Dig, the healthy culinary option with a fast-casual vibe opened last week at 16th and Chestnut Street. Once known as Dig Inn and a chain of 30 restaurants, the Rittenhouse area Dig may very well be a New York City start-up, yes (they’re tied to Enlightened Hospitality and Danny Meyer of Shake Shack fame). But the Chestnut Street Dig is one with deep Philly roots, ala its chef de cuisine Anthony Gargano (from Di Bruno Bros. and Barbuzzo) and chef-operator Josh Jastrzembski (from Savona and Verdad), to say nothing of its locally sourced farm and food products.
Adam Eskin, the founder of the nearly decade-old Dig Food Group, reached out via email to say, “Dig Rittenhouse is our first location in Philadelphia and we’re excited to be a part of the city. We’re working with local farmers like Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op, Chiques Roc Organics, Kennet Mushrooms, Happy Valley Meat Company and Lucky Ridge, and we’ve hired an incredible team of local chefs and chefs-in-training to open our restaurant. Having spent months getting to know the food community in Philly, it’s clear it’s collaborative, supportive and fun. Our ambition is to make Dig Rittenhouse a space to celebrate a community that cares deeply about food and each other.”
A full list of area Dig farms is below.
If you don’t know the Dig deal, it’s this: you build-your-own bowls of locally sourced vegetables and meats with a handful of vegan and gluten-free options. There are no microwaves to be used or freezers to be had as everything is ultra-fresh. Seasonal veggies such as charred Brussels sprouts with honey-chili oil are immensely popular, as is a new spicy citrus salad, and their classic Dig dish with charred chicken (thigh), charred broccoli with lemon, roasted sweet potatoes, brown rice with parsley, and garlic aioli dressing.
Dig Rittenhouse Farms
Dig Acres
Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op
Chiques Roc Organics
Lucky Ridge Farm
Red Fox Organics
Field First
Wood Packing House Inc
Kennett Mushrooms
Shlagel Farms
Torrey Farms
Hess Farms
Muzzarelli Farms
Parker Farms
Catskill Provisions
Jasper Hill Creamery
Happy Valley Meat Company
Northwoods Apiary
Square Deal Farm
Ark Foods
Maine Grains
Rhode Island Mushroom Company
Ithaca Milk
Five Acre Farms
Icy Strait