Cotton

In Manchester New Hampshire, when you talk about efforts to incorporate more local foods, most chefs will direct you to Chef Jeffrey Paige of Cotton Restaurant. When he opened Cotton, using local foods and working with local people who are passionate about their products became, according to Paige, "a lifestyle choice." In 1988, Paige began a quest to find out where food really came from. He became Executive Chef at Canterbury Shaker Village, one of two remaining active Shaker communities left in the world at the time. There, working with the last Shaker sisters, all in their 90's, he developed an appreciation for New England's rich culinary heritage. He developed numerous relationships with farmers, cheesemakers, gristmills, smokehouses, fishermen, etc. from all over the New England states. In 1991, with assistance from Gail McWilliams Jelly, NH Department of Agriculture, he founded the state's first Farm to Restaurant Connection.