In the midst of the weeklong culinary hoedown that is Vermont Restaurant Week, it's easy to forget that every filet of fish, cube of chocolate and head of lettuce has a backstory, a journey from field to fork that often goes untold.

Author Barry Estabrook has built a career studying those very stories. On his blog, Politics of the Plate, and in award-winning articles for  The Atlantic.com, Saveur, The New York Times, Eating Well and other publications, Estabrook relentlessly explores the origins of the food we eat and takes corporate giants to task for less-than-savory food practices. Last year, Barry's book Tomatoland sparked a national discussion on the murky business behind one of our most beloved foods.

Lucky for us, he lives in our backyard — in Vergennes. On Monday, April 30, join Barry and local cookbook author/columnist Marialisa Calta at Burlington's New Moon Café as they discuss the stories behind the food we eat during an intimate but lively food salon, Unlocking the Food Chain. 

We'll have light snacks on hand, as well as a cash bar and treats from Vermont Butter & Cheese. It all gets started at 5:30 p.m. — the perfect time to feed your brain before you head out to your dining plans for the evening. We hope to see you there.