Our Farm to Table Plan

Big Bowl is taking another step up the ladder of sustainability with our recent partnership with Heritage Prairie Farm.  For the ultimate farm to table experience, Heritage is setting aside 2 acres of land exclusively for crops selected by Big Bowl chefs in Chicago.  Last week, we presented Heritage with a check for the purchase of seeds, upgrades to the washing and grading room, and a new walk-in cooler to chill produce before it is shipped to our stores. 

Big Bowl and Heritage Prairie are also purchasing reusable plastic delivery containers.  The totes will be lined with compostable bags to protect delicate produce such as lettuce and spinach from wilting.  Much of the produce delivered to restaurants comes in wax coated cardboard boxes.  Although we recycle most of our cardboard, it’s all about reducing our carbon footprint and generating less waste. 

In addition to supplying our restaurants with organic produce, Heritage will host Big Bowl chefs and a team from their restaurant every Monday.  Chefs, servers, cooks, host staff, and dishwashers are all welcome to attend this volunteer day at the farm where they will participate in typical farming activities. In the spring, we may be planting seeds or transplanting young seedlings from the greenhouse to the production fields.  During the summer, we will have an opportunity to harvest tomatoes, beans, or carrots to be served later that day in the restaurant.  The day will end with chefs cooking their team a lunch from the fields of Heritage.

We are grateful to Heritage Prairie for partnering with us in this venture. We think this is an incredible opportunity for our chefs, our guests, and the whole farm to table movement. We believe that by opening the farm experience to our entire team, not just chefs, the farm to table movement will continue to grow beyond Big Bowl.  Check the Right Stuff Board when you come to Big Bowl for the weekly farm features and look for a special harvest dinner at the farm in August featuring Big Bowl chefs cooking at the farm.