Forage LA - fresh produce from the community

FORAGE LA - A NEW CONCEPT IN DINING
Silverlake (Los Angeles) 

Before you take a bite of Forage LA's delicious food, there is something you should know - the produce is grown by your local farmer. When we say "local farmer" we're talking about your neighbor's garden - literally. Take a peek over your back fence. See any vegetables or fruit growing there? If so, you might be dining on those fresh carrots, lettuce or beets on your next visit to Forage LA Restaurant.

Home growers, certified by the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commission, bring in their seasonal fruits, vegetables, and nuts each day. Their garden bounty is then transformed by owner/chef, Jason Kim, into the freshest, most delicious salads, entrees and desserts this side of the farm. You can almost taste the sunshine!

From the Forage website, "It is our hope that this circle of home growers can spark a rich community dialogue that will benefit anyone who values the idea of developing a better relationship with food. To us that relationship is all about knowing what you eat, enjoying what you eat and caring about how what you eat is grown and prepared."

On a given day, you might find the following menu items:

• Awesome Avocado Sandwich - crusty baguette topped wit cabbage, tomato, fennel, pickles and Mexican Pationa - and plenty of avocado - served with a choice of soup or salad
• Braised Brisket Lasagna - beef brisket braised with tomatoes, encased in polenta sheets with parmesan cream, greens, root vegetables, onions, and garlic
• Duck for Two - served with teamed buns, scallions, cucumbers and hoisin. Very limited special.
• Jidori Chicken - Jidori, or "chicken of the earth" is raised locally on a family farm. We gently roast them with herbs and garlic.
• Farro and Lentil Salad with fennel, carrots and spigarello (a delicious broccoli relative)
• Ricotta Cheese Cake with Dancing Demon Plums
• Brown Butter Hazelnut Cake with Milk Chocolate Ganache 

Forage is not your typical restaurant. The menu changes daily and can be viewed on the website, or you can allow yourself to be surprised.
Upon entering the restaurant, consult the chalkboard and/or menu, place your order and find a table. Shortly, your food is served upon trays, cafeteria-style.

Chef Jason Kim, once a sous chef at Lucques (think award winning, Suzanne Goin), has created, yet, another place to dine in Silverlake. It is simple, casual and without pretension.

And no matter whether you read the online menu or allow the element of surprise, you won't be disappointed.

Forage LA website

Please see our earlier stories dealing with locally grown food:
Alice Waters - April 28, 2010
Meet Your Farmer - August 1, 2010
Ubuntu Restaurant, Napa -August 19, 2010

Below - selected photographs of Forage LA's home growers:

Jared's Silverlake Loquats

Gina + her mom share their oregano, thyme, and geraniums

Forage Harvest - carrots and parsley

Matt shares his grapefruits + organges

Ron + Merle share their beautiful Kale