Chef Peter Kenney, Purple Olive Bistro, St. Augustine, Fla.

St. Augustine, Fla.—The Purple Olive Bistro supports local farmers. But co-owner and Chef Peter Kenney does not want his restaurant labeled farm-to-table. “ I never claimed anything to be farm-to-table. I don’t like putting a label on it. I try to source as much local as I can. It is just a good practice with food,” Kenney said during an interview at this year’s Tour de Farm organized by Slow Food First Coast.

Chef and owner of Purple Olive Bistro, Peter Kenney, First Coast Slow Food
Tour de Farm event, St. Augustine, Fla.
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

The Purple Olive Bistro opened in 2004. Chef Kenney knew what he wanted in a Bistro after having spent many years working in restaurants around St. Augustine like Manatee Café. His vision came together with the help of his wife and co-owner Deidre after they took a trip to Italy.

Kenney sources from many St. Augustine farmers markets and farms like meat from Cartwheel Ranch, and vegetables from SJ Farm. In the summer when it is harder to get local ingredients he buys from farms in Georgia and North Carolina.

“We are always cooking everything from scratch. We make a purple carrot ginger sauce made with Florida fish,” said Kenney with a shy smile, adding, “Our fish and shrimp are always local.”

With 422 restaurants in the St. Augustine, Florida, area according to Kenney, he has to stand out somehow. “I don’t think you have to use a lot of salt because of the flavors. But my style is more Mediterranean and salt comes with the style.”

The Purple Olive Bistro is located 4255 A1A South, Suite 6, St. Augustine, FL  32080

They also do catering for functions and weddings.

To find out more you can call (904) 461 - 1250 or go to their website www.purple-olive.com

To find out more about Slow Food First Coast you can go to http://slowfoodfirstcoast.org

Island Grove Wine Company's Blueberry Farm, Hawthorne, Fla.

Hawthorne, Fla.—Island Grove Wine Company’s tasting room is hard to find but worth it. Owned by Ken Patterson, this 350-acre farm grows blueberries and makes fruit wines. Located at the southern most tip of Hawthorne, Florida, and opened just four years ago this company is producing complex wines like Kinda Dry blueberry wine with hints of oak and cherry.

Blueberry Fields of Island Grove Wine Company, Hawthorne, Fla.
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

Recently I went on a mini tour of their winery located in the middle of the blueberry farm. My guide, whose name I did not get, showed me the fermenting room. It was filled with giant metal tanks. 

Fermenting room at Island Grove Wine Company, Hawthorne, Fla.
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

“The blueberries are fermented on the skin and then we make the wine so it has higher antioxidants,” said my tour guide. Oak wood chips are soaked in the Kinda Dry blueberry wine to give it a smoky taste.

Janette Taylor, tasting room attendant at Island Grove Wine
Company, Hawthorne, Fla.
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

"We have been in business for four year and making wine for three," said Janette Taylor the wine tasting room attendant. She said there is going to be a company store on Highway 301 in the fall of this year so guests won't have to drive the four miles of dirt road to the tasting room.

Tasting room at Island Grove Wine Company, Hawthorne,
Fla., Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

In the future there are plans to make drier wines with Florida grown blueberries and blackberries. Island Grove Wine Company also plans to make a blueberry ice wine and a mango wine.

The tasting room is located at 24703 SE 193rd Avenue, Hawthorne, FL 32640; and is open Mon. to Fri. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

You can find Island Grove wines at many Total Wine & More stores throughout the state of Florida.

To find out more about their other fruit wines or the berries they sell or to get directions to their tasting room you can go www.islandgrovewinecompany.com

Farmer's Table Grass-Fed Burger & Due South Stout, Fla.

Boynton Beach, Fla.--There's nothing quite like beer and a burger. What makes it even better is if you can also support local Florida farmers and Florida companies. In southern Palm Beach County this is easier than you might expect if you buy the burger from the Farmer's Table (Boca) and the beer from Due South Brewing Co. (Boynton).

Farmer's Table Grass-Fed beef burger with Due South Brewing Co.'s
Roasted Cocoa Stout,
Boynton Beach, Fla.
Copyright 2014 by Helen A Lockey

Due South Brewing Co. allows you to bring food into their taproom to eat with their fresh beers.

So in keeping with a farm-to-table theme I bought a Grass-fed Beef Burger ($12) made with Jackman Ranch Beef (Clewiston, Fla.), caramelized onion fig jam, lettuce, tomato, and a multigrain bun at the Farmer's Table. It came with a side of coleslaw and five spice sweet potatoes.

I washed it down with a 12-oz glass of Roasted Cocoa Stout ($4) from Due South Brewing Co.