The Fork and The Road, LLC

Berries, Beach Plums and Dogs

Cape May / Hammonton / Uncategorized / Wildwood - 11 months ago - Mary

Since  hanging out in south Jersey for the last month or so, I’ve investigated some new foods and culinary spots.

Look for Hammonton, NJ on your blueberry container!

It’s blueberry season, and the best blueberries arrive out of the Hammonton area. Plump and sweet, they beat other blueberries by a mile. Difficult to locate some of the actual blueberry farms combined with the fact that I’m too lazy to do the “you pick” thing, leaves me with purchasing farm market berries, but they’re still completely wonderful. Check the box of blueberries at your market.  See if they’re grown in Hammonton.  Local raspberries are still at the farm markets, too.  A mix of berries, a few chopped white peaches and a sprinkling of Moscato wine.  Perfect summer dessert.

And then there’s the beach plum.  About the size of a quarter, these fruits, which grow only along coastal areas between Maine and Virginia can help to anchor the dunes as well as providing great eating and drinking in jams and wine.  The plants blosson in the spring and are ripe for picking in late summer.  There’s even a Cape May County Beach Plum Association, which helps to get the plums planted through the dunes in south Jersey and also promotes research into the fruit.   At the moment, Natali Vineyards is the only winery making beach plum wine in the country. I stopped by for a tasting, finding the flavor to be unique, fruity but not super sweet. I’m not sure it pairs with food well, but I think it would be great sipped after dinner on a hot night.

Bottling Beach Plum Wine at Natali Vineyards

Last but not least is Maui’s Dog House in North Wildwood.  Featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives on the Food Network a few years ago, this place has lots of personality. I had a Chicago dog and we shared the Hawaii Five O Fries. Good eatin’. They’re only open until 4 PM, so don’t stay on the beach until it’s too late for a dog.

My Chicago Dog

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Eat, Bike & Be Merry

Great Allegheny Passage / Laurel Highlands / Levi Deal Mansion / Meyersdale / Somerset / Somerset County - 11 months ago - Mary

My friend, Sara Petyk, runs a cool company called Your Active City that does walking and biking tours in the Pittsburgh area..  This fall, right in time for the brilliant gold, red and orange leaves, she’s conducting a fabulous bike tour of the Great Allegheny Passage, in Southwest PA.  From Octber 4 through 7, the small group of cyclists (you don’t have to be an athlete to do this trip) will pedal the easy bike path, make stops for treats such as wine tastings and gourmet picnics, and then spend three restful nights at the best B&Bs along the way.  I’ve been working with Sara on the food part of this tour, and let me tell you, it is going to be great.  The trip lasts 3 1/2 days, allows for the hard core bikers to be a bit more adventurous and there is van “support” for those who might need a break from biking.  If you do all of the biking, each day involves 20 to 30 miles, which should be about two to three hours per day.  The culinary part of the trip will introduce guests to local specialties, some of the area’s top wineries and some stunning dining settings.

It’s a perfect fall getaway. Just the right amount of exercise, a breath of clean mountain air, and wonderful food and wine.  I think it’s a great gift for an anniversary or birthday, too.

For more info, contact Sara at 412.303.0566 or at info@youractivcity.com or www.bike-the-gap.com or www.youractivecity.com.

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Subarashii Kudamono Asian Pear Wine Tasting

Pittsburgh - 12 months ago - Mary

Photo courtesy of Subarashii Kudamono.

This past spring, I had the pleasure of meeting Holly Harter, who works for Subarashii Kudamono, a company based in eastern PA that grows Asian Pears and also makes delicious Asian Pear wine and spirits.  Holly is an expert on the subject of Asian Pears and on  Pennsylvania wineries, and I really enjoyed chatting with her.  This week, you can meet Holly and get a sample of luscious wines by stopping into a few local  Wine & Spirits Premium Collection Stores!

The dates & locations include:

Thursday June 9th – 2 PM to 4 PM – 521 Beaver Street,  Sewickley PA

Friday June 10th – 2 PM to 4 PM – Village Square Mall – 5000 Oxford Dr, Bethel Park, PA

Saturday June 11th – Noon to 2 PM – The Perry Shops – 7920 Perry Hwy, Pittsburgh, PA

Saturday June 11th – 4 PM to 6 PM -  Bill Green Shopping Center – 10 Clarion Rd, Pittsburgh, PA

Sunday June 12th – 2 PM to 4 PM – Cranberry Mall – 20111 Route 19, Cranberry, PA

Samples of Subarashii Kudamono dried Asian Pears, gourmet Asian Pear dipping spreads as well as several selections of hand-crafted, artisan cheeses from Eastern Pennsylvania will also be available.  If you’ve never tried Asian Pears, this event is a “must.”   More information about Subarashii Kudamono Asian Pears or  their award winning wines can be found at www.wonderfulfruit.com and at www.winesofsubarashii.com.

The Dessert Wine took home a Silver Medal at the recent 2011 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, the Asian Pear Wine took home a Bronze Medal, and the Asian Pear Eau de Vie (clear, unaged brandy) also took home a Silver Medal in the same competition.

The wine is great with BBQ,  chicken salad,  hot dogs,  grilled salmon steaks, or most anything off the grill.  It’s refreshing and different, and perfect for summer.    Check out the websites for  recipes using  their locally made, uniquely flavorful products. And please stop by and say hello to Holly this week.

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My Favorite Summer Reads

Pittsburgh / Uncategorized - 12 months ago - Mary

I’ve been taking a few weeks off, just hanging around at the Jersey shore and enjoying the down time.  Most people’s idea of a beach read is a steamy romance novel or a spine-tingling mystery. Not me.  My summer book bag is filled with cookbooks, bound volumes of culinary history and books about things that I will never, ever prepare ( but have great photos.)  Let me give you a few of my current favorites.

Storied Dishes:  What Our Family Recipes Tell Us About Who We Are and Where We’ve Been, Linda Murray Berzok, editor (Praeger, 2011) This book is filled with stories about how we keep memories alive through recipes.  I know, for me, the handwritten recipes from my grandmother and my husband’s grandmother tell me so much more than just how to prepare a certain dish.  Personal stories behind cherished recipes make this book a treasure for me.

Cake Pops:  Tips, Tricks, and Recipes for More Than 40 Irrestible Mini Treats, by Bakerella (Chronicle, 2010) I am positive I will never make any of these adorable treats, but it’s such a fun book. If you have a baker and fondant fan in the family, do take a look at this colorful book.

Recipes for Parties by Michael Levan and Nancy Parker (Rizzoli, 2011)  Simple, yet stylish recipes for every occasion. Try the avocado frosting ( yes, avocado ) for lemon cupcakes.  Don’t let the green shade scare you off.

The Vintner’s Apprentice by Eric Miller (Quarry Books, 2011)  Learn all about winemaking from Eric Miller, owner of Chaddsford Winery in eastern PA.  A beautiful book, even if you never ever plan on making wine yourself.

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