I had the good fortune of trying a new restaurant featured in the July 28th to August 3rd issue of the Metro Silicon Valley called 'Bayonne': Casual Southern Dining, "a healthy approach to the South" ( a lighter New Orleans and Southern-style food)
The chef, Glen Thompson, came to chat with us, mentioning that he loves using organic ingredients and has been known to change the menu day to day based on the availability of organic ingredients.
He pointed to our strawberry mint lemonade and said, "There's no sugar added. We'll only have this drink available while the strawberries are sweet enough."
The restaurant looks like it makes mostly everything 'homemade' on-site at the restaurant from the organic brioche bread for the 'rich' boy sandwiches, to their ketchup using molasses, to the chocolate ice cream sandwich with date/coconut/granola/chocolate chip cookies, drizzled with caramel sauce.
He's been talking to the Nutrition Department at SJSU and hopes to be able to grow organic produce in the sustainable garden on campus. He'd love to host an "Earth to Plate" event on campus near the garden, with proceeds going to a local children's charity.
Why eat organic? Organic foods are grown without chemicals, hormones, genetic modification, herbicides, or pesticides, which are healthier for the local soil, water resources, air quality, and system biodiversity. It also is safer and healthier for the people working in the farms, as well as the people eating the organic food.
Why eat locally grown food? Locally grown food requires less transportation/fuel to get the food to you faster, fresh from the farm....when the nutrients are at their peak.
Green Tip of the Week: Consider visiting the farmers market for some locally grown and/or organic foods. If you're not into cooking, try a restaurant that uses locally grown and/or organic food.
Here's the link to the downtown San Jose Farmers Market on Fridays in San Pedro Square:
http://www.pcfma.com/market_home.php?market_id=14
Here's a link to the Metro article:
http://www.sanjose.com/bayonne-a31651
Here's a link to the Bayonne Restaurant.
Click on the menu button to see lunch and dinner menus. Keep in mind that the menu could change day to day depending on ingredient availability:
http://www.bayonnesouthern.com/
'Bayonne' is on the first floor of the 'Agenda Lounge' building on 1st Street and East San Salvador Street.
The 'Agenda' has moved upstairs and 'Bayonne' is on the ground floor. There's no 'Bayonne' sign outside the building near the large 'Agenda' sign....just the 'Bayonne' name of the restaurant on the front glass doors. 399 S.First Street
The restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
