Celebrate Bloodroot’s Legacy

If you’ve never been to Bloodroot, 85 Ferris Street in Black Rock, you haven’t lived. Selma Miriam and Noel Furie are entering their 35th year operating this cool vegetarian restaurant on the harbor. And ya never know who might show up including singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge. This is definitely a place where political chatter is welcome. Hey, maybe we should throw an OIB party at Bloodroot. Selma, fire up the food and political banter! Read more on Bloodroot.

Bloodroot Begins its 35th Year

For many years, Bloodroot Restaurant has been a well-known and well-regarded destination restaurant in Fairfield County. Located in the Black Rock area of Bridgeport, it recently celebrated its 34th anniversary. Over sixty loyal customers and friends gathered to celebrate Bloodroot’s anniversary dining on a menu similar to one served on its opening night March 7, 1977. Pictures can be found on Bloodroot’s Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/BloodrootVegetarianRestaurant

Now in its 35th year, Bloodroot may be the longest-running restaurant in Bridgeport. On yelp.com, it is the highest-rated Bridgeport restaurant. Customers regularly come from all over New England. Travelers going through Connecticut on I-95 will exit to dine on its renowned organic vegetarian meals.

“We decided to open Bloodroot in Bridgeport because we found a beautiful location with garden possibilities in a diverse city,” said Selma Miriam, founder and co-owner. She explained that as Bridgeport has become more diverse, its numerous cultures bring wonderful food, which has often become an inspiration for new dishes at the restaurant.

Describing Bloodroot, Ms. Miriam said, “We are animal rights vegetarians, vegan as often as possible. Our goal is not to produce ‘health food,’ but instead, we work hard to produce poor people’s comfort food from all over the world and to make it vegetarian and/or vegan.”

Sustainability is a commitment and living “green” has been a way of life at Bloodroot. The restaurant uses both local and organic food. It has its own garden, growing fruits, vegetables and herbs for the restaurant. Urban Oaks Farm in New Britain has been delivering organic produce to Bloodroot for more than 10 years.

Remembering back to 1977, Ms. Miriam identified her biggest challenge in opening the restaurant: finding a bank that would give a woman a mortgage. “Now,” she says, “the biggest challenge is the recession that has, at times, made it hard to keep the restaurant open and pay its workers appropriately.”

Has Bloodroot changed over the years? “Yes,” said Noel Furie, co-owner. “We serve more vegan food. We have also explored food around the world to make our menu more representative of different ethnic cultures.”

Over the years, many notable people have visited and dined at Bloodroot. They include: feminist philosopher and theologian Mary Daly; feminist writer Andrea Dworkin; Caribbean-American writer and activist Audre Lorde; feminist, scholar and activist Attorney Catharine Mackinnon; author, lecturer and political activist Ralph Nader; poet and feminist Adrienne Rich; musicians Kay Gardner, Melissa Etheridge and Ferron; Artists Suzanne Bellamy from Australia and Sudie Rakusin; Jim Mason author of “An Unnatural Order;” Barbara G. Walker, author, renowned knitter and feminist; Other writers of note: Dorothy Allison, Irena Klepfisz, Starhawk, Phyllis Chester, Barbara Grier founder of Naiad Press; Actor Keir Dullea, Bill Duesing author, environmentalist and farmer; author Sonia Johnson who gave a speech here during the time she was running for President of the United States on the Green Party ticket; and most recently, ten environmental activists–members of Greenpeace–who stopped by for lunch following a court date in Bridgeport.

Bloodroot has garnered many awards and distinctions. Among them are: a feature in the New York Times describing Bloodroot as “legendary;” “Best List” by Zagat and Fairfield Weekly; inclusion in “Feminists Who Changed America” encyclopedia; and being the only Connecticut listing of where to go and eat in “The Nation’s Guide to The Nation.” To honor years of feminist activism, Yale University requested and then archived the papers and artifacts belonging to and regarding Bloodroot history.

Bloodroot’s famous recipes are published in its six cookbooks, the most recent, a two volume set, in 2008. Annually, Bloodroot produces a calendar with 13 new recipes and, on occasion offers cooking classes.

“We don’t believe in secret recipes or in ‘talented chefs.’ We tell everyone that they can make delicious food if they want to. Our workers have learned to produce beautiful dishes,” said Ms. Miriam.

Bloodroot is about more than great food. In addition to feeding the body, Bloodroot feeds the soul. It offers a feminist bookstore, art exhibits, wine tastings, weaving classes, knitting clinics and a May seedling sale as well as other special events.