Tapping into Fresh & Seasonal Cooking: A Convo with Chef Zane Dearien

As we change seasons, we're talking seasonal foods with chef Zane Dearien at a unique restaurant in St. Louis' Central West End -- Bowood by Niche. The restaurant is paired with a garden center, providing a perfect patio environment to enjoy a relaxed meal with friends and family. Our conversation focuses on the importance of utilizing seasonal foods and the on-site herb garden at the restaurant, and ways home cooks can up their game too. 

During the interview, several key topics are covered:

• Zane's background in food & the restaurant industry.
• The restaurant's unique concept of combining a restaurant and garden center, offering guests a garden atmosphere and relaxed dining experience.
• Zane emphasis on seasonality and freshness in his menu planning, focusing on using the freshest ingredients available each season.
• The on-site herb garden at Bowood, where they grow a variety of herbs used in their dishes, ensuring the utmost freshness and flavor.
• The growth of Niche from one restaurant to a network of great neighborhood chef-driven experiences throughout St. Louis under direction of chef Gerard Craft. 

We also talk through the challenges and rewards of working in the restaurant world in a few different ways: 

• The misconception of the glamourous chef life portrayed online and in the media versus the hard work and dedication required in the industry.
• The importance of building relationships with local farmers and the need for flexbility at times due to complications of weather, etc. 

Links Available:
- Bowood by Niche website: https://www.bowoodbyniche.com/ 
- A video on the on-site herb garden at Bowood: https://youtu.be/gqA877w1kpw
- Detailed show notes post & photos on additional info https://groundedbythefarm.com/seasonal-cooking-zane-dearien/