I get a little wistful when I think about Earth Day, a day first set aside in 1970 when we were all young and thought we could change the world.

For the better, I mean.

Instead, the planet is in far worse shape now than it was 41 years ago.

Earth Day did make the environment a political issue, though. And, maybe, slowly, it helped change the way we eat.

Organic farming, grass fed beef, backyard chickens, community gardens, local first organizations - they all grew out of that little seed of 70s consciousness-raising.

So celebrate. Here's where:

Faustina will be turning out the lights for Earth Day, serving a special candlelight dinner. Executive Chef Billy Sotelo will serve earth-friendly specials for lunch and dinner today, featuring food from local farmers and ranchers.

Proceeds from Earth Day specials - including a Heritage Valley Organics turkey breast and arugula panini at lunch and a goat cheese and Creminelli salumi antipasti platter at dinner - will benefit Wasatch Community Gardens. Call 801-746-4441

At Bambara, Chef Nathan Powers has been celebrating all week with this special Earth Week menu focusing on local ingredients:

Spring Baby Asparagus, Prosciutto di Parma, Poached Organic Farm Egg, Local Parmesan-- $14

Ricotta Gnocchi, Organic Sweet Peas & Pea Leaves, Riesling Braised Ham Hock, Minted Pea Broth -- $21

Grilled Local Spring Lamb Chops, Twice Baked Goat Cheese Creamer Potatoes,Green Garlic Chimichurri -- $41

Warm Rhubarb & Strawberry Tart with Pistachio Ice Cream and Candied Pistachio -- $11

Earth Week Wine Pairings

Wildhorse Vigoner '09, Central Coast $11 / glass

Rosenblum Zinfandel '07, Contra Costa $12 / glass

Call 801-363-5454.

Chef Powers is intense about conservation issues - Bambara offers in-house purified water through a national partnership with Natura, serves sustainable seafood dishes in accordance with Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program, recycles all plastics, glass, paper, and aluminum, has a wine cork recycling program and uses recycled materials and soy-based inks for menus and to-go boxes.