Farm-to-table: The hot food trend you can enjoy without having to leave the house
Farm fresh eggs. Locally grown tomatoes. Herbs are sourced onsite.
If you have eaten out recently, you may have noticed that the menu features locally sourced ingredients. The farm-to-table movement continues to grow in restaurants across the country.
In fact, rather than the exception, it becomes the hope. According to the National Restaurant Association, farm-to-table is fast becoming the new norm. Diners are drawn to the freshest of foods, inspiring several restaurants to start their own gardens, rooftops, patios, or easy outdoor plots. Hyper-local culinary concepts like these represent the top trends in the annual “Culinary Forecast 2018” report.
You can take a cue from this hot trend by starting your own farm-to-table concept garden at home. Just imagine picking ruby-red tomatoes and rich green basil straight from your garden to make a fresh and delicious caprese salad without leaving the house. This at-home take on the farm-to-table trend can easily translate to a convenient “garden-to-table” concept in your own backyard. Growing your own at home will improve your cooking and you will find it great to have the ability to produce your own food while lowering your grocery bill (and saving money by not overeating, obviously).
No matter the size of your garden space, you can grow readily accessible fresh food right at your fingertips, even if you only have a small patio or balcony. What’s more, some of the most popular produce to eat are also easy to grow.
The experts at Bonnie Plants offer some easy-to-grow space-saving suggestions to encourage the garden-to-table trend at home.
Caged tomatoes
Whether you choose a large, juicy slicer or a snack the size of a sweet cherry, caged tomatoes are easy to grow and offer endless cooking opportunities. Certain varieties of tomato are container favorites because their vines are comparatively compact yet produce a productive crop. Or create your own container garden using tomato varieties bred particularly for small spaces.
Caged peppers
Try the popular and versatile Green Bell, a rich, large fruit producer and an all-purpose pepper that’s great for slicing and stuffing. Or, spice up your recipe with jalapeño peppers, which make for a bountiful harvest.
Strawberries in a dangling basket
Sweet and juicy strawberries add lots of flavor to salads, sauces, drinks and desserts. Think you need a plot to grow a productive strawberry garden? Think again. Maximize space with Bonnie Plants strawberries in hanging baskets, which are all the time present and produce a cascade of berries throughout the growing season.
Herbs in a combo pot
Looking to raise the flavour profile of any culinary dish? Fresh herbs are your best bet. Herb gardens can be grown in compact spaces, which means you can include your favorites no matter how much space you have.
For example, a kitchen herb combo container featuring curly basil, cilantro, and parsley is a powerhouse pot that’s as practical as it’s lovely. You can set it right outside your door for quick access and sustainable harvests. Herbs are ready to harvest when purchased and will continue to grow and provide throughout the season.
Bonnie Plants offers more than 250 types of vegetables and herbs, ranging from tried and true classics to some uncommon varieties you may not have tried, such as Holy Basil, Tepin Chili Pepper, Barbeque Rosemary, Little Napoli Patio Roma, and much more.
When it is time to harvest, have fun exploring new recipes and experimenting with fresh, home-grown produce that will rock your dinner and then some. For more inspiration on easy home gardening, visit bonnieplants.com.
This classic caprese salad recipe is bound to make a light lunch or a satisfying start to dinner.
Capres Salad
Ingredients:
1 fresh tomato
1 ball of fresh mozzarella cheese
Basil leave
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Direction:
Slice the tomatoes in 1/4 inch thick slices. Do the same for the mozzarella. Alternate layers between tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. First, a slice of tomato, then a slice of mozzarella, then some basil; begins and ends with tomatoes. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, or your favourite Italian dressing. Add the salt and paper sufficiently.
Article provided by BPT
