I work in the restaurant industry and the current trend is toward buying local - organically grown fruit & vegetables, farm raised meat & poultry, fish from nearby shores and cottage industry dairy products including eggs, milk and goat cheeses from area farms. There's also local bee keepers and their honey, artisan bakeries and maple syrup from the forests we hike through. More and more, local chefs are designing their menus around what's available and what's in season, in their own back yards - mine, of course, being Connecticut.I've just discovered buyCTgrown.com, a website with a comprehensive list of local resources, including farms, markets and restaurants. It provides a map with photos, bio, directions and web links. No need to be a professional chef - fresh, organic products are available to us all.
So take a Sunday drive in the country - and do your grocery shopping!
Sam Hammer Holcomb Farm, West Granby
Known for buying local:
Chef Jason Collin
Firebox Restaurant, Hartford
Chef Christopher Prosperi
Metro Bis, Simsbury
Still River Cafe, Eastford
Chef Kara Brook's Carrot Cupcakes
33 comments:
Never been to CT... maybe I need to stop by when I'm on the East Coast again.
So important for so many different reasons.
I'd like a cupcake, please
A trip the farm looks like fun! Beautiful pictures...There are many restaurants here in Portland that are along on this trend - I think it's great!
Hi Fifi - hope you're having a good one!
Diva - sorry, I already ate the cupcake ;-)
RD - I know that you Pacific Northwesters have been earthy/crunchy for years and are way ahead of us.
What a great idea...sounds like a great site too.
Love all the pictures of the farm. My mom's brother owned a small dairy farm in NY. I remember visiting one day and the smell and sights were very overwhelming. Beautiful pic of the cupcake. Great post! :)
You forgot all about our fabulous CT WINE! It really is the best way to support the local economy, and you'll feel good afterwards (for many reasons!)
Connecticut is the center of the universe. But we needn't tell anybody; it's enough that we know.
Connecticut markets are wonderful. Shopping local helps local farms and brings the best produce to the table. Here's a list of CT farmers' markets:
Farmers' Markets
This is such a great trend! Not only does it mean restaurants are able to offer tasty & healthier menus, but they're supporting local producers. It's better for the community in every way. Everyone wins. Especially the diners of those restaurants! It's a trend that is also happening here in Australia which I'm very happy about :)
I was going to ask for that cupcake, but I see from a comment above that you've already eaten it. Phooey!
this is awesome! I love eating organic food, I don't know if it is in my head or not, but my skin is better when I do... so thanks for the link : )
Thanks for stopping by my blog, your blog seems to be very educational for me...I always want to know what is going on around the state, I like going on mini vacations around the state. Why go elsewhere...it is so beautiful here. I am going to add your blog to my bloglines so I can stay updated!
Marie Louise~ Great blog! Thanks for checking out my blog too! Nice to hear from another CT girl.
Today I pick-up my first CSA share from Bristol's Organic farm in Canton. I can't wait for the challenge to discover how to prepare lots of different veggies out of my norm (carrots and green beans ;) )
Off topic... Marie Louise is a family name on my dad's side. There have been quite a few colorful ML's in my history.
Gruppie Girl - how far from Hartford are you? There's lots going on there - you should come into town.
Marie Louise is a French name - is your dad French or perhaps Canadian?
Harriet - I'll have to get some of these cupcakes as everyone is lusting after them. Not sure how well they'll travel though...
Portland is so big on this right now. Which makes me happy because I love the local products. What a wonderful site you stumbled upon. It actually makes me want to visit your home state even more.
This is a really great post -- love that you highlight some local companies as well. Was just at the farmers' market yesterday for some strawberries. Thanks for your comment -- I know it was a while ago, but I'm a little behind :)
It's very engaging to read about farmers markets...I dream about our place becoming something more than just a Christmas tree farm...and a trip to the farmers market opens up the ideas!!
The cupcake looks delicious and I see that you did eat it! Good!!
Organics are catching up here, though sadly many people arent eating them. We try to most of the time because it's limited choices and limited shops...sadly. Wonderful post and have a great weekened :)
I'm waiting for Saturday, to hit up my local farmer's market...thanks for the inspiration!
Buying local is the way to go and organic if possible.
Wonderfully chic looking places to dine.
Bonjour Marie Louise,
A restaurant in Louisville is opening next door to me that specializes in Kentucky Grown. I can't wait! It's a Good Thing!
Can't believe you saw Eric live!
My dream, but he never comes around here :(
Thanks for visiting my blog,
nice place here and best of luck with your new quest!!!
i love your blog. we live in nyc and like to go to ct, but don't always know where to go other than obvious places.
I love that restaurants are picking up on this. It's so important with the price of everything going up to support your local growers! We love the farmer's markets here in St. Louis.
I love this trend toward buying (and eating) local. It's so important. -Julia
ooh ..... looks so refreshing. It would be good to go there to get a breath of fresh air.
Response:
Hello Everyone! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Sounds like we should all have one big picnic! I am so happy the summer season is here. I barely eat a tomato all winter long - definitely looking forward to home grown produce like the rest of you.
Robin - typical of you to have wine tip of mind! (was actually saving that topic for it's own post - you always beat me to it!)
what a beautiful post! your photos are lovely and make me want to hop on a plane and head to Connecticut! i'd love to try and eat local...a bit more work than just hitting the grocery store, but worth it!
Great topic! I know Sam Hammer pretty well. I did some volunteer work for the last few years in which we would pick up donated produce from Holcumb Farm to transport to Foodshare.
I love going to the regional market in Hartford, there is also a great local farmers market off of the Wilber Cross/Merritt Parkway that is on the weekdays rather than the weekend - it always makes for fresh veggies and fruit at dinner time. I grew up working at a local farm stand in Enfield, CT and there is something about fresh local produce that makes life better!
Chuck
thanks for dropping by! i've just come across your blog for the first time too...and i must say, it's really neat! great photos, well-thought-out posts...i'm having a fab time :)
enjoy your local organic produce (i should be so lucky to be able to get that here!)! and all the best on finding ways to feed your soul...you're doing pretty well, i think!
We are lucky here, everything is local, which makes it cheap and ofcourse good for the world we are living in :) Great post!
Larry - thanks for stopping by. You'll have to tell Sam that I borrowed his photo if you see him. I have been to the Holcomb Farm but never met him - will have to seek him out the next time I am there.
I just didn't know anything about ANY of this... So glad that I stopped by...
Your comments that you left for me were so inspiring.. I had heard that 40 was going to be a great age, but I guess you have to live it to know it... And I tell you, it is good.. Kayce
Marie Louise Miron. The family came down from Canada and ended-up staying in Webster, MA when their cart wheel broke.
The family had a stage in their living room. Pople came from all around to see the Mirons perform.
Marie Louise performed all over New England singing and acting with her father who spent time on Broadway.
Marie Louise's brother Cap't Joe dressed like a pirate and hung out with the likes of Hemmingway and a few other famous guys (names are escaping me). He spent his time sailing around the Keys and bootleging. A doccumentary is being made about him and his cronies from Worcester, MA.
In Grandma Marie Louise's later years she sang and played the piano on the top floor of a gay bar in Boston (the exclusive floor). Her funeral was packed with all of "her boys" as she called them. The boys all broke champagne glasses on her casket.
Needless to say, Marie Louise was a hoot!
As for my much more boring self...Yes! I am close to Hartford to. Maybe 15 minutes west of the city.
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