TIPS TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FARMERS’ MARKET SHOPPING

Photos and information about some of our favorite 

Mercer County area markets can be found HERE.)

It wasn’t that long ago that New Jersey’s farming industry was in danger of following drive-in movie theaters into extinction as suburban sprawl gobbled up farms at an alarming rate. Fortunately, federal, state and county officials had the foresight to pursue farmland preservation efforts that not only stemmed the loss of existing farms but offered new opportunities for those interested in organic and sustainable farming practices.

Metropolitan Seafood at the Stockton Farmers Market, Stockton, NJ

Community farmers’ markets, roadside farm stands as well as farms with stores on property can be found across Mercer County. From the year-round offerings at the sprawling Trenton Farmers Market in Trenton to the tiny roadside stands that dot the hills of Hopewell Township, opportunities to buy fresh, locally-grown and produced products are plentiful.

Whey fed, Nitrate free Pork and . . .

 Raw Milk Cheeses at Cherry Grove Farm Market,
Lawrenceville, NJ Check out their cheese making process HERE

Shopping locally has the added benefits of allowing us to discover new varieties of common items, to experience the full flavor of sugar filled fruits picked ripe for immediate consumption and to contribute to our environment by reducing our carbon footprint and supporting sustainability.  Following are a few tips to help you make the most of your trip to our local farms and markets. Additional photographs and a list of local markets can be found here.

Be Prepared 

Carry cash, many vendors do not accept checks or credit cards. Do bring along bags and containers to carry your purchases home; don’t bring your dog or other animals if visiting a farm. A cooler in the trunk will keep items fresh on hot days or when other errands may delay refrigerating purchases. 

Consider the Elements 

Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses and insect repellant are recommended basics. Proper footwear is a must, especially if you plan to spend some time in the “pick your own” farm fields. The sun may be shining on the day you visit a farm, but a heavy rain the day prior may provide for wet, messy grounds underfoot.

Watch the Calendar

Pick-up a harvest calendar. The NJ Department of Agriculture has an online guide at  http://www.state.nj.us/jerseyfresh/searches/availability.htm Many farms and markets produce their own versions of what they anticipate to harvest and when. Still, the best way to keep up with the harvest during the season is to simply ask the farmers and vendors what they anticipate bringing to market.

Highland Gourmet Market at Stockton Farmers Market

Shop for Value not Price

It is not uncommon during the height of their harvest to find conventional or organic fruits, vegetables and flowers priced at or below their supermarket equivalents.  However, that is not always the case. Remember that you are paying for the freshest, healthiest and best tasting products available; each purchase supports local farmers and contributes to a sustainable food system. To reduce your costs, try shopping shortly before closing time when some suppliers may slash prices. Consider buying meats in volume by ordering whole animals or ½ and ¼ shares. Ask friends with similar culinary interests to split the shares with you.

Learn the Labels   

Below are a few general terms you’ll encounter during shopping, but don’t be afraid to ask for more details. We’ve always found our local farmers and producers proud of the work they do and happy to answer questions about their farming practices.

Certified Organic Gravity Hill Farm at Stockton Farmers Market

Organic - according to the NJ Department of Agriculture, organic is a term referring to agricultural management procedures that “enhance the ecological balance of natural systems” and whose primary goal “is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people." Farms must meet certain criteria to gain state certification allowing them to advertise their products as Certified Organic.

Chickadee Creek Farm at Pennington Farmers Market

CSA – stands for Community Supported Agriculture. CSA members can purchase shares that allow them access to the farms’ harvests throughout the season. Mercer County has three CSAs: Honey Brook Farm in Pennington; Cherry Grove Farm in Lawrenceville; and, Naturally Grown in Pennington. To find out more about these and other CSAs nearby, visit www.localharvest.org/csa

Cherry Grove Farm, Lawrenceville, NJ

Grass Fed – refers to animals fed a diet of natural grasses only, not supplanted with grains or animal by-products. Natural grass-fed meats produced at farms such as Beechtree in Hopewell and Cherry Grove in Lawrence are often leaner than organic grain-fed meats found in supermarkets. For more details on the benefits of grass-fed farming and products, we recommend the website  www.eatwild.com. 

Jersey Fresh – started as a marketing plan in the 1980’s, this label identifies growers registered with the state’s Quality Grading Program and licensed to use the Jersey Fresh logo. A recent expansion of this concept allows food processors authorized by the same grading system to use the “Made with Jersey Fresh” label on their packaging.

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If you have a favorite farm or market you think we should visit, leave a comment with your recommendations.

(A version of this article was originally published in Mercer County Woman Newspaper)

HON SUSHI - A rare opportunity to enjoy traditional Korean cuisine in Mercer County



DOLSOT BIBIMBOP 돌솥비빔밥 (14.95) 

(bibimbop in hot stone bowl) 



Those of us living in central Jersey have to admit we are rather spoiled by the variety of dining options within easy commute. So much so, that it’s easy to forget that one segment of Asian cuisine is under-represented in our area: Korean. 

HARU MAKI (6.95) 

This Japanese Spring Roll was a tasty appetizer

I was recently invited to join several other food writers and bloggers for a tasting at Hon Sushi, a Korean and Japanese restaurant located in the Mercer Mall Shopping center. It was there, while enjoying the hospitality of owners John & Kim Lim and the company of fellow scribes, that I learned that there are only a handful of restaurants serving Korean fare in Mercer County. That may explain my inexperience and confessed lack of knowledge regarding Korean food. 

JOBCHAE 잡채 (15.95) 

(vermicelli noodle w/ assorted veggies & beef) 

Fortunately restaurant manger Tony Kay was on hand to explain some of the offerings. Such as the Dolsot Bibimbop in the video below, which finishes cooking while being stirred in the hot stone bowl serving bowl.

What I do know about Korean food is that it’s emphasis on vegetable and cooking techniques makes it one of the world’s healthier cuisines. According to Tony, what sets Hon Sushi apart from similar restaurants is its “consistency, authenticity and quality, fresh ingredients.” 

My favorite dish of the night: KALBI 갈비 (22.95)

(marinated & grilled beef ribs w/ garlic sauce) 

The restaurant makes it own Kimchi, the traditional spicy cabbage dish, which Tony and others at my table, claimed is often store bought for convenience. In addition to sampling several dishes, we were entertained with this dramatic presentation:

Beautifully designed with generously spaced wood grained tables and sleek lines, Hon Sushi is a perfect “date” restaurant. Open for just two years, it has established a loyal following, including a number of managers from nearby pharmaceutical companies Taiho and Otsuka. The owners are hoping to expand that base with activities such as this tasting. The consensus from our group was that we would definitely return.

All of our meals and beverages (non alcoholic) were complimentary. The menu prices range from moderate to slightly expensive. The few higher priced items that we tasted were generous enough portions for sharing.  The restaurant is BYOB and they will chill your wine or beer and warm your Sake. The restaurant will accommodate special restrictions such as  gluten free diets and, in my case, a shellfish allergy. 

"Bubble" Tea, made with tapioca, 
sweetbut delicious. 

Hon Sushi

3349 Brunswick Pike, just off Route 1 South

Lawrenceville, NJ 

609-269-5800

www.HOSUSHI.com

Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

Thanks go out to PR specialist Katie DeVito for arranging the event, to the Lims for hosting, and to the bloggers and foodies for their excellent company. An extra special thank you to my friends at The Blog that Ate New Jersey who recommended my invite to Katie. You can read her excellent version of the evening here.

I would love to read comments from those that have been there, or from Japanese and Korean food lovers.

Market Roost Fine Catering, Restaurant & Gift Gallery, Flemington, NJ: Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence

As enjoyable as discovering and writing about new cafes and restaurants may be, I find it even more satisfying to write about places and people that have established themselves as centers of excellence. By maintaining quality and innovation across the years, Market Roost Fine Catering, Restaurant & Gift Gallery in Flemington, NJ is just such an institution.

Co-owner and pastry chef Carol Todd displays her house-made croissants.

For thirty years, Carol and Norman Todd have produced elegant, delicious menus at their charming and eclectic storefront cafe and gift shop in Flemington, NJ.


Norman, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, blends traditional and classic cuisine with current trends to provide a menu with broad appeal. Carol uses her 25 years of experience as a pastry chef to keep the cases filled with some of the finest baked goods we've tasted: flaky croissants, dense and crumbly scones, cakes and pies of all flavors and possibly the best cupcake we've ever had. (See Note Below). 


It is not surprising that they have won accolades for their Sunday Brunch, including a 2007 listing in New Jersey Monthly as "Best Brunch in New Jersey."

Banana Rum Cupcake

The glow of the Market Roost's canopy promised an oasis of comfort on a recent rainy and chilly Friday night. We were not disappointed. A gift shop, walk-up counter with take-out entrees, salads, and baked goods as well as a seating area for dining-in, all share space to create the Market Roost. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, the seating area is transformed into fine-dining table service. 

Market Roost Cookies 

The retail displays and decor actually add to the charm of the casual setting. In fact, in between courses we surveyed some of the artisan jewelry and tableware for future purchases.

Field Grown Tasting Lettuce Assortment with fruits,

 honeyed walnuts, candied ginger &n Asian Vinaigrette

Chef Norman takes advantage of local purveyors as often as possible and takes care to use the finest ingredients to assemble his dishes.

The night we dined, Norwegian Salmon on a stick with Cippolini Onions and Lemon Dill Dip was a particular favorite. Cippolinis may be the perfect onion, and their sweetness matched the salmon wonderfully without the added bite of standard onions. Perfectly cooked filet mignon and crab cakes with generous lumps of crab were also well executed. 

Filet Mignon with chardonnay demi,
 caramelized onions & blue cheese

In addition to providing an excellent spot for late morning breakfasts, lunch, brunch, afternoon teas and weekend dinners, Market Roost is also the base of a thriving, full service catering operation for corporate and social events of all sizes.  The same care and attention that Carol and Norman bring to the cafe and gift shop are sure to provide memorable, well designed events.

Flemington, which has lost some of its better dining establishments, is fortunate to have The Market Roost maintaining its standards and remaining a destination for food lovers looking for casual and fine dining options. 

As for that cupcake. We believed that the Banana Rum Cupcake was so good that it deserved its own post. Carol has been kind enough to provide the recipe and we will be trying it and posting our results very soon.

The details:

Market Roost Fine Catering, Restaurant & Gift Gallery

65 Main Street

Flemington, NJ 08822

Closed Monday & Tuesday

Wednesday, 10:30 am -5 pm

Thursday & Friday, 10:30 am - 4 pm

Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm

Sunday Brunch, 9:30am - 2pm

Sunday full menu 2pm - 3:30pm

Dinner served Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, 5:30pm - 9pm

908-788-4949

Quick and Easy Strawberry Tiramisu

A great use of local, fresh strawberries that will
 soon be available for picking at our local farms.

With the Spring holiday and graduation season in full gear and the invitations for house parties increasing, many of us will be accepting invitations with this common closing comment: I'll bring dessert. 

If you don't bake very often you may be tempted (as I often am) to go for a store-bought solution. But you must agree, while store purchased goodies are certainly appreciated, there is something truly special and personal about home made creations. They are not just gifts of food, but of a person's time, and are as fun to give as to receive.

This Strawberry Tiramisu recipe is easy and pretty enough to make even a novice like me look like a pro. If you make this in a rectangular baking dish, we recommend presenting this in a slightly larger flat basket lined with colorful kale and garnished with long stemmed strawberries. For a more personal touch, make your own version of strawberry jam or compote.
(click "read more" for recipe and to continue reading this post)

PEACE VALLEY LAVENDER FARM – Bucks County, PA, provides the special ingredient in Grilled Salmon with Lavender and Honey Lavender Ice Cream

The perfectly named Peace Valley Lavender Farm

I was quite intrigued when my sister first told me about a farm in Doylestown, PA that grew and harvested lavender. Even with expectations high considering the farms name and my sister’s gushing description, I still had one of those “oh my” moments once we reached our destination. I can’t imagine a more appropriately named location than Peace Valley Lavender Farm.  

The farm is perched on a hill, with fields of blue-violet blossoms carpeting a view of a rolling countryside that includes Peace Valley Park and Lake Galena. 

During our visit Patti Lyons, who is co-owner with her husband George, explained that they harvest several varieties of lavender used for products made in the farm's workshop.  


A quaint and well appointed gift shop on the premises provides a selection of products for bath & body, as well as floral arrangements and home decor products. Gift baskets on display during our visit seemed like perfect mother’s day gifts. For more information regarding the farm and their wide selection of products, visit their website here.

For those, like us, interested in the culinary applications of lavender, the shop sells lavender infused honey (8 oz. $6), Organic Dark Chocolate Bar with lavender ($3) and organic culinary lavender (5oz $6). Recipe cards with a small packet of product attached, such as the one we used to make the cookies above, are available for those wanting to try a sample ($2). (click "read more" for recipes, photos and to continue reading this post)