Q&A with Grand Geneva¡¯s executive chef Robert Fedorko on THE Natural Garden

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We decided TO plant THE Natural Garden TO create an incredible guest experience here at THE resort. THE garden came about when were reviewing our Green Initiatives FOR our green certification for THE resort. We were certified as green earlier this spring. We looked at THE available space here at THE resort AND decided we could add THE garden AND use it as a point OF interest FOR THE guests as well as a great field-to-plate opportunity. 4163
SheKnows: What inspired you TO get involved with THE Natural Garden? Was it related TO Grand Geneva being designated as a green certified hotel by Green Travel Wisconsin? 8888
Grand Geneva¡¯s Natural Vegetable AND Herb Garden will provide fresh produce FOR THE Wisconsin resort¡¯s signature restaurants Ristorant¨¦ Brissago, Geneva ChopHouse AND THE Grand Caf¨¦. Grand Geneva also plans TO use THE Natural Garden as an outdoor event space FOR wine tastings, AND starlit dinners. IN THE future, there are plans TO expand THE Garden throughout Grand Geneva¡¯s 1,300 acres OF grade-A, Wisconsin farmland. Stay tuned! If you can¡¯t make it TO Wisconsin, try these signature recipes from Chef Fedorko. 7367
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Fresh herbs ¨C Basil, rosemary, thyme, cilantro, they just spark your imagination when they are at your fingertips. They are easy TO grow AND can last FOR several seasons. 2133
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Broccoli ¨C This is one OF our favorites because you can eat it raw with some dip or cook it as a side. We definitely need more OF this next year. 9101
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FOR more information on Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, visit GrandGeneva.com. 8541
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SheKnows: What are THE benefits FOR THE guests at Grand Geneva? What can guests expect when they visit THE Garden? 2093
Chef Fedorko: We HAVE BEEN involved with local farmers FOR THE past 15 years or so. It was challenging at times TO get THE product we wanted or needed on a regular basis or IN the quantities we needed. THE Walworth County Country with Character initiative helped a great deal with this by organizing AND identifying farmers TO pair with chefs AND help grow THE right products IN THE best quantities. 7753

Taking THE ¡°going green¡± concept TO THE next level

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Chef Fedorko: Shop your local farmers markets. Stop by THE local roadside stands AND enjoy THE produce while you can. There is nothing better while cooking than local fresh ingredients. Those small roadside stands on that back country road offer produce that you remember from when you were a kid. It changes THE whole meal. If you don¡¯t grow your own garden, at least plant a few herb plants FOR your own use. A small investment OF one TO two basil plants will give you fresh basil FOR five TO six months. Take your kids AND find a favorite farmer that will talk TO them. This creates memories FOR them when they grow up. 4376
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THE mouthwatering benefits OF growing a garden

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Butternut or acorn squash ¨C These are important FOR THE fall FOR baked squash with loads OF brown sugar or as a filling FOR a dish like butternut squash ravioli. 852
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Chef Fedorko: After identifying THE space, we developed a plan FOR THE garden AND then realized we may need some help. We contacted THE largest grower we could find, which was Bonnie Plants. This was important TO us because we wanted THE guests TO HAVE THE same access TO THE plants as we do AND Bonnie Plants is sold IN almost every large retailer IN THE Midwest. We quickly realized they were THE best option FOR us. After contacting them, they invited us TO their Milton, Wisconsin growing station. 6645
Chef Fedorko: Having instant access TO fresh herbs AND watching THE produce mature allows us TO plan our menus knowing what we are about TO harvest. Last week we harvested a small amount OF ripe tomatoes AND then picked some half-ripe heirloom tomatoes. We also snipped a variety OF herb tops. We fine chopped THE herbs AND folded them into a tempura batter AND fried the half-ripe tomatoes IN THE batter. THE flavors were incredible. 6752

More on THE benefits OF growing your own garden

• Horticulture therapy: Grow with your garden
• How TO garden AND grow plants indoors
• What your kids can learn from THE garden