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]

Today and tomorrow Philadelphia’s best chefs compete at the Reading Terminal for the title of Best Chef of Pennsylvania. This free event will determine the regional finalists who go on to compete in the State Finals at the PA Farm Show in January.

The competition will begin at noon on Friday and conclude with final round at 3:30 PM, Saturday. This free event features eight chefs from Philadelphia’s best kitchens battling for the glory in an Iron Chef style competition. enjoying the skills of our great chefs.”

This year’s competitors include:
David Ansill, Chef/Owner, Ansill
Corey A. Baver, Chef, Paradiso Restaurant
Joseph Frost, Executive Chef, georges’
Jason Goodman, Executive Chef, Meritage Restaurant
Blake Joffe, Head Chef, Bar Ferdinand
Natalie Miller, Chef Owner, Looper’s Grille & Bar
Meg Votta, Executive Chef, Joseph Ambler Inn
Michael Zulli, Executive Chef, Bridgewater’s

This event will be one of seven regional competitions this summer which will yield the PA Preferred Best Chef of Pennsylvania. The regional winners, as well as 2006 champion Michael Adams (The Farmhouse Restaurant, Emmaus, Pa.), will compete at the PA Farm Show in January.

Each regional winner will receive $500 and compete in the State Championship during Farm Show in Harrisburg, January 2008, for the title PA Preferred Best Chef of Pennsylvania and a $1,000 prize.

In the Metro today check out where you can find locally farmed foods in the city, and some local beer too. Local happy hour tonight at Southwark and at Good Food, Good Beer and the Rest Is History under the shambles at Headhouse Square this Saturday. Xochitl, Zot and Bridget Foy’s among others will participate.

Also there are rumors of a mutiny at the Rum Bar. Arrrgh Matey!

The Bite: City gets Fresh [Philadelphia Metro]

James is hosting Fresh Food, Cool Drinks, Clean Lines tonight as part of Buy Fresh Buy Local week in Philadelphia. But James is going a step further with a fresh and local happy hour every Tuesday for the rest of the summer. Local beers are half off as are cocktails made with farm fresh fruit. Plus delicacies from nearby farms are always on the menu.

James [Official Site]

And also tonight Stephanie Anderson author of “Killer Pies” will be at the Sidecar Bar & Grille for some killer pies along with regional fare by chef Rich Freedman. And after you enjoy all the food, Adam (owner of the sidecar) will be getting pied in the face to raise money for local charity.

The 3rd Annual Good Food, Good Beer and the Rest Is History event is taking place on Saturday July, 21st under the Headhouse Square shambles at 2nd and Lombard from 5:30 to 8:30 PM.

This Buy Fresh Buy Local food and beer tasting event will include food from Bridget Foy’s, General Lafayette Inn, James, Run for the Hills, Rx, White Dog, Xochitl and Zot. Brewers will include Dogfish Head, General Lafayette, Sly Fox, Stoudt’s, Triumph, Troegs, Victory and Yards.

The Philadelphia Convivium of Slow Food and its local partner Farm to City are co-sponsors of the event. The event is a fund-raiser for Slow Food.

Tickets are $30 for 5 sample food plates or $22 for 3 sample food plates. For advance tickets, call Slow Food at 718-260-8000 and ask for The Rest Is History event. Tickets will also be available at the entrance (cash only).

Local Food Philly [Official Site]
Slow Food Philly [Official Site]
Farm to City [Official Site]
White Dog Cafe Foundation [Official Site]

This Sunday Buy Fresh Buy Local week starts with their 5th annual Buy Fresh Buy Local Week Kick-Off Event at Yards Brewing Company. The event runs from 2 PM to 6:30 at the Brewery. Tickets are $20 in advance/$25 at the door.

All local ingredient cheese steaks, hand crafted ales, live bluegrass music, gelato and a dunk tank are among the highlights.

If you love local food and support sustainable agriculture in our region, come eat and drink like you mean it!

Get Tickets [Official Site]
Local Food Philly [Official Site]

Next week is Buy Fresh Buy Local Week in Philadelphia. There are over a dozen events during the week celebrating our bounty of locally-grown food. Everything from chef competitions, farm tours, film screenings, happy hours, a farmers’ market grand opening, and beer and food pairings.

Check out the web site and keep up to date with Foobooz and our event calendar.

Local Food Philly [Official Site]