I'm Going Local Elsewhere...

I'm moving. No not actually, but the blog is. I'm moving to Wordpress. You can find me and keep up with me at my new location! Check me out in all my Local Glory!

http://qtfangirlgoeslocal.wordpress.com/

See you there.

New England's Kitchen

Part of going local is becoming more aware of your community and your surroundings. You don't have to stop eating out just because you're trying to eat more local foods. Because the movement to go local has become so strong there are more and more restaurants that are going local just like us. Think about it, chefs what the freshes foods available to them - and what is fresher than what is right in their own backyard. As I said many restaurants are embracing the movement and its getting easier and easier to finds such places.

In Worcester there is Armby Abbey, who sources local foods from Central Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. Their Menu changes to to fit what is within season and that they can source, it also sites where to food comes from. Along with foods they site highlights local wineries and spirits. In 2009 they swept in 13 categories in Worcester's Magazine's Best of Worcester. Check out their links page to finds more sources for your move to local foods.

In Rhode Island there is The Liberty Elm Diner, they believe in using local and regional sustainable produces. They serve breakfast and lunch and their menu sites options for vegetarian as well as vegans. Their eggs are local and meats are uncured and all natural.You find their local suppliers on their links page, which should be a great source for my RI friends. Also check out Slow Food: Rhode Island. For something a little more upscale and for dinner check out New Rivers: An American Bistro. The also support sustainable agriculture, and purchase organic produce whenever possible. Their menu change with the availability of seasonal produce and they list some of their vendors at the bottom of their menu page. 

In the Boston area, to bring it back to some of my past homes visit Ten Tables in Jamaica Plain (they also have a location in Cambridge). They were awarded the Best on Boston 2009: Romantic and Affordable. Its a very European style restaurant which works with Parker's Farm and Heron Farms when season permits. They do tasting menus, for vegetarian and vegans (24 hour notice required).

In Needham you'll find Sweet Basil. Keep in mind Sweet Basil is a cash only establishment, which welcomes you to bring your own wine and beer (for a $5.00 Corkage charge). I've heard amazing things about this place and is always packed. The note at the bottom it's a first come first serve policy - so order good and fast.

In Foxboro check out Tastings: Wine and Bar Bistro they too believe in the freshest ingredients and have a chef tasting menu. Their Menu features a New England Cheese Platter with cheese from Massachusetts and Vermont.

In Western Massachusetts stop in at Tabellas. They are committed to locally grown organic vegetables, dairy and cheese, and humanely raised/slaughtered meats and eggs which constitutes 80% of  what they offer. The support the regional and local economy. Their Farm list is a great source for local farms in Western Massachusetts. They also have a CSR (Community Supported Restaurant). Members accounts are yearly pre-purchased meals, prepared foods and gift certificates. Your Membership dollars are held in account form, at your disposal to spend as you choose. They honor a yearly purchase for 18 months. Interesting concept if you're more the eat out type then picking up at a farmers marketing and cooking it type.

Next time you have a babysitter or need a place for a special event check out some of the local options that are going local! Fresh Farms.org is a great source to find restaurants in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut that are sourcing local foods. Pick up your fork and taste the land around you!

Toto, We're Not in Kansas Anymore...

I think there is a misconception regarding "Local" food. Recently I was asked how I knew that the foods we were purchasing were "organic". I was taken back for a moment by this question, and the realized that most of the people I tell about our move to go "Local" ask the same or similar questions. "Local" food isn't necessarily "organic".

What is the difference? A food labeled organic is required to be grown, raised, or produced using federally mandated rules. The standards outline the guidelines, practices, allowances and forbidden materials.Only USDA Certified-organic foods can use the word "organic" in the actual product name. Though most people think "organic" means "sustainable" that is not the case. Organic farms may fall in the acceptable definition of sustainable agriculture, however Organic products can come from large industrial farms which are unsustainable.Okay to lets break it down - Why to people eat organic foods?

I asked Mad Dog what he thought about my question. He of course asked me if I wanted the "real reason" verses why people say they do. I said I know why most people eat "organic" - let's be honest it's trendy! It's the new black, just like "Green" is. People want to get onto a movement and be in the know, but for people who really want to be healthier and think about the environment to a point, they eat organic because they think it's healthier for them, for the animals and the earth.  I mentioned sustainable above - "Sustainable agriculture is a way of raising and growing food that is healthier for consumers and animals, does not harm the environment, is humane to workers, respects animals, provides a fair wage to the farmer, and supports and enhances rural communities." (Sustainable Table.com) I think most people when they think about it are looking for sustainable options. I think the work "organic" brings thoughts of fresher, healthier and most importantly the small farm worked by farmers who care about their products, not the big industries that are moving towards an "organic" way because it is the tend. Remember "Organics" is the fasting grown segment of the food industry, increasing 20% annually.(Food, Inc.)

So we have "Organic", "Sustainable" and then "Local". What is "Local"? On average, your food travels at least 1,500 miles from farm to table. "Local" has been defined by many people and all differently. Some have defined it "as close to home (or wherever you are) as possible, and the closer the better" (Amy Cotler author of The Locavore Way), others have defined it as 100-mile radius (Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon authors of Plenty) and others take it to an extreme and only eat from their own backyard. How every you define "Local" is up to you, there are not government guidelines and what I believe is "local" is my personal opinion. For Mad Dog and I we are using the 100 miles model as a base, but I think we both would be happy to remain within New England.

We are going "Local", however in going "Local" we have gone "organic" and "sustainable" because of the sources we have found. Mad Dog and I have different reasons for our local movement, but it all comes back to one thing - Family.

Anyone who knows Mad Dog, knows he's a card carrying member of the "Tin-Foil Hat" Society (sorry - I was corrected by Mad Dog. They don't have cards, because then you could track them easier.) If you don't know what I'm talking about - he is a conspiracy theorist. Yes, we have packs of survival gear ready to go at a moments notice, we have survival book upon survival book in our library and so much more if the advanced society we live in gets knocked back to medieval times. I make fun of him for this all the time, but he honestly wants us and the kids to have sources if we were to have to live "off the grid".

For me...I just like the whole idea and concept. I like the idea of going to the farm, knowing the people help put the food on my table. I like the kids seeing the farm, the animals and the farmers. Yes it's healthier and better for us, but most of all it brings us closer together. We take time together to go to the farms, find the sources and learn about our area. I don't want the kids to think meat or vegetables come from the grocery store - I want them to know where it all begins. Part of me wants them to be prepared and have good habits for when I'm not around, but most importantly I want them to enjoy the fresh delicious foods we have right here in our region.  I want us to support our community and get to know it better.

What should you do? Think about what is important to you and your family. If you don't want the fertilizers, pesticides and antibiotics - think "organic" and/or "local organic". If you're concerned about your health, the health of the animals, harm to the environment, the workers, farmer and community - think "sustainable". If your community, your state and knowing where your food comes from - think "local". You might find that you can get all three if you look hard enough, but regardless stay try to your reasons why. Ask questions. Talk to people. Explore your region. Your might find that you don't have to go any further than your own 100-mile "backyard"!

Massachusetts Steps Up For Our Children's Health

This isn't honestly about Local eating, but I want to spot light it here. There are days I can't stand Massachusetts, but I have to stand up and say thank you for some things we have done right here: Education, State Wide Healthcare, Gay Marriage and now I'm glad to see Massachusetts is moving towards healthier eating habits for our children.

The Slow Food USA Blog: A Local School Food Victory in Massachusetts

Vote with Your Fork

This evening Mad Dog and I sat down to watch a DVD we got last week from Netflix. Honestly I wasn't sure about watching it, knowing the subject matter. It was one of the most horrifying and sad films I have watched in a very long time. It was a documentary by Robert Kenner called Food, Inc. (producer Eric Schlosser author of Fast Food Nation) Am I being over dramatic? In someways maybe I am being, but what I watched tonight only reinforced everything I'm trying to do by going Local.

The film attempts to lift the veil of the industrial food industry. Take a moment to think about your local supermarket. There are some 47,000 products in the average supermarket, but the secret is that those products only come from a handful of producers. Through acquisitions the major players in the food industry has become fat from those companies we think are small independent, safer and even organic companies (Organics is the fastest growing food segment, increase 20% annually). This small group of corporations have a complete hold on the food industry, while still creating the illusion that the food we eat and feed our family still comes form those iconic images of the American farm.

Our food is grown fatter and faster to suit the needs of an industry. White meat and chicken breasts are preferred, so animals are rearranged to suit the needs of the customer. There for we get the Pamela Andersons of chicken from the industrial producers of chicken. Cows are feed corn based feed, which they are not biologically designed to digest - why? Because Corn in cheap (30% of the land in the U.S. is used for planting corn) and it bulks up cows faster. The result are new stains of E. coli bacteria which sickens approximatively 73,000  Americans a year. That's just wrong! Isn't it? If it is why are we doing it? The high increase in processed foods derived from corn has created an America facing an epidemic level of diabetes in adults (1 in 3 Americans born after 2000 will contract early onset diabetes) and an alarming increase of obesity in our children. Our nation's children are the first generation who are not expected to live as long as their parents. Who needs terrorists when we have our own ignorance, arrogance and self to blame for killing America.

To watch Food, Inc. you see big industry (food industry that is) they way they should be seen. Not only are they abusing our environment, but  the animals, vegetables, the workers, the farmers and our bodies with their lack of standards and concerns for the cash that flows when we shop at the supermarket. I recommend watching the documentary. I am hoping to pick up the book. Mad Dog is pretty sure this will push me over the edge to never eat anything I don't know the origin of. I don't think that is completely possible, but I does make me look at things differently. Like the fast food commercial that came on just after we shut off the DVD on TV. That burger didn't look good to me, it looked like the ammonia cleaned filler mixed with 1 to 100 cows.

One last thought...something that I loved from Food, Inc. - Each of us still has the ability to vote on this issue every day - at breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

Today was a another wonderful day of hunting down what is right in our own backyards. This morning we headed out to a visit to Adams Farm, known in our circles as the "Meat Farm". This trip up to Athol included a stop at Smith's Country Cheese, a little bit off the beaten path, but worth the field-trip. Adams Farm does carry a small selection of Smith's products, but this meant we had a little more to choose from.

Smith's Country Cheese has a small retail store and gift shop where you can purchase not only their wonderful cheeses, but they have a selection of their beef on hand as well. Along with their own cheeses they carry several other Dairy and Farm products. We picked up Smith's Havarti Dill, Smoked Gouda (so yummy) and two of their Gouda Spreads (Garlic and Sundried Tomato & Basil), along with two cheeses from other dairies.

They carry Great Hill Dairy's Great Hill Blue which I'm looking forward to cooking with next weekend. I love blue cheese and I was scouting out sources here in New England. Great Hill Blue is located in Marion, MA. Lex liked their Cheese because their logo has cows on it. Smith's also carries Boggy Meadow Farm cheeses. Boggy Meadow Farm is located in Walpole, NH which is within our 100 miles (Thank God!). They make their cheese twice a week by hand in a barn across from their Dairy Parlor. We picked up a Baby Swiss Cheese, which I'm dying to break into.

Along with the cheese Mad Dog found two books in the gift shop, one for me, one for him. Mine was The Locavore Way by Amy Cotler. Flipping through it I found some great stuff, and I'm looking forward to sharing it with you here. Amy Cotler is local to Massachusetts stemming from Western, MA. She sites sources and a recommended reading and film list in the book which sights Plenty, and Food Inc. (which I have form Netflix to watch). Mad Dog's book is a little more "Tin-Foil" Hattish for me. It's a surviving a disaster, but does have some great sources such as "How to Make Cheese". Should come in handy!

Three new sources and a lot of cheesy goodness and two great books. We're looking forward to exploring more of New England has to offer in the way of cheese, and we're both planning on taking a Cheese Making class in the near future.

A Trip to the Bucket

Yesterday we ventured out in the rain to explore the Pawtucket Winter Farmer's Market at Hope Artiste Village. The Hope Artiste Village on Main Street, was the largest Mill restoration in Rhode Island. The building is beautiful, and I did think it was the perfect place for the Farmer's Market, making the trip in the pouring rain not such a big deal. As for the Market itself, I have been thinking about this since we left there. In fact Mad Dog and I talked about it on our ride to my Mom's afterwards. What is the one word that would sum up the Market?

"Overwhelming". Yes, overwhelming and for numerous reasons. The Market is more of a social event (tracing back to the Markets of our ancestors) for most of those who visit it, this could have been because it was raining out, but there were a lot of people hanging around, chit chatting and not shopping the booths. This makes shopping difficult for those people who have a purpose or newcomers to the Market. The space is not meant for strollers, so if you have little ones and they can't walk it might be a good idea to find someone who can watch them. The crowd makes it hard to maneuver through it, I find it amazing that I'm saying this since we have attended multiple comic conventions with strollers larger than the mini-umbrella stroller we took here and didn't have any issue.

The Market is laid out the same way weekly, which makes it helpful, if  you know who you want to visit. I liked this. It also made it possible for me to find out who I had talked to and purchased from, since I had a very hard time talking to anyone and collecting informations. We got there around 12:30ish and some of the people I talked with didn't have information (such as business cards) left or in some cases there was no information about the farm or business at all. This was not a plus for first time visitors to the Market. I want to learn as much as I can about the people we are doing business with and this just didn't work for me. The people I did talk to were very friendly and helpful regarding their businesses and products.

A few other thing to know about the Market. Most of the vendors take cash only, however the Market supports a program called Fresh Bucks. The main booth a the start of the Market is equipped with a wireless credit card machine. For a small fee you can have the swipe your card for a designated amount, in return you will receive Fresh Buck Coins. The coins are in $1.00 and $5.00 increments, which can be used at the booths through out the Market. Using the $5.00 coins will result in receiving change from the farms and vendors in cash, which makes it easy to continue with your shopping through the market.  Several of the vendors were nice enough to explain the process to people asking about credit cards, but Mad Dog found that if you asked most of the vendors said they just took cash and didn't mention the service. We don't know if this means not all the vendors except the Fresh Buck Coins or some choose to discourage the use with their business.

The Market has a variety of products: seafood, meats, cheeses, yogurts, bread, pastries, jams, honey, sauces, veggies, fruits, plants, eggs, herbs and cider. I recommend walking the length of the Market before making any purchases. See that people have and prices things out. If you have little ones be prepared to buy them something sweet, and watch them. There are lots of vendors and stuff tends to be at kids level, so keep an eye on them letting them know to ask before touching. A lot of vendors experience the "Grab and No" - child grabs a product and the parent says "No" to buying it. Most of these products are food, and not necessarily wrapped individually, so a grabbing hand ruins the product and makes it unsellable.

What did we purchase? We bought sweet potatoes and shallots from Hopkins Farm, in North Scituate, RI. They were very friendly and had a variety of winter vegetables. They also excepted and talked up Fresh Bucks and offered bags if needed. I moved on to Schartner Farms of Exeter, RI where I purchased a bag of Rye Flour. Lex found his way to Cutie Pies where for a $1.00 he tasted a Chocolate Irish Cream pie. He wore it all over his face. I managed to taste cheese from Narragansett Creamery which were wonderful, but the sampling at their table makes it very difficult to speak with any of the many people they have on hand to assist customers. I ran into a woman who was carrying a container of Honeycomb, something that Mad Dog has been dying to try for a while now. She was nice enough to point me in the right direction where I found Aquidneck Honey. There I spoke with Jeffrey Mello, Bee Keeper. After speaking with him and listening to his food porn, he explained how I should enjoy my first sample of honeycomb in detail. I purchased a package of cut honeycomb. Which we enjoyed that evening exactly the way he told us to: get a good artisan bread (we picked up at the market from Olga's Cup & Saucer) sliced thin, spread the honeycomb on it and then sprinkle Asiago Cheese over it. Place in an oven at 200 degrees for 20 minutes. Enjoy it with a nice glass of Merlot Wine. He was right - it was amazing. Mad Dog and I had that treat after the kids went to bed.

Our last stop before leaving was at The Cupcakerie owned by Kristin Brennan. I picked up a mini variety pack from here for $7.50. We sampled some of them at my Mom's and then later at home. Our favorites were The Red Elvis (red velvet), the Lemon Drop, Cookies N' Cream and Wake Up and Smell the Cupcake (mocha with espresso cream ).

Overall the Market is completely worth it, you just need to be prepared:

1. Bring your own bags.
2. Bring Cash. 
3. Make a list, but be prepared to be flexible. 
4. Don't go hungry!
5. Shop around, and ask questions.
6. If you have little, little ones (infants) you're best bet is to use a Baby Bjorn or sling, otherwise leave them at home.