Chester Creek Cafe in Duluth sets the bar high for both environmental sustainability and delicious food. With to-die-for pies and a specialty pizza every evening, there is much to enjoy about Chester Creek. Blending flavors from different ethnic cuisines and using almost exclusively locally-produced food, Chefs Pete Ravinski and Jillian Forte create a seasonal menu that makes the most of the produce they buy from local farmers as well as what grows in the restaurant's own garden.
Larry Schultz, who sells chickens and eggs to Chester Creek, maintains similar standards for his farm. His father, who lives on the farm next to Larry in Owatonna, never used herbicides or insecticides, and Larry's farm was certified organic long before organic was cool. Larry first met Pete and Jillian through the Southeast Minnesota Food Network and have been working together since. Chester Creek had always used organic, cage-free eggs and Larry's products fit the bill.
Pete and Jillian maintain strong relationships with their producers, chatting with them on the phone to learn about future food availability and then plan their menus accordingly. With additional commitments to reducing fossil fuel and energy use, recycling and composting, and cooking healthy food, Pete and Jillian at Chester Creek are setting a trend for the future of local, wholesome, and delicious cuisine.
Carla Blumberg, Pete Ravinski and Jillian Forte
Restaurant(s):
