Food Feeds Community
These days, neighborly support is more important than ever. Organizations across North Carolina are brainstorming creative solutions in extending a helping hand to their communities, at a safe distance. The Chatham Food Hub in Siler City exemplifies just one of these creative solutions. Offering residents a drive-through food court, the Chatham Food Hub is partnering with local restaurants to blend community and food together. The Root Cellar Cafe & Catering is among the first restaurants to join in the initiative, bringing their menu to the drive-through table.
The Hub:
Led by Eleanor Wertman, MPH (Program Manager, Community Health at UNC Health Alliance | Population Health Services), the Chatham Food Hub allows for caterers, restaurants, chefs and farmers to showcase their products. The drive-through food court will be open for online orders and pick-up at 700 Alston Bridge Road in Siler City on Wednesdays only. Orders must be placed online prior to pick-up.
A selection of items will be available from several local restaurants and eateries. Family-sized meals and local produce will also be available for purchase. This week, you may be in the mood for The Root Cellar’s bacon and smoked gouda mac & cheese, vegetarian tamale pie or Italian, buttermilk-marinated chicken. Or maybe a fajitas dinner entree, arroz con pollo or an order of chimichangas from Compadres. In addition to The Root Cellar, participating restaurants include Rojo Canela, CORA Food Pantry, Ever Reach Farm, Green Panda Farms, Compadres in Siler City and Bestfood Cafeteria.
Among the many grocery items offered, enjoy a fresh summer-stuffed baguette or blueberry muffins from Ever Reach Farm, a container of microgreens from Green Panda Farms or a half-pint of freshly made basil pesto. Now that’s farm to table, or car window, right there! Simply place your order, whether it be groceries or a meal, and schedule your pick-up time on Wednesday evenings.
For more information, contact the Chatham Food Hub at [email protected] or (984) 974-1202.
The Root Cellar:
A local favorite for many Chatham County residents, The Root Cellar is located in the new Penguin Place shopping center at Chatham Park. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, stop by for a meal or a coffee and a homemade baked good of your choosing. Rooted in the foundation of its community, The Root Cellar has made North Carolina its home and its residents, neighbors. Their participation in the Chatham Food Hub is a reflection of The Root Cellar’s benevolent spirit.
Originally founded by chef and cookbook author Sara Foster, new owners Sera Cuni and her wife Susan White purchased the business from Foster and rebranded in 2014. The Pittsboro location was opened in 2017.
The roots of The Root Cellar are founded in scratch-made sandwiches, soups, salads and dessert, or as we call it in the South – comfort food. Locally sourced ingredients are the foundation of every dish and culinary creation. From roasting their turkeys, chicken and pork in-house to using seasonal ingredients from local farms in signature dishes, The Root Cellar is providing a taste of home. Support The Root Cellar on August 19 at 9 p.m. as chef Sera Cuni makes her national television debut on The Food Network. Competing on Guy’s Grocery Games, Cuni will be bringing the heat to the kitchen!
“Our partnership with the Hub is also our way of giving back to the community we love,” said the owners of The Root Cellar.