In today’s globalized world, where products from around the world are readily available at our fingertips, it’s easy to overlook the significance of supporting local producers, especially when it comes to fresh produce. However, by prioritizing local sourcing, we not only embrace the unique flavors and freshness of our own regions but also foster a strong sense of community and sustainability.
Building Relationships with Local Farmers & Producers
In the heart of the Midwest, What Chefs Want has found a remarkable partnership with the Mennonite community farmers from Scottsville, KY. Hand-picking a wide variety of locally grown produce, the Hoover family behind H & H Farms provides What Chefs Want with more than 16 different types of produce. This collaboration not only showcases the remarkable diversity of our region but also highlights the vital role that local producers play in nourishing and enriching our communities.
In June, some of our What Chefs Want team members had the opportunity to visit with the Hoover family of H & H Farms. They enjoyed a gorgeous day on the farm, complete with a tour on a wagon pulled by draft horses, past fields of squash, zucchini, tomatoes, and watermelon. Our team was invited to eat lunch with the Hoover family in their home as we learned more about their family and the incredibly hard work that goes into producing the crops that go from their local farm to your tables.
Working with local farmers has many advantages for both the farmers and our business. H & H Farms will adjust their crops based on our needs, so when we saw a demand for more watermelon last year from our customers, they adjusted to grow more watermelon for us. They pick squash blossoms twice a week for us very early on the mornings that our truck is scheduled to pick up from them. This “right out of the field and onto our truck” dynamic is only made possible by working closely with local farms.
In addition to H & H Farms, the Scottsville, KY area is also home to the Miller family, who grow exquisite heirloom tomatoes. The Millers specifically cultivate and grow special varieties of their tomatoes to get specific colors, tastes and shapes. The family who produces Spring Valley Farms jams is just down the road as well.
Local Opportunities in Every Region
These are just a few of the MANY local producers that we partner with across the country. What Chefs Want works with local producers across all our different regions to provide our customers with fresh, local and seasonal produce.
Ready to Buy Local?
If you are in our ordering system and looking for local items, look for the green LOCAL tag:
Or use the local filter found in the left “filter by” column:
Local offerings will look different based on your location.
The 4th of July is just around the corner, and you know what that means—time to fire up the grill or smoker and give your customers a menu that sets off fireworks of flavor and leaves everyone craving more. That’s why we’re here to share our BBQ favorites, guaranteed to add sizzle and excitement to your holiday feast. From hand-cut, premium quality steaks to the freshest produce, we’ve got the ingredients that will inspire grilling greatness and create an unforgettable 4th of July experience.
Center of the Plate Stars for the Grill
The sizzle and aroma of a perfectly grilled steak evoke a sense of anticipation and delight, as each bite offers a tender and juicy experience that is simply irresistible. Try one of our favorites, the Black Hawk Reserve Striploin. Black Hawk Farms cattle are selectively bred for intense marbling and robust flavor. (Search Item #26955)
Nothing says the 4th of July like a burger hot off the grill, but how can you take those burgers to the next level? It’s all about the quality of the beef itself. Try Berry Beef Burger Patties. Berry Farms dry ages their beef, allowing the natural flavors to be enhanced while making the meat more tender. (Search Item #26696)
While beef remains a favorite in star-spangled spreads, don’t overlook the incredible flavors of fish, which prove to be an excellent and delectable option for the grill as well.
It is wild caught salmon season, ensuring a steady supply of Sockeye Salmon and the perfect grilling companion, King Salmon. Sockeye salmon is known for its intense flavor and vibrant red color, while King salmon is revered for its large size, high fat content, and luxurious taste. (Search Item #28603)
Cobia, a versatile and delicious fish, is an excellent choice for grilling enthusiasts. With its firm and flavorful flesh, Cobia holds up well on the grill, allowing for various preparations and marinades to enhance its taste. (Search Item #48021)
Don’t Forget the Smoker
We can’t let the summer season start without a nod to the magic of smoked meat.
Smoking lamb neck or lamb shoulder creates a tender and flavorful culinary experience. The slow smoking process allows the lamb to develop a rich smoky aroma and a melt-in-your-mouth texture, resulting in a truly unforgettable dish. Freedom Run Farm Lamb is more tender and mild than virtually any other lamb available in the market today. (Search Item #62506 for lamb neck and #62502 for lamb shoulder)
Smoked beef brisket is a barbecue masterpiece that promises an explosion of smoky and savory flavors. We recommend smoking the Black Hawk Brisket. (Search Item #00336)
Produce that Pops on the Grill
Summer is the perfect season to showcase the vibrant flavors of fresh vegetables on the grill. Grilling vegetables enhances their textures and creates a delicious char, elevating them to a whole new level of culinary enjoyment during the sunny and bountiful days of summer.
Grilling asparagus highlights the natural sweetness and earthy flavors of this versatile vegetable. With a slight char on the outside, grilled asparagus offers a perfect balance of crispness and tenderness, making it a perfect side dish or addition to salads, pastas, or as a standalone appetizer. (Search Item #20000 for jumbo and #20005 for standard)
Broccolini and caulilini are excellent choices for grilling due to their unique attributes. Broccolini, with its tender stems and small florets, grills beautifully, developing a smoky flavor while retaining its crunch. The thinner stalks of caulilini allow for quick and even cooking on the grill, resulting in a delightful blend of charred and slightly sweet flavors. Both vegetables benefit from the grill’s heat, transforming into deliciously charred and caramelized delights that add a delightful twist to any summer meal. (Search Item #20012 for broccolini and #03643 for caulilini)
Sweet corn is in season as well, so don’t forget that it is a treat on the grill! (Search Item #20041)
Gourmet Goods to Enhance your Grill
Take your grilling to the next level by incorporating flavorful glazes. Elevate your dishes with the luscious sweetness of fig balsamic glaze, made by enriching balsamic vinegar of Modena PGI with fig juice, or indulge in the earthy richness of truffle balsamic glaze, infused with the aromatic essence of truffles. (Search Item #29869 for fig balsamic glaze and #29853 for truffle balsamic glaze)
Change your whole flavor profile with spices like ras el hanout or za’atar. A prized Moroccan spice blend, ras el hanout takes its name from an Arabic phrase that can be loosely translated as ‘top of the shop’, meaning the very best a spice merchant has to offer. Za’atar is a complex medley of seasonings is notable for its rich aroma and well-balanced curry-like flavor. It is an authentic Middle Eastern mix of herbs and spices, featuring sumac, thyme, oregano, sesame seeds and salt that is sure to add a new pop of flavor to your grilled favorites. (Search Item #97142 for ras el hanout and #97181 for za’atar)
Elevate your grilled fish with extra virgin olive oil with lemon or yuzu. The yuzu oil, a fantastic complement to grilled seafood, offers a refreshing twist as a versatile citrus substitute. (Search Item #18268 for EVOO with lemon and #95411 for yuzu oil)
What Chefs Want is Delivering Your Grilling Favorites
What Chefs Want has you covered with a selection of grilling favorites that will make your menu shine. From hand-cut steaks to the freshest seasonal produce, our premium quality ingredients are sure to elevate your summer menu and leave your guests craving more.
With split cases, daily delivery (even on the 4th!) and no minimum orders, we give chefs what they want and need to create summer menu magic.
*Not available in all regions – see website or app for more information.
Acquerello – The Tastiest, The Richest, The Healthiest
It’s the tastiest because it’s the only rice whitened with a helix, a gentle method which leaves the grain intact.
It’s the richest because it is aged for at least one year in refrigerated silos. Starch is more stable and flavor enhanced.
It’s the healthiest because thanks to a patented process the rice germ is absorbed in the grains, giving them all the nutritional values of brown rice.
A short-grain, pearl-like Italian white rice which is high in starch. Arborio rice forms the foundation of the dish risotto.
From Alfresco: “We use only the best, hand-picked ingredients, perfected recipes, detailed processes and customized, handcrafted Italian pasta machines to make our pasta. We hold our products, people and facilities to the highest standards for safety, consistency, performance and taste.”
Alfresco Pasta uses only unbleached, naturally aged flour in our recipes. The unbleached flour has a rougher texture, and a darker color. The natural aging helps develop the gluten and produce a better pizza crust.
TO USE:
1. Thaw dough slowly in refrigerator before use. This process is called ”cold fermentation”, and we recommend 3-5 days at 38-42 degrees F for the perfect crust, although 24 -48 hours will work fine. This gives the yeast time to react with the sugars and produce very good gluten structure as well as a delicious flavor. Keep in mind fermentation that goes beyond 5 days is not ideal, as your dough will begin losing its ability to rise properly.
2. Remove dough from refrigerator and proof at room temperature or in a proof box until dough rises. Dough can be proofed in the morning for lunch service, and early afternoon for dinner service.
3. Roll Dough to order, score with a dough docker if needed and bake immediately.
4. We recommend rolling the crust thin, but a medium to thick crust will yield good results as well. 5. Adjust your oven temp accordingly until you achieve a crispy outer crust, with a pillow-like, chewy interior.
Berry Beef, named after poet and agrarian philosopher Wendell Berry, is committed to good animal and land stewardship, and to farmers getting paid a livable wage for their hard work. Our dry-aged Angus beef is raised and processed humanely in Henry County, Kentucky. Our farms raise animals on grass and finish them on grain according to standards set by the Berry Center.
Item 26695 – 2/5 Lb Case
I dislike the thought that some animal has been made miserable to feed me. If I am going to eat meat, I want it to be from an animal that has lived a pleasant, uncrowded life outdoors, on bountiful pasture, with good water nearby and trees for shade.”
Black Hawk Farms is a fourth generation family farm in Western Kentucky. Their cattle are traditionally born and raised on pasture and then grain-finished using white corn, rye hay and soft red winter wheat – that they grow on their farm, free of antibiotics or hormones.
They use an eco –friendly compost barn which eliminates any negative impact to the environment. The compost barn utilizes sawdust from a local saw mill combined with what would become animal waste to create a superior mulch-like organic fertilizer that is then recycled on the farm.
This Kentucky Proud product is changing the way cattle are raised East of the Mississippi and we are pleased to offer our customers a fantastic local beef option. Through this partnership we are able to eliminate about 1,000 miles of carbon footprint!
From Shuckman’s Fish Co. & Smokery – “Since we began in 1919, we have taken great pride in the high quality of the products we offer, and we prepare our gourmet smoked fish and caviar to the level of quality our customers have come to expect.”
Fall is here! We’ve got a great selection of fall favorites like plump pie pumpkins, crisp and delicious apple cider from Huber’s Orchard, decorative dried Indian corn, and much more!
Since its beginning, Gifford’s has focused on getting it right. Always dry-cured and hickory smoked, Gifford’s bacon has just the right amount of flavor. Smoked in the heart of Music City, Gifford’s has become known as the bacon of Nashville – a place that definitely knows its bacon. This bacon is life changin’!
What started as a passion project for Nathan Gifford has grown into a cult following of this special bacon. With his wife Nicole, Nathan began to cure and smoke meats for chefs, friends, and family. Today, Gifford’s bacon can be found on the menus at top restaurants throughout Nashville.
Item 24244 – 10 lb. case / 5/8″ cut, 12-14 slices per lb.
The slabs are marinated for days in dark maple syrup brine and double smoked to create hearty, thick-cut bacon that’s more boldly flavorful than you’d expect. We applewood or cob smoke our bacons at low temperatures lazily. As a featured ingredient in a savory signature dish or crisply seared on its own, our bacon is some of the best you’ll ever try.
Item 00778 – 10 lb. case / 16-18 ct. sliced per lb.
