You don’t have to be a “foodie” to appreciate the intense flavor of heirloom vegetables, the environmentally friendly practice of choosing local ingredients, or the practicality of eating fresh foods in season. These trends are becoming more pervasive in Tucson’s restaurants, farmers’ markets, and, in one case, a senior living community.
Enjoying the Cream of the Crops
At Splendido, an all-inclusive community in Tucson for those age 55 and better, residents can enjoy dishes prepared with fresh, seasonal, locally sourced produce. In a farm-to-table arrangement, Splendido chefs cook with a selection of heirloom and organic produce grown at the nearby Sleeping Frog Farms in Benson, Arizona. Jeremy Imes, executive chef at Splendido, says, “The farm sends us a list of available produce every Monday, and we choose what we can use for the week.” Although the farm is not certified organic, Imes says that the produce is raised organically.