Dining Out for Earth Day with Mario Batali

Posted in Around the Garden, Programs and Events on April 20 2012, by Matt Newman

If you’re coming to the NYBG on Sunday for The Nature Conservancy‘s Picnic for the Planet, try not to overdo it during lunch! You’ll want to save room for an evening outing sure to have gourmands salivating, because long-time Friend of the Garden Mario Batali is jumping in with an event of his own.

Building on his success in last year’s Family Garden events, the legendary Babbo chef will once again join with the NYBG in raising awareness about the power of the foods we buy and eat. Along with Mario’s partners, Lidia and Joe Bastianich, the trio’s B&B Hospitality Group honors this year’s Earth Day with a special promotion at each of its restaurants in New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, sending every patron of their fine B&B restaurants home with a special Earth Day gift. Not only will you leave well-fed, but you’ll do so with a packet of B&BHG’s organic Cherry Belle™ radish seeds. It also doubles as a two-for one ticket offer to visit the NYBG this summer, all in the name of bringing environmental responsibility home.

“I love these seed packets!” says Batali. “They’re the perfect introduction to DIY sustainability in your own home. Eating radishes you grew yourself? That’s one way to start lowering your carbon footprint!”

You should know that I’ve grown radishes myself, and even with my deadly greenthumb they sprouted like they were being chased out of the ground. The beginning gardener couldn’t ask for a more forgiving starter vegetable. Be sure to check out Mario’s many delicious garden recipes on Plant Talk for ideas on how to make the most of your future harvest!