The Grazette

29/03/2018

Ahh, scenes from a homemade night. 😍To celebrate the arrival of spring last weekend, I braised pastured lamb shoulder with white wine and served it over with brussels sprouts… and it was divine. I’ll be sharing the recipe tomorrow on the blog. I sliced up the sheets of pasta on my own instead of using my linguine attachment, and I love the rustic-ness of it. I actually froze part of the batch and cooked it up tonight with ground grass fed beef in a caramelized onion spinach béchamel sauce with English peas. YUM. Keep an eye out for the soon!

13/03/2018

TGFP (Thank God For Preserves)... It's been 6 months since I've had a good heirloom tomato.🍅 I was starting to go into withdrawal, But this tomato butter is unreal! Think of everything you know about a tomato… and then forget it. This butter is sweet and completely void of acidity. Amazing spread on a thick slice of bread! Just one of the great little locally made goodies I picked up from the Roots to River Farm market this weekend.

11/03/2018

Here is my Saturday/Sunday ritual in the winter: wake up, sip some tea, plan out my dinners for the next week, go to the farm market, lounge around, whip up a cheese board, go out to dinner, pass out by 9pm (10pm if I'm lucky) 💤
It doesn't change much from season to season, except lounging around goes from indoors on the couch to outdoors at the beach, quarry, river, lake, what have you. And I probably don't eat AS much cheese. 😜
But I love when I can go to the farm market AND get my lunch on, like I did at the Roots to River Farm market last week! This smoky sweet pizza with winter squash, apple, and pickled onion was insanely good. 🍎Like, "why didn't we order two?" good. Like "let's just go on a pizza diet" good. But seriously, I don't think the pizza diet would be such a bad thing if it had all this going on. So if you love exploring , be sure to check this one out in Titusville, NJ!

25/02/2018

I have a confession to make... I am a . 🍞 And good artisanal bread is at the top of my list of weaknesses. Thankfully there is no shortage of it in the area! I just picked up some sourdough polenta rosemary bread with pumpkin seeds and local grains from and it is soOoOo flavorful. This is a typical breakfast for me: fried egg 🍳 and toast with butter. Some days I go all out and add some bacon. It’s simple, but I never tire of this! And recently shared an interesting article about the healthfulness of bread made with fresh local grains... so I don’t even feel bad about it 😋

27/11/2017

Shakespeare by candlelight in a restored barn in Bucks County with a fabulous feast – what could be better??

Get your tickets this week for The Tempest: Dining with Shakespeare, a gourmet production in three courses. The Max Hansen Catering team will be pulling out all the stops for a night to remember!!

Order online: http://newplaceplayersnyc.com/tempest/

Shakespeare by candlelight in a restored barn in Bucks County with a fabulous feast – what could be better??

Get your tickets this week for The Tempest: Dining with Shakespeare, a gourmet production in three courses on December 10th. The Max Hansen Catering team will be pulling out all the stops for a night to remember!!

Order your tickets online now: http://newplaceplayersnyc.com/tempest/

11/11/2017

We are 2️⃣ weeks out from , one of my favorite days of the year. Small businesses are what make our communities unique and wonderful places to live and explore. Speaking of exploring... you can get a tasty tour of Lambertville and New Hope with Sister Cities Food & Shop Tours on November 25th, and also do some holiday shopping while you’re there! Since Lambertville is the Antiques Capital of NJ, you’ll find super cool gifts for everyone on your list 🛍

03/11/2017

I say slop, you say tots! 🎤🐷 from Pork Shack at the Ferry Market are loaded with pork, cheese sauce, sriracha and green onion. Their fresh bone in pork hams are seasoned & slow roasted for up to 10 hours. 🕥 This is just ONE of the amazing vendors at the new Ferry Market in Bucks County. Check out my recent feature about this amazing on TheGrazette.com and get over there this weekend!

30/10/2017

My favorite place to spend Halloween? Lambertville, of course. The artists do some prettyyyy prettyyyy cool stuff in town with decorations. Next level spookyness! And while you're there, I recommend stopping by DeAnna's Restaurant for a festive cocktail. Like this one 🎃

26/10/2017

If you love wine, catch my post on The Grazette. And comment with your favorite BYOB in NJ! 🍷

18/10/2017

A cheese picnic with a view 🧀🏞 Stocked up on some Cherry Grove Farm faves (special shoutout to the Tomme, the ultimate fave) and enjoyed the crisp fall air along the Delaware River. My happy place

11/10/2017

What's the deal with delicata? It's the superior squash for many reasons, and now available at a farmer's market near you (or at least I hope so)! I bet you didn't know it's technically a summer squash... yes! Where's the mindblown emoji when you need it? 😱 Check out my recent blog post with a few fun recipes that take this fruit (?) to the next level. http://thegrazette.com

Or you can try this recipe of mine: roasted delicata squash with red onion, Blue Moon Acres butterball potatoes, shish*tos and micro wasabina, served alongside a roasted pork tenderloin. The sweet squash was the perfect balance to the charred peppers. Enjoy!

06/10/2017

If this isn’t fall on a plate, I don’t know what is. First meal at The Ryland Inn won’t be my last: local pheasant stuffed with a creamy pheasant mousse with rice, fermented carrots, pickled NJ cranberries, and maitake mushrooms foraged on the property. And I loved learning about the restaurant’s efforts to be more sustainable, including a new garden on site! Don’t delay like I did - visit this beautiful property ASAP. In fact, why not tonight?

04/10/2017

Guide to Grazing: October Event Edition - The Grazette

The fall fun starts NOW!

Check out these amazing local events from Brick Farm Tavern, Windsor Farm & Market, Glenmoore Farm, Crystal Springs Resort & Heirloom Kitchen, The Ryland Inn, Froehlich's Farm & Garden Center, River Horse Brewing Co., Mercer County Park Central Jersey Beer Festival West Windsor, Lovin' Oven, Laurita Winery, Weyerbacher Brewing, Washington Crossing Brewfests, Great Barn Brewery and Working Dog Winery!

The Best of New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania Dining & Beverage Events in October 2017

01/10/2017

There’s something to be said about tradition. Ive been going to Terhune Orchards every fall for the last 25 years. It’s exciting to see how the orchard has transformed! 🍎 But it’s also just as wonderful as it was way back when. Today we enjoyed cider doughnuts (duh) and apple wine, after picking up some apples and cider from the farm store. Bonus photo: pumpkin picking photo circa 1993 😆💕

26/09/2017

Kilhaneys Pickles brings the sweet heat of Jersey to you in pickle form! If there are pickles in my house, I can go through a jar in just a few days. And these are ADDICTING. Grown in Hackettstown, NJ, but available in parts of North and Central Jersey. Check out their map to find a location!

22/09/2017

Pizza diet should be a real thing, and anyone that says otherwise is not to be trusted. Right Nomad Pizza? 🍕

21/09/2017

We're Not Sure Why Everyone Laughed When New Jersey Was Ranked One of The Happiest States

Everything's coming up Jersey 🤣

Brick Farm Tavern, Heirloom Kitchen, Ninety Acres, Graze Restaurant, and elements all make me very happy...

There were two New Jersey-related news items over the past several days that caused a lot of people to sit up, pay attention and say to themselves, seriously? The first one was WalletHub's release of their Happiest States in America report. The Garden State—land of the Superfund site, home of the Al...

19/09/2017

Thanks for the memories, summer. You’ve been kind to me. I will miss your sweet corn and tomatoes. 🌽 🍅 Especially in this three cheese agnolotti with corn puree, heirloom tomato, & basil at Eno Terra

17/09/2017

Great Barn Brewery: farm grown and brewed in Bucks County! Using their own barley, pilsner malt, local honey, and soon to be their own hops. Just opened last month and we were very happy to have stumbled upon their tap room in New Hope!

14/09/2017

True is hard to come by, but Talula's Garden always does a wonderful job bringing it. This meal prepared for the amazing writers for was no exception: we started off with the locavore salad made with Shellbark Hollow Farm Cheese, Phillips Mushrooms and Market Vegetables. The entree was a “Chimayo” chicken dish 🍗 with Lancaster County Sweet Corn, Heritage Farm Cherry Tomato and Kennebec Potatoes. Last but not least, the most delectable bites of carrot cake made with Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Carrot Butter and Taproot Carrots. 🥕 I didn’t even eat dinner last night after this incredible showing… first time I think I’ve ever skipped a meal! Thank you to Aimee Olexy for staying true to your roots. Your insights into the farm to table movement are important and inspiring.

09/09/2017

This is how you : The Feed Truck fried green tomato, arugula, egg sandwich with sriracha mayo 🤗 also got to listen to some amazing cookbook authors talk food writing. Successful Saturday at the West Windsor Community Farmers' Market

07/09/2017

PSA: Summer is NOT over yet! We have two full weeks of summer left, so please, put down the pumpkin latte, and pick up a hot dog. 🌭 A pastured pork hot dog from Red Barn Milk Co., perhaps? Don’t forget the relish!

02/09/2017

Window shopping 😍 🌴

31/08/2017

Stumbled upon some incredible vineyards during our time in the . Sending some home to cellar, and some whites to enjoy now. What a unique place! Can't get over the different soils these wines are thriving in. Makes you think about the possibilities...

28/08/2017

overlooking Lake Annecy. This region is where reblochon cheese originates, and I can't wait to recreate this dish at home! The cheese is melted over lardons, potatoes an onions. And you just can't beat that view! 😍

23/08/2017

You’re like, really pretty… 😍 Back to back mezcal drinks: The Amor de Illusion: mezcal, maraschino, honey, grapefruit, bitters, grenache splash, and the Smoke & Peach: rum, mezcal, house-made peach puree, mint at Agricola Eatery

21/08/2017

Ahhh, al-fresco summer pasta, Jersey style. 🌽 🍅 Corn and tomatoes all day every day until there are no more left. But we can all worry about that day when it comes… in the meantime, you can get this easy recipe (using Brick Farm Market bacon and Loré Pasta) on the blog!

18/08/2017

Holy cow… err… pig? That was good. 🐷 Agricola Eatery has outdone itself with their pork chop right now… served with castle valley polenta, swiss chard, smoked peach, pork jus. I honestly can’t think of a more perfect summer dish. Smokey, tender, and a hint sweetness. And I don’t even like pork chops! Oh yeah, and in the background those are salt fried fingerling potatoes with caramelized onions, horseradish, and parmesan. Not to be overshadowed at all. A treat in and of themselves (even though they are a side dish)

12/08/2017

Mad For Milford: Agritourism Adventures Abound - The Grazette

Tomorrow will be the perfect day to explore Milford! Spend the afternoon picking lavender, hanging out with baby goats, sampling cheese, watching the cows graze, tasting wine, listening to live music, and trying local, freshly shucked oysters.

Mad Lavender Farm, Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse, Alba Vineyard, and The Milford House - your agritourism adventure awaits!

have lived in New Jersey all my life. It’s the 4th smallest state in the country, and you can drive from one end to the other in just a few hours. Yet there are many regions I have yet to explore, and I am sure you could say the same! Last week I shared my...

11/08/2017

What I'm in the mood for right now: Spanish Mackerel Al Pastor with pineapple, squash, tomatillo sauce, and tortilla ICE CREAM from Mistral. I love dishes that transport me somewhere else... Summer in Mexico, amiright? 😋

09/08/2017

Was this day beautiful or what?? Whether you venture out to your local farm to pick up veg for dinner, or you dine al fresco at your fav restaurant tonight, be sure to take a minute to appreciate this beauty. It won't last forever. 🌸

07/08/2017

End-Of-Summer Bucketlist - The Grazette

There are 46 days left of summer! Don't let it pass you by - I have some fun adventures planned... in fact, I just checked one of these items off my list this weekend. More on that soon...

The calendar is telling me it’s August, and I feel like I haven’t done half the things I wanted to do this summer! Anyone else feel like this summer just flew by? What’s that about? Well, there’s nothing we can do about it now, except just to plan some fun things before the sunny season...

05/08/2017

Ending our Milford, NJ adventure at The Milford House with oysters and a champagne cocktail 🥂 for 😜 the NJ oysters we had totally beat out the blue points and the Mass oysters. How bout that?

04/08/2017

This little farm to table lunch of mine = perfection. 🍅🧀 Clockwise from 12o'clock: smokey pastured ham from Brick Farm Market, Graskaas by Beemster cheese (a limited edition cheese made from the first milk the cows produce in the spring when they go back on pasture), Blue Moon Acres heirloom tomatoes with a medley of their micro herbs, and whole grain locally baked bread. I think I have all my food groups covered, right?? I'll take this version of ham & cheese any day!

03/08/2017

I have two words for you: blueberry curacao. Say what?? 😜 I LOVE that the ice cream from Red Barn Milk Co. is made with single source Hun-Val Dairy Farm milk.

What does that mean? Most of the milk you buy in the grocery store is co-mingled with hundreds of other dairy farms ... and that all comes with different feeds the cows are eating, and you can't really say what could be in it. This is hormone-free and antibiotic-free milk, from cows raised right here in NJ. YES! 💗

And since it's so damn hot out, I suggest going ASAP. I got mine topped with graham cracker crumble 🍦 The flavors change with the local availability, so you may find locally foraged raspberry ice cream when you go if you're lucky.