News From Ridgway, April 27, 2016

There’s been an interesting news article circulating recently which has really caught my attention. Laura Reiley, food critic with the Tampa Bay Times, wrote a fascinating – and extensively researched – piece entitled ‘Farm to Fable,’ about the pervasive mythology behind so many purported farm-to-table restaurants. The reality that Ms. Reiley found, in many cases, was that claims about local purveyors and sustainably raised product were not supported by evidence. In some cases, suppliers themselves directly debunked the assertions, confirming that they have not worked with the restaurant in question. Or DNA testing proved that the product served was not what the menu promised. All in all, very disconcerting.

Which is not to say that I am surprised. After 45-plus years in this business, I can say that I have pretty much seen it all. My commitment to you has always been and will always continue to be to source the best ingredients and prepare with them respect. My philosophy has always been, to put it simply, to buy good food and don’t mess it up. Flavor and quality will necessarily follow.

In the past when I have had good local sources for certain ingredients I have used them, but it’s not feasible on a long-term or high-volume basis. Agriculture, on a local level, is necessarily seasonal. Indoor growing and new technologies have extended growing seasons, but they simply can’t be year-long, not the way Mother Nature designed the system.

When you come to Ridgway, you know you are getting what the menu advertises. At Tony’s Off Third, we make all of the breads and desserts served in Ridgway. The rib dinner we debuted to great applause this past weekend as a part of our summer specials? Julian and I spent hours testing recipes and different ingredients to get the dish to a point where we knew it was exceptional. Much of our seafood is from Florida waters, because we are blessed with terrific resources in our region. But local is not my first priority. My first priority is taste – your food should taste good! And that is followed immediately by value. I want you to come to Ridgway because you know that I stand 100% behind what we offer. It may not be the trendiest, but I promise you it’s good.