Theres nothing more satisfying than doing good by eating well. Whenever youre traveling in New England, resolve to patronize restaurants that support local growers, fishermen, foragers, cheesemakers, bakers, and beekeepers. New England chefs have been in the vanguard of the locavore movement that nurtures sustainable agriculture and fisheries while providing the best possible food with the smallest carbon footprint. Some parts of New England make it easy to find these local boosters. Berkshire Grown (www.berkshiregrown.org) lists more than 50 restaurants. (The Red Lion Inn, for example, serves a locavore sustainable menu on Sunday and Monday nights.) Vermont Fresh (www.vermontfresh.net) lists more than 100 restaurants that support Green Mountain State producers. They include the Farmers Diner in Quechee (www.farmersdiner.com), which devotes 65 cents of every dollar to buying food produced within 70 miles. New Hampshire is just getting organized; check the sponsors list for Seacoast Eat Local (www.seacoasteatlocal.com) for a few restaurants. You can browse for options throughout New England by checking the website of Chefs Collaborative (www.chefscollaborative.org), an organization that celebrates local foods and works to foster a more sustainable food supply. Click on local food search, highlight restaurants, and put in the location you want to search.
