By
Joy Neighbors
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| Living Roots EcoVillage |
The
“local food movement” goes by several names: “locally sourced,” “locally
sustainable foods,” “farm to table,” “farm to fork,” and “eat your
zip code” are just a few. The movement is a way to connect food producers with
consumers in the same area. These “locavores” have an avid interest in foods
that are grown or produced locally. Farmers markets are very popular
with foodies looking for ways to support local farmers while also eating foods
that are of a higher quality, safer, (due to the lack of chemicals and pesticides), more affordable and better tasting.
At
French Lick Resort, we promote state, regional and yes, local foods; even wines and beers. Several resort restaurants proudly serve produce, meats and cheeses that are
locally grown.
At
West Baden Springs Hotel, Sinclair’s Restaurant and Café at Sinclair’s each
offers delectable dishes crafted from locally sourced foods. According to Executive Chef Ethan Smith, “We have a
Sinclair’s menu which offers the staples – steak and potatoes, but we also have
a menu that is flexible and I can change it up every week or two, depending on
what is currently available locally. We use Capriole Farms in Greenville,
Indiana for regional chèvre (goat) cheeses, Kenny’s Farmhouse in Barren
County, Kentucky for artisanal cheeses, and Viking Lamb Meats in Morristown,
Indiana (which have no growth stimulants or added hormones), along with duck from Maple
Leaf Farms in Milford, Indiana.
Smith goes on to explain, "We
also make our own in-house mozzarella and ricotta cheeses using Prairie Farms,
an Indiana dairy. And we get most of our locally sourced produce from Living
Roots (EcoVillage) of Orange County.” There is also a sidebar mention in the menu when a meal includes locally sourced items so the guests know.” |
| 1875 Restaurant Manager Tom O'Connor |
Tom
O’Connor, restaurant manager of 1875: The Steakhouse noted that area foods are
also highlighted on his menus. “Many daily specials and center of the plate entrees
are created from local foods,” O'Conner said. “Flex menus are often our main entrée
– our center of the plate specials. Local foods are also offered as appetizers
and salads.” According to O’Connor, “Summer’s a great time for local eggplant,
zucchini, onions, garlic and a variety of potatoes – all are in constant
supply. And by purchasing from Living Roots (EcoVillage), it allows 1875 to
serve chemically-free unprocessed food. Locally grown foods help us develop
our flavor profiles and can make for a more exciting culinary experience for our
guests,” O’Connor added.
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| Woodford Reserve Barrels on 1875 Patio |
Besides
Living Roots EcoVillage, 1875: The Steakhouse offers locally sourced beef from
Fischer Farms in Jasper, handcrafted slow cured and smoked meats from Smoking
Goose in Indianapolis and cheeses from Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese in Kentucky.
What about regional wines and beers? “Yes, I use Huber Winery’s Starlight
Distillery Brandy that they distill themselves,” O’Connor said. “And Woodford
Reserve Bourbon crafts a barrel specifically to our specifications, which we
serve to our guests. We also keep the barrels; they are on our patio.”
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| David Lee Burns, Chef de' Cuisine, French Lick Springs Hotel |
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| The Grand Colonnade Restaurant |
Would
these resort chefs and food managers like to grow a larger spot on their menus
for locally sourced foods? Each one answered with a resounding “Yes!”
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| Sinclair's Restaurant |
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| 1875: The Steakhouse |
According
to 1875 manager, Tom O’Connor, “We want to match our guests interest and have
something exciting for them to try. For Indiana’s Bicentennial, we are
featuring foods that are historical to our state – that would have been eaten
200 years ago here – bison dishes, Indian harvest grains. Our guests are always
looking for more local foods on the menu.”
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| Power Plant Bar & Grill |
see (locally sourced food) take a more prominent role. We take pride in what we produce here (in the Hoosier State.) Kentucky is very local-focused with their Kentucky Proud program and I’d like to see Indiana do the same.”
By utilizing foods that are locally produced and grown, French Lick Resort continues to provide guests with a higher quality, more flavorful dining experience while encouraging more more sustainable agriculture in the community; a true "win-win" for everyone.