Eating healthy while eating out can be a challenge, but Urban Cookhouse in downtown Homewood makes the task much easier, while featuring fresh, local ingredients as well. Though David and Andrea Snyder opened Urban Cookhouse in 2010, their inspiration comes all the way from their family’s 1920s market that thrived on the sale of local produce.

Urban Cookhouse defines itself as “fast casual” and lives by the motto, “Buy local, eat urban.” They back this up with wood-fired entrees like Chipotle Braised Pork Sandwiches and Lime-Marinated Steak and Rice, and the produce like the Broccoli Salad and Pepper Patch Salad (with black beans, corn, red onions and tomatoes) shines extra bright. Local farmers from Harvest Farm in Fairfield and Owl's Hollow Farm in Gadsden keep the ingredients at their tastiest -- because they were picked fresh and don’t have to travel thousands of miles to get to your plate. Andrea says meeting actual farmers and having a relationship with where their food comes from is not only enjoyable, but that “eating fresh and local is important because it creates demand for local farming and the ability for us to taste food as it should be -- making food more enjoyable in its most natural form, which ultimately enhances our overall health.”

The Snyders are honestly committed to this sense of community they’ve created in their friendly, welcoming restaurant. In partnership with the Homewood Chamber of Commerce, they started a summertime Saturday Farmer’s Market in Homewood as another venue for local farmers to sell their fresh goodness. And they’re opening a second location at the Summit, which means they’re looking for more local farmers to help them meet their new demand.

Urban Cookhouse is open from 10-9, Monday through Saturday.