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Topics of the Month:
Restaurants & Eating Out Locally
Many of us would love to see more local food on the menu of the restaurants we know and love. And many chefs and business owners support buying local and could use your support and encouragement!
This month's Monadnock Localvore E-Newsletter highlights both local and national initiatives that are encouraging us all to choose locally grown food when we eat out. By 2011, let's make sure Monadnock Region Restaurants are acknowledged for "Getting Local on the Menu."
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Fifth Annual Localvore Potluck
Monadnock
Localvores
Sunday, September 26, 5 - 7:30pm
Stonewall Farm, Keene
Bring a dish that features locally grown food and join in on the fun. Don't forget your dancing shoes for jiving with the Cold River Ranters, "hot gonzo primitive folk jive" music. This is a family-friendly event so bring kids (of all ages). For more information, contact monadnocklocalvore@gmail.com or call 603-756-2988 ext.116.
The Localvore Potluck is the culminating event for the Feast On This Film Festival (see details below). |
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"Farm Partner" of the Month:
By Jan Sevene, Monadnock Localvore Project
Elm City Restaurant & Brewery
Debra Rivest
Colony Mill Marketplace
222 West Street
Keene, New Hampshire 03431
603-355-3335
As purveyors, farmers appreciate support from related businesses-our local restaurants. An increasing number are taking advantage of the wonderful fresh meats and produce available in our community. Elm City Restaurant and Brewery in Keene is proud to be one of them. Owner Debra Rivest claims the benefits work both ways.
"If you do the right thing, it will come back to you," Rivest says. "It's worked out for us, as well." She-who has sought local products for years-believes in buying local for two major reasons: 1) to support other local businesses, and 2) "...a huge reason," to improve the environment, minimizing the impact of long-distance buying, and supporting those farmers applying sustainable business practices.
Just a few examples of Elm City Restaurant and Brewery's support: its coffee is purchased at Prime Roast, whose aromatic imported beans are roasted right here in Keene. "All spreads are made here. Our seasonal berries are from Monadnock Berries in nearby Troy, New Hampshire. "Some are from my own backyard," Rivest says. She loves hearing from people excited about the food. One usual customer comment is, "I love that maple vinaigrette dressing!" Her standard reply, "You know that was made here with a local product (in this case, syrup from Stuart & John's Sugar House in Westmoreland)." Peaches and apples are the fall focus. Look for seasonal specials that feature these fruits.
Bo-Riggs/Sullivan, beef burgers; Echo Farm/Hinsdale, pudding; Hijinks Farm/Jaffrey, vegetables; Hodge Podge Farm/Gilsum, eggs; and Tracie's Community Farm/ Fitzwilliam, herbs and vegetables, are just a few of many farms that supply local restaurants. By supporting these restaurants, you support your farmers and your community. If there is a favorite local food you'd like to see on their menus, let them know.
Other restaurants supporting local foods:
Fritz Belgian Fries
45 Main Street
Keene, NH 03431
603-357-6393
www.fritzbelgianfriesrestaurantnightlife.com
The Fitzwilliam Inn
62 NH Rte. 119 W
Fitzwilliam, NH 03447
(603) 585-9000
www.fitzwilliaminn.com
Sunflowers
21 Main Street
Jaffrey NH 03452
603-593-3303
sunflowers@webryders.net
The Inn at East Hill Farm
460 Monadnock St.
Troy, NH 03465
603-242-6495
www.east-hill-farm.com
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Product of the Month:
Nila's Chutneys
From their Website: Nila has been making chutneys for over 30 years for family and friends, and for the last few years we have been adapting chutneys to use with western foods and cooking methods. Our move to New England inspired Nila to start using local ingredients, such as rhubarb and blueberries, not found in India to broaden our horizons and create new tastes and recipes. Nila's Chutney was recently featured in the Keene Sentinel's Food Section & the Ledger Transcript.
Available at the Hannah Grimes MarketplaceNila & Roy of Nila's Chutneys at MFCC's
2009 Matchmaker Event:
Connecting With Local Producers  | |
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Recipe of the Month:
Courgettes Rapees:
Grated Sauteed Zucchini
By Katrina
Hall at http://shesinthekitchen.blogspot.com
One of my favorite ways to eat zucchini is to grate it, drain it, and quickly saute it in a frothy foam of butter and a little olive oil. Every forkful is buttery and smooth - a delicious side dish with chicken, or fish, beef or pork. But it can also stand alone with a little fluffy rice on the side, or nestled up to an omelet. Or IN an omelet. Don't skip the draining! Getting rid of some of the excess zucchini water is what makes this so good.
To make: (One medium zucchini makes two servings)
Grated, drained, squeezed zucchini (one zuc drained made about a cup)
2 T. unsalted butter
1 T. olive oil
1-2 T. minced shallots or scallions (optional)
Trim the washed zucchini at both ends and, using a box grater, grate the zucchini into a colander. Sprinkle a half teaspoon of salt over the grated zucchini, place over a plate or bowl, and let drain for five or ten minutes. When ready to cook, scoop up handfuls of the grated zucchini and squeeze until fairly dry. Melt the butter with the olive oil in a skillet, then add the shallots or scallions if using. Stir for a minute or two , or until the butter foams up. Add the zucchini and stir. After a minute or so, cover the pan and lower heat to medium low. Keep cover on for about five minutes, then remove from heat. Before serving, taste for seasoning and add a tiny bit more butter, gently swirling it into the zucchini.
Although I learned this technique in the restaurant I worked in, you can also find it in Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Vol. II, by Julia Child (page 369).
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Localvore Classifieds*
Veggies and Local Products for Sale: We have an abundance of tomatoes right
now, including bulk pricing for canning or freezing. We also have
weekly fall shares available for 10 weeks beginning October 8th. The
farm store is open daily from sun up to sun down. We're stocked full of
tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, zucchini, beans,
beets, carrots, mesclun, lettuce mix, herbs, cut flowers, chard and kale
as well as other local goods. For more info contact: Tracie's Community Farm, 72 Jaffrey Rd, Fitzwilliam, right off of route
12, http://www.traciesfarm.com, 603-209-1851 for directions and more info.
Local Business For Sale: Terra
Fructi, Cheshire County's hottest gourmet and medicinal mushroom farm,
is for sale! This is a turnkey business - all start-up has been
completed. Just walk right in and start growing mushrooms! Please check our website for further details. Parties
interested in joining the local foods movement and building on the
success of Terra Fructi should contact Emily at 717-756-3859 or
802-869-4496, or email terrafructi@gmail.com.
Open House: First Course Culinary Training Program invites anyone who needs employable skills for a tour of our training facility, a bowl of apple crisp & a cup of coffee - September 16, 3pm, 52 Dunbar Street
Keene, 603-352-1385, RSVP appreciated.
*The Hannah Grimes Center is posting these classifieds as a service to readers and does not imply endorsement. Add your own classified ad: Send a 20-30 word description of your service or product that is directly supporting entrepreneurs to jen@hannahgrimes.com. Make sure to include the best way to contact you. |
Monadnock Menus: Getting the Word Out
Monadnock Farm & Community Connection
Monadnock
Menus is a new initiative for farmers, restaurants, chefs - AND YOU. The goal is to create a community where local food is
easy to find by identifying restaurants that are serving local food. Fill out a Monadnock Menus Request Card every time you eat out - and leave the card on the table with your tip, or give it directly to a manager.
Where can you find this card? Request cards and informational fliers are at:
-Keene Public Library (on their events bulletin board)
-Keene Chamber of Commerce
-Stonewall Farm's farm stand
-Stonewall Farm's booth at the Saturday farmer's market
-Peterborough Chamber of Commerce
Farm to Restaurant Online Directories
Local Harvest
New Hampshire Farm to Restaurant
Urban Farm Magazine
Vital Communities/Valley Food & Farms
Dine Out for Farms Week: October 10-16
Posted at The American Farmland Trust
Be a friend of farms and join the growing movement of restaurants and consumers who support a sustainable future for America's farms. Join us at the table as we Dine out for Farms™ October 10-16 in a week-long event to raise funds and awareness for American Farmland Trust's programs that support farms and help save the land that sustains us.
Check out 5 Ways You Can Join Us at the Table to Save America's Farms!
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