The Common Sense of Eating Fresh

Located as we are in the heart of the mid-Atlantic region, we have access to a wide variety of delicious food from independent farms . We routinely source many of our fresh ingredients from these smaller providers, and we are always searching for additional farms where we can buy produce to incorporate into our recipes and events.

This network of farmers and producers keeps us close to our Mediterranean roots in a way that goes beyond specific dishes or entire menus. The mid-Atlantic and the Mediterranean each have unique crops, of course. So we sometimes create dishes that look and taste different from what you would expect at a taverna in Athens!

Our experience is this: we serve dishes that have more aroma and taste when we use produce from multi-crop, small and medium farms in the region. One reason for this is that locally-grown fruits and vegetables can stay in the ground, or on the tree or vine, growing and gaining in flavor (and nutrition), until they are ready for us. Some crops spend a week in a truck and arrive no worse for the wear. But many of our favorites seem to do better when they can get here in a day.

We also have a better idea about how our food is grown and what goes into it. We have met the farmers who supply us with their crops, and we have seen their farms. We stay up-to-date on crop-specific farming practices, so we know which fruits and veggies really benefit from the extra care and attention our farmers can provide.

When we visit the farms, look at and taste what they grow, and interact with the people who grow it, we learn about more than pesticides and fertilizers. We get to learn about tradition and context, which is a fancy way of saying, “how did your grandmother cook those?”. We talk to our partners, share ideas and stories, and continue to improve the range of dishes and menus we can provide.

This means we can always create entirely organic dishes, menus that are G.M.O.-free, and meet your specific dietary needs. We also create tasting and teaching events where people can handle and sample those ingredients, and learn for themselves what varieties of produce are better bought organic and/or local.

There are economic and ecological reasons to buy local as well. But it’s the flavor that makes the case for us. We insist that our healthy eating be delicious too.

Do you go to a local farm or farmers’ market? Leave a comment and tell us about the farmers you support; we want to meet them!