When a chain restaurant is offering locally sourced ingredients, it's a great sign that the demand for local, healthier and safer food is really taking root across this country.Last week while visiting family in the Washington, D.C. area, we had spent several hot, but fun, hours outside at WolfTrap National Park. The afternoon was marching on, and we needed to find a place for lunch quickly. We settled on Silver Diner, a chain with more than 15 restaurants in Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey, because it was nearby and everyone could find something of interest on the menu.
I was a little skeptical of the banner hanging out front proclaiming "Farm to Table," but a hand-written poster in the lobby greeted us with its welcome news of local ingredients on the menu. It highlighted which items were local and which area farms had supplied them. Tomatoes, peppers, herbs and some other produce were featured from a nearby Virginia farm, as well as eggs, cheese and artisan breads from local farms and bakeries. I chose the tomato mozzarella sandwich since I knew it was all local and seasonal. It was delicious!
Silver Diner notes that it uses local ingredients whenever possible and that its meats are hormone-free. If you find yourself on the road near a Silver Diner, you should be able to find something on the menu to meet your "local food" standards. It's not all local, but it's certainly a start. You can view a list of Silver Diner's locally sourced, fresh ingredients and watch a short video about its commitment to farm to table.
If you have come across a chain or restaurants serving up local fare in your travels, send us a message. We'll share the news with fellow market shoppers and local food enthusiasts.
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