locavore

Local Roots Restaurant Announces Chef Dinners

Local Roots in Roanoke, Virginia is a farm-to-table restaurant that celebrates the best of the Southwest Virginia region. The restaurant uses locally-sourced meat and produce and the work of area artisans and craftspeople decorates the space of the restaurant. Executive Chef Josh Smith offers lunch ($8-$12) and dinner ($17-$30) five days a week, with brunch available on Sundays.

The restaurant is inaugurating the new location with guest chef dinners by some of the hottest chefs in the country. Beginning August 25th, Local Roots will be hosting dinners featuring winners and nominees of the James Beard award. The visiting chefs will display their culinary talents alongside Local Roots Executive Chef Josh Smith and will draw inspiration from the ingredients available from Roanoke-area farmers.

The August 25 dinner featuring Chef Sean Brock and friends is already sold out but other events are still available including the September 29 dinner with chef Michael Solomonov of Zahav Restaurant in Philadelphia, a six-course meal combining modern Israeli cuisine with Chef Smith's culinary skills. On November 3, Preston Van Winkle of the Pappy Van Winkle Distillery will be on hand to talk about their new 2011 release. Chef Smith will prepare a three-course menu for dinner, as well as passed bar snacks to enjoy with the selection of bourbons. On November 16, chef Bryan Voltaggio of VOLT Restaurant and from season six of "Top Chef" will serve a multi-course menu highlighting the flavors of the Virginia and Maryland regions.

For more information and/or reservations, contact Local Roots Restaurant at (540) 206-2610 or visit their website.

Tags: bryan voltaggio, local roots, locavore, roanoke, virginia restaurants

Locally Grown Spa Treatments The Latest Luxury Trend

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spas

Traditionally in the world of spa and beauty treatments the most exotic treatments have been the most luxurious, but recently the local food craze has spread to the spa world and the demand for treatments using locally grown fruits and herbs has increased dramatically. The Ojai Valley Inn in California is a good example, it offers a Pixie Tangerine & Pomegranate Scrub for $145 that involves using locally grown tangerine halves to scrub the body with a sugar-based exfoliant mixture. "When they put this stuff on, I can smell fresh juice," said one guest.

It's that freshness, along with feelings of social responsibility and a love for unique experiences that's driving the trend. "People don't necessarily want to have the same experience in Florida as they have in New York as they have in California as they have in Dubai," says spa consultant Matt Wuttke. And because locally sourced spa treatments support nearby farmers and reduce the carbon footprints of transported goods there's even more warm fuzzies to be had from what is often considered a guilty indulgence. The only downside? In many parts of the country 'local' also means 'seasonal' so you're favorite Elderberry Facial ($190, Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake) probably isn't available year round.

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Tags: local, local food, locavore, spa, spa treatments, spas

Owning Farmland is the New Status Symbol?

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Although owning land has always been something of a status symbol, traditionally most of the very wealthy who own acreages don't use them as a permanent address but instead as a getaway spot. For many having money means living a fast-paced jet-setting lifestyle in the city, where spending money and enjoying luxurious amenities like spa treatments and VIP experiences is most convenient. But that trend is reversing, it seems, with many of today's wealthy leaning more and more towards a slower, more comfortable, "back the roots" kind of life. Many are still traveling the world and paying big bucks for daily extravagances, but they're basing their lives out of a calmer and more natural environment. They're buying acreages of farmland and building their homes there, and besides enjoying the serenity and quietness it brings many are actually growing some of their own food and working towards more sustainable and old-fashioned lifestyles. Believe it or not, farmland is becoming the new status symbol!

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Tags: farm, farm land, farming, FarmLand, lifestyle, lifestyles, locavore