Foodsday Tuesday: Eat Green for Earth Day

And no, we're not talking about roughage.

We're talking green like local foods, which ensure that you're protecting natural resources and getting the freshest meats and produce available, prepared by some of Philadelphia's top restaurateurs. That's right—you don't have cook your own meals to make sure you're eating local, organic ingredients. Restaurants like the White Dog Café have been keeping it local for years, and popular and well-reviewed places like Farmicia, Fork, Vetri, Standard Tap, James, Kitchen 233 in Collingswood (well worth the PATCO trip, if we may say so!) and, not surprisingly given its name, citygrange at the Westin Hotel have menus that change often—sometimes daily—depending on what's available from local farmers' markets.

Taking things one step further for today (and through Friday) is Chef David Ansill, whose namesake restaurant will feature a special Earth Day menu. It even appears to be largely Passover-friendly for those observing the religious holiday but intending to celebrate the secular one as well. For $55 (probably less than you'd spend ordering all these items a la carte), you get four courses of delicious "organic and locally grown produce, free-range chicken and quail, and grass-fed lamb." Another $25 gets you organic (who knew?) wine to pair with each dish.

So go celebrate Mother Earth the best way you can: with your stomach. Who knows? Maybe you'll be inspired to buy local. Or at least to buy local more often. (Some imported foods just can't be replaced.)

Photo of a local produce stand at Reading Terminal Market by Flickr user pwbaker.