OUR PURVEYORS

At Rialto and at The Charles Hotel, we have a heightened awareness for how important it is to tread as lightly as possible.

We are always looking for ways to be good environmental citizens:  We compost biodegradable food, recycle glass, plastic and metal, reuse our 100% post-consumer recycled menu paper and use biodegradable dishwashing soaps.  We also make working with local vegetable, clam, and meat farmers, fishermen and cheese makers a priority. Here's information about a few of our purveyors.

WOODBURY'S INC

Pat and Barbara Woodbury do not have a fancy extensive website, but they don’t need it.  Their clams and oysters say it all. For the most part, we only serve clams from Woodbury’s at Rialto, and when they aren’t farming in the winter months, we switch to mussels and other shellfish. They grow their shellfish in Wellfleet Bay on Cape Cod, where they have been for the last 20 years.

Visit them at www.woodburyclams.com

VERRILL FARMS

Verrill Farm is operated as a partnership between Stephen and Joan Verrill and daughter Jennifer Verrill Faddoul. The farm consists of about 200 acres in Concord and Sudbury. One hundred acres are prime farmland and 100 acres are wildlife habitats, woodlands, and wetlands. Steve's father and mother moved to Concord in 1918 and started a successful dairy business.  The business lasted for nearly 72 years. In 1990, the dairy herd was sold and plans began to replace the existing tent retail space with a new farm stand, which was built in 1995. Verrill Farm delivers home grown produce in season to a number of wonderful Boston restaurants.

Visit them at www.verrillfarm.com

WOLFE'S NECK FARM

In the early 1950's, Wolfe's Neck Farm pioneered organic beef farming in the eastern U.S. The Farm has been marketing organic and natural beef longer than any farm in America. Wolfe's Neck Natural Beef works hand-in-hand with farms and ranches throughout the country to produce the finest natural beef in the United States. Over 150 family farms, with over 100,000 acres of land are involved in this program. These farms are vested in humanely raising their livestock by providing the animals with clean, stress-free and safe environments. Wolfe's Neck Natural Beef works closely with the farmers to monitor feed rations, ensuring the animals receive unlimited access to fresh, clean water, and a wholesome vegetarian diet.  The animals spend a minimum of 120 days on select rations to ensure consistent texture, taste and finish.

Visit them at www.wolfesneckfarm.org

BLUE HERON ORGANIC FARM

The mission of Blue Heron Organic Farm is to increase the availability of locally produced food and to raise awareness about ecologically sound farming practices. Through selling produce from one of the few remaining organic farm stands in the area, offering a pick-your-own flower and herb garden (as well as a small PYO vegetable garden, raspberries, and pumpkins in the fall), guiding volunteers, creating a healthy and fun environment for children and establishing regular community events, Blue Heron Organic Farm aims to promote a deeper sense of community among the residents of Lincoln. Through supplying Boston area restaurants with local Certified Organic produce and donating what we do not sell to soup kitchens and shelters, we involve the surrounding communities as well.

Learn more on their website at: www.blueheronfarmlincoln.com

EVA'S GARDEN

Eva Sommaripa provides Rialto with certified organic culinary herbs, edible flowers and specialty greens. Eva's Garden is located in Dartmouth, MA.

ISLAND CREEK OYSTERS

Island Creek Oysters is a group of dedicated farmers who raise the finest oysters in the world, fifty-two weeks a year. Skip Bennett planted his first oysters in 1992 after three years growing quahogs in Duxbury Bay. He was told by many he was moving from growing something bad to something even worse. After years of trial and error, and some undeniably delicious oysters, he got it right. Skip was joined in his adventure by Christian Horne, an oyster farmer from Maine, and shortly thereafter by Donny Merry, the owner of a local fish market. Island Creek began selling oysters to local restaurants. In the early days there weren't enough oysters to supply the restaurants, so chefs simply said, "when you have them, we want them." Through this commitment to chefs, Island Creek Oysters has grown into one of the largest oyster companies in the United States.

Learn more on their website: www.islandcreekoysters.com

Fiore Di Nonno

Fresh mozzarella is the signature produce of Fiore di Nonno made in the tradition of owner and cheese maker, Lourdes' grandfather and the generation before him. Made fresh daily in Somerville, MA, Fiore di Nonno's small batch mozzarella tastes like a refreshing glass of milk. This delicacy is soft in texture an its flavor is milky sweet, highlighted by a hint of salt. Fiore di Nonno's cows milk mozzarella is handcrafted from curds produced by Shy Brothers Farm in Westport, MA.

To learn more visit Lourdes' website: www.fioredinonno.com

OUR FRIENDS

Maryann Thompson Architects www.maryannthompson.com
Cafco Construction Management - www.cafcoconstruction.com

Korn Design - www.korndesign.com

Carol Kaplan - www.carolkaplanphoto.com
BostonChefs.com – www.bostonchefs.com

Mohr & McPherson - www.mohr-mcpherson.com

Taza Chocolate - www.tazachocolate.com

Cookstr - www.cookstr.com

Crooked Brook - www.crookedbrook.com 

For great looking chef uniforms, contact Crooked Brook. Each one of their World's Highest Quality Chef Jackets ™ and aprons is made to order, based on your selection of style options and custom embroidery. Their Women’s chef coats are stunning.

Rasna Olive Oil- http://www.rasna.com/

Rasna Extra Virgin Olive Oil is organic, extra virgin, cold pressed olive oil from the hills of central Tuscany.  For this amazing oil visit http://www.rasna.com/ .

FROM THE GEORGE HOWELL COFFEE COMPANY

RIALTO IS PLEASED TO OFFER THE DIRECT TRADE COFFEES AND ESPRESSO

George Howell and his company was recently profiled, along with other "Direct trade" coffee roasters, in a NYT article by Peter Meehan. Meehan writes, " Direct-trade coffee companies... see ecologically sound agriculture and prices above even the Fair Trade premium both as sound business practices and as a route to better-tasting coffee." And that's what we love about this coffee--it tastes superb and is purchased directly from small producers, creating a deliciously sustainable (or endless) cup of joe. Check out their company website at: www.terroircoffee.com