Some of my favorite events during the winter months are these indoor farmers markets put on by Slow Food Central New Jersey. It’s a chance to catch up with some of your summer farmers market vendors, run into friends, entertain the kids, listen to music, and and generally celebrate all things local. The next one takes place … Continue reading
Filed under Locavore …
Plantain Chips=Yum
Grab ‘Em Snacks’ plantain chips easily passed a taste test with my co-workers last week. I was given three flavors to try by a representative of the Hillsborough-based company (thanks Timothy!) – Sea Salt Goodness, Fire-Me-Up Red Chile, and Cinful Cinnamon. They come in a several other flavors, too, and are currently available at Pennington Market and … Continue reading
Behold NJ Cheese
This year I used all New Jersey cheeses for my cheese trays on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. These five cheeses got rave reviews; each one had something special to offer. Even that little mouse on the Cherry Grove Brie in the upper left was excited! (The sixth, in the bowl, was my homemade ricotta. I … Continue reading
Christmas
I take my father to my brother and sister-in-law’s for Christmas Eve, so am putting up a couple photos from a past year. They set a beautiful table without fail (the tree is gorgeous too). The second photo (right) is my brother’s seared tuna loin. It is just amazing, so rich that you could swear you … Continue reading
Female Food Power!
Just got back from a very convivial holiday open house put on by four area women in the food business. If you act quickly, you might still be able to place orders for some of the delicious goodies I sampled this afternoon, if not for Christmas, maybe for New Year’s entertaining. Chris Crawford of Wooden Spoon … Continue reading
Golden Egg Nog Truffles @ Donna & Company
I’m always going on about the fine artisan chocolates that come from Donna & Company in Cranford. Owner Diane Pinder also operates the Donna Toscana Chocolate Lounge in Cranford, and I have my fingers perpetually crossed in hopes of being able to buy her exquisite chocolates in the Princeton area some day. Meanwhile, you can order online … Continue reading
Holiday Gifts for Foodies
What to get that foodie friend of yours…here are some quick ideas that landed in my Inbox: Got a barbecue fanatic in the family? Maybe it’s time for a home smoker. At left you see a Bradley Smoker. They run $399 to $599. They’re electric, they use specialized wood, and there’s no actual smoke, tar, … Continue reading
Thank You Tre Piani
FROM SOUP (er, oysters) TO NUTS (okay, this isn’t the pecan pie, but the entrée), GOOD JOB JIM! Thanks from my family to you and yours, and your great staff!
Artisanal Soy Sauce
I love it when someone reimagines a standby food product, making it special. Take soy sauce. A very basic commodity that most of us take for granted, maybe looking for a lower-sodium version. But even the low-sodium is quite salty; my Japanese Marukin premium low salt soy sauce still has 460mg of sodium per tablespoon. … Continue reading
Shout Out to Terhune Orchards
Hooray for Terhune Orchards, whose package labeling has been recognized on TheDieline.com as one of their 40 Favorite Beverage Package Designs. The Dieline is a website devoted to quality package design from all over the world. I’ve always freely admitted that I’m a sucker for good packaging, so I really enjoy browsing this website. Thanks to my nephew Patrick for … Continue reading
NJ SPICE 