Polyface Farms

Chicken from Polyface Farms

After reading Omnivore's Dilemma I was moved to start examining where the food I ate came from. If you've read the book, you'll know what I mean. If you haven't read it, you should.

I came away with a new-found respect for the small farmer. I was also disgusted by what I learned about where most of our food comes from.
The damage that industrial monoculture farming does to the environment is astounding. I realize that we produce an outrageous amount of food and that is great as we need to feed a lot of people, but it has a cost.
I won't go into the whole thing, but in the end it boils down to paying people who you trust to grow food for you, or paying the shareholders and VP's of a multinational conglomerate to give you food that isn't sustainable, environmentally friendly, animal friendly, or in some cases even nutritious.
Stepping down from the soap box, I actually put my money where my mind was an ordered food from Polyface Farms. It's different than what you get in the Styrofoam at Giant. It's got different texture and different flavor. It takes a little more time and effort to buy responsibly, but the food is worth it. It doesn't even cost much more than what you get at Giant, and it's less than what you'd spend for the same thing at Balducci's or Whole Foods.
Not a sermon....just a thought. Give it a try. Support your local farmers.

Happy St. Patrick's Day folks...just some musings and gossip today.

Hope everyone got a good Reuben today, or at least some corned beef and cabbage.
I made my own at home..
Just wanted to mention the article in the post today, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/16/AR2010031600921.html
It's about local slaughterhouses and the trials/tribulations of trying to eat healthy, locally sourced meats. I laud these folks for trying to do the right thing by the animals and for the consumers.
The article mentions Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms in VA, whom you may have heard of if you've read "The Omnivore's Dilemma". Also mentioned is one of my home-town fav's, Oren Molovinsky, GM of Mie N Yu in Georgetown.
Also of note this week:
Fire Station 1 in Silver Spring is getting closer to opening. Look for an entertainment-laden experience.
Fireworks Pizza in Arlington is looking towards a late May opening. I'm glad to see these folks venturing closer to the city. It will be helmed by Jon Hoffmeyer, previously of Legal Seafoods (old co-worker of mine) and Great American Restaurants. Look for some of the best pizza around from this crew.
Thanks for reading folks.

Taylor Gourmet on K St. N.W....good eats..

Always nice to see some young start-up guys doing something good and being patronized for it.
I stopped by Taylor gourmet with my wife and son on Sunday. They were busy...line out the door busy.
So was Busboys and Poets, which is right next door.
I ran into Andy Shallal, the owner of that place while I was walking by, and he mentioned that he's expanding. Keep your eyes open.
Back to Taylor Gourmet: This was the called the landfill I think. Pretty tasty.

This was mine. I forget what it was called, but it was good. The bread they use is substantial. It kind of reminds me of what you'd get at Breadline back in the day.

This is a high-light: A Boylen's Soda machine. I've never seen one before. Good stuff.

Decor is minimal. The place seems to be just a little too small. Mostly though, just as people got their sandwiches and were ready to sit down someone was always getting up.

This is where you place your order. It's old-school, but new kid hip. Stop by if you get a chance. It's worth the trip.