I’ve mentioned Bobolink Dairy Farm before. I think they are making some of the best cheese to be had around here. Labor Day weekend we took some friends to Bobolink’s new home in Milford, NJ, and got a tour of this wonderful farm, dairy and bakery. While farmers Nina and Jonathan White run farm tours most weekends, this fall they are hosting two special “Grand Rounds” farm tours, including a pig roast!
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.
We’ve tried the cheese and the bread — fantastic. You can go to the farm and get small tastings of everything. Cranberry/walnut loaf with a small wedge of the cheese at room temp — it’s really good. And a nice ride too.
Speaking of La Caja China…
La Caja China and I have (finally) released our first cookbook, “La Caja China Cooking.” Lots of traditional Cuban recipes, as well as Southern US favorites, and a few from around the world!
http://www.roastingbox.com/p-87-la-caja-china-cooking.aspx
– Perry