What are the best organic food places in New York?
May 10, 2010 6:03 AM Subscribe
A budding entrepreneur friend of mine is making a 6 day trip to New York end of May. She is looking for inspiration on and exposure to the organic & slow-food movement in the area. She is passionate about honest food and has built a small business around this passion.
Do you have any recommendations on restaurants, shops, conferences and hang-outs that would give her a good impression of what is happening in New York with regards to conscious eating / slow food / organic food?
Recommendations that can be looked up on the web prior to arrival would be much appreciated!
Recommendations that can be looked up on the web prior to arrival would be much appreciated!
New York City or New York State? This farm is an hour or so north of New York City, and has a restaurant attached to it: http://www.bluehillfarm.com/food/blue-hill-stone-barns
posted by dfriedman at 7:01 AM on May 10, 2010
posted by dfriedman at 7:01 AM on May 10, 2010
Response by poster: hi dfriedman - the City! thanks for helping to clarify that.
posted by eeeeeez at 7:03 AM on May 10, 2010
posted by eeeeeez at 7:03 AM on May 10, 2010
Well, Blue Hill has a restaurant in the city, too, so there's one option.
There are many, many restaurants that fall into this category in New York. Some more narrowing criteria would be helpful. Does she have a price range? Is it necessary that the restaurant have a big name chef?
posted by ocherdraco at 7:12 AM on May 10, 2010
There are many, many restaurants that fall into this category in New York. Some more narrowing criteria would be helpful. Does she have a price range? Is it necessary that the restaurant have a big name chef?
posted by ocherdraco at 7:12 AM on May 10, 2010
As an initial resource, here is a list of restaurants that have gotten the "Snail of Approval" of Slow Food NYC.
posted by ocherdraco at 7:15 AM on May 10, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by ocherdraco at 7:15 AM on May 10, 2010 [1 favorite]
The Union Square Greenmarket is a good place to go just to talk to some of the local purveyors.
If she's willing to make it out to Brooklyn, I'd recommend hitting up the Park Slope Food Coop. She won't be able to shop, but she could easily get one of the working members to give her a tour. It's pretty much the definition of seasonal, local shopping. Not too far down the road is Applewood, which is a restaurant that has been walking the Slow Food walk since before it became trendy- it's also the best restaurant in the neighborhood.
posted by mkultra at 7:32 AM on May 10, 2010 [1 favorite]
If she's willing to make it out to Brooklyn, I'd recommend hitting up the Park Slope Food Coop. She won't be able to shop, but she could easily get one of the working members to give her a tour. It's pretty much the definition of seasonal, local shopping. Not too far down the road is Applewood, which is a restaurant that has been walking the Slow Food walk since before it became trendy- it's also the best restaurant in the neighborhood.
posted by mkultra at 7:32 AM on May 10, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: hi ocherdraco - many thanks for that list.
To be more specific, she is looking not so much for a place to have dinner, but mostly to get inspiration in terms of presentation & products. So any recommendations on noteworthy stores (particularly retail) & events would be very useful.
As she is new to the city and the USA as a whole, a sampling of highlights in terms of stores, restaurants and interest groups would probably be most useful.
posted by eeeeeez at 7:38 AM on May 10, 2010
To be more specific, she is looking not so much for a place to have dinner, but mostly to get inspiration in terms of presentation & products. So any recommendations on noteworthy stores (particularly retail) & events would be very useful.
As she is new to the city and the USA as a whole, a sampling of highlights in terms of stores, restaurants and interest groups would probably be most useful.
posted by eeeeeez at 7:38 AM on May 10, 2010
Response by poster: hi mkultra - super, I'll make sure to pass those along. thank you!
posted by eeeeeez at 7:39 AM on May 10, 2010
posted by eeeeeez at 7:39 AM on May 10, 2010
http://rooftopfarms.org/ in Brooklyn
posted by klapaucius at 7:54 AM on May 10, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by klapaucius at 7:54 AM on May 10, 2010 [1 favorite]
Here's an event on "Urban Agriculture in New York City" that might fall in that time frame; don't know how many tickets are left.
posted by yarrow at 9:57 AM on May 10, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by yarrow at 9:57 AM on May 10, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks all, super appreciative for all the links & tips!
posted by eeeeeez at 10:00 AM on May 10, 2010
posted by eeeeeez at 10:00 AM on May 10, 2010
On the list that ocherdraco provided is a place called The Farm on Adderley. It's on Cortelyou Road, in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. From personal experience (I was there just last night), I can say that the food is excellent and Tom, the head chef, is devoted to organic and local food and responsible practices in food preparation and purveying. It's totally worth a trip and, if she emails or calls him ahead of time, he might even be willing to sit down and talk to her.
posted by lassie at 10:41 AM on May 10, 2010
posted by lassie at 10:41 AM on May 10, 2010
As pre-trip inspiration reading, she should have a look at the Edible Communities publications. These magazines "creates editorially rich, community-based, local-foods publications in distinct culinary regions throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe". There are separate publications for Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. Aside from the stories of producers and restaurants, there are lots of ads for small producers and stores.
She may find Whole Foods Market interesting from the perspective of looking at mass-market organics - I found this very interesting as an overseas visitor, as Australia is not really there yet. I would particularly recommend the Bowery store with its' culinary center - I went to a cheese and pickle tasting/making evening, hosted by Bob McClure, of McClure's Pickles in Brooklyn.
There may also be opportunities to talk to small producers at events at the Brooklyn Kitchen.
posted by AnnaRat at 5:22 PM on May 10, 2010
She may find Whole Foods Market interesting from the perspective of looking at mass-market organics - I found this very interesting as an overseas visitor, as Australia is not really there yet. I would particularly recommend the Bowery store with its' culinary center - I went to a cheese and pickle tasting/making evening, hosted by Bob McClure, of McClure's Pickles in Brooklyn.
There may also be opportunities to talk to small producers at events at the Brooklyn Kitchen.
posted by AnnaRat at 5:22 PM on May 10, 2010
She should defiantly check out momofuku. Very innovative - maybe slightly past its prime in terms of hipness but a delicious and interesting meal. Its an easy walk from the union square green market.
posted by shothotbot at 6:21 PM on May 10, 2010
posted by shothotbot at 6:21 PM on May 10, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by eeeeeez at 6:33 AM on May 10, 2010