Chus On Chow

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:

1. Their  “individual specials created just for you based on your purchasing habits.” It’s true! You know that every time you use one of those savings cards at the supermarkets, they’re tracking what you buy. Why not let that knowledge work especially for you? When you swipe your card at one of the kiosks in the store, it prints out a set of specials that reflect your own tastes, based on what you’ve purchased there in the past. The more you use it, the more accurately the specials reflect what you’re likely to enjoy.

2. Mike Sweetman, the meat manager. Yes, you want to talk to him about any meat purchase you’re about to make. Why? Because Mike is really a New York City chef who prefers fresh air, so here he is, just waiting to discuss tonight’s dinner with you. Want to do a braise? Ask him what he’d suggest you purchase. Thinking of grilling? He’ll have ideas for you that go beyond pointing to the meat case. In the  mood for some entertainment? Believe me, Mike is entertaining. All this, and more, at Green Hills.

Mike Sweetman made this stuffed flank steak just for you

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!

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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