REAP Food Group Releases Farmer-Chef Collecting Cards

REAP Food Group press release

REAP Food Group's Buy Fresh Buy Local program has released their first group of collecting cards in fourteen restaurants. Fans and the dining public will be able to collect these limited edition cards at each location over the course of the summer, while supplies last. Collect The Greenbush Bar's card when you order Anna's famous spaghetti and meatballs. Joey at the Weary Traveler is creating specials with Blue Moon Community Farm vegetables to accompany his collecting card. Restaurants with a card available beginning in June include Bluephies, Brasserie V, The Dardanelles, Harvest, Lombardino's, Manna Café, Mermaid Café, Marigold Kitchen, Monroe Street Bistro, The Old Fashioned, Sardine, The Greenbush Bar, and The Weary Traveler.

Four collecting cards made their debut at Buy Fresh Buy Local's sold-out "Burgers and Brew" event at Capital Brewery in Middleton Saturday May 31st. The Old Fashioned's spread of 30 different local cheese suppliers, Ian's Pizza's relationship to Jordandal Farm products and The Weary Traveler's Blue Moon Community Farm connection were featured on the cards at Burgers and Brew. Lastly, the only non-restaurant card featuring the Buy Fresh Buy Local program itself was available at Burgers and Brew. REAP's Food For Thought Festival September 26th is the next distribution date for the hard-to-get Buy Fresh Buy Local card.

Manna Café chef and owner Barb Pratzel teams with Sassy Cow Creamery on her card. She features Sassy Cow milk, butter, and cream in Manna's quiches, oatmeal pancakes, and baked goods with Sassy Cow chocolate and vanilla milk for washing it down. Barb says Sassy Cow's chocolate milk is a customer favorite; the baristas love the froth their milks produce for cappuccinos. Barbara also offers fresh farmer's market produce in many of her catering and restaurant menu selections.

Stop in Mermaid Café and pick up one of their collecting cards featuring Driftless Organics from the countertop display. Owner Lisa Jacobson uses their unique sunflower oil in fresh granola, soups, quiche, and salads. She shows great enthusiasm for Driftless carrots, roasting them with sweet curry, garlic, coconut milk, and fresh ginger in Mermaid's Caribbean Carrot Soup. Throughout the summer season, look for the "Driftless O" salad using surprise ingredients from the weekly CSA produce box.

Check out all of our local restaurants featured this month, and have a scavenger hunt for dishes made with their feature farm's product! Happy hunting and bon appétit!

A full schedule of collecting card release dates and locations, plus images of the front of each collecting card are available at:
www.reapfoodgroup.org/BFBL/cards.htm