Is there a gap between the food we eat and the people who grow it? Not if the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute has anything to say about it. Get ready for the inaugural Local Harvest Restaurant Celebration, where you are encouraged to sample a variety of restaurants that support local agriculture and use the freshest ingredients in their menus. The first-of-its-kind festival dedicated to the collaboration between local Northern New Mexico farmers and ranchers and Santa Fe’s celebrated restaurant community will take place Tuesday, September 12, through Thursday, September 14, 2023. Read on to find out how to make reservations!
What’s It All About?
The Local Harvest Restaurant Celebration gives thanks to the men and women who work passionately and tirelessly to bring the freshest, most nutritious and delicious produce to our tables. This is your chance to express gratitude to local chefs who support local farming and ranching, while also exploring the restaurants that source locally.
During the festival, Santa Fe’s nationally recognized chefs will curate menus substantially reflecting products sourced from local land producers and will acknowledge the farms and ranches on their menus. Restaurants are lining up to participate, and are creating menus based on seasonal offerings of local food producers.
Already on board to show off their healthful culinary skills are Anasazi, Blue Heron, Cowgirl BBQ, Palace Prime, Sage Bakehouse, and many more. For a complete list, visit the website. A benefit for the nonprofit Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute, 20% of restaurant food sales during the celebration will be contributed to the Institute.
“We have long wanted to connect the dots between the farming and ranching community represented by the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market, the abundant outstanding restaurants in Santa Fe, and the dining public,” said Adan Manuel Encinas, executive director of the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute. “The Institute’s Local Harvest Restaurant Celebration is an opportunity to bring local food producers, restauranteurs, and food lovers under the same tent. We’re very excited about this opportunity to break bread together.”
John Bradbury, of the Greater Santa Fe Restaurant Association, agrees, stating, “The quality connection between local restaurants and local farmers is a vital part of Santa Fe’s culinary culture and is sustained by the vibrant role the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market plays in our community. The Greater Santa Fe Restaurant Association is proud to support this synergy.”
Getting Involved
Information on participating restaurants and food to table menus are now available for the general public, at the official website. Most participating restaurants will present a prix-fixe dinner option consisting of three courses (appetizer, entrée, and dessert). 2023 Local Harvest Restaurant Celebration menus will be reasonably priced, and prices will vary depending on the restaurant. Many restaurants may also offer special two- or three-course lunches and set their lunch prices individually. Please check your preferred restaurant for specifics.
Restaurants may offer special lunch, dinner, or both lunch and dinner menus. Reservations will be made through the restaurants’ customary reservation services. Due to the expected popularity of this event, advance reservations are strongly encouraged, but walk-ins are appreciated. There is no guarantee that walk-in guests will be accommodated.
Randy Randall, executive director of TOURISM Santa Fe sees this as yet another feather in the City’s already graciously festooned cap, stating, “We are so excited to partner with the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute, the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market, and our local restaurants to promote the fact that so much of our fabulous Santa Fe food experience includes farm to table fresh and tasty product offerings. This is yet another example of how Santa Fe excels in what it offers to our residents and visitors.”
About Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute
The nonprofit partner to the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market, the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute’s mission is to advocate for farmers, ranchers and other land-based producers; provide equitable access to fresh, local food; own and operate a year-round venue for the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market; and manage programs to help sustain a profitable, locally-based agricultural community.
For more information about the inaugural Local Harvest Restaurant Celebration, visit the website. To find out more about the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute, visit their website.
This article was posted by Jesse Williams
