The Green Fork Brings A Health Food Option To The Village

Babylon, NY — The Green Fork, a new health food restaurant, opened in Babylon Village on January 20th. The eatery was the brainchild of two best friends and Village residents Maxine Sterlacci and Kristy Furci. Patch did a Q & A with Sterlacci to find out more about this unique new dining option.

Tell us a bit about you and your history in the restaurant and food business.

My sister (Kristy Furci) and I are co-owners and founders of The Green Fork. We both currently live in Babylon Village. I am a working mother of two toddlers, ages three and one. Both my sister and I have actually never worked in the food industry professionally. We work in wholesale fashion footwear. We kind of do everything in life together (we even married best friends!) Our relationship with food has always been homegrown. We come from a family of very serious Italian cooks. We are first generation Italian-Americans and cooking is a birthright. Food is a passion in our family—it’s always connected us. We love and share through food.

Why did you decide to open this type of eatery and why in Babylon Village?

Long Island needs more quick, healthy options. The world is moving away from many of the harmful eating habits our generation inherited. Health is a priority for most people now and the next step is accessibility. That’s what we wanted to do, make healthy food accessible. Babylon Village is such a special place largely due to its diversity and quality of restaurants and shops. However, there was a huge hole in its healthy offerings.

You call your food "conscious." Can you explain more about what that means?

Conscious food is about transparency. You shouldn’t wonder what’s in your food that’s potentially harmful. All of our dressings are homemade from whole ingredients. For example, our ginger miso dressing is made from fresh shaved and diced ginger, organic miso and organic honey. There’s no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives in any of our dressings. If you check out ingredients in most bottled dressings, it’s downright dangerous to your body! Our chicken is Never Ever poultry (natural, vegetarian raised, never at any point during life or harvest given hormones or antibiotics.) Our beef is grass-fed. Our grains are organic. Working with vendors who source and harvest locally and in season was important to us.

What has the reception been like so far? Why do you think local residents are looking for the kind of dining option you provide?

People are buzzing.! I think everyone is excited to have someone take the work out of eating healthy for them. It’s easier to eat clean when you don’t have to do all the prep. We also keep it interesting with many cultural flavors in each of our bowls. We’ve moved way beyond your typical Ceasar Salad.