Out & About

Super interesting article in the NY Times recently about Find the Farmer, a company whose goal is to help us figure out where our food comes from, and who farmed it.

Super interesting article in the NY Times recently about Find the Farmer, a company whose goal is to help us figure out where our food comes from, and who farmed it.

It would be hard to overstate what Lucia's - and it's owner/founder Lucia Watson - have meant to the Twin Cities food and dining landscape for the past 20-plus years. Since it's inception, Lucia's has been not only one of the city's finest restaurants, but also one of it's most active members of the local, sustainable food community.

2 days after I placed my order, my MixMyGranola.com custom-mixed granola arrived in the mail. I quickly opened the box, revealing a sleek white container emblazoned with the company logo. I had already been impressed by the selection of ingredients on the website (including organic muesli, dried papaya, organic flax seeds, and chocolate espresso beans) and the packaging of the food. Now I just needed to try what was inside.

Peace Coffee is a terrific Minneapolis company committed to organic, fair trade beans. Here's what it says on their site:

I've made no secret of my love for beef jerky, and I've recently got my hands on a new favorite: Big Bull Brand beef jerky. I found it at my local Kowalski's in South Minneapolis, but you can order it online or visit the Big Bull beef jerky store in St. Paul, MN. Big Bull offers 15 flavors of beef jerky, including Jalapeno Six Pepper, Honey Maple, and "Texican." At $8.92 for 3 ounces, it's not cheap. I tried Big Bull (Teriyaki and Habanero flavors) because its packaging tells me that:

I've been excited to write about Minneapolis' Common Roots Cafe for a while. I love so many things about the place, including their swanky logo, the building facade, the fact that they compost, the vegetarian options, the delectable pastries (from mostly - if not entirely - local, sustainable ingredients), and the fact that they are so involved in the neighborhood. Last week they provided free bagels, muffins, and scones to nearly 50 families at my boy's elementary school. All of the food was locally grown and made.

I realize I'm going out on a limb here, but I've organized a dinner out for those of us who want to try some local, sustainable food at a great a Twin Cities restaurant in the company of friends and like-minded eaters. I'm hoping that talking with the chef and exploring the restaurant, its philosophies, and its processes will be part of the fun as well. Here's the pitch:

Thanks to Hidden Stream Farm's mailing letter, I just got wind of Tour de Farm, which is the new way I'm thinking of organizing my summer.

Great article from the NY Times about how renowned chef Alice Waters (founder of Chez Panisse and local food advocate) is improving the food at the American Academy in Rome by incorporating - what else? - local, regional, sustainable choices.