We interviewed Alma’s General Manager, Lucas Rosenbrook, about their focus on partnering with local farmers.
You’re probably familiar with Minneapolis’ iconic, Alma, restaurant in the Marcy Holmes neighborhood. Part of being a good steward is prioritizing local and Alma does just that by partnering with Minnesota farmers. Former Executive Chef and Current Director of Operations, Lucas Rosenbrook sat down with Upstream to talk about Alma’s work on caring for its community, customers, and our natural places.
How does Alma work with local farms?
Alma’s approach to sourcing is local first and organic second. Partnering with local farmers has been an ongoing practice of ours for nearly two decades. I love the seasonality of food and being able to be creative by utilizing excess crops from our growers.
How do you incorporate seasonal and locally available ingredients into your menu?
We have an ever-evolving menu, which always incorporates seasonal food. Right now, Alma is finishing up winter crops, like squash and beets, and is transitioning to spring produce, such as fresh spinach and radishes.
How can Minnesotans incorporate seasonal produce in their meals day to day?
Consumers can incorporate seasonal produce in their homes by going to co-ops and asking the produce staff what they have received from the farms. Be mindful of tags to see what food is locally grown.
Tell us about your favorite menu item.
My favorite dish is Farrotto, which includes red beets, reduced mushroom broth and juice beets. We change our menu frequently, 6 to 7 times per year and in the summer it’s one time per month as we get creative by staying engaged with the farmers and what they have on hand produce-wise.
What do you love about where you live?
I love that the variety in weather is so frequent. I like ice fishing, open water fishing, foraging for mushrooms and camping.
What is your favorite outdoor place in Minnesota?
My favorite outdoor place in Minnesota is Duluth, specifically the North Shore. I also enjoy driving from Red Wing to Winona along the Mississippi River Valley, where I love to fish and go camping.
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