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Food of the Day: Bacon

The bacon. Before I added chocolate.

Today was Day 1 of the 30-Day NOFA-NY Locavore Challenge. I did not have a perfectly locavore day. For one, I had to go to work at 6 a.m., and I was not about to forego my coffee because the java and/or cream in it was not local. There is a point where we all have to give a little. I did, however, make the most of local food by traveling to Governors Island for the Third Annual Pig Island, an all-local event featuring—gasp! surprise—pork! There were far too many pulled pork sandwiches (again, no idea where the buns came from) but nearly all the pork tacos featured home made tacos being fried up over a grill. I did start my porcine adventure with bacon, a heritage bacon from a NY family farm pig. Okay, it was dipped in dark chocolate. No idea where the chocolate curator, Clay Gordon, got this particular chocolate (I forgot to ask), but safe to say chocolate doesn’t grow on NY bushes. Nonetheless, the bacon was incredible (as was the chocolate). You can learn more about Clay and his chocolate life at—gasp! surprise—The Chocolate Life.

Where I Soared: Got the food of the day, and finding local bacon can be a challenge if you don’t know where to look (normally I buy bacon either at the greenmarket or The Meat Hook). I also stuck to local beer (Sixpoint, Spider Bite), despite the fact that my favorite local growler shop had three (!!!) of my favorite Japanese brews on tap!!! (very hard to find on tap, can regularly get in bottles). I also made stuffed peppers for dinner with Raven & Boar sausage topped with homemade (from the garden) marinara sauce.

Where I Sunk: The aforementioned lemons (and I may not put these on the list every day, in the event you turn—wait for it—sour on my posts!) and some rice in my stuffed pepper recipe. Also, the chocolate. But it was bacon and chocolate. How on earth does one say “no” to that?!

My Grade: I’m gonna be lenient and give myself a B+. It was the first day, the rice was leftover and I knew it wouldn’t wait a month for me, and I didn’t drink any Hitachino.

Ooh ooh ooh!!! I’ve amended this to note that the Locavore Challenge calendar has “locally crafted chocolates” on the 12th. Looks like my chocolate-covered bacon gets a pass! This makes me wish I’d gone back for more.