It’s been too beautiful to sit at the computer the last two days, so I’ve been a bit of a laggard. I spent this morning cleaning up the yard and planting some new herbs I got yesterday from Chuck Rekemeier, who owns Town & Country Greenhouses in Pineville. Chuck’s greenhouse is on Fairview Farm, out back, beyond the peach trees and the little store where you can buy vegetables, milk, baked goods and some of the best peaches around (in season).
I met Chuck last year when I was buying tomatoes at Fred Slack’s farm in Forest Grove. Chuck grows Fred’s tomato seedlings from seeds that Fred gives him. Then the tomatoes end up at The Pineville Tavern every summer in a tasty appetizer called “Freddy’s Tomatoes.” I also spent some time with Fred and his wife at their kitchen table to talk tomatoes. Look for a post sometime in July on this wonderful local “triangle.” Oh, and Fred says they’ll probably have tomatoes by July 10th. Yum.
Father’s Day is upon us! And why is it that fathers are expected to grill on their “day,” but moms get taken out for brunch or whatever? (Maybe they figure moms are so tired of cooking…). Kind of sexist, I guess. So, why not take Dad out for Father’s Day, or at least do something fun, instead of having him stand over the Weber?
There are FOUR firehouse breakfasts this Sunday, and I can personally vouch for two of them: Riegelsville and Plumsteadville. But don’t take my word for it. Try any of the others if they are closer to you, or some of the other Father’s Day breakfast events.
Take Dad to a vineyard. Crossing Vineyards and Winery is offering “Wine Tasting for Dads” Saturday afternoon from 1 – 4 pm. Unionville Vineyards in Ringoes, NJ (just up Rt. 202, before Flemington) is hosting all weekend a “Father’s Day Walk in the Vineyard,” with complimentary wine tasting, music and winery tours. There’s also the Sangria Festival with Chef Ron Spada at the New Hope Winery on Saturday from 12 – 5 pm. Chef Ron is setting up his 14 ft. smoker and will be selling ribs, chicken, and pulled pork sandwiches, with all the fixins’.
Saturday’s weather looks beautiful and what a great opportunity for a ride along the river. Then stop in at The Homestead General Store in Upper Black Eddy, the oldest, continually-operating, general store on the river. They’ll be putting on their Coffee and Crafts Fest from 11 am – 4 pm. There will be coffee tasting and roasting demonstrations, local crafts, live music, book signings by local authors and live alpacas (!).
Coming up this week. “FRESH: The Movie,” will be at The County Theater at a special screening this Thursday, June 24th at 7 pm. If you haven’t seen this great film about eating locally, now’s the time. Here’s a description of the movie by director Ana Sofia Joanes:
FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.
The film will be followed by a discussion with a panel of local experts who are doing similar things right in our own back yard: celebrating local food and producers, using local ingredients, raising food in a natural and sustainable way. To learn more, see our post from earlier this week. You can buy tickets at the County Theater’s web site. I’ll see you there!
If we weren’t going to the movie Thursday, we’d be going to the “Peak Organic Beer Dinner” at The Yardley Inn on Thursday evening. Chef Eben has put together an exciting seasonally fresh menu. The meal will be entirely organic, featuring fresh, local ingredients, produce, meats, and cheeses from local organic farms, and fine organic beers. Call to see if reservations are still available.
What can you expect to find produce-wise this week at local farm markets? The big news? BLUEBERRIES are here! In addition, you’ll probably find: arugula, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, early/mild turnips, english peas, fennel, garlic scapes, green beans, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce of all sorts, mustard greens, pea shoots, radishes, salad mix, scallions, snow peas, spinach, starter herbs, sweet snap peas, swiss chard, vegetable plants, zucchini, and, quite possibly, the first raspberries of the season, along with other berries and maybe even cherries.
For more details on any of these events, please go to our full calendar, Food Events in Bucks County. Have a special weekend.
Friday, June 18th:
Forecast – Sunny, 87°
- Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [11 am – 7 pm]
- Warrington Farmers’ Market @ Valley Square, Warrington [3 – 6 pm]
- Ottsville Farmers’ Market @ Linden Hill Gardens, Ottsville [3 – 7 pm]
- Friday Night un(Wine)d Concerts, Doylestown [6 – 9 pm]
- Summer Wine Concert Series @ Shady Brook Farm, Yardley [6 – 9 pm]
- Summer Music Series @ Crossing Vineyards and Winery, Washington Crossing [7 – 10 pm]
- Barbara Trent @ The Centre Bridge Inn, New Hope [7 – 11 pm]
- Kindle Cafe Supper Club at Rojo’s Roastery, Lambertville, NJ [7:30 – 9:30 pm]
- Bob Egan @ Bowman’s Tavern, New Hope [8 pm-12 am]
Saturday, June 19th:
Forecast – Sunny, 86°
- Doylestown Farmers’ Market, Doylestown [7 am – 12 pm]
- Plumsteadville Grange Farm Market, Plumsteadville [9 am – 12 pm]
- Wrightstown Farmers’ Market, Wrightstown [9 am – 1 pm]
- Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [9 am – 3 pm]
- Coffee and Crafts Fest @ the Homestead General Store, Upper Black Eddy [11 am – 4 pm]
- Sangria Festival with Chef Ron @ New Hope Winery, New Hope [12 – 5 pm]
- Wine Tasting @ Phillips’ Fine Wines, Stockton, NJ [12 – 5 pm]
- Father’s Day Walk In The Vineyards Weekend, Ringoes, NJ [12 – 7 pm]
- Spring Herbs in the Kitchen @ Tinicum Herb Barn, Erwinna [1 – 3:30 pm]
- Wine Tasting for Dads @ Crossing Vineyards, Washington Crossing [1 – 4 pm]
Sunday, June 20th:
Forecast – Sunny, 90°
- Breakfast Buffet @ Plumsteadville Fire Co., Plumsteadville [7 am – 12 pm]
- Pancake Breakfast @ Applebee’s, Newtown [8 – 10 am]
- Buffet Breakfast @ Chalfont Fire Co., Chalfont [8 am – 12 pm]
- Breakfast @ Riegelsville Fire Company, Riegelsville [8 am – 12:30 pm]
- Breakfast Buffet @ Richland Twp Fire & Rescue, Quakertown [8 am – 1 pm]
- Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market, Hellertown [9 am – 1 pm]
- Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [10 am – 3 pm]
- Father’s Day Breakfast @ Graeme Park, Horsham [11 am – 3 pm]
- Father’s Day Walk In The Vineyards Weekend, Ringoes, NJ [12 – 5 pm]
- Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration: June’s Bounty in the 17th Century, Morrisville [1 – 4 pm]
Monday, June 21st:
Forecast – Mostly sunny, 87°
- 94 Cents Cookie Night at Chubby’s Dairy Barn, Plumsteadville [6 – 9 pm]
Tuesday, June 22nd:
- Langhorne Farmers’ Market, Langhorne [3:30 – 6:30 pm]
Wednesday, June 23rd:
- American Legion Meals on Wednesdays, Quakertown [11:30 am – 9 pm]
- The Farmers’ Market @ Playwicki Farm, Feasterville [4 – 7 pm]
- Complimentary Beer Tasting @ the Copper Leaf Grill, Buckingham [5 – 9 pm]
- Summertime Sicilian Cooking Class @ Casa Casale, Lahaska [6:30 – 9 pm]
Thursday, June 24th:
- Lower Makefield Farmers’ Market, Yardley [3:30 – 6:30 pm]
- New Hope Farmers’ Market, New Hope [3:30 – 7 pm]
- Springtown Farmers’ Market, Springtown [4 – 7 pm]
- 94 Cent Ice Cream Cone Night @ Uncle Dave’s Ice Cream, Yardley [5 – 9 pm]
- Lobster Night @ The Centre Bridge Inn, New Hope [6 – 10 pm]
- Nutrition 101: How, what and when to eat!, New Britain [6:30 – 8 pm]
- “FRESH: the Movie” showing @ County Theater, Doylestown [7 – 9 pm]
- Peak Organic Beer Dinner @ Yardley Inn, Yardley [7 – 10 pm]
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