Marathons, Music and Markets

Many local farmers’ markets invite local chefs to cook and demonstrate. This weekend, Wrightstown Farmers’ Market will have Denis Chiappa from Carlow Cookery demonstrating how to make some great summer dishes, starting at 10:30 am.

At the Linden Hill Farmers’ Market, Chef David Zuckerman of Earl’s Bucks County (formerly Earl’s Prime) will be preparing market items on the grill. Darlene Kaminsky of Chestnut Hill Farm Gourmet Foods will be teaching how to can and preserve. Both will be doing demos at 4:30 & 6:30 pm.

Local Harvest Restaurant Week continues through Sunday, July 26th. SEE, a Lambertville-based community organization, is sponsoring the event in Lambertville and New Hope to raise awareness about sustainability – in our society, environment and economy (SEE). With cooperation from local restaurants, farms, food producers, and Zone 7  (a local foods distribution business), SEE is bringing the best of the region’s local harvest to local restaurant tables. If you eat at one of the participating restaurants, you’ll be able to enjoy dishes specially prepared for the event using the finest local ingredients. Check out SEE’s website for more information about their mission, more details about the restaurant week, and a list of participating restaurants (which includes practically all of the good ones in Lambertville).

The Farm-to-Table Dinner benefiting  The Heritage Conservancy is coming up soon, on Saturday, August 1st so buy your tickets soon. The catering will be done by Soup to Nuts Caterers and Earl’s Restaurant in Peddler’s Village, which recently changed its menu and concept to focus on local, farm-fresh ingredients. Price will be $45 per person, with proceeds benefiting the Heritage Conservancy, a land conservation organization here in Bucks County. It will be held at the historic Lindsay Farm in Warminster.

Here’s the run-down for the weekend. Check out our online calendar, Food Events in Bucks County for more details on any of the events below. Have a peachy-keen weekend.

Friday, July 24th:

• 25th Anniversary Marathon @ Dilly’s Corner, 12 am – 12 am, Centre Bridge/New Hope.
• Linden Hill Farmers’ Market, 3:30 – 7:30 pm, Ottsville.
• Wine Concert Series @ Shady Brook Farm,  7 – 9 pm, Yardley. Weather permitting. Free admission. Dan Kauffman is the musical entertainment.
• Local Harvest Restaurant Week by SEE, 5 – 10 pm, Lambertville & New Hope.
• Hot Wines from Hot Climates, 7 – 9 pm, Carlow Cookery, Doylestown.
• Outdoor Summer Music Series @ Crossing Vineyards and Winery, 7 – 10 pm, Washington Crossing. Karen Rodriguez Latin Jazz Ensemble is the musical entertainment.

Saturday, July 25th:

• Doylestown Farmers’ Market,  7 am – Noon, Doylestown.
• Indian Valley Farmers’ Market, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm, Telford.
• Plumsteadville Grange Farm Market, 9 am – 12 pm, Route 611 just north of Stump Road, Plumsteadville.
• Wrightstown Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Wrightstown. 
• Zone 7 Founder, Mikey Azzara, Visits Basil Bandwagon, 10:30 am – 12 pm, Flemington, NJ.
• Local Harvest Restaurant Week by SEE, 5 – 10 pm, Lambertville & New Hope.
• “Fresh” Documentary Screening, 7 – 9 pm, River Valley Waldorf School, Upper Black Eddy, PA

Sunday, July 26th:

• Sunday Funday: Car Show @ Shady Brook Farm, 8 am – 12 pm, Yardley.
• Peach Pancake Breakfast @ Solly’s Farm Market, 9 am – 12 pm,  Ivyland.
• Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Hellertown.
• Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Flemington.
• 38th Annual Puerto Rican Day Festival, 12 – 8 pm, Bristol.
• Sangria Sundays @ Chaddsford Winery, 1 – 4 pm, Lahaska.
• Wine Tasting for Dummies @ Crossing Vineyards and Winery, 2 – 5 pm, Washington Crossing.
• Summerfest: Caribbean Jam @ Crossing Vineyards and Winery, 5 – 9 pm, Washington Crossing.
• Local Harvest Restaurant Week by SEE, 5 – 10 pm, Lambertville & New Hope.

 Monday, July 27th:

• Foods & Moods with Nutritionist Ellen Book-O’Neill, Cornerstone Health & Fitness, 11 am – 12 pm, Furlong.
• The Sushi Bar, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Carlow Cookery, Doylestown.

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Fresh from the market: July 24th

I started this feature last week, and will list for you throughout the local growing season the kinds of vegetables and fruits available at many local farmers’ markets.

Here’s this week’s freshly picked vegetables: Asian turnips, basil, beets, cabbage, chard, collards, cucumbers, eggplant, fennel, fresh garlic, green beans, green peppers, herbs, hot peppers, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, parsley, radishes, scallions, summer squash, tomatoes, zucchini.

Freshly picked fruit: blueberries, raspberries, peaches and possibly blackberries and nectarines.

Thanks to Robin Hoy of the Wrightstown Market for her help on this list.

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Fresh Local Corn Sighting

I know I’ve said it before, but it’s really here. Summer, that is. The first local corn is coming in (none of that Su’thun stuff). I know for sure you can get some at None Such Farm Market. Be on the look-out at your local farms and stores, and let me know where it pops up and how good it is.

And while we’re “sighting,” the first peaches are here too! We just had some from Fairview Farm, on Pineville Road (just down the road from the Pineville Tavern) this weekend and they were delicious (thanks, Sharon). Manoff Market Gardens on Comfort Road in Solebury also has peaches now, but Manoff reminds that these are “eating” peaches as opposed to the kind used for canning and jamming (not “freestone”). Those come in August. The Manoffs have a great blog too. Check it out.

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Fresh from the market this week…

I’m starting a new feature for the growing season. “Fresh from the market this week…” will alert you to the kinds of vegetables and fruits you can expect to find at area farmers’ markets. Hopefully it will help you plan the week and maybe even try some new things.

Here’s this week’s freshly picked vegetables, available at many local markets: Asian turnips, basil, beets, cabbage, chard, collard greens, cucumbers,  eggplant, fennel, fresh garlic, green beans, green peppers, herbs, hot peppers, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, parsley, radishes, scallions, summer squash,  and zucchini.

Freshly picked fruit: blueberries, black raspberries, raspberries, peaches and apricots.

Thanks to Robin Hoy of the Wrightstown Market for her help on this list.

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Summer is really here

It’s hot and humid as I write this. I guess summer is finally here. No more squeaking by with this lovely San Diego-type weather we’ve been enjoying. I’ve been telling everyone that it will continue to be a cooler summer, and we are taking credit for it. Why? Because we recently installed two new air conditioners in our “mid-century modern” home (the original two got fried by a power surge). See? If y’all chip in, we’ll buy a snow blower to guarantee a light winter.

The other way I know summer is really here is that I’ve noticed the number of calendar events has decreased – or maybe I’m not working hard enough to find them. Either way, it’s a sign that things are slowing down.

But there are still some interesting things going on. This week, from Tuesday, July 21st through Sunday, July 26th, SEE, a Lambertville-based community organization, is sponsoring the Local Harvest Restaurant Week in Lambertville and New Hope. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness about sustainability – in our society, environment and economy (SEE) – while eating great local food!

With cooperation from local restaurants, farms, food producers, and Zone 7  (a local foods distribution business), SEE is bringing the best of the region’s local harvest to local restaurant tables. If you eat at one of the participating restaurants, you’ll be able to enjoy dishes specially prepared for the event using the finest local ingredients. Check out SEE’s website for more information about their mission, more details about the restaurant week, and a list of participating restaurants (which includes practically all of the good ones in Lambertville).

And I’ve got a “Save The Date” for your calendars. The Heritage Conservancy is hosting a Farm-to-Table Dinner on Saturday, August 1st. I’ll give you more details as we get closer but the catering will be done by Soup to Nuts Caterers and Earl’s Restaurant in Peddler’s Village, which recently changed its menu and concept to focus on local, farm-fresh ingredients. Price will be $45 per person, with proceeds benefiting the Heritage Conservancy, a land conservation organization here in Bucks County. It will be held at the historic Lindsay Farm in Warminster.

Here’s the run-down for the weekend. Check out our online calendar, Food Events in Bucks County for more details on any of the events below. Have a sweet, cool weekend.

Friday, July 17th:

• Linden Hill Farmers’ Market, 3:30 – 7:30 pm, Ottsville.
• Wine Concert Series @ Shady Brook Farm,  7 – 9 pm, Yardley. Weather permitting. Free admission. Jerry Watkins is the musical entertainment.
• Outdoor Summer Music Series @ Crossing Vineyards and Winery, 7 – 10 pm, Washington Crossing. Eric Mintel Quartet is the musical entertainment.
• Wine Tasting for Singles @ Crossing Vineyards and Winery, 7 – 9 pm, Washington Crossing.

Saturday, July 18th:

• Doylestown Farmers’ Market,  7 am – Noon, Doylestown.
• Indian Valley Farmers’ Market, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm, Telford.
• Plumsteadville Grange Farm Market, 9 am – 12 pm, Route 611 just north of Stump Road, Plumsteadville.
• Wrightstown Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Wrightstown. 

Sunday, July 19th:

• Breakfast @ Riegelsville Fire Company, 8 am – 12:30 pm, Riegelsville.
• Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Hellertown.
• Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Flemington.
• Sunday Funday: Butterfly Festival @ Shady Brook Farm, 12 – 4 pm, Yardley.
• Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration, 1 – 4 pm, Pennsbury Manor, Morrisville.
• Sangria Sundays @ Chaddsford Winery, 1 – 4 pm, Lahaska.

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Summertime, when the living is easy…

Finally! A good weekend forecast. Or should I not jinx it?

As usual, lots of good things happening this weekend. I think the Linden Hill Farmers’ Market, which just opened at the end of May, has had the most rainy days. So, please, go check them out, Fridays from 3:30 to 7:30 pm in Ottsville.

Crossing Vineyards and Winery is continuing their outdoor music series with the brass ensemble, Nassau Brass. General admission is $10 in advance, $15 at the gate. Wine and cheese, or a home-style buffet is available from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm ($25 per person + tax, includes V.I.P. reserved seating). Also, Sangria Sundays continues at the Chaddsford Winery and Tasting Room in Lahaska (Peddlers Village).

The Indian Valley Farmers’ Market  will be hosting the 2009 Field to Table Festival from 10 am to 3 pm in Telford. This year the festival will feature a “Berried” Treasure berry contest.  Bring your best Berry Creation to be judged the winner.

Check out our online calendar, Food Events in Bucks County for more details on any of the events below. Have a lovely weekend.

Friday, July 10th:

• Linden Hill Farmers’ Market, 3:30 – 7:30 pm, Ottsville.
• Spaghetti Dinner @ Delaware Valley Fire Co., 5:30 – 8 pm, Erwinna.
• Wine Concert Series @ Shady Brook Farm,  7 – 9 pm, Yardley. Weather permitting. Free admission. Idlewoodsmen is the musical entertainment.
• Outdoor Summer Music Series @ Crossing Vineyards and Winery, 7 – 10 pm, Washington Crossing. Nassau Brass is the musical entertainment.

Saturday, July 11th:

• Doylestown Farmers’ Market,  7 am – Noon, Doylestown
• Plumsteadville Grange Farm Market, 9 am – 12 pm, Route 611 just north of Stump Road, Plumsteadville.
• Wrightstown Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Wrightstown. 
• 2009 Field to Table Festival @ The Indian Valley Farmers’ Market, 10 am – 3 pm, Telford.
• Summer Festival @ Sand Castle Winery, 10 am – 6 pm, Erwinna.
• Lasagna Dinner @ Zion Lutheran Church, 4 – 7 pm, Zion Hill.

Sunday, July 12th:

• Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Hellertown.
• Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Flemington.
• Summer Festival @ Sand Castle Winery, 11 am – 6 pm, Erwinna.
• Sunday Funday: Corn Roast Festival @ Shady Brook Farm, 12 – 4 pm, Yardley.
• Sangria Sundays @ Chaddsford Winery, 1 – 4 pm, Lahaska.
• How Sweet It Is: Pairing Wine and Chocolate@ Crossing Vineyards and Winery, 2 – 4 pm, Washington Crossing.

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July 4th – National Barbecue Day?

Actually, no. It turns out that May is National Barbecue Month. I guess there was some other major event being celebrated on July 4th so they decided it wouldn’t be appropriate.

Not many major food events happening this weekend but that’s okay. It seems an American tradition to have cook-outs on July 4th with family and friends. Check out our online poll (to the right, on the sidebar) and vote on your favorite place to buy meat in Bucks County. For our veggie friends, stop by some of the great Bucks County farmers’ markets listed below for good stuff to grill.

We’ve included the Riverside Symphonia’s annual July 4th concert in our listings. Even though it’s not officially a food event, if you’ve ever been then you know there’s a lot of food going on. A friend once called it, “competitive picnic-ing.” The gates open at 6 pm and folks flood in with everything from the extravagant (candelabras and china) to the simple. The concert starts at 8 pm and fireworks follow. Try to get tickets ahead of time.

The Indian Valley Farmers’ Market begins its season this Saturday in Telford. July 11th they will be hosting the 2009 Field to Table Festival from 10 am to 3 pm. This year the festival will feature a “Berried” Treasure berry contest.  Bring your best Berry Creation to be judged the winner.

Check out our online calendar, Food Events in Bucks County for more details on any of the events below. Our best wishes for a happy and safe holiday weekend.

Friday, July 3rd:

• Doylestown Farmers’ Market, 7 am – Noon, Doylestown (this market is usually on Saturdays but is changed because of the holiday)
• Linden Hill Farmers’ Market, 3:30 – 7:30 pm, Ottsville.
• Wine Concert Series at Shady Brook Farm,  7 – 9 pm, Yardley. Weather permitting. Free admission. Little Big Thing is the musical entertainment.
• Southampton Days, 6 – 10 pm, Tamanend Park, Southampton.

Saturday, July 4th:

• Indian Valley Farmers’ Market, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm, Telford.
• Plumsteadville Grange Farm Market, 9 am – 12 pm, Route 611 just north of Stump Road, Plumsteadville.
• Wrightstown Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Wrightstown. 
• Southampton Days, 6 – 10 pm, Tamanend Park, Southampton.
• Riverside Symphonia’s “Concert Under the Stars,” 6 – 11 pm, Tinicum Park on River Road, Erwinna.

Sunday, July 5th:

• Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Hellertown.
• Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market, 9 am – 1 pm, Flemington.
• Sunday Funday: Herb Festival @ Shady Brook Farm, 12 – 4 pm, Yardley.
• Sangria Sundays at Chaddsford Winery, 1 – 4 pm, Lahaska.

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Impulse Turn #3: Pasqualina’s Italian Market & Deli

Bucks County Taste has moved! See this post on our new server.  

One Saturday this past May, we struck out with our friends, Sharon and Mark, to attend the 2nd Annual Breakfast on the Bridge in Perkasie, run by the Bucks County Covered Bridge Society.

One of the benefits of maintaining our calendar of Food Events in Bucks County is that I find all kinds of great stuff to go to. Case in point. Where else can you enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast (provided by Joseph’s Italian Market in Perkasie), sitting on a historic covered bridge, satisfied in both body and conscience? It was a lot of fun, as well as educational. Make sure to look for it next year.

On our way to Perkasie, we passed Pasqualina’s Italian Market and Deli, in Blooming Glen, and I made a mental note to waylay our little culinary party on the way home. It wasn’t difficult. Sharon, as our intrepid readers may remember from previous posts, doesn’t need her arm twisted to stop at an Italian market.

Pasqualina’s is a gem. From the moment you walk in, it sparkles and beckons, enticing you with sights, smells and tastes. Cheeses, pastas, meats, olive oils and vinegars, homemade sauces and meatballs, Italian and Mediterranean groceries, and fresh hot and cold sandwiches – all in one compact, clean and inviting space.

First let’s get the Blooming Glen thing over with. You’re probably saying to yourself, “Blooming Glen? Huh?” It’s actually not as remote as it sounds to all you folks in Central and Lower Bucks. Go up Route 313, past Dublin, to Route 113, turn left (west) and go two miles. Voila. You’re there. There’s also a number of interesting food places on that stretch of Route 113, including Blooming Glen Catering (Big Bob’s BBQ), Tussock Sedge Farm Beef, Bolton Farm Market and the Blooming Glen CSA Farm.

Patty and Brian Gianfelice opened the market almost four years ago. Patty’s a native of Bucks and the couple raised their family just down the road. The market was Patty’s dream, and she nurtures it like a good Italian mother. (“Pasqualina” is her Italian name.)

“This is like one of my children,” she explains. “My name is on this. It was the name of my grandmother whom I adored, the best cook, the sweetest person. It has a lot of family strings for me.” Patty even has her cell number on her business card so customers can call if they have a question or need help with one of her recipes. Brian, who’s been married to Patty for many years, raising children and grandchildren, has come to appreciate her in a new way. “I’ve learned how incredibly talented my wife is because this is a very difficult thing to do. “

Pasqualina’s has many delectable things, but let’s start with cheese since it’s my favorite, and their selection is deep and interesting (rivaling Wegmans). The market carries over 90 kinds of cheese – from Italian classics like asiago, parmigiano-reggiano, and mascarpone – to others from all over Europe. My newest favorite is Ravenno, a Dutch cheese with “the nutty, caramel flavor of parmesan yet the sweetness of gouda.” They’ve laid out small tasting stations throughout the store, with freshly cut pieces to try, and informational signs.

“We’ve cut over 8 1/2 tons of cheese,” says Brian, a bit surprised himself, including cracking more than one wheel of parmigiano-reggiano. It’s worth stopping by frequently since they always have something new, and Brian loves sharing and teaching about cheese.

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A Beautiful Bucks Weekend

There was a persistent brightness in the sky today. I think it’s called “sun.” And there is brightness in the forecast for this weekend, although with some clouds and occasional thunderstorms. Be not intimidated. Go forth, eat and drink, and enjoy the bounty of Bucks County.

Lots of stuff going on, more than we can possibly get to and continue to see friends, family and our little sailboat too. So be sure and write to us, or add comments to posts, to let us know where you’ve been eating in Bucks.

We plan to go to the Slow Food Picnic starting right after the Linden Hill Farmers’ Market on Friday evening. Maybe we’ll see you there. Saturday evening we are going to the Cafe Blue Moose, an organization of young chefs (kids) who prepare dinners and events a couple of times a month here in Bucks. Look for our post about it in the coming days.

The first segment in our video series of Jay and Wes Goddard making their delicious burgers at Basically Burgers in Doylestown will be posted soon. Look for…The Taco Burger.

We’ve posted our first online poll too. Check it out on the sidebar. With July 4th coming, the focus is on meat (apologies to our vegan and vegetarian friends), so we’re asking folks to vote on their favorite place to buy meat.

Since we’re coming into the holiday weekend, I’ve listed events through Thursday, July 2nd. Check out our online calendar, Food Events in Bucks County for more details on any of the events below.

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What’s Up, Dad?

Even more tedious than the constant rain is talking about the constant rain. So, with a typical summer forecast for this weekend – chance of thunderstorms – let’s move on.

Time to take Dad out for some fun this weekend – and food and wine. There are three venues doing wine-related events this weekend. On Friday night, both Crossing Vineyards in Washington Crossing and Shady Brook Farm in Yardley are pairing music and wine, while Chaddsford Winery is pampering Dads the whole weekend at its tasting room in Peddler’s Village.

Also in Peddlers Village, Earl’s (formerly Earl’s Prime) has changed its concept, incorporating locally-produced and -grown food into their new contemporary cuisine menu. On Sunday, Father’s Day, they’re offering Dads a complimentary brunch or dinner. What a deal! See their web site for the coupon and their new menu.

Some fun community events include the Joyful Noise Music Festival in Haycock with all proceeds going to the Quakertown Food Pantry, as well as two firehouse breakfasts – one in Riegelsville and one in Plumsteadville. Shady Brook Farm is also doing a Father’s Day BBQ on Sunday if Dad is not in the mood to clean the grill.

If you haven’t a chance to yet, be sure to watch our video of the Wrightstown Farmers’ Market, where you’ll hear vendors describing their products – then you can meet them in person on Saturday at the market, or at some of the other farmers’ markets throughout the county.

Check out our online calendar, Food Events in Bucks County for more details on any of the events below.

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