Monadnock Menus Program

August 4, 2008 – The Hannah Grimes Localvore Project is kicking off a new incentive program for restaurants and chefs in our region, called the “Monadnock Menus Program.” The first phase of the program, sponsored by the Cheshire County Conservation District and Cheshire Medical Center, is to assess and recognize chefs already utilizing local food resources, like Luca Paris from Luca’s Mediterranean Café in Keene. “We had a Growers’ dinner here last year, and I had a lot of fun in the kitchen. It was like the old days, going to the market to see what was fresh. In this global economy it is great to see that local foods can help sustain the local economy. Besides, those foods are healthier and better tasting,” Luca shared with New Hampshire Magazine Restaurant patrons looking to support local farmers can look for the “Monadnock Menus Member” decals on restaurant windows. Also, stay tuned for a listing of participating restaurants on the Hannah Grimes Localvore Project website at http://hannahgrimes.com/Projects/Localvore. Don’t forget to ask your favorite restaurants to participate

Chefs who sign up with the program pledge to serve locally grown food within 150 miles of their restaurant. They also set their own goal to promote local foods – whether it is to increase local food purchases, highlight local food in their advertising, or initiate more conversations about local farms with their customers. The benefits include increased marketing opportunities through Hannah Grimes Localvore Project advertisements, website listing, and newsletter features. Restaurants will receive a window decal to make their commitment to local foods more visible to the public.

A recent New York Times article highlights the rising popularity of locally grown: A National Restaurant Association survey of more than 1200 chefs found locally grown produce to be the second-hottest American food trend. For more information about the Monadnock Menus Program, contact Jennifer Risley at 603-352-5063 or jennifer@hannahgrimes.com.