EDIBLE HUDSON VALLEY HONORS LOCAL HEROES
Five Leaders of the Hudson Valley and Catskill Region’s Local Food Movement Recognized
Edible Hudson Valley is proud to present it’s first ever Local Heroes Awards, designed to spotlight the businesses, organizations and individuals who help to make our community a better place by positively improving our access to and understanding of local, sustainable food. Winners were chosen by the magazine’s readers who voted online last Fall for their favorite food heroes across five categories: Chef/Restaurant, Farm/Farmer, Beverage Artisan, Food Artisan, and Non-profit.
The 2010 winners range from a local craft-brewer to a non-profit organization devoted to teaching children healthier food and nutrition practices, from an expert butcher shop offering ethically-raised, hormone-free, and sustainable meat to a restaurant cooking up tastes from around the world inspired by local ingredients, and a farm with a knack for bringing outstanding produce to the community. “All of the winners are very deserving of this recognition,” says Nancy Brannigan Painter, publisher of Edible Hudson Valley. “We are very excited to shed a light on their contribution. They are an inspiration to their local communities and the entire region.”
Food Artisan: Fleisher’s Meats, Kingston
At Fleisher’s Meats, in the heart of Uptown Kingston, you can feel confident in the meat that you purchase. With over a century of family history in the meat business- dating back to their shop’s roots as a Brooklyn kosher butcher shop in 1901- Joshua and Jessica Applestone carry on a successful legacy in the ethical butchery of high-quality meats including beef, poultry, pork, lamb and veal. Their products come from local farmers who raise their animals on a grass-based and/or organic standard diet. The animals live stress-free while not being treated with any antibiotics or hormones. Fleisher’s Meats is dedicated to bringing food of exceptional quality to their community.
307 Wall Street, Kingston, NY - 845-338-6666; www.fleishers.com
Beverage Artisan: Keegan Ales, Kingston
In order to get the full experience of local craft-brewed beer, step inside this historic 1830’s brick building in uptown Kingston and visit Keegan Ales. This Hudson Valley Brewery is best known for its three signature brews including the classic refreshing ale, Old Capital (named after Kingston, the first capital of New York), Hurricane Kitty otherwise known as quite the “hopped India Pale Ale” and, last but not least, Mother’s Milk, a dark, rich and creamy stout with hints of chocolate. All of the brew varieties are made on premise. Offering tastings, tours, and, most importantly, a quality product, Keegan Ales has helped to revive the tradition of craft brewing in the Hudson Valley.
20 St. James Street, Kingston, NY 12401; 845-331-BREW | www.keeganales.com
Non-profit: The Sylvia Center at Katchkie Farm
Dedicated to the pleasure of healthy and seasonal eating, the Sylvia Center creates hands-on experiences to introduce children to farm and country life. This non-profit organization aims to teach nutrition practices, cooking skills, farm education and overall wellness to children, and to combat the recent rise in poor nutrition and obesity among youngsters by providing a better understanding of where our food comes from. Based in New York City, its farm program at Katchkie Farm in Kinderhook, designed to “plant a seed” in the minds of children throughout the region, serves more than 2,000 youngsters every year. Connecting children and teenagers with farms and food, Katchkie Farm offers experiential garden-to-table programs. The 60 acre, organic farm in Columbia County also provides ongoing food support to area food banks.
The Sylvia Center at Katchkie Farm, Kinderhook, NY http://www.greatperformances.com/farm/sylvia-center
Chef/Restaurant: Global Palate, West Park
When you walk through the doors of the Global Palate in West Park, prepare to dazzle your senses with the tastiest hormone-free meat- from neighboring farmers- coupled with vegetables from local farms and gardens. Vegetarian? Vegan? Gluten free? If you have dietary restrictions, Global Palate has a number of delicious options for you as well. Chef Jessica Winchell’s menus are known for taking full advantage of whatever produce is growing in her own backyard. Whatever she does not produce herself, Winchell sources from local growers such as Davenport Farms in nearby Stone Ridge. The wine list, offering over 70 different varieties from around the world, places a special emphasis on New York State and organic wine. The restaurant is proof positive of the benefits that “eating local” brings to plate and palate.
1746 Route 9W West Park, NY 12493; http://www.globalpalaterestaurant.com
Farm/Farmer: W. Rogowski Farm, Pine Island
At W. Rogowski Farm, over 250 varieties of produce are grown every year using ecologically friendly practices, progressive attitudes and old family values. Not only are they known for upholding extremely high-quality food and agriculture standards on the farm but they also promote the benefits of local, sustainable agriculture through their involvement in farmers markets and community supported agriculture (CSA’s) programs. Cheryl Rogowski, who now heads the farm started by her father in 1955, has expanded the original farmland devoted to growing from 15 to 50 acres, has added less common varieties of produce and can now cater to growing for those who desire ethnic varieties of produce, and often takes special requests from CSA customers.
327-329 Glenwood Road Pine Island, NY 10969 www.rogowskifarm.com
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