Hometown Roots

Photos provided by Jordyn Myracle

A Culinary Tribute to Local Farmers

Nestled along the banks of the Ohio River here in Henderson is a culinary treasure that champions the local farming community. Hometown Roots, a charming restaurant known for its commitment to fresh, locally sourced ingredients, has become a beloved spot for locals and visitors alike. The restaurant prides itself on establishing strong relationships with local farmers, ensuring that every dish is delicious, and supporting the agricultural community. 

Owner and Henderson native Casey Todd believes that sourcing ingredients locally is not just a trend but a vital aspect of the restaurant’s philosophy. “Many of our recipes are family recipes,” Todd explains. “I’ve traveled quite a bit. I’ve been to Europe and seen the theme of localism and farm-to-table, which has been present there forever. We want to live that farm-to-table trend and never plan to change that.”

The restaurant’s menu changes a few times yearly, showcasing the best local farms offer. From fresh tomatoes to crisp greens, each dish is crafted with care and a deep respect for the ingredients. “We are getting hand-selected produce from the farmers themselves. They deliver it to our restaurant.” Casey continues. “They come here to Hometown Roots and eat dinner. They love seeing their names on the menu. The quality of local produce is superior.”

General Manager Shawna Harrington echoes Todd’s sentiment, emphasizing the importance of community in their operations. “It takes many moving parts, but it all started with Casey allowing us to work and connect with these local partners. I’ve never had that opportunity. I worked for a few restaurants in Denver, CO. They worked with local places like, for instance, a local ketchup place,” Harrington brims with enthusiasm as she compares her experiences. “The other restaurants I’ve worked for mostly talked the talk but didn’t walk the walk.” Todd highlights the restaurant’s collaboration with local farms by boasting that no other restaurant in this area has fresher salads than Hometown Roots due to their relationship with a lettuce grower in McClean County. Seeing the beauty in the greenhouse grown lettuce, he has added a display on a wall in Hometown Roots, showcasing how the farmer grows his crop. “It’s fantastic,” the restaurateur exclaims. 

Casey and Shawna also agree on frequently purchasing “ugly fruit.” “A lot of these farmers set up at the farmers market. They want to sell their prettiest produce there. But there is a significant benefit to them for us to buy their less aesthetic-looking fruit.” Casey continued to explain that they benefit from the discounted cost for this type of produce, and the farmer benefits by not having any of his crops go to waste. Shawna recalled that a few days prior, she had received a phone call from a local peach farmer. “He had this whole different variety that he tried to grow. They all grew ugly on the outside so that he couldn’t sell them at the market. He gave us 90 pounds of these peaches for cheaper than what the pretty peaches go for,” Harrington’s eyes widened as she described her ideas of all the uses she has for those peaches, “I’m going to make jams and salsas and syrups. I’m going to freeze them and use them all winter long. The respect we had for the farmer and his produce and the respect he gave us with his generous peach offer keeps us driven to continue using local produce.”

To educate their employees about the food they serve, Casey offers the “Chef Series. “We visit the locations and families where we buy our produce. We took 20 folks on the last one. Everyone who wants to go is allowed to join us. We had people from the host to folks in the kitchen, bartenders, and wait staff. We spent 4 or 5 hours with that peach farmer.” 

Hometown Roots enhances the dining experience by prioritizing local farmers, which positively impacts the Henderson community. The restaurant supports local economies by providing farmers with a reliable market for their produce while providing quality ingredients that keep patrons coming back. Casey, who also owns Homer’s Barbecue and Roast Coffee Bar, partners with students in the culinary program at Henderson County High School by offering them employment opportunities and helping them use the skills they learn in that program. He strives to keep all operations from top to bottom local to the town he loves so deeply.

When asked what advice the duo would offer to other local establishments that have yet to make the change to buying local, Shawna encourages them to get out to the farmers markets, get to know those in our areas who provide food for our tables, and ask questions. While she concedes that buying from companies all over the country would make her job more manageable, “I could just tap an app on my phone and have food delivered by tomorrow,” as much of the produce they sell comes peeled, chopped, and ready to cook, she stands firm on local produce being worth the extra effort due to its high quality, freshness, and the contribution it makes to the lives of so many in the region. 

“It’s the sense of community. I am proud of Henderson. Shawna and I have lived and worked in other states, but both decided to come home,” Casey, wiser than his 34 years might suggest, elaborates. “Realizing what we do not only supports my family, Shawna’s family, and others who work here, but also helps support the farmer’s family. The collaborations that we are building make it all worthwhile.”