A Farm Restaurant in Westport

written by corinne bourdeau koski

Michel Nischan, organic chef and a well known proponent of sustainable and healthy food, has teamed up with philanthropist and actor Paul Newman to open The Dressing Room, a new restaurant located near the Westport Country Playhouse.

The Dressing Room Homegrown Restaurant combines three popular elements of the American culture - food, theater and farming.

The restaurant promises to celebrate regional recipes and “neighborly hospitality” The Dressing Room’s mission states “our goal is to build a community gathering place that brings theater and food culture together to offer a complete cultural experience.”

The menu at the Dressing room is whimsical and informative with clever sidebars and seasonal creations that include heirloom tomato soup, cured duck and wheatberry salsa and fresh peach pie. The menu also features the Signature P.L Newman Burger, proving that a seasonal restaurant can still offer great classics like all American hamburgers. Nischan is a long time advocate of sustainable living and organic food - he supports and is involved with such sustainable organizations as Farm to Table Farm Aid and Chef’s Collaborative. Nischan’s motto of “Eat Well and Live Well” can be found throughout the restaurant. A portion of the proceeds from the restaurant will be used to benefit the Westport Country Playhouse, as well as organizations that support sustainability and organic farming. The importance of community plays a major role. The Dressing Room is located on the grounds of the Westwood Playhouse and the plan is to restores a sense of neighborhood reminiscent of the days of Main Street, USA where smaller businesses and community theater was a way of life.

Michel is also the mastermind behind the restaurant Pure, a new venture in India, that has the distinction of begin the first Western restaurant of well being to open in India. Pure focuses on organic and sustainable food.

Michel describes his food, as “the cuisine of well being” that embrace a simple and tasteful pure flavors He is the author of a James Beard award wining cookbook “TASTE Pure and Simple” and the recently released, “Homegrown, Pure and Simple.”

The Dressing Room is located at 27 Powers Court in Westport CT. Reservation: 203.226.1114 Please check out these three great sustainable websites that he supports: www.farmtotable.com www.farmaid.com www.chefscollaborative.org