Artichoke, a restaurant in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, UK, recently created an in-house barter program. Chef Laurie Gear encourages locals to bring in their beautiful produce in return for a free glass of wine, and the privilege of seeing their vegetables transformed into cutting-edge cuisine (which is not free).
Gear’s regulars hand over prizeworthy pumpkins, squashes, wild garlic, curly kale, rosemary and mint.
Gear says there’s no real financial benefit from using donated produce. “It’s just something we can do because we’re a local, neighbourhood restaurant,” he explains.
The informal bartering started some years ago when one regular had a glut of vegetables. But since the restaurant reopened this year after a fire, Gear has become even more passionate about using local produce.
Read the full story at http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/nov/12/fruit-vegetables-restaurant-barter
