Tuesday March 27, 2007

Michel Nischan, the co-owner and chef of The Dressing Room restaurant in Westport brought a sense of nostalgia back to a crowd of nearly 50 people at the Westport Historical Society when he spoke of his years growing up on a farm. Michel was remembering early days of picking tomatoes and strawberries and eating bacon that his mother made from scratch. Michel spoke passionately about what he believes is paramount to restore a healthier way of eating. He insists that we do what we can to support our local farming community and keep it viable by buying CT grown produce when its fresh and using it in everyday meals. If it's not ripe yet, you won't find it on the menu at his restaurant. The dishes he prepares reminds people of meals we remember our grandmothers making and the fond memories of being together as a family. Michel hopes to bring back this sense of community by having the weekly Farmers Market at the Westport Country Playhouse and by compiling a variety of recipes that you can prepare from seasonal vegetables in his new cookbook Homegrown. Proceeds from the sale of the book support the Westport Historical Society. The talk tied in beautifully with the current exhibit Art & The Good Earth - as seen from the Painter's Eye.

Click on a picture to enlarge it.