Page B2 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor December 17, 2015

There is a food renaissance happening across the country, including right here in Colorado. We’re returning to our roots, literally. Families and restaurants are embracing homegrown food, not only because it is better for you, but

because it tastes great.A number of Colorado restaurants have jumped on the bandwagon and now have

an array of local food on their menus year round.Bin 707, Grand Junction, Bin707.comThis Grand Junction restaurant has been sourcing local

cuisine since 2009. While their Western Slope location makes it easier to do so, when they can’t source the food in Colorado they strive to keep it domestically sourced.

Like any restaurant that sources food locally, their menu changes with the seasons, but you ll always find a selection of delicious Colorado cheeses and charcuterie available. Not surprisingly, they also serve up a large selection of Colorado wines — after all, much of Colorado’s vineyards are located within 20 miles of their restaurant.

The servers here are knowl-edgeable about all the items on their menu and will enlighten din-ers about local farms and wines.

The Living Farm Cafe, Paonia, TheLivingFarm-Cafe.com

aonia is dotted with farms, and when visiting it is difficult to find a restaurant that isn’t serving up local delights. One great reason to dine at The Living Farm Cafe is that u stairs they rent out five reasonably- riced rooms so you can come for a farm fresh dinner and stay for a farm fresh breakfast.

This true farm-to-table restaurant sources nearly 100 percent of their food from their own farm that’s less than a mile from their cafe. The Living Farm is a leader in Colorado greenhouse gardening and high performance gardening (call in advance and arrange a tour of The Living Farm while you’re in town).

t breakfast, guests can order turkey eggs freshly gathered from the farm s flock, or the less daring can stick with chicken eggs. For lunch, try the lamb enchiladas. A customer favorite, the lamb is raised on The Living Farm, a fourth-generation family farm.

For dinner, start with the arugula and strawberry salad and then enjoy a grass-fed beef steak with chili polenta, seasonal vegetables and avocado relish. Pair your meal with a delicious local wine or beer.

Jax Fish House, Fort Collins, JaxFishHous.com/FortCollinst s a bit more difficult to find farm-to-table food on the ront ange, but there

are some restaurants that are giving it a try and, while it may seem odd that a fish restaurant is serving up local cuisine, Jax Fish House is doing just that.

Their seafood, of course, isn’t local, but Jax serves only sustainable fish and shellfish. Their website states, “Jax Fish House is committed to serving you sustainable seafood. We are supremely concerned about global oce-anic fish stocks; every decision we make is guided by that concern.”

In addition to their extensive seafood offerings, Jax serves Colorado meats and they source many of their sides locally as well. Servers here are well-educated on all the items on Jax’s menu, something that is common to restau-rants that strive to serve local food.

t s a bit more difficult to find farm-to-table food on the ront ange, but there are some restaurants that are giv-

ing it a try and, while it may seem odd that a fish restau-rant is serving up local cuisine, Jax Fish House is doing just that.

Their seafood, of course, isn t local, but Ja serves only sustainable fish and shell-fish. Their website states, Ja ish ouse is committed to serving you sustainable seafood. e are su remely concerned about global oceanic fish stocks; every decision we make is guided by that concern.”

In addition to their extensive seafood offerings, Jax serves Colorado meats and they source many of their sides locally as well. Servers here are well-educated on all the items on Jax’s menu, something that is common to restaurants that strive to serve local food.

Resolve to eat farm fresh food in 2016

Surveyor Columnist

Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer