It’s raspberry season here in Connecticut. Many folks seem to be surprised that it comes so late in the summer, but typically picking starts in mid August and runs into September. On Sunday, Eunice and I drove out to Bishop’s Orchards in Guilford. Hours vary so be sure to call ahead. (203) 458-PICK.
It was hot out there, even at 10 am. My advice? Go raspberry picking on an overcast day. 
Every year “sin bin” sign is out. I never realized the proceeds go to the Guilford Land Trust.
I don’ t snack in the fields. I’m there to fill that white bucket up as fast as I can and head for some shade!
Check back after Labor Day, next week the blog will feature a raspberry lemonade recipe from leFarm in Westport.
Archive for the ‘Connecticut’ Category
raspberries at bishop’s orchards
September 1, 2010robert treat farm in milford
August 21, 2010I’ve done a number of posts about the Woodmont Farmers’ Market, but I wanted to share a few shots from Treat’s, the farm that hosts this Wednesday event. It broke my heart when they got rid of the ramshackle shed a few years ago. It was always dark and sweltering hot in the summer, but you felt like you were buying produce on a farm. The new barn/market is much bigger & cooler inside and now Treat’s is such an enjoyable place to shop on a warm summer day. 
I have a few favorite things here…
- native corn (don’t touch! tell them how many you want and they’ll hand select the ears for you)
- orange flesh melon (appearance: honeydew-like on the outside, cantaloupe-like on the inside. Taste: always amazingly sweet)
- Smyths’s Trinity Dairy milk (you’ll get your deposit back when you return the thick glass bottle)
- Judies baked goods (my favorites are the the assaggio shallot and the peasant baguette)
- pies from Blackbird Bakery (wild blueberry crumb!) and Scratch Baking’s mini pies
- jumbo-sized fresh eggs in the refrigerated case (so big, there are often double yolks)
- chocolate cookies with nuts (see glass jars between the middle cash registers). This is my #1 impulse item.
I wish they would bring back Milford’s own….Buck’s ice cream… but not really… who needs that kind of temptation every weekend!?
baked, brownies & scratch baking
August 20, 2010
Remember my post on Scratch Baking, the new start-up at the two Milford, CT farmers’ markets? Well I went back for more on Saturday and got some amazing little apple plum pies. After devouring my pie, I started wondering about the woman behind the magic. Her name is Lesli Flick and it turns out one of her recipes entered my house earlier this year. Back in April, we got our first taste of Red Hook, and I fell in love with Baked. In a fit of grumpiness that I live so far away from Brooklyn, I purchased of the Baked Cookbook. Turns out Lesli is the “superstar pastry chef” behind the original brownie recipe in this cookbook!
Baked’s Matt Lewis @brooklynbaker recently gave Lesli a shout-out on Twitter and I absolutely agree that our little town of Milford is so lucky to have this talented chef. I haven’t tried this recipe yet, but these brownies have been praised by The Today Show, America’s Test Kitchen and were featured as one of Oprah’s favorite things. 
You can see photos of Scratch Baking in my previous post or simply find Lesli at the Wednesday or Saturday farmer’s markets in Milford, CT. (FYI there’s no Saturday farmers’ market on August 21 due to the Oyster Festival).
goodbye inn at national hall
August 16, 2010I had no idea the beautiful (and expensive) Inn at National Hall closed in Westport, CT earlier this year. I feel lucky that I was able to spend some time inside the Bulldog Suite, when two English Bulldog-owning friends got married! I wonder what became of all the beautiful decor inside this hotel. Wasn’t the restaurant Zanghi also at this location, once upon a time? There’s a nice history of the property on Westport Now. It looks like the new Hotel Delamar Southport, is the main game in town for luxury accommodations. 
That’s me behind the bulldog on the right!
Photo by Anthony DiCarlo.
woodmont farmers’ market
August 13, 2010Here’s the final wrap-up of my first trip to the Woodmont farmer’s market at Robert Treat Farm in Milford, CT. I wasn’t able to meet all the vendors and it does get hard to shoot when you’re toting around around a basketful of vegetables. Below, I think we have the owner of the Cupcake Truck (remember the appearance at Eunice and Dave’s wedding?) enjoying the live music once his sweet supply had run out.
I still haven’t tried the pizza from the Big Green Truck. Please, someone host a party and invite me!
Twilight is not endorsing any political candidates, even ones querying the difference between green beans and haricot verts.
I wasn’t prepared to take home any seafood, but long before I came to this market, other friends and neighbors sang the praises of Gambardella’s. They also return on to Treat’s on Saturdays.
How about a fresh-squeezed lemonade? It’s perfect on a hot summer day and this beverage is made right before your eyes. The only other place I know offering similar handmade refreshment is Crumbs Bake Shop.
scratch baking in milford, ct
August 13, 2010Also present at the Woodmont Farmers’ Market was Scratch Baking, a local bakery run by Lesli Flick. There were some tempting looking treats (just check out that pecan bar) and plans to open up shop in downtown Milford. The retail storefront won’t be completed until November 2010, so for now you’ll have to track down these baked goods at local farmers’ markets. Check the website for the full schedule. 
roby’s organic farm in berlin, ct
August 13, 2010I spent quite a bit of time at the Roby’s Organic stand because the customer in front of me kept finding new things she wanted to buy. I didn’t mind the wait, as it gave me some time to take photos and soak in the late afternoon light. Annalisa’s got one of those fabulous accents that make you want to hear about her Berlin, Connecticut-based produce all day long. 
I wish I had bought these unusually dark sunflowers.
These tomatoes were hidden under the table. Perhaps they didnt’ make first cut, but I’m still glad they caught my eye. 
You can find Roby’s Organic Farm at Wednesday’s Woodmont Farmers’ Market in Milford, CT & also at the Berlin Farmers’ Market on Saturdays.
herbal inspiration
August 12, 2010There’s a new lens in town. I just got a Sigma 18-50 mm. I took it out for a whirl at the farmers’ market in Milford. Results were mixed, I haven’t quite gotten used to it yet. I can tell I’ve been shooting too much at home, indoors, exclusively with my 35 mm. I was out of my usual zone, which wasn’t a bad thing. It was great to see so much activity at Treat’s, I’ve never been able to drop in for this market before! I think a lot of the hoopla was for the Cupcake Truck… but I had a fantastic time talking to the vendors and taking photos. Check back tomorrow and you can follow along. 
I failed to grow the most basic summer herb this year and was forced to buy some basil. On a whim, I asked about the oversized mint-like leaves. It’s lemon verbena balm!! I hear it pairs beautifully with chicken or fish and works in iced teas or muddled in mojitos.
souterrain: underground food
August 3, 2010This year I just wasn’t excited about another Dinner at the Farm or feeling up for the fight to reserve a spot at Outstanding in the Field. With no outdoor fine dining on the horizon, our summer was rescued by Souterrain, Chef Bill Taibe’s latest dining series connecting good food and the people who love it. There didn’t seem to be much marketing around this first-time event, but you all know how much I love Le Farm. After reading a Facebook post, I gamely reserved 2 spots for dinner at a top secret location. Beside all the mysterious intrigue, what really sets Souterrain apart is the communal nature of the meal. Guests sat at small tables of 6 or 8 and the courses were served family-style. We didn’t know a soul, but there was no shortage of conversation at our table. Bruce, Carol, John and Judy all possess a knowledge of the local Connecticut food scene that blew me away. I have to reconsider calling myself a foodie in the midst of this crowd!
Sure, it’s really cool to tour an actual working farm at one of those other dinners, but I had no complaints with this beautiful backyard. 
A refreshing summer cocktail: I believe this raspberry lemonade is spiked with vodka and St. Germain.
I’m just going to digress for a second and completely swoon over the Rowayton home where this event was hosted. This house was made to entertain and the decor was so perfect, it was like being at a photo shoot for a food mag! I only got the teeniest taste through the many doors- flung wide open onto the back patio, but I could photograph these interior details all day long. 
That’s one lucky dog:
Love this photo of the bar, just as I love the servers from Le Farm.
D looks a bit pensive here. The bike makes the photograph, don’t you think?
Oh and the food? Well, of course it was fabulous. I’m no food critic and I’m sure Stephanie Webster of CT Bites (or some other blogger) will give you the low-down.
Below is the surprise course: oysters, topped with a corn fritter. 
Watermelon and chevre… I wish I had photographed it all, but it would have been so impolite to make the other dinner guests wait for the camera!
Shooting at a beautiful outdoor location is absolutely inspiring. Unfortunately for my readers, I was too busy enjoying myself to get really focused behind the lens. I copped out and mostly used the point & shoot. If I have another opportunity to dine at one of these events, I’d like to take more time with my dSLR! I can’t exactly make any promises, the food and location will probably be equally as tempting.
I LOVE: the place in guilford, connecticut
August 2, 2010This past weekend a few college friends came to town and I wanted to show them a unique summer dining experience, so we headed to The Place in Guilford, Connecticut. I’m not sure why it’s so much fun to sit on a tree stump and enjoy your food in the great outdoors, but everyone always loves it here.
I HATE eating corn on the cob in public, but I’ll make an exception for this roasted version. Our table always ends up littered with black bits of charred corn husks. My other favorite is the roasted clam special. The littlenecks are served up on a hot grill, already doused in cocktail sauce. By the time our 1 lb lobster arrived, it was too dark for photos. Plus conditions were *way* too messy to be touching my camera.
Everything (including your lobster) can be cooked on the outdoor grill and below is the one-and-only menu:
The Place is BYOB and you can fill-in the rest of your meal by bringing other sides from home. You may have read about my incomplete broccoli quinoa salad, but we still did manage to put out a nice cheese selection from Villa Gourmet, a tomato and mozzarella salad and a strawberry JELL-O pie.
If you go: A tablecloth isn’t a bad idea and forget the plastic, The Place is cash only.