Farmers Markets

The season is upon us!  Here is a quick, by no means complete, list of local farmers markets. Some are already open for the season, some not yet.  Be sure to patronize your local market and support local farmers and producers.  Plus, it’s a great way to buld community in your little piece of paradise! … Continue reading →

Lamb & Egglplant

This meal was surprisingly quick to put together on a recent worknight.  I’d already thawed the ground lamb that I almost always have on hand in the freezer (often from Whole Earth Center).  I had a plump eggplant waiting in the crisper. The eggplant I sliced in half (lengthwise of course), slashed the cut sides, and … Continue reading →

Bacon & Eggs elements’ way

Cute, huh?  This diminuitive feat of culinary magic appeared in front of my cousin and me at the end of a recent Sunday brunch at elements in Princeton. We hadn’t ordered dessert, but the staff proudly presented it to us, compliments of the chef.  Inside the egg shell we found layers of brioche (was that a … Continue reading →

Sizzle in South Jersey

How does this sound (it sure looks delicious): Fried green tomatoes with Gulf shrimp and poblano goat cheese sauce? Yum! That’s the recipe of the month, From Chef Kevin Taylor of Los Amigos in Berlin, from South Jersey Hot Chefs. I get their enewsletters which, besides the monthly recipe, include various promotions in their restaurants, along … Continue reading →

Nostrano @ Bistro Soleil

Jim Hayes, owner of Bistro Soleil restaurant in Hightstown, is a busy bee. Not only does he run his restaurant and catering business, he is also hard at work sourcing produce from local farms and the Hightstown wholesale produce market for his Nostrano line of foods.   (That’s the Tri-County Co-Operative Auction Market, no website found but info. on past … Continue reading →

Pho 99

On my way down Route 27 last week, I noticed a sign at the Great Wall Shopping Center in Franklin Park for Pho 99, a Vietnamese restaurant that opened last November (they have another location in South Plainfield).  How had I missed that?  So I stopped in today for lunch and was pleased to find a warm … Continue reading →

Somerville Restaurant Week

Somerville has become a dining destination as more and more good – and interesting – restaurants have opened up over the last several years.  Go try some of them during the upcoming week as they celebrate Restaurant Week, with a dine early promotion May 15-22: In honor of the Borough of Somerville’s Centennial, many restaurants … Continue reading →

Lunch at Sophie’s Bistro

I have always enjoyed my meals at Sophie’s Bistro in Somerset, and only wish it were closer to home. A day off for an excursion with friend Miriam took us to the area Tuesday, so we stopped in for lunch and had a delicious meal.  I mean, really, really good. This is my duck confit salad, … Continue reading →

Olive Oil Tasting

Last weekend I attended a tasting of organic olive oils at the Whole Earth Center in Princeton.  It was run by Carlo Momo, of the Terra Momo Restaurant Group (Mediterra, etc.). First Carlo discussed olive oil in general (a product, he reminded us, that is not made locally, due to climate).  He discussed what to … Continue reading →

Raw Milk Hearing

This just in from The Foodshed Alliance, regarding a hearing about raw milk in Trenton on Monday – “The Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will hold the hearing on Monday May 11, 2009 @2pm in Committee Room 8, 3rd floor, State House Annex, Trenton New Jersey. The committee will receive comments and testimony from invited … Continue reading →