The bad news is the event on October 24th is already sold out. The good news is they’ve added a second date on Sunday, November 21, Here are the details:

Bobolink “Grand Rounds” Farm Tour and Pig Roast
Sunday Nov 21, 10 AM-2 PM

Please join us for a special expert-led tour of Bobolink’s fields, woods, and ravines, and see how nature and agriculture can thrive together.

Setting out at 10 AM from the farmstead, we’ll hike up an old cow path, along the edge of Bobolink’s Middle Canyon, one of three riparian ravines which drain the farm’s 184 acres.

We’ll then traverse the open pastures and woodlands, where Bobolink’s 120 cows, seven (um, better make that six) pigs and small flock of chickens are thriving in a 100% pasture ecosystem.

The walk will be led by Bobolink’s Jonathan White, along with his grazing mentor, Bryan Petrucci, and a local naturalist from the Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance. We will explain the interrelationhips of the pasture plants, trees, birds, wildlife, livestock and humans in the extended Bobolink community.

After a brisk walk in bright, crisp autumn air, we’ll tour the milking parlor, creamery and bakery, and then sit down to a sumptuous farm lunch of bread, cheese, a roast Bobolink whey-fed pig, duck charcuterie from HVFG, and other goodies from local farms and artisans.

The pig will be roasted in a Caja China, the Cuban “chinese box” made famous by our good friend, chef Doug Rodriquez (Alma de Cuba, Phila), who sends his best wishes (and his pig-roast recipe!)

After lunch, we’ll be enjoying some really good coffee, compliments of my brother: Bruce is to coffee what I am to cheese. If you are in the DC area, you can try his coffee at his Silk Road Cafe, in the lobby of the Mandarin Oriental hotel.

To book a place on the “Grand Rounds” November 21st farm tour and pig roast, click here. If they’ve sold out, not to worry. Go for one of their weekend farm tours. It’s fascinating, fun and delicious.

If you love cheese – and I mean really good cheese – you must try some from the Bobolink Dairy Farm. Jonathan and Nina White recently moved their farm – cows, equipment, the whole shebang – from Vernon to Milford, New Jersey (read more about how this all happened at Artisan Cheesemakers and Land Trust collaborate to preserve historic farm). They make aged, earthy, rich, complex cheeses out of raw milk from grass-fed, pastured cows. They also make wonderful, crunchy artisanal bread, baked in an earthen oven (still under construction at the new farm).

The move to Milford happened just this summer and the Whites have been slowly ramping back up to normal, including selling at farmers’ markets from New York City to nearby Flemington, at the Hunterdon Land Trust’s Farmers’ Market at Dvoor Farm on Thursday afternoons and Sunday mornings. But now you can visit the farm too! So here’s my food adventure suggestion. I hope we can do it this weekend:

1. Breakfast at the Lovin’ Oven in Frenchtown. See some photos I posted from my last visit. Yum.
2. Off to Bobolink Dairy Farm in nearby Milford to see the new farm and buy some cheese. The farm tour takes you through the milking parlor, creamery, bakery, cheese cave, and a hike up the hill to see the cows and the beautiful land. A full tour takes about an hour, plus cheese tasting. And, there’s more…
3. At the end of the tour the Whites give a coupon for a discount on a growler of ale at the local Milford brewery pub, The Ship Inn, serving authentic British ales, including a Farmhouse Ale inspired by Bobolink cheeses. The Whites say the food at the Ship Inn is “decidedly unauthentic for a British pub, insofar as it it excellent. [Their] burgers are made from 100% grassfed cows of my neighbor Harry Swift, from whom we got our little piggies. Chef Lon’s specials are also a treat, as is the fish and chips, which is served with the best mushy peas this side of the Mersey.” Sounds good to me! [Note: on the Ship Inn's website they list other fun things to do nearby.]
4. If we have the energy and time on the way home, we may stop by Frenchtown for their annual Riverfest. This year’s theme is Mardi Gras. The festivities begin at noon and go until 6 pm.
5. Or…stop by to watch the polo matches on the Pennsylvania side of the river at Tinicum Park. The polo takes place every Saturday from May 15 to October 9th from 2 – 4 pm. Admission is $5 per carload. You can park at the sidelines of the polo field and have a tailgate picnic or sit in the shade of the big striped tent for members of the public. See the Tinicum Park Polo Club website for more info.

I could go on, but I know we’ll have to get home at some point to feed the dogs and start cocktail hour.

Here are directions and a map for this little trip.
[Note: this may not open in some versions of IExplorer. Sorry.]
View Larger Map

Related posts:

1. Bucks Food Calendar: September 2, 2010
2. Help the garden grow
3. Labor Day in Bucks County

Slow Food Bucks County and Dish Catering of Frenchtown, NJ, are hosting a benefit on Friday, June 25th for the Neshaminy Manor Long Term Care Facility where a therapy garden is being sown this summer. A vegetable garden is part of the plan and will be maintained by the residents as part of a horticulture therapy program. The harvest will be served in the dining halls.

The benefit was the idea Slow Food Bucks County member Amy Popkin of Dish Catering. Ordinarily Slow Food does not ask for food donations from local farmers because their events are about raising awareness and helping to sustain local farming. But since this is for a community project, they have asked some farmers to help in donating food to make the donation portion larger and boy have they ever come to the table!

Local food producers contributing include: Milk House Farm Market, Blue Moon Acres, Ducky Life Tea and Bobolink Farm.  The event will include a local beer and wine reception, but bring your own bottle for dinner.

Here’s the delicious menu, conceived and prepared by Dish Catering:

Appetizer Reception
Cheese and Artisan Bread Table provided by Bobolink Farm
Dish Catering’s Own Cuban Pork Sandwiches made to order served with Grilled Red Onion and Garlic Aioli

First Course 
Blue Moon Farm Baby Lettuces with Orange Slices and Fennel in a Dijon vinaigrette

Main Course
Bedminster Farm Raised Bison Braised in Local Red Wine, or,
Portabello Napolean with Classic Corn Spoon Bread Pudding
Grilled Farm Vegetables from The Milk House Farm Market
Brandied Cream Mushrooms

Dessert
Fresh Berries and Whipped Cream and Mini Crème Brulees
Ducky Life Tea and Coffee Service

The dinner will be held at the Tinicum Barn in Tinicum Park in Erwinna on River Road, Friday, June 25th at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $80 per person. Purchase tickets online at Brown Paper Tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com.

UPDATE: Sorry. Due to low ticket sales this event was cancelled. We’ll have to find another way to help out this great project. Anyone in a garden club?

Related posts:

1. Food adventures: Cheese and ale
2. Welcome Stockton Market!

First, let’s get the whole price thing out of the way. Most people I know (“locals”) have avoided Earl’s for the last few years due to a rather expensive menu and bar. Good, interesting food but…

So if that’s been keeping you away, it’s safe to come back. Both the menu and the price point have changed – the former toward an all-day, “family-friendly” yet still sophisticated selection, and the latter downward, to a reasonably priced and varied choice of items (tapas, small dishes, salads, sandwiches and entrees).

I’m not going to do a traditional restaurant review of the food. As we’ve mentioned, we don’t see ourselves as critics. That said, we have eaten our share of good food (!) and we enjoyed the samples of the new menu served at the preview party. It was an interesting variety of tastes, flavors and influences, fresh, and beautifully presented [see the photos]. And, need I say again, at a reasonable price for the ingredients, preparation and service.

Of most interest to me is the local food connection that Earl’s – now called Earl’s Bucks County – is aiming for. General Manager David Zukerman is focused on bringing in local ingredients and doing great things with them.

 And he’s done his homework. David has spent the last six months or so visiting local farm markets in Bucks and nearby, talking with food producers, meeting vendors and tasting. From my knowledge of local food sources, and from chatting with David last night, he’s obviously gotten around. He’s already bringing in some of these products and with a menu that will change with the seasons, plans to bring in more when the growing season starts. For example, you’ll see on the menu right now a cheese plate with local cheeses from Valley Shepherd Creamery, Cherry Grove Farm and Bobolink Dairy Farm, and a Speck Ham dish with apple marmalade made from Solebury Orchard apples. One of the entrees is an olive-brined chicken from Bolton Farms. You’ll also see Blue Moon Acres greens popping up here and there.

These, you might say, are the “slam-dunks.” Kind of easy local sources to go with. But it is February, after all. There’s not a lot growing around here. It will be interesting to see how the menu continues to evolve as the seasons change. David says he is still working on his beef sources, although his fish purveyor is sending him only sustainable seafood. There are also plans to grow a restaurant garden on the property and serve guests at a “Chef’s Table” al fresco.

The local/organic/sustainable approach doesn’t stop at the food. Earl’s wine list has been revamped to include some organic, sustainably grown wines and some local wines. A new feature will be a “Local Pour” – a glass of local Bucks County or Pennsylvania wine, always available, and starting with some of Chaddsford Winery’s best. And if you’re watching your budget, come to Earl’s on a Tuesday night with your own bottle. They’ll be happy to open it with no corkage fee, and will also offer 25% off wine on the restaurant’s list. They are even offering some organic alcohol at the bar – 360 Vodka  - and organic tequila and gin (who knew?).

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the service and ambiance at Earl’s. During the three weeks the restaurant was closed for renovations, the staff – many of them long-time employees – received training in the new menu, seeing how the food was prepared and getting to taste everything. They’re happy to describe any dish, and they do it with relish (no pun intended). In fact, in addition to a warm, friendly atmosphere, there is a palpable excitement among the staff – like they can’t wait to open the new Earl’s and start sharing the good stuff.

Earl’s Bucks County
2400 Street Road
New Hope PA 18938
215.794.4020
Open Tuesdays – Saturdays, 11:30 am – 10 pm
Sundays, 11:30 am to 8 pm

Look for Bucks County Taste on Facebook and Twitter!

Related posts:

1. Getting local food on the local table
2. Tidbit: Earl’s Bucks County starts a garden
3. Earl’s goes into hibernation…

There’s a new market in town!

The Stockton Market happens every weekend and includes many of the vendors you’ve come to know and love at area farmers’ markets. The difference? A cozy indoor venue.

As soon as we walked in last Sunday, from a sunny but cold day, The Coffee Scoop’s coffee urns welcomed us with their warmth and lovely smell (good placement!). The market is mostly food vendors, with crafts, gifts and other products mixed in. Fresh baked goods, artisanal cheeses, free-range, pastured meats, fresh fish, vegetables, coffee, eggs and even ice cream greeted us as we wound our way through the space.

The market began at the end of last November and is going strong, adding vendors and with talk of expanding into another room, says Peter Errico, who owns the space (formerly Errico’s Market) and Riverbank Arts gallery right next door [Note: Riverbank Arts will be closing soon]. As we chatted with the vendors, they were pleased with the traffic and excited about offering their products in an area not as well served by fresh, local food. Dawn McBeth, owner of Ambrosia (great baked goods), oversees the market [see her contact info below].

Here’s a list of the vendors. [Note: See the market's website for all of the current vendors.] The market is open every Friday (3 – 7 pm), Saturday (9 am – 4 pm) and Sunday (10 am – 4 pm). This list of vendors is subject to change.

Stockton Farmers’ Market
19 Bridge Street
Stockton, NJ 08559
stocktonfarmmarket.com

Ambrosia
Fresh seasonal pies, quiche, Alsatian onion tart, croissants, brioche, pate, and other yummies. Based in Stockton, NJ. Contact at 609.610.3532 or email at mcbethdawn@yahoo.com

Bucks County Cookie Company
Cookies, brownies, blondies, scones and more. Based in Blooming Glen, PA. Contact them at 267.372.2149 or www.buckscountycookie.com.

Cardamom and Curry
Exceptional, hand-blended spiced teas. Find out more at their website, http://shop.cardamomandcurry.com/main.sc

Chettie’s Exotic Mushrooms
Crimini, PomPom, Beech, Maitake, Shiitake and Oyster mushrooms. Contact chetterbob23@yahoo.com or 609.610.4043.

The Coffee Scoop
Certified, Fair Trade, organic, shade grown and/or Rainforest Alliance-certified. Based in Pipersville, PA. Look them up at www.freshcoffeescoop.com, email at warren@freshcoffeescoop.com or phone at 215.766.7918.

Crossroads Bake Shop
Fresh, artisanal baked goods and pastries from this famous Doylestown bakery. Find them online at www.crossroadsbakeshop.com or on Facebook.

Flint Hill Farm
Goat and cow milk artisan cheeses, pasteurized yogurt, and fresh cream butter. Based in Coopersburg, PA. Please place orders in advance. Contact them at 610-838-2928 or www.flinthill-farm.org.

Half Pint Kitchen
Gourmet, super premium ice cream, sorbet and gelato, made right at the Stockton Market by Robin Damstra and Jim Salant. Keep up with this week’s flavors on their Facebook page or website.

Highland Co. Gourmet Market
Local raised Highland beef, baked goods, prepared foods (and Valley Shepherd Creamery cheeses on Saturdays). Based outside of Stockton, NJ. Reach them at 908.996.3362 or www.highlandmarket.com.

Iannelli’s Bakery
Italian cannolis, tomato pies, sauce and calzone. Based in Philadelphia, contact them at 215.468.0720 or email at casonova992@verizon.net.

Maddalena’s Catering and Cheesecakes
Cheesecakes, pies, full-service catering. Based in Ringoes, NJ. Contact them at 609.466.7510 or www.maddalenascatering.com.

Metropolitan Seafood
Fresh seafood and fish, including own smoked fish. Based in Clinton, NJ. Reach them at 908.735.5121, www.metroseafood.com or email at mark@metroseafood.com.

Milk House Farm Market
Locally grown vegetables (own and other farms), eggs and Zone 7 (NJ) fresh organic and sustainably grown ingredients. Based in Newtown, PA, you can reach them at 215.852.4305 or email at mhfm@verizon.net.

Old Tyme BBQ
Delicious barbeque meat, including brisket, pork and chicken, available for takeout. [Sorry, don't have any contact info.]

The Painted Truffle
Decadent artisanal chocolate truffles. All natural ingredients. Contact at www.thepaintedtruffle.com or 215.996.0606.

Purely Farm
Pastured chicken, turkey, pork and lamb (in season). Based in Pipersville, PA, reach them at 215.317.0889 or email at purelyfarm@verizon.net.

Tassot Apiaries, Inc.
All produced from our own hives: honey, cream honey, beeswax candles and soaps, comb honey, honey pollen, honey sticks. Contact them at 908.996.0984 or email at contact@tassotapiaries.com.

Vinifera Gourmet Co.
Wine jellies, homemade pasta. Based in Jamison, PA. Reach them at 215.672.8585, www.viniferagourmet.com or email at info@viniferagourmet.com.

And, then, the non-food vendors…

All Natural Dried Spices and Herbs
Wide assortment of spices. Based in Flemington, NJ. Contact at str8arrow1942@hotmail.com or 908.782.4664.

Bloem Flowers and Gifts
Homemade gifts, flowers and arrangements. Based in Stockton, NJ. Contact them at 215.870.2537.

Karibbean Kappa Bodycare (Saturday only)
All natural bodycare lotions made with Shea butter. Based in Bethlehem, PA. Contact them at 484.554.7253 or phyburg@yahoo.com.

The Paw Print Boutique
Fine fragrance soy candles, sweater mittens, eco-friendly pet products. Reach them at 215.266.3334, www.thepawprintboutique.com or email at thepawprintboutique@yahoo.com.

Plum Creek Designs
Custom embroidery. Based in Sergeantsville, NJ. Reach them at 908.303.5944 or email at robinashbydesign@embarq.com.

Storybook Farm
Handmade soap and body care products made from locally grown ingredients. Contact at zoebleck@gmail.com or 908.832.2641.

Traditional Baskets
Hand-woven baskets by Martha Malford-Dreswick. Based in Flemington, NJ. Reach them at tradbasket@comcast.net.

And, Lynne Hewitt, masseuse, who gave Mark a very nice chair massage! She’s based in Buckingham, PA. You can reach her at 215-589-2218 or yogawithlynne@hotmail.com.

Stockton Market
19 Bridge Street
Stockton, NJ 08559
stocktonfarmmarket.com

Look for Bucks County Taste on Facebook and Twitter!

NOTE: This was updated on February 15, 2010 to add new vendors.
NOTE: This was updated on September 7, 2010 to add/remove vendors. Forgive me if I’ve left anyone out, but do let me know and I’ll add them.
NOTE: This was updated on December 16, 2011.

Related posts:

1. News Flash: Stockton Market opens on Fridays
2. Fresh seafood in Stockton…and Bucks
3. Chef McBeth demos gluten-free at Wrightstown Market