Chicken Berries from Two Hearts Farm
At first I thought that after the Eat Local Challenge was over, despite my best efforts, my focus on eating locally would fade a bit into the background. I guess I’m pleasantly surprised that this hasn’t happened. But the provocation to continue thinking locally has come from a myriad of sources that tell me that this may not be as difficult as I had once thought. Here’s my evidence.
Back in late August, on the last day of the Eat Local Challenge, I enjoyed a phenomenal meal at BC Restaurant . Chef Bill Collins took three nights to highlight several small farms by cooking a five-course ingredient-driven dinner that one person said was better than the meal he had a few days before at Thomas Keller’s New York restaurant Per Se. This would have been the one night that I ran out without my camera--a real shame because each course was a revelation to the eye as well as the palate. We’re talking about an heirloom tomato salad with fourteen different kinds of tomaotes, a corn soup made with corn kernals, corn broth (from the boiled husks) and jalepeno pepper, and a blackberry ice with heirloom melons for dessert--not to mention the fish and meat courses. For each of these dinners (and we hope there will be more like this for each season) Bill relied on small, local. organic farms in our area that were new to me like Tierra Farms.
Between courses Chef Collins came out and spoke about the farms he used and the ingredients that went into each dish. For those to whom eating seasonlly and locally was a new concept, it was a great primer. This was simply one of the best meals I’ve ever had. And because I’m such a groupie, I can’t resist saying how exciting it was to chat with Bill after dinner---he even kissed my hand!--about the exciting things that are happening in the culinary world here in Syracuse. Now that I’ve gushed a bit, I also feel the need to make a disclaimer about my relationship with BC Restaurant. I write about them alot because I really like and respect what they do. They offer me no preferential treatment and neither do they ask for preferential treatment. When there are more places like BC in Syracuse you better believe I’ll be blogging about them too.
The Syracuse Real Food Co-op is working hard on an initiative to highlight local food producers in their store. Currently there are yellow and orange signs to point out local products but they will soon be adding more markers and markers with more information. This is great news for those who want to really be intentional about supporting local growers and producers. Being able to easily identify local sources--and having a reliable, high quality place to buy them--is key.
There are gems all over Syracuse that offer, if not locally sourced foods--though many do--an experience of shopping a locally owned store with knowlegeable staff, high quality products and specialty items, and a commitment to safe-guarding some of the traditional foods and old foodways found in our community. Over the next few weeks I will highlight these establishments under the tag, "Local Gems of Syracuse". Though some of these places are well known, they are all are new to me and many others who don't often shop outside of their neighborhood or regular grocers.
If you're in the area and you know of a local food source or purveyor that the world should know about--let me know.
Loved your blog. You should add restaurant reviews-culinary gems as well. These places need to be supported too. My top 4 list:
China Road: World-recognized Chef Simon Teng remarkably in Mattydale. Was chef at the most famous upscale Chinese restaurants in Manhattan during the 1980's-early 1990's. Order from the Chinese menu and not the American-Chinese. $ to $$
Joelles: Well-known French chef formerly in New York City decides to open a country bistro away from the city in Marcellus. Just like provincial France. Great 3-course tasting menu on TH. $$$ to $$$$
Gentiles: Burnett Avenue next to a porn shop. Don't let the location deter you. Kevin Gentile when he is hot can cook like Charlie Trotter. Italian fusion. Kevin cooks hot during week days but not the weekends when he can be overwhelmed. $$ to $$$
Secret Garden: Erie Blvd. Country Korean. I'm told by folks who know Korean food that it's quite authentic. Spicy, lots of free appetizers as is the Korean way. This place seems to be actually a secret except to the Asian community and a few westerners. $-$$
Lesser but good:
Erawan Thai: Erie Blvd. Solid family Thai food served by a family. Very consistent $-$$
Italian: Believe it or not, I haven't found one that makes me sing. Many hearty family ones. But none that make me want to return over and over like the ones in my top 4.
Sushi: Bleu Monkey on Marshall Street. Family business and as tasty as I have had in NY or LA. Creative combinations $-$$
Clark's Ale House: Clinton Street. A world class roast beef sandwich in a roll. Rated one of the best bars in the United States $
Dinosaur BBQ: Nationally known. Very tasty if a bit overly fatty to my taste. Great blues club. A Syracuse icon by now. $
Posted by: Donald I. Siegel | August 07, 2008 at 05:35 PM