Buy local – it’s something I am constantly reminded to do, especially when I was living in Asheville (if you didn’t have some sort of “Buy Local” bumper sticker on your Subaru and/or Prius, you were a nobody). But it’s also something that I truly believe is the right thing to do.

This week, Debbie, Clairemont’s newest and awesome summer intern, and I took a trip to the Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market. It was there that we had a chance to marvel over the (very) fresh fruits and veggies (since they’re local), hormone-free beef and poultry, specialty cheeses and free-range eggs, fresh cut flowers, artisan baked goods and cookies and cupcakes. Did I mention cupcakes? Good thing I forgot my cash this time – I would have been in trouble!

But in all sincerity, there are quite a few benefits of buying at your local farmers market, and I would like to share them with you. Sustainable Table put it simply and beautifully when they wrote, “There are countless reasons why buying local food is both rewarding and delicious, including enjoying the taste of fresh food, improved health and nutrition, environmental stewardship, support for family farms and rural communities and ensuring animal welfare.”

Need more convincing? Check out local nonprofit the Abundance Foundation or just head over to the farmers market and see it for yourself! The downtown market is hosted every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in City Plaza, a pretty hip central location downtown (Flava Flav himself strutted his stuff in City Plaza during Hopscotch). And if you go, be sure to tell us what you think!

It’s all about delivery — a phrase I’ve heard one too many times, but still, I find to be very true. Only this time, I’m not talking about a big presentation or a business pitch; I’m talking about the delivery of my very delicious Jimmy John’s sandwich.

There are a whole heck of a lot of reasons why I love Jimmy John’s, the Vito being number one….Well, technically it’s number five on the menu, but rhetorically speaking… And the second reason? Because they deliver…on BIKES (usually). Every time that I call in to order my delicious Jimmy John’s Vito (e-z on the onions, e-z on the oregano and no tomatoes for those of you keeping tabs), they not only deliver at lightning speed, but they do it on two wheels, not four. It’s awesome!

Using my handy, dandy iPhone calculator, I figured that if I eat at least one Jimmy John’s sandwich a week (and trust me, it’s usually more), it’s a one mile round trip from Clairemont back to the store and my order is delivered by bicycle every single time (which in my case, it is), then the numbers are hardly impressive. BUT, dear friends, imagine how that number quickly adds up when you take into account just how many people have an obsession with the franchise as I do.

And yes, I do understand that sometimes, the folks at Jimmy John’s will have to hop into a car to make a delivery, but what I’m really trying to say is that I am proud of this gang. They’re setting an example by doing things a little greener. So next time you’re in the mood for a delicious, fresh and altogether scrumptious sandwich, maybe you should also consider a place that delivers by bike (or a place where you could bike yourself). It would be one more way to live a little greener each day!

Bon appétit!

For today’s Green Thought Thursday, we’ll take a look at local foods as taste tested by our intern Hope Hemby!

Located in Raleigh hotspot Glenwood South, Zely & Ritz takes pride in using local ingredients and organic food. In fact, it’s the only restaurant in the area to have its own farm! Coon Rock Farm in Hillsborough provides Zely & Ritz with freshly grown veggies and pasture-raised meat and eggs. The restaurant also buys ingredients from 50 other local farms. My friend and I decided to check it all out for ourselves and to see if Chef Sarig would live up to his reputation and wow us with a culinary masterpiece.

Sure enough, we were not disappointed! Upon arriving to the restaurant, we were greeted by the friendly staff and were seated in no time at all. We started off the evening with one of Zely and Ritz’s signature drinks, the tequila cilantro cocktail. The drink was so fresh and unique, and with a slice of jalapeno, had just the right kick to it.

While we sipped our cocktails, we were able to take in the amazing atmosphere, unique décor and just enjoy the ambience. We nibbled on the warm, freshly baked bread and ordered a delicious starter of creamy brie in between a pastry with mixed greens with a hint of apple.

After our mouth watering appetizer and much deliberation, we finally decided on our entrees. I opted for the sweet potato gnocchi, and my date went for the steak. We could not decide which one we liked better! His beef was perfectly paired with a cilantro and lime reduction. My sweet potato gnocchi was mixed in with brussell sprouts, broccoli and a tasty spinach puree. We also just had to order a side of the creamy asparagus risotto!

We ate to our hearts’ (or stomachs’) content, and just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, it did. Chef Sirag told us he wanted to make one of his favorite desserts especially for us! We were lucky enough to try the most decadent dessert, a feta cheesecake with an apricot glaze. The fresh cheesecake was perfectly positioned in between a light, golden pastry and was garnished with an artfully arranged vanilla bean pod.

On top of the impeccable service, decadent food and incredible atmosphere, I got to snap a picture with the chef!

Zely & Ritz strives to support local ingredients and provide the Raleigh area with the option of delicious, healthy foods that not only taste good, but are good for you!

They are sentimental keepsakes, family heirlooms, priceless memories – they are Grandma’s jewelry. As women, at some point in our lives, we will inevitably be recipients of our Grandmother’s favorite jeweled accessories. The question is…how do we incorporate these antiquated pieces into our modern styles?

Today’s Green Thought Thursday is all about how to answer this question. Dana, our resident jewelry maker, has found a simple way to turn some of her old, inherited jewelry into fun, stylish accessories all while reducing, reusing and recycling. One of the predicaments encountered when trying to update these vintage baubles, especially when it comes to earrings, is the old-fashioned clip-on style. While this type of earring definitely served its purpose at one time, it is simply outdated and uncomfortable. Armed with all of her jewelry crafting knowledge, Dana was able to switch out the tired old clip-ons for modern French wire style posts on a pair of her great grandmother’s earrings.

Dana, along with jewelry stores like Joint Venture Jewelry in Cary and Good Girls Studio in Raleigh, are revamping precious metals and helping to further the green effort all in the name of fashion. If you don’t want to alter the original design or style of your jewelry, there are still others ways to modernize your adornments that are just as eco-friendly. Try pairing just one of your vintage pieces with a current fashion trend or something timeless like a blazer or shift dress. Another idea is to wear your bijou against a blank canvas such as a simple black dress or plain shirt so that your jewelry really makes a statement. You can find really awesome antique jewelry here in Raleigh at the Antiques Emporium, but we also love websites like Etsy where you can find vintage jewelry of all shapes and sizes (and eras).

Grandma passed down her pearls because she knew a true classic never goes out of style. But making a classic style all your own? Now that is great fashion!