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Photo: Bart Ortiz, our Vice President of Flavor and Consistency, visits with Steve Tate at the Goat Lady Dairy.
For the past few years we’ve been exploring new ways to bring the freshest, most flavorful foods to our guests while considering the triple bottom line of profit, environmental sensitivity and social responsibility. We call this our "Field Truck Initiative." To these ends we’re purchasing some of our meats and seafoods differently. We’re also bringing more and more local produce and artisan-made cheeses. We hope that this Initiative will have long-lasting effects that extend through-out our community. Some of our partners are local farmers who handpick their produce on just a couple acres, and others are larger companies that supply some of the best restaurants in the country with top quality ingredients. We have long believed that the nearer the farm to the fork the better the flavor. Allow us to introduce a few of our partners:
Eastern Carolina Organics
Eastern Carolina Organics, one of our newest partners, supplies us with seasonal fruits, vegetables and herbs from their network of a couple of dozen farms in North Carolina. Eastern Carolina Organics ensures that products are grown and harvested according to our specifications. Eastern Carolina Organics began in 2003 to improve consumers’ access to locally produced, delicious organic produce and support the farmers that are working to maintain the beauty and permanence of the Carolinas.The Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA), with support from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission (TTFC), developed a program to help emerging organic farmers and organic tobacco producers improve the supply of local organic vegetables and fruits to local and regional consumers. CFSA is a membership-based organization of more than 750 farmers, processors, gardeners, businesses and individuals in North and South Carolina who are committed to sustainable agriculture and the development of locally-based, organic food systems. The organization was founded in 1979 by a group of farmers, gardeners and consumers to support each other in their efforts to foster the growth and distribution of organic food in the Carolinas.
Goat Lady Dairy
Like a fine vintage wine from a small vineyard, the Goat Lady cheeses have a special flavor with subtle qualities found only in local dairies. Goats for their milking herd are chosen based on the flavor and qualities their milk contributes to our cheese. A carefully controlled diet of pure legumes, grasses and grain produces the fresh milk, which is the "secret" of their fine quality chevre (goat cheese). For more information about the Goat Lady Dairy, visit their Web site.
Local Wineries
Try some North Carolina wines from our award-winning Wine List. The nearby Yadkin Valley is designated as the first viticultural appellation in North Carolina. There are 150 appellations in United States, including 14 in the southern region. A region can gain an appellation if its soil, growing season, climate and amount of rainfall vary from the surrounding areas. The Yadkin Valley is very distinct with soil that is clayey, well-drained and moderately fertile, which are excellent qualities for grape growing. In the past five years, the number of wineries in North Carolina has leaped from 15 to 40. Take a tour of central North Carolina Wineries.
Giacomo’s Italian Market
Giacomo Santomauro can be found selling his fresh mozzarella and artisan-made charcuterie at his shop in Greensboro (336-547-2888). Fortunately for us (and our guests) he also provides his fabulous meats and cheeses to our restaurants.
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Buying Local Food 
