Terroir Terror 2: Overcoming My Fear of Local Food with a Trip to Joe's Brook Farm
/
A Photo Journey
From Fear to Feast
I’d driven by the sign a hundred times but never had the nerve to go looking for the farm.
Finally, with my courageous wingmom, we swung a right off Route 5 and headed up the winding road beside lovely Joe’s Brook.
Here’s what we found!
And here’s what we bought for about $40: Salad greens, kale, melon, scallions, tomatoes, summer squash, artesano ice cream, and Houde family farm beef
Here’s the deliciousness we accomplished with our bounty: Kale and Walnut Pesto, Marjoram Squash Bisque, Quick Cucumber and Onion Pickles, Scallion Vinaigrette, Tomatoes and basil salad…and deep chocolate Ice cream and melon for dessert
Wonderfully tender and tasty Houde family farm beef tenderloin.
Crispy, tart Salad Greens with scallion vinaigrette.
Sweet succulent tomatoes that taste the way I remember tomatoes tasting, with basil, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sea salt.
The perfect mix of crispy, tangly, sweet, and sour: Quick cucumber and onion pickles.
The melon was perfectly ripe, juicy, and sweet. The artesano deep chocolate ice cream lived up to its name with intense creaminess and flavor.
In conclusion: Terroir Tastes Good. The most important thing to say here is that IT WAS DELICIOUS. All of it, insanely good. Food the way you think it’s supposed to taste, or you remember it tasting, but rarely does if you’re like me and shop primarily from big chain grocery stores. Overcoming my fears of unknown country roads and intruding on other people’s property was so worth it. It was the best lunch I’ve had since dining in countries where quality food is still cultural priority (like France), for less money than it would cost the three of us to eat sandwiches and chips in Philly. Mom put out placemats and picked some wild flowers and it was a real eating experience, the kind you read about in books but are usually too busy or distracted to actually enact--or is that just me? The whole experience was a celebration of the farmers, the quixotic weather, and the miraculous soil that made this insanely delicious nourishment possible.
Full disclosure: it took me all morning to prepare the meal. This wasn’t a problem because I enjoy cooking (especially with a tasty glass of chef juice and supportive shoes ). But don’t let this scare you off! Sautee some squash and/or greens, poach chicken breast (or fry some tofu), and have it all on a bed of salad greens with your favorite store-bought or homemade dressing. If you don’t believe that it can be easy, let me know and I’ll do another blog on Quick Meals from the Farm-stand.
Resources and Recipes:
Street Smart Nutrition’s Quick Pickled Cucumbers and Onions
Martha Stewart’s Scallion Vinaigrette
Marjoram Squash Bisque: The Farmer’s Market Guide, by Jennifer Loustau
Kale and Walnut Pesto, from The Farmer’s Market Guide, by Jennifer Loustau
1-2 bunches of kale or other leafy greens
½ c walnuts
½ fresh lemon--juice and zest
1 large clove garlic, peeled and crushed
½ c Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper
Cayenne pepper
Blanche greens in boiling water for 5 minutes until tender.
Combine all ingredients in food processor and pulse until medium-fine in texture.
Serve with bread and goat cheese. Or on almond crackers with Quick Pickled Cucumbers and Onions, like we did!