Field Roast Folks: Stephen Holtz

In the Field Roast kitchen, we have had a force of culinary wizardry revamping recipes, creating some new products and occasionally cooking us lunch! Chef Stephen Holtz has 35 years of cooking experience and is a friend of David's who worked with him at Common Meals (now FareStart), once as a Production Lead and then the programs first Chef/Instructor.

Stephen was born in Hartford, Connecticut (a fellow
"nutmegger" like David). He attended the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) after working 7 years in the industry. He's been cooking up a storm ever since; working in Vermont, Texas, Alaska, Seattle and San Francisco...he ran a smokehouse, managed production in a chocolate factory in Washington, and was a chef on a charter boat in the Caribbean. With all of this exposure to the culinary world, he prefers his foods spicy, full of flavor, and traditionally ethnic. "I love food, it is my creative medium and I love to feed people." Chef Holtz says.

He came to Field Roast after working for 12 years as a private chef and settling into a home with his wife on Vashon Island (a small island in the Puget Sound just off of Seattle).

Chef Holtz's work here at Field Roast has varied between product development, production maintenance and occasionally helping out in the kitchen with photo shoots and presentation assembly. His work has been greatly appreciated and now that he has decided to retreat to the island and move on from the bustle back and forth to our facility in Georgetown, he will be missed.

Thanks Steve for your big heart, generous spirit and good cooking!

Where Field Roast meets the plate

You may have noticed that Field Roast Sausages, Slices, and Celebration Roasts can be found in more grocery stores than ever; even large local chains have given us real estate on their shelves. Though you may like the freedom of taking a package of Field Roast home and cooking it up yourself, there are several options for grabbing a bite of our grain meats in a restaurant in Seattle and around the country.
You have long since been able to get your Field Roast fix at Smarty Pants, the Elysian Brewery or the Elliott Bay Cafe. Huckleberries Bistro in Spokane has carried our various cutlets since 2002, and the Husky deli has served up vegan options with our Wild Mushroom and Smoked Tomato slices since 2000! It is getting more difficult to keep track of our customers, with all of the different ways you can order our products; but since the Pacific Northwest is our home, more often than not we have a few will call orders a week and speak directly to the people using the Roast.
So here is a little update on who is using Field Roast on their menus, so that on those nights when it is too hot in your own kitchen you know there is still hope.

The Hangar Cafe
Located in Georgetown, WA literally down the alley way from the FR production facility, Dawn and her team brew the best Americano around, and serve sandwiches hot off the panini grill. She features a vegan Reuben with our Smoked Tomato slices, and will often put our Smoked Apple Sage Sausage in her homemade frittata breakfast specials. Seriously good artisan eats in a comfy cafe atmosphere.

The Georgetown Liquor Company
Down the street from Jules Mae's and Smarty Pants, also in Georgetown, WA is the recently established liquor & gamer pub with a vegetarian menu that obliterates thoughts of boring veggie food. The menu is a smorgasbord of bold tastes and really is a testament to where good chefs can take the art of vegetarian cuisine. Because the gamer geek can be found in all of us, the arcade tables are found near the windows, but the high backed booths are reminiscent of an old Scottish pub. Both the Darth Reuben and the Picard feature Field Roast, but owner Jim says people can smother Field Roast on any dish...and they do.

Cyclops
On first Ave in Belltown is the Cyclops bar whose cocktails are as good as the fare. You can find our Sunflower Cutlets on the menu in all their deep fried glory. We are a new addition to the bar menu and it seems that Field Roast patrons are Cyclops people too! Their food is vegan friendly and we are honored to be part of the mix.

Now let us jump across to the east coast...
'A' Cafe...both in Miami and New York have been serving up Celebration Roast and our White Truffle Pate for about a year now. Marc and Blue have a unique perspective on food and though I have not made it across the country to visit their restaurants, I have scoped out their menu online and I must say this is not your ordinary "cafe" with diner or bistro food.

This is only the tip of the iceberg!! I am committed to keeping a running "column" on where Field Roast meets the plate in front of you at your favorite place to eat!

Georgetown Art and Garden Walk

This weekend, after your day of BBQ'd independence, Field Roast's hometown of Georgetown, WA will invite everyone who can hear to take a tour of the gardens, art studios, businesses and yes Field Roast production facility. We are open for tours on July 8th, from 11am to 4pm, and will be on the art walk map. The whole event will kick off at 10am on Sunday and last until 5pm. You can grab a map at the Bank of America parking lot at 1112 S. Bailey Street. Corner of 12th Avenue S. and South Bailey Street, Seattle, WA. 98108. Last year some 2000 people came into Georgetown to see what it had to offer...it is certain there will be more this year!