Growers and Grocers

In a whirl of muddling and shaking in a Boston Shaker, a barman at The Institute of Contemporary Arts in London taught me to make an iced tea using only fresh mint. 
The arrival of organic black mint at the Union Square Greenmarket provides an experimental update on the recipe. 
With a sublimely refreshing taste, and soothing […]

“You do that one egg thang,” said Carol Ann, in reference to a vendor at the Fredericksburg farmer’s Market (FFM) who came in the first market day with less than a dozen eggs. Carol Ann of Boggy Creek Farm in Austin, Texas, was referring to the idea that the best way to start selling in a […]

If you are looking at a bottle of Pure Heart - Raspberry Revolution from Guayaki, then it’s their latest healthy, invigorating drink offering.  Guayaki is a unique drink company in that the drinks they market are organic, vegan, rainforest grown and fairly traded.  I was intriqued by them because they are so eco-friendly and the drinks […]

Honey is evocative for me. I can’t smell it without thinking of my grandparents’ home in the country, the honey jar a permanent fixture in the walk-in pantry there.
My grandparents brought their ”old country” way of life with them when they emigrated, locavores before the term even existed. They bought neighbor-made rye bread in loaves as large as couch pillows.  […]

Unless you don’t follow the news, you’re probably well aware of the latest food scare - tomatoes tainted with salmonella.
The big question that has yet to be answered is how do thousands of pounds of tomatoes get tainted with salmonella, a bacteria that originates in the digestive tracts of humans, birds, and other animals? As […]

Punk Rock Cabinet de la Meridienne, Alison Nelson’s Chocolate Bar – located on the third floor atrium of Bendel’s – is the perfect respite for fair trade organic tea and single origin fair trade truffles.
After an exhibit at MoMA, a visit to the polar bears at the Central Park Zoo, or window shopping at Tiffany’s, […]

We recently returned from a trip to Maine with new foodstuffs, thanks to a stop at the Stonewall Kitchen headquarters in York, which is a cute town right on the water with at least three candy stores. If you’re a fan of condiments — dips, dressings, jellies, jams, sauces, salsas, marinades and mustards — then […]

One of my tomato plants with silver mulch underneath (photo: author)
If you garden, you no doubt know the wonders of mulch: it moderates soil temperature, conserves water and helps to build the soil. But silver reflective mulch, as opposed to plain old bark or other organic matter, can also repel pests, including thrips and aphids, […]

I’ve been telling people grass is good for years. As The Organic Chef and an organic grass fed beef farmer, it’s only natural that I’ve heard just about everything a person could tell me about grass fed beef.Here I’ve chosen three “myths” about grass fed beef to debunk:
1) All beef is grass-fed
2) Grass-fed beef is […]

In a moment both shimmering and tantalizing, ramps have arrived.  Signifying the return of the fairy tale bounty of the summer Union Square Greenmarket, in flavor, ramps are a delightfully delicate cross between garlic and leek.
Trim off the bulb, and wash, pying attention to where the leaves separate.
Zucchini Ramp Omelet

Sauté one small diced zucchini in […]