General Manager's Note — March 2010

General Manager's Note — March 2010

By Matt Painter Friday, 12 March 2010

While mowing my backyard last spring a giant green tomato fell out of my pecan tree, missing me by about 6 inches. Don’t bother re-reading that sentence—I was just as confused. I stared up into the tree for what seemed like an eternity, worried that at some point I had slept through a critical section of biology class. After a few minutes, however, a squirrel darted across a branch, the dots slowly connected and I realized that my neighbor’s garden was probably missing some produce.

Thankfully, my other experiences with locally grown produce have been far more enjoyable (and less confusing). I am consistently impressed by restaurants that use fresh, local produce in their menu. While I’m certainly not a food critic, I can tell a big difference between fresh ingredients and something that comes out of a can. Places like Austin’s Kerbey Lane Café and Monument Café in Georgetown may not be the cheapest places in town to eat, but I’ll pay a little extra for the high-quality food and knowing I’m helping support local growers.

Reporter Suzanne Haberman takes a look this month at how local restaurants, gardeners and farmers are bringing you a better dining experience. The benefits aren’t limited to dining out, however; as the weather warms up, local farmers markets will swing into action and provide an alternative to battling the crowds at the local grocery store. Keep an eye on our community calendar for farmers market options. You’ll be impressed with the food and meet some great people, all at the same time.

Matt Painter

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