Last week I went to a new-to me restaurant in Richmond. Metzger Bar and Butchery has German-inspired food with a unique menu that’s influenced by seasonal and local ingredients. Metzger’s chef, Brittany Anderson, is a James Beard Foundation Best Chef Semifinalist.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Walmart. The opinions and text are all mine.
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I took my daughter with me to experience the deliciousness of it all, inspired by the “Rediscovering America” culinary program. Rediscovering America spotlights locally-grown produce available at Walmart stores in Virginia. At Metzger Bar and Butchery, Chef Anderson used fresh organic thyme from the Shenandoah Growers of Harrisonburg, Virginia.
My daughter and I tried the strawberry tart with a base of thyme shortbread, pink peppercorn and elderflower syrup, topped with more fresh thyme. The tart was scrumptious with the thyme highlighting the fresh strawberries–a taste pairing I never would have thought of. 
I was inspired by our meal at Metzger Bar and Butchery to get some of the Shenandoah Growers organic thyme at my local Walmart. I found it in the produce section with the other fresh herbs. I’ve used it for a porkchop recipe from my friend Susan Williams, to make a thyme-infused simple syrup for cocktails and lemonade, and in a compound butter. The compound butter is delicious on bread, or used to finish a steak–great if you eat keto!
Here’s a quick recipe for the butter.
Herbed Thyme Butter
1 Stick butter, room temperature
2 teaspoons fresh thyme, minced
1 clove garlic, minced and mashed
2 teaspoons fresh parsley, minced
Process the butter and herbs in a food processor to fully blend. Salt to taste.
Roll butter into a log in wax paper. Twist ends closed. Let rest in refrigerator for several hours for flavors to mingle.
Store in refrigerator for a week, or in freezer for a month.
Keep your eyes out for a documentary about the Rediscovering America project. It will feature Chef Anderson and four other chefs as they feature fresh, affordable and locally grown produce from Walmart.
