I love good fish. But I don’t cook it that much, partially due to concern with how tricky fish can be to cook, and how easily it’s ruined, as compared to cooking other foods. And who wants to ruin something that’s somewhat expensive to buy? (more…)
Whether or not you eat meat, do yourself a favor and visit Green Hills Market at 5933 South Salina Street in Syracuse. That’s just a few blocks south of Route 173 and so worth the trip. It’s local grocery shopping at its best, for at least these two reasons: (more…)
I had just read Marco Pierre White’s autobiography, The Devil in the Kitchen, so I was very interested to find out about the notorious chef’s new TV show, Chopping Block. Despite its typical “one team get’s voted off the show” theme, at least it’s got the foodie angle, which is our weakness.
Each team was put in a restaurant space and had the responsibility of creating menus and re-decorating the spaces, which were somewhat shabby. Marco imparts his words of wisdom with a gravitas that wouldn’t be out of place in a top English actor. Yet, in some ways this may be a disadvantage. His tone is so serious and unremittingly grim that it’s tough to take after awhile. The inevitable meltdowns that occur in a high-pressure kitchen would go down much easier with a touch of humor. To me, the shenanigans that result under a restaurant’s high pressure environment are just insane, and could provide fertile ground for some laughs. Among chefs, practical jokes are almost compulsory, and in his book Marco describes taking a friend’s cellphone, using its camera to take a picture of his junk, making this photo the wallpaper on the phone, and quietly returning the phone. This particular prank couldn’t make it onto TV, but please, somebody tell a joke!
When Price Chopper in Syracuse stopped carrying a very tasty organic chicken, Coleman’s, and started marketing their “natural” chicken, which just isn’t as good, we were finally forced to do a bit of looking around the Regional Market for our protein needs. Last Saturday, smack dab in the middle of winter, we found all we needed, and here’s some of it:
This stuff is pretty local: Sausage and ground beef from Kelley Meats in Taberg, NY, chicken from Grass Land Farms in Ovid, NY. , and delicious yogurt from Meadow Creek Farm in Interlaken, NY. That puts these farms 49, 66 and 73 miles from us, respectively. We also bought eggs from a local farmer, but I don’t remember where their farm is. We’re hoping, actually, to get eggs for free from our daughter-in-law’s chickens out in Skaneateles Falls. 
A: Taberg B: Skaneateles Falls C: Ovid D: Interlaken
Do you know where your protein comes from?
When I can talk directly with the farmer selling me his or her product, I have a feeling I’m more likely to get safe food. It’s easier, I’m sure, to knowingly ship contaminated peanut butter (twelve times!), for example, when your customers are faceless companies, too.
Who do you want to buy your protein from?
Peanut Corporation of Amerca?
… or Cato, NY farmers Jamie and Maggie Edelstein?
See this Post-Standard article about these organic farmers.
I hope the choice is clear. Seeya at the market!
Regional Market: 2100 Park St, Syracuse, (315) 422-8647.
True, not really a food store, but offers tons of great food, much of it from local farmers.
Liehs and Steigerwald: 1857 Grant Blvd, Syracuse, (315) 474-2171
Far East & Asian Groceries: 924 N Townsend St, Syracuse, (315) 476-9630
Lombardi’s: 534 Butternut St, Syracuse, (315) 472-5900
Samir’s: 811 E Genesee St, Syracuse, (315) 422-1850
My garden progress:
