Finally I have a friend at work that likes to lunch at some interesting and foodie-type joints once a while – it only took me 12 years to find someone. This is the same person that accompanied me to the oyster bar. Luckily this place, Founding Farmers, is close enough to the office to get there and back during lunch. It’s a bit on the pricey side for me to bring the family for dinner, but it’s too far a drive from home anyway – perfect for a lunch experiment.
This restaurant takes the farm to table theme further than most because it is farmer owned. They use natural cleaning products in the restaurant, have low-voltage lighting, and recycle and compost. They admittedly do not get all of the products locally, but try to balance for that by buying carbon offsets. Carbon offsets represent reductions in greenhouse gases that compensate (or offset) emissions from somewhere else. Offset projects such as wind farms and methane capture at animal farms or landfills help individuals, companies, or governments reduce their carbon footprint. (Offsets can be bought and sold voluntarily, or as a way for businesses and industries to lower their compliance obligations under cap-and-trade programs[1] – so in this case they’re being bought voluntarily.)
They’re featuring four winter stews now, and have some nice vegetarian selections such as a mushroom swiss reuben and a cranberry and brie vegetable burger. I had an avocado bacon burger with roasted brussels sprouts on the side, and my co-worker had the daily fish. I can’t find my pictures of the food, but the brussels sprouts were excellent. Here is a picture of the creative way they present the bill. It comes in this little mailbox and, when you’re ready for them to pick up your payment, you put up the red flag on the mailbox.
[1] Buying Carbon Offsets: What You Need to Know, Natural Resources Defense Council, http://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/offsets.asp
