The New Oxford American Dictionary has announced their 2007 word of the year and it’s food related! Locavore.

The “locavore” movement encourages consumers to buy from farmers’ markets or even to grow or pick their own food, arguing that fresh, local products are more nutritious and taste better. Locavores also shun supermarket offerings as an environmentally friendly measure, since shipping food over long distances often requires more fuel for transportation.

“The word ‘locavore’ shows how food-lovers can enjoy what they eat while still appreciating the impact they have on the environment,” said Ben Zimmer, editor for American dictionaries at Oxford University Press. “It’s significant in that it brings together eating and ecology in a new way.”

Oxford Word Of The Year: Locavore [OUPblog]

Trey Popp checks out Citygrange at the Westin and definitely has a better time of it than some earlier reviewers. The simple dishes were best and the mint-chocolate milk shake was a keeper.

Not all of Citygrange’s ideas pay off, but a couple hit the jackpot. Here’s hoping they iron out the wrinkles. If the execution catches up to the concept, this could be the kind of big-hotel dining a townie can get behind.

Grange Days [City Paper]

Farm To Philly has a special dinner at Restaurant Alba in Malvern.

The food at Restaurant Alba was very, very good. I just wish we were able to discern a little easier how much of the produce is locally sourced. Still, being able to get locally made cheese and a dessert made with locally grown apples is more than most restaurants around these parts will do!

Review: Restaurant Alba [Farm To Philly]
Restaurant Alba [Official Site]

Shop at a local’s farmer market with chef Chef Roberta Adamo and then prepare your own meal at Penne each Wednesday in November.

Each session costs $30 and begins at 10:30 AM.

Farm Market to Table Cooking Classes at Penne [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Penne [Official Site]

Kirsten Henri takes on Citygrange, a hotel restaurant that promises much more than it delivers.

Then there’s that great middle ground of mediocrity, where Citygrange—the new fresh ’n’ local, farm-forward and allegedly foodie-centric restaurant in the Westin—squats on its irritating corporate haunches, spinning twee commentary on its menu about how it feels “a little warm bread and room temperature butter can cure almost anything.”

Hotel Reservations [Philadelphia Weekly]
Citygrange [Official Site]

Rick Nichols strolls the stalls at the Headhouse Square Farmers Market on a recent Sunday taking in the sights, sounds and tastes.

“Great cities deserve great markets,” recites Nicky Uy, the laid-back, on-site manager for the Food Trust, the market’s nonprofit sponsor.

And so as farmers displayed cascades of heirloom tomatoes and polished onions, and the scent of toasting corn tortillas rose from Los Taquitos de Puebla portable griddle, there were palpable resonances of San Francisco’s Ferry Plaza farmers’ market, and (as chef Marcie Turney and her partner, Valerie Safran, shopped for greens for the Head House Square Farmers’ Market Salad they’re running as a weekly special at Lolita) of the Union Square greenmarket in Manhattan, which inspires menus at cafes on its flank.

On the Side | In Head House, hearing market echoes [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Eating local can mean delicious gelato from Capogiro. Farm To Philly tells you how.

The Mora Gelato is made from blackberries sourced from Green Meadow Farm in Lancaster County. The blackberry flavor in this gelato is intense and concentrated, yet it is still bright with an almost citric freshness.

The Rosemary, Goat’s Milk and Honey Gelato, however, is not to be missed. The rosemary is sourced from Overbrook Herb Farm in Landsdale, PA, the goat’s milk comes from Pequea Valley Farm in Lancaster County and the buckwheat honey comes from New Jersey.

Capogiro – Blackberry Gelato and Rosemary Gelato [Farm To Philly]
Capogiro [Official Site]

City Grange has a soft opening date set for August 6th. The Westin based restaurant will focus exclusively on local and sustainable ingredients from food to drink. [Feeding Frenzy, City Paper]

Will Bindi name stick for 13th Street Indian eatery by Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran? Michael Klein reports that Stephen Starr’s attempt to name a restaurant Bindi was rejected because a copyright is held on the name by Bindi by the Crocodile Hunter. The late Steve Irwin’s daughter is named Bindi. As for what Starr restaurant is in line for an Indian makeover, signs point to Washington Square although A.D. Amorosi also mentions Tangerine could be the target. [Inqlings, Philadelphia Inquirer]

Jose Garces is planning on expanding his restaurant empire to Chicago where he will be opening a “Barcelonan-style tapas and charcuterie” restaurant with a Mexican wrestler themed decor. [ZAGAT Buzz]

The ZAGAT New York City Market Place shopping guide for 2007-2008 gave Moore Brothers “Highest Rated” in every category. [Moore Brothers]

Say what you will about New Jersey, but you can’t beat a fresh Jersey tomato. Not to be outdone by out Buy Fresh Buy Local week, New Jersey chefs are teaming up with South Jersey farmers for a local food week of their own.

From July 22nd to 27th, participating independent South Jersey restaurants will feature 4-course menus using New Jersey farmed produce.

Farm To Fork [Official Site]

There’s a new local food blog out there, this one named Farm to Philly, is as you can probably guess, about locally grown food in the Philadelphia area.

Support a local farmer, crave the freshest produce, worry about what’s in or on your food – whatever your reason for eating locally grown and produced food in the Philadelphia area, Farm to Philly is probably writing about it.

Farm To Philly [Official Site]