9 Miles East is a 29-acre farm located exactly 9 miles east of Saratoga Springs (hence the name…) that has revolutionized the way Saratogians think about local food. Their food is intended for busy people who want to eat good quality, healthy, and sustainably produced food. The beauty of 9 Miles East is that they deliver their healthy meals right to your door, so you don’t have to spend copious amounts of time preparing or planning for meals if you’re short on time or just want a break from DHall food. 9 Miles East definitely succeeds in making local food that is appealing to a larger demographic than those who are typically part of the local food movement. Ordering from 9 Miles East is even easier than ordering take-out from a typical pizza place or Chinese restaurant. Just go to www.pizzadelivery.farm to place an order through a secure online form, send a text to the farm, or use the 9 Miles East pizza app. Piece of cake (or pizza)!
Photo by Rachel Dyckman
9 Miles East sells directly to consumers, eliminating the need for a middle man and promoting a greater sense of trust among consumers. They also use all organic inputs and are extremely transparent; they even invite customers to make appointments to visit the farm and see where all the magic happens.
Photo courtesy of 9 Miles East
9 Miles East makes ready-to-eat meals designed for Paleo, vegetarian, vegan, and omnivorous individuals, plus sports nutrition coolers consisting of high protein, nutrient dense meals suitable for athletes.
Photo courtesy of 9 Miles East
Meal subscription services, Skidmore CSA subscriptions, and catering are all part of the job for the 9 Miles East folks. And as if you needed another reason to love 9 Miles East they make undoubtably the best pizza in Saratoga Springs.
Photo by Rachel Dyckman
If you haven’t tried 9 Miles East pizza yet, you are missing out. Made with local flour from Ithaca to produce a naturally leavened, slow-fermented sourdough crust, cheese from Schenectady, sauce from locally-grown tomatoes, and seasonal vegetables grown at 9 Miles East Farm as well as other local farms, 9 Miles East pizza is truly one-of-a-kind. 9 Miles has taken a food that everyone knows and loves, made it healthier, and reduced the food miles associated with its production. It is more filling than your average pizza due to the quality of the flour used to make the crust, so one pizza lasts longer and might even serve more people than your average pie. The sauce has a little bit of a spice to it, which adds some pizazz, and 9 Miles uses slightly less cheese on their pies than conventional pizza because of its richness. Even if you typically don’t eat your pizza crust, you’re definitely going to want to eat this one. It tastes more like whole wheat bread from a bakery than a pizza crust and is the perfect mixture of chewy and doughy.
Each pizza is handmade and available everyday from 5pm -10pm. Pizza flavors include plain, barnyard (with sausage), and a seasonal flavor that varies throughout the year, but is consistently delicious. 9 Miles East only makes 20 pizzas per day due to the laborious process and slow-fermenting of the crust (quality over quantity), so be sure to order a little bit in advance. While you’re at it, throw in a to-go-box or one of the warm dishes offered on the website. They are filled with all different kinds of unique vegetables and flavors from different cuisines like Greek, Indian, and Israeli.
Photo courtesy of 9 Miles East
Photo by Rachel Dyckman
The mastermind behind 9 Miles East is Gordon Sacks. When talking to him, it is evident that he truly cares about serving people ethically and sustainably grown food. Gordon and his wife started their business in 2004 and haven’t looked back since.
Photo courtesy of Lancaster Farming
So when you are short on time and looking for a healthy, local meal, order from 9 Miles East–You can easily place an order on your way back from class through the 9 Miles East app to have a home-cooked meal waiting for you for dinner!