Bringing family, community, local art, and amazing food together in one space, Anna Christoforides' delicious dishes and friendly restaurant are a true testament to her commitment to sustainability. Even before Anna and her husband Lazaros opened Gardens of Salonica in Minneapolis sixteen years ago, Anna was preparing meals for her four children using produce grown in their communal garden. Nowadays, Anna's children are recognized by many restaurant patrons who ask about their latest studies and trips abroad with amazement and good humor.
Gardens of Salonica is known for wholesome, reasonably-priced, authentic Greek cuisine and much of the fare is purchased locally, including chicken, eggs, and beef sourced from Zweber Farms in Elko. John and Lisa Zweber run a small-scale, sustainable, family farm; they and their son manage the entire operation, located amid the hills of the countryside. All of the Zweber's 250 acres are dedicated to pasture for their 900 chickens, 200 cattle, and 50 hogs and their animals are raised in the fresh air and sunshine.
Through family connections four years ago, the Zwebers began their relationship with Anna. Not only do guests at the Gardens of Salonica benefit from the great flavors this environment creates, but the Zwebers do as well as Lisa describes, "We deliver meat to Anna, she treats us to lunch, and that's hard to beat!"
