. Then, it was fairly early for a Saturday night when everyone present just felt like going to bed. My bright idea? A drive into the city for some relaxation and culinary relief. That’s right. When everyone else is in bed and it’s still a sauna way past dark, why not head to Clarendon, Washington, D.C. for spoonfuls of Italian ice-cream? At Boccato Gelato & Espresso, the house is alive and full until late and the creamy, creative flavors offered are enough to put a smile on anyone’s face. After my dosage of dark chocolate gelato, I was able to fall asleep—completely satisfied—with the rest of them until daybreak.
-Serena
Boccato’s gelato is amazing in more ways than one.
Tags: buy local, dining, eat local, local foods, locavore, restaurants, slow foods, washington dc
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Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
When a friend moved to New York City last-minute last year, Cookshop Restaurant and Bar was the first place where she found solid, rewarding work. The Manhattan restaurant is all about serving locally sourced ingredients in tasty, filling dishes; it’s known for providing plates for brunch that are based on the expected, with an extra-hearty and homegrown twist. Whether you’re craving sausage links or huevos rancheros, you’ll find what it is you’re looking for; just know that that pork piece will be girthy and those eggs so rich in nutrients they’ll be bright orange. Portions are big, waiters are friendly, and conversations are loud. Cookshop is like a little two-by-four board of the country in a very, very big city. So eat up while you’re in town; it’ll be worth it.
-Serena
Cookshop, from the parking lot across the street.
Tags: buy local, eat local, local foods, local ingredients, new york, new york city, restaurants
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Friday, June 18th, 2010
Downtown Greensboro is a small hub for those who follow the local food movement and enjoy patronizing family-owned establishments. With Proximity’s hotel and bistro right off of the highway and both Natty Greene’s Brewing Co. and The Green Bean coffee shop located on the city’s main strip, options for eating and drinking abound.
Now that I’ve had the opportunity to return to the North Carolina town, I have two more locations to add to the mix: Riva’s Trattoria and Cheesecakes by Alex. Riva’s seems to be one of Greensboro’s top choices, as when I asked a series of locals where I could go to eat healthy, local, homemade food, everyone replied with “Riva’s.” On the night that I was there, I was also lucky enough to be presented with a prix-fixe menu upon which every item featured locally grown ingredients. Though I forewent the long version for a single dish of some hearty, Southern Italian-cooked Sausage and Peppers, I made sure that the meat had come from a local producer before ordering. Hearty and delicious. Cheesecakes by Alex is similarly well known for its homemade, hearty offerings. My favorite quirk of the company’s is its “Cheesecakes on a Stick” listing, where full-sized slices of the sumptuous dessert are stuck onto sticks and frozen like popsicles. Try one dipped with chocolate at no extra cost. Yes, please. I can’t wait to return to Greensboro.
-Serena
Riva’s Trattoria is a great place to dine on local ingredients in Greensboro.
Cheesecakes by Alex offers homemade desserts of all sorts.
Tags: buy local, desserts, eat local, greensboro, local foods, north carolina, restaurants
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Friday, April 2nd, 2010
A stay at The Inn at Meander Plantation is a sojourn in another century. During a weekend visit there not long ago, I felt as if I were truly part of Locust Dale, Virginia (or whichever township it may have been) in the year 1767, when the property’s main structure was originally built. Once home to a colleague of Former President Thomas Jefferson’s father, this central building and the smaller ones that surround it manage to be at once livable and relaxing in our more modern time while also deeply historic and traditional in style.
The Inn at Meander Plantation, from the road.
One of my all-time favorite things about bed and breakfasts like this one is their general provision of homemade, baked goods. I had a feeling that The Inn at Meander Plantation would follow suit with some sort of complimentary evening tea time and alas, it did. Though the process wasn’t a formal one, one of the waiters at The Inn was able to bring me a full plate of just-pulled-from-the-oven cookies when we checked in that afternoon. With a cup of coffee to wash them down, I was in homemade heaven.
Given that this particular inn is also well known for its in-house dining, I left enough room to enjoy the fixed menu, many-course meal that was to come. During cocktail hour, all of the wines that were served had been made in Virginia. As a miniature appetizer, I was slid a spoonful of baked (and regional) Maryland crab. And then, to top off the dinner (that I am leaving to your imagination) was a satisfyingly cut slice of the best, deeply chocolate fudge cake I may have ever tasted. My utmost kudos go to The Inn at Meander Plantation’s pastry chef. My salutes extend to she who sought out the local and regional foods.
A spoonful of baked, Maryland crab.
-Serena
Tags: buy local, eat local, local foods, locavore, restaurants, virginia
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Thursday, April 1st, 2010
An elegant brunch in fact. An elegant, EASTER brunch. That’s right. Easter is Sunday. Today is Thursday. Do the math. And if you don’t have Easter plans yet (like myself), then you might want to pack up the family and book a room or two at Charlottesville’s Boars Head Inn. Not only does the Inn have a delicious, locally-minded menu planned for Easter Brunch, but has plenty of activities for the family.
Don’t be the latest of the late worms, however. Reservations are getting scooped up fast (brunch is almost sold out), but you can still sneak you and your loved ones in if you have a room at the resort.
If you miss this feast, Boars Head has yet another spectacular menu planned for Mothers Day along with numerous other special dining events. You can also stop by the Old Mill Room for breakfast, lunch, or dinner 7 days a week. The good food will always be there. As will the tasty, local ingredients.
-Jess
I'll have all of the above.
Tags: buy local, charlottesville, eat local, restaura, restaurants, virginia
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Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
Chicago Chef Week is here!
For the extent of these seven days—ONLY—Midwestern culinary experts are coming together for Chicago Chef Week. That’s right. From Monday the 22nd of March through Sunday the 28th, 34 of the windy city’s best eateries are offering discounted prix-fixe menus. Online at Open Table, you can reserve a meal at the establishment of your desire. Lunches are being sold for $20 and dinners for $30. I could almost guarantee you that you’d never be able to find three courses for that kind of deal at any of these restaurants at any other time. So check out the listing. Open Table even has the eateries divided by neighborhood, type of cuisine, and price range outside of Chef Week for your convenience. With these kinds of specials, it’s hard to say, “no.”
-Serena
Tags: buy local, chicago, eat local, illinois, restaurants
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Thursday, March 18th, 2010
Produce served at restaurants is proven to be fresher than what’s in your home.
For the past year—almost two—America has seen a decrease in restaurant dining. With less cash in the pocket, average citizens have cut down on the luxury of eating out in favor of cooking at home. Well, after reading this article, Americans may want to budget in another way. In the midst of the modern depression, research was conducted to find if there was value in going out to eat beyond just convenience or the feelings of special treatment or celebration that such an experience conveys. The verdict? There is more to eating out than just those three things. In fact, much of the ingredients that are served at higher end restaurants are otherwise unobtainable by the average eater; if one wants to consume that unheard of vegetable or that delectable fungus, then one has to fine dine to do so. Food served at restaurants is also fresher than that which is for sale at your neighborhood supermarket. Really? Well, okay then. Those finds just made making dinner plans that much easier.
-Serena
Tags: buy local, eat local, local foods, locavore, restaurants
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Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
Petit Pois serves locally sourced, poached eggs.
While Fleurie [http://www.locallectual.com/component/option,com_sobi2/sobi2Task,sobi2Details/sobi2Id,2645/Itemid,66/] is where you’ll want to go in Charlottesville for French fine dining, its sister restaurant, Petit Pois, is perfect for casually upscale, bistro fare. Lately, Petit Pois is also my go-to for Sunday brunch, as the corner eatery serves rich dishes of locally sourced ingredients in proper portions. This past weekend I tried the “Poached Eggs on Rosemary Foccacia,” with marinated tomatoes and sharp cheese. Lightly drenched in a Hollandaise sauce, the Polyface Farm [http://www.locallectual.com/component/option,com_sobi2/sobi2Task,sobi2Details/sobi2Id,740/Itemid,66/] eggs were nutritious, delicious, and filling. For this coming weekend, I have my eye on the “Banana Stuffed Brioche French Toast,” topped with Virginian maple syrup. I can hardly wait.
-Serena
Tags: buy local, eat local, locavore, restaurants, virginia
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Monday, February 1st, 2010
I recently had my first ever blind date – not only with a guy, but a restaurant – one of the newest additions to the Charlottesville restaurant scene, Camino. In a location that has been turned over many times, I was skeptical about the newest addition, but was pleasantly surprised as soon as I saw the menu, that highlighted the restaurant’s devotion to local ingredients. My heart had already been won over. And anyone who’s a fan of locally sourced ingredients knows that its truly a challenge to mess up the flavors of these ingredients. And Camino definitely succeed in making some tasty dishes. We started with peppers stuffed with goat cheese. The peppers had a pickled taste to them that balanced quite nicely with the goat cheese, which I must admit, is not one of my favorite foods. However I could have had seconds of this appetizers. My date had some oysters on pasta (sorry, I dont eat seafood so I have no idea how to describe this) and I had a delicious penne pasta with mushrooms and a parmesan-like cheese. My pasta had flecks of red pepper on it which warmed my insides on the cold, rainy night better than any dish could.
While I dont know if my date and I will make it past our first date or so, this definitely will be the beginning of a beautiful relationship with Camino and their seasonal, Italian dishes.
-Jess
Warm, comforting pasta makes a first date more comfortable
Tags: buy local, eat local, local foods, locavore, restaurants, virginia
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