A truth experienced renters already know — and virgin apartment dwellers are soon discovering — is making dinner every night is not all it’s cooked up to be. While takeout and pizza are serviceable options when you need a break from firing up the stove — or if you are like me, the microwave — sometimes you cannot help but hunger for an opportunity to spice things up a little.

Lucky for us, there is Local Night Out, an event taking place over the next two nights that not only provides us with an opportunity to try some of the best food in town, but also contributes to building a more sustainable food system in southern Wisconsin.

For the past four years, Local Night Out has been celebrating local foods thanks to the dedicated folks of Buy Fresh Buy Local (BFBL), a program run by the Madison-based nonprofit organization Research, Education, Action and Policy on Food Group.

“Our goal for the program is to expand the market for locally grown foods. We do this by working with food providers to get them to buy more locally grown foods and by promoting those locally grown foods to consumers so that they may find and enjoy them,” said Rachel Armstrong, coordinator for BFBL.

Yet, what started out as a test run for getting restaurants to try using local foods for just one night has now turned into a three-day event featuring 17 Madison restaurants that regularly connect with Wisconsin farmers to provide fresh, homegrown menu items. But why eat local foods?

“Locally grown foods are fresher, they can be more nutritious, and they can even be better for the environment,” Armstrong said.

In addition to donating a portion of their proceeds, this year’s restaurants are offering a diverse combination of pre-fixed meals, limited time entrees and ingredients and even visits with the farmers themselves.

Sounds like reasoning enough for me to take a Local Night Out. But instead of limiting myself to one or two restaurants, I decided to truly dig in and visit all 17 restaurants to give you an idea of what to look for — including my favorites eats from the night. So with my stomach growling, I gave the dishwasher the night off and embarked on my crawl.

Lombardino’s

An organic grilled beef salad with locally grown greens, red peppers and tomato coulis.

Bluephies!

An exclusive visit with farmers Carrie and Eric from Jordandal Farm in Argyle, and Nick from Yahara Bay Distillers.

Monroe Street Bistro

A three-course prix fixe dinner with selections from Hook’s Cheese, heirloom tomato salad and a Fountain Prairie Farm flatiron steak or farm-fresh vegetable marinara pasta.

Brasserie V

A three-course prix fixe menu item featuring soup, entree and dessert all made from fresh, local foods.

The Dardanelles

Homegrown poached pear with ground cherry sauce and almond ice cream dessert — A TONY FAVORITE.

The Greenbush Bar

A delectable thin-crust pizza with Pecatonica Valley Farm pork sausage.

Washington Hotel Coffee Room

Quality bakery items including wood-fired bread from wheat grown on Washington Island — A TONY FAVORITE.

Ian’s Pizza

Although Ian’s is not offering anything out of the ordinary, you may be surprised to find out your favorite late night hotspot is unique in that it buys all its pizza toppings and salad ingredients from local farmers.

Fresco

A local apple pot de creme — A TONY FAVORITE.

Harvest

A burrata salad featuring heirloom tomatoes with fresh mozzarella and triple cream cheese tucked inside.

The Old Fashioned

Two brats from Sheboygan’s Miesfield Market tucked inside of a Highway Bakery roll — A TONY FAVORITE.

L’Etoile

A three-course prix fixe dinner with a Willow Creek farm-fresh salad, pork fettuccini and watermelon soup.

Sardine

A variety of fish, pasta and steak options all with a focus on seasonal ingredients from local farmers.

The Madison Club

Fountain Prairie beef, Jordandal Farm chicken and diverse, seasonal vegetables fresh from the Dane County Farmers’ Market.

RP’s Fork and Spoon Cafe

Crisp Micro Green salad, Maestro beef sauce featuring local meats and a mouth-watering panna cotta dessert — A TONY FAVORITE.

The Weary Traveler

Jordandal chicken breast or leg portion served with Blue Moon Community Farm seasonal vegetables and artichoke rice.

Bunky’s Cafe   

Farm-fresh beet salad, Moroccan chicken and a delightful carrot cake topped off with a visit from Farmer Andy of Sprouting Acres.