Fresh and Local, Part II: CitySeed and Zinc

     Fresh and Local are definately the "it" words of the year. More and more often I am seeing these words splattered across menus, websites, grocery stores and entering mainstream vocabulary. And restauranteurs are getting the hint that their patrons are starting to get more savvy when it comes to what they are consuming and wanting to know where it comes from. For instance, with as many disasters are we are having, such as with the Gulf situation who wouldn't start to be concerned with the source of their foods?
     If you are somebody who usually patronizes restaurants that strive to offer organic or vegetarian fare, this inclusion of the terms "fresh and local" into mainstream vocabulary comes as a bit of a bore, and you are probably thinking to yourself that it's about time that they finally jumped aboard. Well, the interesting part of this news is that mainstream restaurants are getting the message. One such restaurant is Zinc in New Haven where you can go to enjoy their "Zinc Farmers Market Menu" which is the result of the partnering of the restaurant with CitySeed, the organization responsible for New Haven's farmers markets. The Chef & Owner of Zinc, Denise Appel will collect her ingredients for the menu from the Downtown Market each Wednesday and then create the week's menu from her finds. The four course, fixed price menu will change each week depending on what is available at the market. The menu will be available Wednesday through Saturday.

Denise Appel / ZINC

Here is one of her sample menus:

MARKET MENU
Week of August 25 - 28
Three Course, Fixed Price Tasting Menu
$29 per person + tax and gratuity
$38 per person with optional fourth cheese course*

FIRST COURSE
Roasted Beet/ Fresh Mozzarella Cheese/ Rosemary Balsamic Reduction/ Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Liuzzi's Cheese, North Haven, CT
Urban Oaks, New Britain, CT

SECOND COURSE
Fresh Vegetarian Fettuccine/ Basil + Walnut Pesto/ Roasted Elephant Garlic/ Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes/ Italian Eggplant Caponata
Urban Oaks, New Britain, CT
Stone Garden, Shelton, CT
Rose's Berry Farm, South Glastonbury, CT

DESSERT
Summer Melon Terrine/ Whipped Yogurt/ Basil/ Watermelon Granita
Urban Oaks, New Britain, CT

Optional fourth course*

CHEESE
Kunik Cheese/ Grafton Cheddar/ Local Honey/ Toasted Raisin + Nut Bread
Nettle Meadow Farm, Thurman, NY
Grafton Village Cheese, Grafton, VT
Jones' Apiaries, Farmington, CT

Cocktail Special
Aperol/ Grapefruit/ Splash Prosecco on the Rocks

Websites
http://www.cityseed.org/
http://www.zincfood.com/