Finding My Roots

One evening with a friend I entered into a very large blue-grayish looking house called Grandin Gardens that was filled with businesses that catered to the organic and holistic lifestyles that are increasingly rising in the Roanoke Valley of Virginia - my hometown. The very first entrance to the right as I walked into the mansion-sized hearth was a place called Local Roots Café.

I had no idea this restaurant existed until my friend told me about it. For a long time, I'd told myself that I would try to expand my eating habits to a organic way of living, and although I'd been shopping at the local Co-Op for whole, organic foods, which is located only two blocks away from Local Roots Café, I felt it would be good to go to a restaurant that had those types of foods available.

On December 14, 2007, the Universe sent such a place to the Roanoke Valley through self-trained chef and owner, William Rives Elliot and his girlfriend and general manager, April Yancey after hearing the resounding cries of people (myself included) looking for a restaurant that was an organic haven.

The name of their restaurant not only eludes to the fact they specialize in organic ingredients and whole foods, in addition, the ingredients used to create the dishes they serve are 90 to 100 percent locally raised and grown, including the meats.

I've been visiting the Local Roots Café for about a month now (which is when they started serving dinner three days a week - Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 5pm to 9:30pm). I must say that I'm impressed with the chef's, "Rives" incredible ability to weave together an assortment of flavors in one dish that rendered me shocked to find out that he was not professionally trained. This made me appreciate his culinary talents even more - because it's all about passion.

He prepares his dishes with as much as passion as someone's mother lovingly making a Sunday supper after church. His food compels me to think of such great memories in my own life.

I've tried several dishes so far - Buffalo Stew with Corn and Bean Bread, Chicken Pocket with Kettle Chips, Shittake Grits, the 100% Local Roots Salad (which also includes 3 to 4 ingredients from the restaurant's very own garden on the grounds of the Grandin Gardens where they are housed. I even tried one of the pasta dishes there one evening, which was just divine. The pasta was homemade. It was my first time ever eating homemade pasta.

Although, there are dishes that consistently remain on the menu such as the 100% Local Roots Salad, the Pocket Lunches (such as the Chicken Pocket I've tried, the Reuben Pocket, and the 4-Cheese Pocket - which reminds me of a sandwich turnover), and their very popular 10" Pizzas, where there is a wide range of extra toppings to add to the homemade cheese pizza. While I haven't tried this particular dish, I've seen it making its way to another customer's table and I was impressed with both the smell and look of the pizza. Judging by the satisfying sounds coming from the customer, I'd say it was a good choice that evening.

In frequenting this unique place, I've allowed myself to explore a lot of different things I'd never tried before like eating edible pansies on my 100% Local Roots Salad topped with a homemade Ginger-Miso dressing, which after choosing it once, I'm completely hooked to the Ginger-Miso. OMG - just fabulous!

The Chicken Pocket I tried one day for lunch was filled with shredded chicken, shitake mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, and organic swiss cheese all stuffed into a sun-dried tomato bread. It was amazing! I ate every crumb of my lunch. When the plate was returned to the kitchen there was nothing left but the cute little garnish around the outside of the plate - and the more I thought about it, I should've eaten that too.

While I enjoy the dishes they have on a regular basis, I feel it's safe to say that when it comes to dinner, you shouldn't get too comfortable with the menu. There are a few dishes such as the salads and some of the pasta dishes that are staples, however, Rives enjoys creating new dishes on a weekly basis, which I find fun for a restaurant in the Roanoke Valley.

In addition to these wonderful creations you can get for lunch and dinner, Local Roots Café also offers fair trade coffees and teas, Grab and Go snacks and meals, fresh baked breads and cookies, and they feature local artwork.

So people, if you're ready for something different and you want to eat food where you'll find out exactly where all the ingredients came from (nothing is processed at this restaurant - they list where the ingredients come from on the menus) and you want a nice atmosphere to kick back in (they have an amazing lounge before you get to the dining area that has free Wi-Fi, games, books, magazines, and a kick-ass massage chair, I suggest you go to the Local Roots Café, it's a great addition to the Roanoke Valley's ever-growing holistic and organic presence in the state of Virginia.

For more information, please check out there website included with this article. They try to keep the menu updated online also.

Peace!