The Lunch Box

          

I recently drove up to St. Catharines, Ontario Canada to visit with girlfriends. While there Suzy took us to the Lunch Box. Described as a mom and pop place, the eclectic mix of decor and people were endearing.

The burgers are hand formed, the slab bacon rich and meaty, the hot sauce is housemade.

This was a really great place and the food was just outstanding! If you are ever in the area, check it out.

Second Friday of September's Locavore Challenge

Here are some of the items I purchased locally, either at Wegmans, Spars European Sausage Shop, Five Points Bakery, and the Elmwood-Bidwell Farmers Market.

A variety of Hot Peppers and tomatoes from our garden and from Eden Valley Growers in Eden, NY (19 miles from Buffalo)
Green Leaf Lettuce, Romaine Hearts, Cilantro, Escarole, and Concord Grapes from Demarco Farms in Ripley, NY (77 miles from Buffalo)
Bread Flour and Regional Pantry Sunflower Seed Oil picked up from Five Points Bakery in the city's Westside
Gimmie Coffee (Not a locally sourced product but, it is roasted in Ithaca, NY. It is also Shade Grown, Organic, Fair Trade, and Bird Friendly.)

Ribs, sausage, ground pork and beef from Spars located in Black Rock on Amherst Street.

Here are some sites that I have been reading a lot of links and articles from. Sometimes I agree, sometimes I agree to disagree, but they each have a plethora of excellent sources to check out, ideas to consider, and ways to become more involved in the food conversation.


America's Test Kitchen


How to Grow Bread Yeast


Life Hacker - Kitchen Hacks


Wild Forager


Make Your Own Vinegar

First Friday of September's Locavore Challenge

Here are some of the items I purchased locally, either at Wegmans, Geurcio, Five Points Bakery, and the Elmwood-Bidwell Farmers Market.

• Acorn Squash from Fenton Produce near Batavia, NY (53 miles from Buffalo)
• Cucumbers and Zucchini from Hoeffner Farms in Hornell, NY (94 miles from Buffalo)
• A variety of Hot Peppers from our garden and from Eden Valley Growers in Eden, NY (19 miles from Buffalo)
• Butternut Squash, Sweet Peppers and Tomatoes from Reeves Farms in Baldwinsville, NY (146 miles from Buffalo)
• Green Leaf Lettuce, Romaine Hearts, Cilantro, Escarole, and Concord Grapes from Demarco Farms in Ripley, NY (77 miles from Buffalo)
• Bread Flour and Regional Pantry Sunflower Seed Oil picked up from Five Points Bakery in the city's Westside
• Gimmie Coffee (Not a locally sourced product but, it is roasted in Ithaca, NY. It is also Shade Grown, Organic, Fair Trade, and Bird Friendly.)

Here are three sites that I have been reading a lot of forwards, links, and articles. Sometimes I agree, sometimes I agree to disagree, but they each have a plethora of excellent sources to check out, ideas to consider, and ways to become more involved in the food conversation.

Handpicked Nation 

Civil Eats 

The Cornucopia Institute

YB Normal Alpaca Store and Farm

Monday afternoon, after visiting my friend Chimene's beautiful homestead, we headed over to visit her friend and fellow homesteader Evelyn Brumwell.

Evelyn purchased the Amish home and out buildings nearly three years ago. Now it is the YB Normal Alpaca Farm & Store. She has a little over fifty animals, a beautiful shop, a seasonal market stall, and a newly formed CSA.

The store has yarn, carded and dyed fibers for felting, sweaters, gloves, scarves, hats, socks, toys, soaps, honey and so many other delightful items.

 

Evelyn shares, "I have spun yarn for 3 years now and absolutely love to spin the Suri alpaca right from my animals. After shearing I choose a fleece that has extremely high luster and give it a bath in shampoo. 

Lavender shampoo is my favorite. I dry the fleece and then hand paint the locks with acid dyes that I order. I tried natural dyes but found them too labor intensive. 

After the fleece is dyed and dried, I either hand card the locks of Suri alpaca or just spin right from the uncarded fiber. I enjoy pairing the colors that my remind me of something from nature or around me. The hand carded rovings here are called “Little Chautauqua Creek” A beautiful stream where the water tumbles over colorful rocks and I often see fly fishermen casting their lines. This is 100% Suri Alpaca Yarn that was hand dyed, carded and hand spun by me. "

Alpacas come in over twenty-three colors and patterns. Their hair is prized for its softness and is four times warmer than wool. They are related to camels, being members of the camelid family. Mild-tempered, inquisitive, intellengent, clean, and gentle. They only spit, buck or kick when they feel they must, not for spite, but only when startled or threatened. Especially if they fear for their cria, their babies.

Evelyn has two types of alpaca on her farm, Huacaya and Suri. Huacaya are the most common breed. Like teddy bears, their hair forms a dense ball of fiber that makes the alpaca look big and fluffy. The fiber has a crimp and it is usually fine and bright. Huacaya fiber creates beautiful soft warm garments like sweaters, throws, hats and gloves.

Suri fiber is different and very rare, making up only one to two percent of the world’s alpacas. Their hair hangs from their body in locks that can be twisted, wavy, curly or flat and are lustrous.

Her store is open Sunday through Friday from 10 am to dusk  at 5782 Stockton Hartfield Road in Dewittville, NY.  

It is best to call ahead if coming, especially in groups greater than five. If you would like a tour please call at least one week in advance and bring cash for the tour fee. You can reach Evelyn at 716-450-7459 for more information.

How Farms Are Born

This past Monday was a hot, clear, bright day; just ripe for taking an adventure. My dear friend Chimene and her husband purchased land in Chautauqua County last year, not far from the lake. Chautauqua, in Iroquois, means 'where the fish jump' and the lake's large striped perch show how aptly it was named.

Part of the land is being prepared for a store. The building is being framed and the roadway cleared and leveled and soon she will have it open for business, with soaps to items made from alpaca wool, to preserves and produce and more.

This bit of land has all sorts of charm to it. From it's rustic shed to....

...it's far reaching tree line, barn frame, and bee hives, to it's...

...friendly blue house that sits squat across the top of the slope.

Swaths of bushy chamomile peer sunnily out of raised beds.

Juicy cabbages line up neat and orderly.

I had never seen these squash before. Similar to the patty pan, the Yugoslavian Finger Fruit Squash's disk shape has finger-like protrusions and has a rather nondescript summer squash flavor, though there is some mention that it can have a coconut flavor when picked young.

Here is Chimene, plucking up the largest one off the vines. Apparently they grow very large quite quickly.

Speaking of patty pan, here is a small one just budding under it's floral crown. These have been my favorite since childhood.

Plump tomatillos droop under the brilliant sun. These fruits are the base ingredient in Salsa Verde, a scrumptious pale green sauce used as a garnish on many Mexican dishes.

The land is edged with wild herbs like echinacea and blackberries and raspberries. It really is quite the loveliest bit of land I have seen in a long time.