Turns out it isn’t easy being green in Savannah – the spooky Southern city known for its historic squares and trees dripping with Spanish moss. According to the Green Restaurant Association, a Boston-based nonprofit, there’s only one green-certified restaurant in Savannah and it’s a takeout joint – not surprising in Paula Deen country. Deen, the queen of the deep-fried Twinkie, has lived in Savannah since the “˜80s. The Food Network star and her family still run The Lady & Sons restaurant in downtown Savannah, which serves up down-home Southern dishes like peach barbecue grouper with cheddar cheese grit cakes.

If you’re looking for eco-friendly though, Thrive, a newish green-certified “carry-out café” on Whitemarsh Island, does seem like it’s worth a stop on your way to the beach. As you head toward the coast from downtown, pack a gourmet picnic basket with jambalaya (made with wild Georgia shrimp) and stuffed seasonal vegetables nicoise. Locals also keep coming back for the signature chicken salad, made with organic chicken, grapes, almonds and cranberries.

Thrive gets many of its vegetables from the Forsyth Farmers’ Market in Forsyth Park, a 30-acre gem in the middle of Savannah’s historic district. Famous for its fountain and moss-covered live oaks, the park’s farmers’ market is a good place to find fresh herbs, veggies and local baked goods on Saturdays all summer.

Image: rachelspeak

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