Joining us in the orchard for a visit with the Waggoners and the Ranchers are Kelli and Patrick! Welcome, kids.
July, 2010
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Summer Supper in the Orchard at the Farm
Saturday, July 31st, 2010
Lunch at Poppy’s in Beacon
Saturday, July 31st, 2010After a trip to the Russel Wright Design Center, Sarah and Wilson and Greg and I went to Beacon for burgers. Poppy’s is a place that uses all-natural, local beef and ingredients and hand-cuts its fries. It’s really good stuff, but on a Saturday during a street fair, you’re gonna have a wait. Right, Sarah?
Recipe: Olive Oil Roasted Tomatoes and Fennel with White Beans
Saturday, July 31st, 2010I came across this recipe in Bon Appetit and liked the do-ahead nature. Plus, it’s a great way to have a warm dish that uses fresh tomatoes. Sometimes you get tired of just slice-and-serve.
Supper at the Ranch with Sarah, Mae, Jane and Les Gilberts
Friday, July 30th, 2010Sarah and the girls are in town for their annual summer trip! Mom can’t get enough of Jane:
For our first course, we had the Cold Pink Soup.
Pre-Theater Supper: Nizza
Thursday, July 29th, 2010Before seeing “American Idiot,” Greg and I went to Mary’s favorite pre-theater spot, Nizza. For pizza.
Recipe: Cold Pink Soup — Or Borscht in a Glass
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010I love this recipe, which I found last year in “A Platter of Figs” by David Tanis. (Sour Cherry Farm archive post here.)
What’s great about it is that you don’t have to roast the beets first, you just throw them in with some water and spices and then puree them right there in the pot with a stick blender — or carefully put in the blender.
Fresh Sea Bass from Montauk
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010Mary’s husband, Bill, went fishing off Montauk and caught a beautiful seabass. She shared a big hunk with us, and boy were were thrilled. Delicious.
Concert in the Park
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010We love to have a picnic in the park when the band is playing in the gazebo. Tonight, leftovers, rose and a beautiful sunset.
Irene Throws a Mad Men Party!
Sunday, July 25th, 2010We’ve all got Mad Men fever, and Irene knew it. So she had us over for a viewing party, complete with such retro dishes as aspic and, well, whatever this contribution from Kris is called:
Recipe: Caipirinhas
Sunday, July 25th, 2010As my mother would say, I do love a cocktail. And not only that, I do love a caipirinha. It’s a Brazilian drink made with cachaca — a sugar cane liquor a little like rum, but not. For caiparinhas, you just nned sugar, lime, ice and cachaca. That’s it. It’s easiest to make them individually, but you can also do a pitcher ahead of time for a party.
Recipe: Gazpacho
Sunday, July 25th, 2010I wrote a story for the paper about How to Throw a Mad Men Party, and I decided to take some of my own advice. Or rather, Irene did. She’s throwing the Mad Men party — I’m bringing the gazpacho. Here’s my favorite recipe.
Garden Update: Coneflowers, Cosmos, Blackberries and Butterfly Bushes
Sunday, July 25th, 2010Here’s our occasional update on the progress in the fields at Sour Cherry Farm. The early summer harvest is slowing down, and we’re getting more flowers and ornamentals as we wait for late summer tomatoes and fall crops like figs, apples and pears. Here’s a look at what’s going on.
Summer Lunch: BLT
Sunday, July 25th, 2010Is there anything better than a BLT made with juicy tomatoes, salty bacon, crisp lettuce, creamy mayo and toasty bread? I can’t think of anything.
Except maybe some salt and vinegar potato chips alongside.
Pork Chops, Corn, Blueberry Cobbler and a Great Spice Called Duqqa (Not in That Order)
Saturday, July 24th, 2010This is a pretty typical summer supper except for two things. 1. We used a few spice mixture called duqqa to flavor the garlic bread and it was a complete eye-opener. 2. We had a fabulous blueberry cobbler for dessert.
Recipe: Blueberry Cobbler
Saturday, July 24th, 2010The first blueberry cobbler I did this summer was completely made from our own blueberries. Of course that one was the best; not even the farmers market berries taste as good as ones you grow yourself. But this recipe is so good you could use storebought berries and it would still be delicious.
Garden Party at the Chisholms
Friday, July 23rd, 2010We were thrilled to be invited to one of Linda’s fabulous parties: this one in her garden. Here’s Greg, chatting before dinner:
Quick Currant Preserves
Friday, July 23rd, 2010We only had a small harvest of currants this year, so I didn’t bother with all the work of canning properly, I just made a quick refrigerator jam that we ate within a few weeks. First start, the currants:
Sips and Snacks at Ma Peche
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010After lunch and a matinee of the Broadway show “Promises, Promises” with Kristen Chenoweth, Mom and I met Boo for a drink at Ma Peche. Mom popped out after one drink, and left Boo and I to grab a quick bite before the rest of the evening: another Broadway show. But first, those sips and snacks, and visit from Craig, too.
Lunch at Anthos
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010Mom and I had a girls’ day in the city: lunch and a show. For lunch, we went to Anthos, the fancy Greek restaurant in midtown. They have a crazy-good deal for lunch: $28 for a three-course prix fixe. Plus, little did we know, it was also Reataurant Week, so there was another three-course prix fixe for even less. I can’t remember which ones we ordered, but I do know we were very, very happy with our lunches.
Sunday at the Farm: Hot Dogs and Hydrangeas
Sunday, July 18th, 2010We spent a Sunday around the farm, working on the fields and having a simple supper of hot dogs, corn and a salad with our own lettuce and tomatoes:
A Wine Tasting with the Neighbors
Saturday, July 17th, 2010We sampled a bunch of local wines and had a simple backyard supper with the neighbors, enjoying a little respite from the heat wave. Finally.
The results, after the jump.
Sushi with the Girls
Thursday, July 15th, 2010Kelli invited the girls over for sushi, and we enjoyed catching up on her back patio. Kelli and Mel:
Goatherd Book Club: A Room with a View
Wednesday, July 14th, 2010I haven’t before reported on book club. but CynDee went so over the top with matching food to theme that I finally broke down. I simply couldn’t help taking photos. To go with “A Room with a View,” set in partly in Florence, she emarked upon a true Italian journey. She asked her friend Dominick, a second generation Italian-American, to teach her the secrets of Sunday Sauce. He took her to Arthur Avenue to source her ingredients, and showed her all the tricks and trades to serving an absoultely stunning meal. Here’s just a peak at the pasta and the meat that goes along with it:
More mouthwatering dishes and photos of our fun and lively discussion, after the jump.
Sunday Supper with Grandmom and the Ranchers: Burgers, Wedge and Corn Salad
Sunday, July 11th, 2010We had the folks over for burgers on Sunday night. It was still so hot that we moved the table into the shade of the garage and put the umbrella out. We ate by the apple tree and the grapevine.
Nuptials: Michele and Mark
Saturday, July 10th, 2010My friend and colleague Michele married the love of her life, Mark, in a beautiful and unique ceremony that took place in the Capitol Theater in Port Chester. We as the audience sat in the mezzanine to watch as the ceremony took place on the stage. Even the wedding program was a Playbill!
Just after they said “I now pronounce you…”, the curtain opened and the band started playing “White Wedding.” Now that’s entertainment.
And yes, they know how to throw a party. Come along, after the jump.
Supper at Cafe Barcel
Friday, July 9th, 2010We had a little bit of an anniversary celebration at our favey local restaurant, Cafe Barcel. I got the frisee salad with lardons, blue cheese and, yes, the poached egg. That’s right.
Linguine with Clam Sauce
Thursday, July 8th, 2010We picked up some clams at Stew Leonard’s, too, so it was use-it-or-lose it time. We used it. We made Linguine alla Vongole. Greg said it was the best version ever.
Restaurant North in Armonk
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010I don’t say this about too many restaurants, but I walked out the door of my meal at North last week plotting my immediate return. This is not a real review — the restaurant had only been open 6 days when I went, and I’ve gotten to know chef-owner Eric Gabrynowicz over the years, so it’s hard to be impartial — but my first impressions of this new farm-to-table restaurant are this: North could quickly become a dining destination for people all around the Lower Hudson Valley and the region. The food and the wine are that good.
Leftovers for a No-Cook Supper
Tuesday, July 6th, 2010The heat is still unbearable. We can’t cook. So we forage. Greg found tuna salad from Stew’s and made a toasted sandwich, and loaded up with iceberg wedge, leftover green beans and potato chips. My plate is chicken salad on a hot dog bun with mozzarella balls and iceberg wedge. Happy anniversary to us!
Back at the Beach
Tuesday, July 6th, 2010We packed it up from the North Fork on the Fourth and still had a couple of vacation days. So why not head back to the beach? We did just that. Ocean Grove this time. Good thing. It was a scorcher. So hot we really couldn’t walk on the beach in bare feet until we got right to the water.
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