When you\u2019re dining out, would you rather eat fruits and vegetables that were grown thousands of miles away\u2014or right in the restaurant\u2019s backyard?<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s gourmands are shying away from the exotic offerings that characterized fine dining years ago in favor of locally grown fruits and vegetables, local pasture-raised meat, and sustainably-fished seafood.<\/p>\n
While New England may not have the year-round bounty of California, it\u2019s got plenty of restaurants showcasing the best of farm-to-table dining. Here are a few of our top picks in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.<\/p>\n
Fore Street<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Since 1996, Fore Street has been showcasing the best food that Maine has to offer, with an open kitchen and wood-fired stove that serve up local rotisserie chickens, pizzas topped with locally foraged mushrooms, fresh roasted vegetables, and other delicacies sourced from around New England.<\/p>\n The Well at Jordan\u2019s Farm<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Visit this seasonal, outdoor eatery, and chances are, you\u2019ll be eating vegetables that were picked just a few feet away. On this picturesque farm in Cape Elizabeth, you can sit at a picnic table or bring your own blanket to enjoy your meal\u2014pets are welcome, too. The menu offers a changing medley of local meats, seasonal veggie dishes, and fresh-picked fruit desserts.<\/p>\n Vinland<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n This Portland, Maine restaurant has an ambitious mission: Save for its wine menu, all <\/i>ingredients used in its dishes are grown in Maine. That means olive oil, lemons, or chocolates, among other verboten<\/i> ingredients. The restaurant rises to the challenges imposed by its limitations by crafting fresh, innovative meals that include pasture-raised meat, locally foraged mushrooms, farm-fresh vegetables, and seafood caught out of Portland\u2019s harbor.<\/p>\n Republic Caf\u00e9<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Located in Manchester, New Hampshire, this restaurant was \u201ccertified local\u201d by the state\u2019s Farm to Restaurant connection. The establishment partners with more than 20 local vendors to supply meat, vegetables, seafood, cheese, and other ingredients for its Mediterranean-inspired menus, featuring antipasti, small plates, tagines and other larger dishes, and an extensive wine list.<\/p>\nNew Hampshire<\/h2>\n
Massachusetts<\/h2>\n