Farmplicity began as a simple start-up in April and has grown to connecting over 115 farmers with 150 area restaurants. The next step is a collaboration between Farmplicity and Stacked Burger Bar (7637 Ivory Avenue; 314-655-4900). People always say you can't know where all of your food is coming from, but as long as you order the "E-I-E-I-O Burger," we can tell you.
See also: Farmplicity Brings Local Ingredients to St. Louis Chefs
"We partnered up with them to figure out how they could highlight local products," Farmplicity cofounder Jolijt Tamanaha tells us, "and we decided it would be great to do a burger that's 100 percent local."
The burger will be available beginning this Friday, December 13. It features a Fazio's brioche bun with a grass-fed beef patty from Boeckmann Family Farm on top of acorn squash from Three Girls and a Tractor braised in Perennial Artisan Ales' Peace Offering beer with candied bacon from Wenneman's Meat Co. and goat cheese from Heartland Creamery. Basically, it sounds amazing.
"Absolutely everything you're eating has been produced, raised or grown within 150 miles of the restaurant," Tamanaha says. "It's a neat way to demonstrate everything that Missouri and Illinois farmers have to offer."
Tamanaha says Farmplicity has really expanded during the growing season, but now it has some time to refocus. It will be able to serve restaurants like Stacked better by helping them jump into the local food scene.
"It can be difficult for a restaurant to start sourcing locally. It's an intimidating thing to do, because it requires a network that not everyone has," she says. "We want to partner with people who have the heart and the will to do it."
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