Photo: Valley Burger Company
Sustainable Dining With Locally-Sourced Ingredients
Eau Claire boasts a range of restaurants that highlight locally sourced ingredients, offering fresh and sustainable dining options. Select dining experiences in the area even allow you to eat right at the homestead, with ingredients coming directly from the farm.
For some of the best burgers in town, Valley Burger Company works with a list of local suppliers to create dinners with the area's beef, vegetables, condiments, potatoes, and beverages. On summer evenings, join Together Farms for burger nights made with 100% grass-fed beef straight from their Buffalo County farm. Relax in the countryside with local beer and wine, and enjoy the flavors of a true Wisconsin burger just a short drive from Eau Claire.
The Informalist in downtown Eau Claire prides itself on crafting scratch-made entrees with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Also offering a selection of vegetarian and vegan platings, this downtown restaurant is dedicated to providing an ethical and sustainable dining experience to every guest who comes through its doors.
Photo: The Good Wives
For an elevated brunch or dinner experience in Eau Claire, The Good Wives restaurant also embraces local sourcing, offering a menu full of fresh, seasonal ingredients. From vegetables to meats, they partner with local farms to ensure that every meal is made with the finest ingredients available in the region.
Eau Claire’s coffee shop scene is not just about great brews—it’s also making strides in sustainability. Many local cafés are taking a stand against single-use plastics by offering eco-friendly alternatives, such as compostable to-go cups, biodegradable straws, and reusable dining utensils. By prioritizing sustainable packaging, these coffee spots are helping to reduce waste while still serving up the delicious drinks Eau Claire is known for.
Want to source your own ingredients? The Eau Claire Farmers Market connects consumers directly with farmers who offer fresh, seasonal produce. Vendors use eco-friendly practices such as organic farming, minimal to no packaging, and waste reduction. By supporting local farmers and producers, the market encourages a more sustainable food system while providing fresh, high-quality ingredients to the community.
Click here to view all restaurants and dining experiences in Eau Claire.
Photo Credit: Alex Bandli
A Green University in Eau Claire
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC) demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability through various initiatives. The campus's evolving construction is keeping sustainable and environmentally friendly productions a priority, and the academics department offers students more courses on environmental sciences and sustainability than ever before.
With Public Health and Environmental Studies undergrad opportunities, students can take courses including Sustainability Basics and Beyond, Waste & Society, US Environmental and Sustainability Policy, and more. Geography subjects can also cover topics like Climatology, Environmental Hazards, Weather and Society, and many other courses.
UW-Eau Claire offers LEED GREEN ASSOCIATES training and certification for 50 students and 10 faculty/staff members, providing a strong foundation in green building practices. In partnership with Leading Green, participants get access to webinars, study materials, and practice exams to prepare for the certification.
The university supports environmental stewardship through its Arboretum & Tree Campus USA, focusing on tree care and planting. UWEC also holds certifications like Certified Wildlife Habitat and Monarch Waystation, highlighting its commitment to biodiversity. Additionally, the campus integrates sustainability through energy benchmarks, retrofits for older buildings, and goals for renewable energy, reflecting UWEC’s dedication to long-term ecological health.
Click here to learn more about the sustainability efforts at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.