For our 3rd year in a row, we’re pleased to organize a series of special tours for Local Foods Week, (August 11th-19th, 2012). As board members of Slow Food Columbus, local sourcing and farm to table dining are close to our hearts and we love to show off restaurants and food businesses that emphasize local and seasonal sourcing.

We’re particularly excited about this year’s lineup – we’ve maintained a couple of exceptional restaurants from years past, and have picked up a 3 great new spots that have been making waves in the local farm to table scene, including a food truck!

Here’s the line up for the 2012 Local Foods Week tours:

• Knead is one of our partners for our Short North tour. They opened in July 2010 and made it clear from the outset that they were serious about local sourcing. The name ‘Knead’ was chosen to suggest that they try to make everything from scratch from breads to pastas to sausage. They shop at the North Market, partner with local farmers and this summer have been growing many of their own vegetables.
• Latitude 41 is now under the stewardship of chef Adam Cobb, and he’s continuing the legacy of chef Dave MacLennan in sourcing local ingredients and growing herbs on the restaurant’s pool deck. The menu changes daily and it’s not unusual to run into the Latitude 41 chefs at the North Market carrying boxes from Blues Creek and North Market Poultry & Game.
• That Food Truck is a fun new food truck committed to local sourcing. They do all of their own butchering, grow vegetables in their garden and source all of their meat from one Ohio farm. Chef-owner Dan Kraus’ enthusiasm is infectious – we look forward to introducing you to him and his food.
• Till opened early in 2012 and quickly became the a favorite of Columbus locavores. James Beard award nominated chef Magdiale Wolmark is passionate about biodynamic food and seasonal sourcing. The menu is ever changing with a mix of vegan and meat based dishes. They do great desserts, too, as we’ll see on the tour.
• Brothers Drake Meadery are passionate about local sourcing and also local selling. They don’t distribute their product outside Columbus. We will be visiting their production space and tasting room and sampling some of the meads made with local ingredients such as pawpaw and spicebush berries. If the word mead makes you think of renaissance fairs prepare to have your preconceptions blown away by this 21st century operation.

On this tour we’ll graze at all of these establishments in one evening, meet the chefs and owners, and learn more about the challenges and rewards of local sourcing. The tour starts at 6pm and will run during Local Foods Week August 10th-19th 2013 and tickets cost $65 with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Local Matters.

There will also be a yummy take home treat from AJ at Sassafras Bakery. AJ’s baked goods are all made from scratch, with local ingredients where possible – milk, honey, peanut butter, seasonal fruit and even her home-grown herbs. You can find her at Worthington Farmers market and online, but we hope she will have a more permanent home soon.

This is a van based tour so space is limited. Tickets must be booked in advance and can be purchased here. Coupons or gift certificates may not be used for this special event tour.

We can accommodate vegetarians with advance notice. If you have other dietary restrictions or food allergies please let us know and we will accommodate the best we can.

Except for our mead tasting at Brothers Drake, alcoholic beverages are not included in the tour price but will be available for purchase at a couple of the stops.

Local Matters is a not-for-profit based in Central Ohio working to create a healthy community through the lens of local food.  Their work focuses on three strategic areas: education about wholesome food, where it comes from, how to grow it and how to cook it; improving access to fresh and local foods and connecting individuals and groups to resources; and engagement with partners and neighbors in collaborative projects to build a stronger, healthier food system for all.