by The Editors
One of the hardest parts about participating in an Eat Local Challenge is finding restaurants cooking with ingredients from local vendors. When I do find them, I have often wished there was a way that I could let the proprietor know that I am specifically coming to their restaurant because they support local farmers and producers. It's good food and good service that keeps me coming back, but often the first step in the door is due to a restaurants' commitment to buying locally.
And I know that I'm not alone.
Recently, when reviewing a restaurant in Cazenovia, NY, Jennifer from Syracuse wrote "There was something about knowing each and every one of the purveyors and farmers where Chef Alicyn Hart sources her food that simultaneously put me at ease and heightened my sense of anticipation to see what she would do with this great food ... And here's where I fear that I slip into a bit of food snobbery so please pardon me-- but when I go out to eat, and when good money is spent in the process, I don't want to think that the food I'm getting is of lesser quality than I would serve in my own home."
Because of this, EatLocalChallenge.com is proud to announce the Restaurant Thank You Program.
To participate, simply print out the cards linked below, and leave
one along with your bill at any establishment supporting local farmers
and producers.
The Restaurant Thank You Program is a way to give proprietors positive feedback - and to let them know exactly why you are giving them business.
There aren't any hard and fast rules - this is just a way to let those establishments know that you appreciate the extra work that they go to by buying from local farms. If you have a chance, and when you leave the cards, come back here and let us know where you've dropped them. We will keep track of that for a later project.
How do you figure out what restaurants buy from local farmers? I usually start with the farmers. If you are frequenting farmers' markets anyway, it's an easy thing to ask the local farmers if there is anyplace in town where you can find their products. San Francisco has the Slow Food Guide to Restaurants which gives some information, and your area may have something similar. You can also ask the proprietors. I usually ask in fairly unobtrusive ways. Instead of saying "where do you get your produce from?" you can start small. The other day I asked an establishment "do you know where you are getting your fresh nettles this time of year?" It's an easy question for the server to go ask the chef, and you're more likely to get an accurate answer.
You can also use the Local Harvest site or the Eatwell Guide to find restaurants near you.
To print out the Thank You cards and get started, click on one of the links below and print to your local printer or save to your desktop.
Thank You Cards - Color, pdf. (6 MB)
Thank You Cards - Black and White, pdf (2 MB)
