LOCALadk Magazine
Issue link: https://localadkmagazine.uberflip.com/i/212613
and Colleen Vargo, who are vocal proponents of the local food movement and avid supporters of Adirondack cuisine. In John's words, "The Adirondacks are well suited as a region of high quality meat and cheese production. Our plentiful land mass, fresh water, and forage add up to perfect conditions to raise the best livestock in the world... Eat 'n Meet Grill is a test and proving ground for this endeavor. I enjoy working with farmers, to bring the best possible product to my customer, highlighting their efforts and educating via delectable cuisine." Whereas many restaurants might simply showcase a few local products, John and Colleen have taken sustainability to another level. Not only do they purchase local produce, meats, breads, and cheeses, the health of their community is high on their list. They talked at length about the troubling economic times we find ourselves in, as well as the overworked nature of the family and the dwindling of quality, home-cooked meals. By keeping their prices reasonable and offering single and family sized portions of their sides, they are trying to make it possible for families to eat well, even when they may not have the time to cook for themselves. Not only are environmental and local economic sustainability important at Eat 'n Meet, but also the overall health and wellness of the community in which it resides. The entire menu is served รก la carte, and there is a reason for this. Vargo's previous restaurant in New Paltz served seafood; he grew tired of seeing much of the fries and coleslaw that came with every order ending up in the trash. His line of thinking is that if you order it and pay for it, you are less likely to waste it. But enough of the politics already, how is the food? You can't eat rhetoric after all, and Eat 'n Meet is more than just talk. This is food that reminds you of what food can be. Of what food should be. With a few dashes of Pickapeppa sauce, the Jamaican beef patty hit all the right notes of rich, LOCALadk Magazine Fall into Winter 2013 35