Turkey Red.

• Author: Anderson, Tasha
• Position: DINING - Services - Brief article

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Turkey Red Owner and Founder Alex Papasavas "moved to Palmer in 1997 and just saw all the beautiful produce that is grown here. In 2006 1 decided to open a small restaurant, and in 2008 Turkey Red finally opened." She decided to name the restaurant Turkey Red after the first hard winter wheat that was successfully grown in the United States in 1874, considered the "grandfather" of all other hybrid winter wheat varieties grown in the United States.

Papasavas says, "The name and story fit in well with the history here in Palmer of the Colonists. They both were pioneers. They both broke new ground."

And Papasavas shows the same entrepreneurial spirit, splitting her time at the restaurant between managing and cooking. "I am fortunate to have a reliable creative team in the kitchen to back me up and toss the onions before they burn," she says.

She is busy in large part because of Turkey Red's emphasis on quality foods made locally, a practice...