Escaping Heat for More Pasta
Still reeling from images left in our minds from “Heat,” we had to have pasta for dinner one night at the beach.
Luckily, Joe and Alex had told us about Piancone, a restaurant and Italian deli on the main street in Bradley Beach.
Luckily, Joe and Alex had told us about Piancone, a restaurant and Italian deli on the main street in Bradley Beach.
Sour Cherry Farm at the Beach
We weren’t even harvesting oysters the first week of August, when we headed to Bradley Beach, N.J. as guests of Kelli and Patrick. We spent the time reading, relaxing and — frankly — sweating in the 100-degree heat. Join us for an afternoon at the beach.
Hey Kids, It’s Tomato Time
Having had enough of summer chores, Sour Cherry Farm headed to the Jersey Shore. And, besides the beach, what’s better in Jersey in August than tomatoes?
Farmers Market Loot, July 27
Playing Jazz Downtown
Even though we were in the East Village, we felt like we were in Paris. Something about jazz and a club named The Bacchus Room.
Curing the Cravings of Heat
I don’t know how many of you have read “Heat” by Bill Buford, but here at the farm, the book has been causing a bit of a problem.
17:26:00 on 07/26/06
by liz -
Restaurants -
The Village on the Cheap
Kelli, Tessa and I headed out for a girls night Monday. We were very pleased to find fried green tomatoes on the menu.
A Second Look at the Last Pie
We had a brief look at a piece of the last sour cherry pie of the season a couple weeks ago, but I wanted to let folks see the whole pie, because it was one of Greg's best looking.
Here's the side view:
Here's the side view:
Last Sour Cherries of the Season
Greg's sour cherry pie, served last night at Sour Cherry Farm.
Don't shed a tear. It's kind of like putting away the Christmas decorations. When the season's over, you're ready to move on. While we will look forward to the next year, for now, we are happy with our memories of this one.
Don't shed a tear. It's kind of like putting away the Christmas decorations. When the season's over, you're ready to move on. While we will look forward to the next year, for now, we are happy with our memories of this one.
Spit-Roasting Pork, a la Patricia Wells
I have long been inspired by Patricia Wells, especially her recipes that capture terroir — the unique essence of a place — by highlighting food's flavor without fuss. (In fact, I'd like to be known as the Patricia Wells of the Hudson Valley, thank you very much.) A recipe of hers we’ve made twice now involves wrapping a pork roast in herbs and spit-roasting it over the grill. Of course, there’s always room for a little fun before you start cooking:
En garde!
En garde!
Introducing Sarah to Korean Food
Loyal readers may remember back in April when Sour Cherry Farm headed to Yonkers for a Korean feast. We stayed on the west side of the Hudson this time, and took Sarah just down the road to Bergen County.
22:12:00 on 07/22/06
by liz -
Restaurants -
Tea Sandwiches and Birthday Cake
These elegant tea sandwiches — cucumber-mint on the left and goat-cheese chive on the right — were part of a monumental occasion on July 22: the first birthday party Rory will actually remember — his third.
Running and Helping Kids, Too
Contributor Joe McDonald writes:
Anyone who has enjoyed an exquisite meal at Sour Cherry Farm understands the importance of maintaining a balanced diet and healthy exercise routine. It was after one particularly debaucherous Greg-and-Liz feast at the Farm that I decided I needed to do something about losing some weight and getting in shape. So, about a year ago, I started running. Since then, I've been doing about 30 miles a week. As far as organized races, I've done some 5Ks, a 10K, a 15K, a couple of 5-milers and four half-marathons.
Anyone who has enjoyed an exquisite meal at Sour Cherry Farm understands the importance of maintaining a balanced diet and healthy exercise routine. It was after one particularly debaucherous Greg-and-Liz feast at the Farm that I decided I needed to do something about losing some weight and getting in shape. So, about a year ago, I started running. Since then, I've been doing about 30 miles a week. As far as organized races, I've done some 5Ks, a 10K, a 15K, a couple of 5-milers and four half-marathons.
Farmers Market Loot, July 20
Big loot today. It's a mixed bag of Sour Cherry Farm sustenance — and the makings of a birthday party.
Toasting a New Home
Our good friend Irene bought some property down the road from the Farm, and invited us over to toast her good fortune. We also caught up with our friend Craig, whom we hadn’t seen in eons, and his girlfriend Gabrielle.
Watch Out for That Candle!
Little Sarah celebrated her first birthday in July, and Kelli and Patrick threw her a dinner party. Of course, she was in bed before the dinner party started, but, true to birthday form, she got to have dessert first.
Yes, Those are More Schwenk Peaches
On the Friday after returning from Tennessee, we had to finish the last of the Schwenk peaches, lest they go bad. We decided to grill some, along with vegetables from the garden and two juicy pork chops.
Just Look at That Rock
Sour Cherry Farm’s good friend, cocktail confidant and golf buddy Matt gave his girlfriend Vanessa a little present over Memorial Day. Now she’s no longer his girlfriend, but his fiancee.
Tuesday at the Park in July
For the second evening of Cathy and Thor’s visit from Oregon, we headed to the park with picnic provisions, a portable table from Crate & Barrel and a Bambi blanket.
Friends from Far Lands
Vacation in Tennesee over, we headed back to the farm, where traveling friends were seeking a respite. Thor and Cathy are the kind of people that you’d feel comfortable leaving in the kitchen, the orchard, the field or the bunkhouse — knowing they’d do the right thing.
Thor, for example, a former chef — whipped together this caprese salad with the first Sour Cherry Farm tomatoes and basil. We snacked on it with gin-gin mules on the porch, waiting for the chicken to come off the barbecue.
Thor, for example, a former chef — whipped together this caprese salad with the first Sour Cherry Farm tomatoes and basil. We snacked on it with gin-gin mules on the porch, waiting for the chicken to come off the barbecue.
Back on the Farm, the First Tomatoes
I have two more posts from vacation, but I thought I should catch folks up on what's going on at the farm, too.
We returned home to find the fields and the orchard hadn't suffered too much without us. Indeed, we got the first harvest of a couple of the crops, including zucchini and tomatoes.
We returned home to find the fields and the orchard hadn't suffered too much without us. Indeed, we got the first harvest of a couple of the crops, including zucchini and tomatoes.
Special Cocktails at the Cabin
All the special cocktails.
Each night at the cabin we had a special cocktail. Which would you most like to drink? Click more for the recipes and to vote in the comments field.
Each night at the cabin we had a special cocktail. Which would you most like to drink? Click more for the recipes and to vote in the comments field.
Playing Cards at the Cabin, Where the Competition is Ruthless
Leigh's mother Grace was an expert card player. She taught us all kinds of great games during our vacations in Tennessee as children. Two of them are still especially popular: Russian Bank and Canasta.
The Octopus: All the Cool Kids are Doing It
In one of the first postings from vacation in Tennessee, we saw the octopus with the bowler hat — sad to be left on the dock. Well here he is in action, happy to be out on the water and providing thrills and spills to all.
Barbecue: The Real Deal (Plus, a Mini Farmers Market Loot)
After our romp through the fields at Schwenk Farm, we were ready for lunch. Having been disappointed with our first barbecue experience, we knew where to head. I mean, just look at those smokers.
Picking Peaches
The highlight of our Tennesee trip was a visit to Schwenk Farm, where Charlene welcomed us with open arms, and led us down to the blueberry patch and up to Peach Tree Hill so we could pick our fill of fruit.
The Fried Food Place
You can’t cook every night. So each visit to the cabin, we like to take a little excursion to what we call the fried food place. It’s a little marina restaurant about a half an hour south on the Tennessee River named Steve’s Landing. And yes, it’s hard to find anything on the menu that’s good for you. I’ll tell you what though — these here onion rings were mighty tasty.
21:26:00 on 07/07/06
by liz -
Restaurants -
Dinner, July 6: Our Anniversary
Our 5th anniversary meal: Organic flank steak with a cumin-brown sugar glaze and watermelon-Schwenk Peaches chutney, served with local tomatoes, local lettuce and local grilled zucchini. Eaten in the best setting around.
Lemon-Ginger Vodka Ices
Whippin' Around the Wake
When Wilson drives the boat just right — that is, in an exaggerated S and sometimes in a big circle — it makes the person he's pulling behind spit across the wake so fast you don't know what hit you. That is until something really hits you. Namely, the water.
Dinner, July 5
The cabin dinner on July 5th was a quieter affair — but that didn’t mean we didn’t gather round the kitchen island and chat while we were preparing it. And we had quite a laugh, too.
Chattanooga Cucumber
When the Light Wans, the Lake Calms
The skiing is best just before sunset, when the lake is as calm as can be, and you can very nearly see your reflection in the water when you cross the wake — as Wilson is doing here.
Sour Cherry Farm readers will be pleased to know that Liz also waterskiied (on one ski, no less) but those photos aren't nearly as elegant. You'll find those below.
Sour Cherry Farm readers will be pleased to know that Liz also waterskiied (on one ski, no less) but those photos aren't nearly as elegant. You'll find those below.
Errands and Barbecue
What would a trip to the South be without barbecue? We tried it while running errands at roadside stand that used to be called JJ’s, but is changing its name to Jans’.
Watermelon-Basil Mojito
The Big Show
Sour Cherry Farm’s cabin outpost in Tennesee affords a lot of freedoms — sitting around in bathing suits and cutoffs all day not the least among them. But one of the best perks is the state’s lax laws on fireworks sales. It meant we were able to celebrate Grucci-style, and all we had to do was walk down 50 feet to the waterfront.
Independence Day Dinner
The coolest thing about cooking at the cabin is that everyone helps. A little prepping here, a little cleaning there, and dinner is done.
Blackberry-Mint Margarita
Special Cocktail No. 1 at the cabin. Adapted from Food&Wine's Cocktails 2006 book and originally served at The Hungry Cat in Hollywood, Calif.
Day 1 of Vacation: Fun and Sun on the Boat
At night, the cabin is all about cocktails and card-playing. During the day, it’s all about the dock.
Shopping for Sale Creek
There's nothing Sour Cherry Farm likes to do better while on vacation than meet local people, observe local customs and indulge in local delicacies. On Independence Day, during our vacation in in Sale Creek, Tenn., we got to do all three. We started with the peach stand at the Dayton Farmers Market.
Tennesee Peaches
Sour Cherry Farm was down at the lake cabin last week, picking peaches and blueberries, and relaxing dockside with a good book. More reports to come — but here's a gorgeous peach, ripe for the picking.
