Special Treats

We’re picking favorites today—these are some particularly good things we’ve come across recently.

GREENS MIX FROM PLANE MEADOW FARM

Pretty easily our favorite greens mix—a lot of fun frilly stuff you don’t usually get, and plenty of peppery spicy things. Our resident greens expert thinks it contains: Ruby Streaks, Scarlet Frills, Golden Frills, green and purple mizuna, red mustard, and some type of tatsoi or pak choi. You can find Plane Meadow Greens (grown in Tivoli) At Montgomery Place Orchards Farm Market during the warm season.

GARLIC SCAPE PESTO FROM MONTGOMERY PLACE ORCHARDS FARM MARKET

ANYTHING THAT COMES FROM THE KITCHEN AT MONTGOMERY PLACE ORCHARDS FARM MARKET IS HEAVEN, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. THIS GARLIC SCAPE PESTO MAKES EVERYTHING MORE EXCITING. THE KITCHEN ALSO MAKES GREAT PICKLES, SALSA, AND MUCH MORE.

SPOTTED RECENTLY AT THE FARM MARKET: YOUNG SUMMER SQUASH WITH THE BLOSSOMS ATTACHED, AND FRESH STRAWBERRY JAM FROM THE KITCHEN.

GARLIC SCAPE & HERB
CREAM CHEESE AT
RHINEBECK BAGELS

SOMETIMES WE CAN BE FOUND AT RHINEBECK BAGELS THREE DAYS IN A ROW, WHICH IS NOT TRUE FOR ANY OTHER BREAKFAST SPOT. OWNER JEREMY MAKES SPECIAL CREAM CHEESES THAT ARE SO GOOD! WE LOVED THE BLACK GARLIC A FEW WEEKS AGO, BUT THE GARLIC SCAPE AND FRESH HERB IS OUR RECENT FAVORITE—MADE WITH SCAPES AND HERBS FROM JEREMY’S GARDEN. MOST OF THESE SPECIAL FLAVORS ARE IN LIMITED SUPPLY. THE ONLINE MENU IS UPDATED DAILY WITH SPECIALS.

MEI’S DUMPLINGS AT RHINEBECK FARMERS’ MARKET

RHINEBECK FARMERS’ MARKET IS WORTH ATTENDING FOR MANY REASONS—BUT VISITING MEI’S DUMPLING STAND IS A PARTICULARLY GOOD ONE. BASED IN COPAKE, MEI’S DUMPLINGS DOES POP-UPS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND SELLS OUT QUICKLY. WE WERE VERY HAPPY ONCE TO FIND A MEI’S DUMPLINGS AND GRIMALDI BEEF COLLABORATION—GRIMALDI IS OFF THE TOP SECRET FOLDER MAP BUT IT’S A FARM IN GHENT WITH A GREAT LITTLE FARM STORE. IF YOU VISIT, BUY MORE THAN ONE CONTAINER OF PESTO OR YOU’LL WISH YOU HAD!

STRAWBERRIES FROM
MEAD ORCHARDS

IT’S PEAK STRAWBERRY SEASON! WE BOUGHT SOME FROM MEAD ORCHARDS THAT WERE UNFORGETTABLY GOOD—ALMOST NO WHITE CENTER SOMEHOW AND A VERY STRONG SWEET TASTE. HARD TO DESCRIBE BUT THESE ALMOST HAD A FAKE/CANDY GRAPE FLAVOR! REMINDED US ABOUT SOME THINGS WE LEARNED ABOUT STRAWBERRY FLAVOR WHILE PUTTING TOGETHER STRAWBERRY O’CLOCK, OUR STRAWBERRY SEASON REPORT.

“GOLDBURGER” (VEGGIE) AT WEST TAGHKANIC DINER

WE STOPPED BY WEST TAGHKANIC DINER LAST WEEK FOR THEIR NEW MONDAY NIGHT DINNER AND ORDERED BOTH BURGERS—A SMASH BURGER STYLE OPTION AND THIS VEGGIE BURGER, WHICH ENDED UP BEING THE BETTER CHOICE. WE’RE TOLD A PASTRY CHEF IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING THE PATTY, WHICH MAKES SENSE TO US. IT’S CRISPY AND DELICIOUS—AND WE THINK MOST VEGGIE BURGERS TASTE LIKE AN OLD BOOT.

SUMMER’S MOVING RIGHT ALONG. SNACKING HEAVILY ON HOT DAYS BUT STILL EATING SANDWICHES TOO.

FUN FLAVOR POPCORN

POPCORN IS ONE OF OUR CONSTANT SNACKS. WE RECENTLY PICKED UP THE TWO NEW FLAVORS OF BJORNQORN—A POPCORN COMPANY STARTED AT BARD!—AND THEY’RE BOTH VERY GOOD. THE MAPLE FLAVOR IS NICE AND SALTY, NOT LIKE KETTLE CORN—AND “EARTH” IS ARGUABLY THE NEW BEST BJORNQORN FLAVOR: NUTRITIONAL YEAST AND BLACK TRUFFLE, PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH URBANI TARTUFI. THINKING ABOUT ORDERING A CASE OF THIS ONE. BUY AT MCENROE ORGANIC FARM MARKET, TIVOLI GENERAL, BIG ROCK FARM MARKET, AND ONLINE.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT POPCORN DISCOVERY IS POP-LITO, A NUTRITIONAL YEAST AND SMOKY PAPRIKA POPCORN MADE BY CHARLITO’S COCINA, A SMALL PRODUCER OF CURED MEATS. POP-LITO INCORPORATES THE SAME PIMENTÓN DE LA VERA THE COMPANY USES TO MAKE THEIR CHORIZO SECO. FIND IT AT OTTO’S MARKET IN GERMANTOWN (WHERE YOU CAN ALSO GET A GOOD SANDWICH) AND ONLINE.

DONUT PEACHES

GET THEM WHILE YOU CAN! THEY DISAPPEAR IN THE MARKETS AND IN THE HOUSE! LESS ACIDIC THAN YOUR AVERAGE PEACH WITH A TINY PIT, THEY ARE OFTEN DESCRIBED AS HAVING A FAINT ALMOND FLAVOR. WE’VE FOUND GOOD ONES AT BIG ROCK FARM MARKET, MONTGOMERY PLACE ORCHARDS FARM MARKET, AND MARONA’S.

PORK & RABE SANDWICH AT ROSSI & SONS

ROASTED PORK, BROCCOLI RABE, PROVOLONE, MOZZARELLA, GARLIC, AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO VINAIGRETTE—BUT SWAP THE SUN-DRIED TOMATO VINAIGRETTE FOR THEIR HERB AIOLI! THIS IS A SINISTER SANDWICH THAT WILL RUIN YOU FOR OTHER SANDWICHES. ROSSI’S & SONS IS AN OLD INSTITUTION OF GOOD SANDWICH-MAKING, AND JUST OPENED A NEW LOCATION AT EASTDALE VILLAGE—THE ORIGINAL DELI IS ON CLOVER STREET. PICK UP SOME OLIVES WHILE YOU’RE THERE: THEY’RE GOOD, FRESH ONES!

HOT STUFF

WE LIKE IT (ALMOST EVERYTHING) SPICY! THAT MEANS HAVING SOME TOOLS ON HAND TO INCREASE SPICINESS LEVELS AS NEEDED. WE’LL TRY ANY PRODUCT IN THIS CATEGORY ONCE SO THERE ARE A LOT OF SPICERS (TECHNICAL TERM) HANGING AROUND, BUT THESE ARE THE ONES WE REGULARLY USE:

HOT CRISPY OIL – EXTRA HOT — OLIVE OIL, GARLIC, SHALLOTS, AND CHILI PEPPERS. BUY AT SLOW FOX FARM STORE, BIG ROCK FARM MARKET AND ONLINE.

MOMOFUKU CHILI CRUNCH — GRAPESEED OIL, CHILI PEPPERS, ONIONS, GARLIC, SHALLOTS SESAME SEEDS, MUSHROOM POWDER, AND SEAWEED. BUY AT TIVOLI GENERAL AND ONLINE.

POOR DEVIL PEPPER CO. ZERO WASTE CHILI FLAKES — FERMENTED CHILI FLAKES LEFT OVER FROM HOT SAUCE PRODUCTION. BUY AT MCENROE ORGANIC FARM MARKET, BIG ROCK FARM MARKET, MONTGOMERY PLACE ORCHARDS FARM MARKET, AND ONLINE.

LABNE ANYTHING FROM FORTUNES ICE CREAM

IT’S PRETTY HARD TO GET IT WRONG AT FORTUNES ICE CREAM, BUT LABNE ANYTHING IS A SAFE BET. LABNE MULBERRY, LABNE APRICOT, LABNE SOUR CHERRY, LABNE QUINCE—YOU GET THE IDEA. YOGURT AND FRUIT, IMPROVED.

FORTUNES SOURCES INGREDIENTS FROM LOCAL FARMS AND TAKES A LOT OF FUN RISKS WITH FLAVORS. A FEW RECENT CREATIONS: CORN BLUEBERRY, MATCHA STRACCIA (MATCHA + WHITE CHOCOLATE SWIRL), CARAMEL POPCORN, AND SPRUCE TIPS.

ENGLISH MUFFINS FROM GREAT CAPE BAKING COMPANY

AN ENGLISH MUFFIN IS NOT ALWAYS A THRILL. SOMETIMES IT IS JUST A LITTLE CRUST OF A THING. WE’D ARGUE THOMAS’ BEST PRODUCT IS NOT THEIR ENGLISH MUFFINS—IT’S THEIR CORN TOAST-R-CAKES. THOMAS ASIDE, WE HAVE FOUND A TRULY GREAT LOCAL ENGLISH MUFFIN.

THE GREAT CAPE BAKING COMPANY MAKES THICK, FLUFFY ENGLISH MUFFINS THAT ARE SORT OF BISCUIT-LIKE BUT STILL DISTINCTLY ENGLISH MUFFINS. GREAT SPLIT AND TOASTED WITH BUTTER, JAM OR OUR FUNNY FAVORITE, PESTO, THEY’RE ALSO A PERFECT VEHICLE FOR EGG YOLK AT BREAKFAST.

THE MCENROE FARM BURGER AT KING’S HIGHWAY CIDER SHACK

WORKING ON THE FULL REGIONAL BURGER REPORT NOW BUT HAD TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS ONE IN ADVANCE. KING’S HIGHWAY CIDER SHACK‘S FARM BURGER IS A SMASH BURGER WITH MELTED AMERICAN, LETTUCE, TOMATO, ONION, PICKLES, AND FARM SAUCE ON A POTATO BUN. IF YOU LIKE FRIES, GET THE “FRIES” HERE—THESE ARE NOT YOUR AVERAGE FRENCH FRY, MORE LIKE A FANCY POTATO THING YOU’D SEE IN A NICE RESTAURANT. IF YOU PARTAKE IN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, TREAT YOURSELF TO A FROZEN CIDER SOMETHING OR OTHER. THESE ARE NOT TOO SWEET IN THE WAY YOU MIGHT FEAR; THEY ARE PERFECT.