Savoring CNY at Pride of NY Harvest Festival

Pulaski's Grindstone Farm is serious about produce -- certified organic produce. Its owners brought organic carrots, peppers, broccoli, turnips and other vegetables for admiring, munching and dipping to the Pride of New York Harvest Festival Saturday. Farm staff also shared information on community supported agriculture (CSA) shares (winter shares available), free-range chicken dinner boxes and more. 

Grindstone is one of the hundreds of farms, specialty food producers, wineries and craft brewers from across the state participating in this weekend's Pride of New York Harvest Festival at the state fairgrounds in Geddes. The festival continues noon to 5 p.m. Sunday in the Horticulture Building. Admission is $25 at the door.

Central New York food  interests are well-represented at the festival this year. Among the standouts:

The Cookie Connection is a home-based family baking business started by two sisters, Kathy and Betty, who happily shared Orange Rind, Almond Puffs, Maple Walnut, Pecan Delights and other Italian cookies, plus bites of gluten-free cake. The sisters can be found every Saturday at the Regional Market in Syracuse. They also are known for their pasticiotti and other Italian pastries.

 

Canale's is a traditional Italian-American restaurant in Oswego and, since 2006, in Liverpool. If you can't get there for dinner, the next best thing is having a jar of their traditional or marinara sauce in your pantry for serving with pasta. Shown here is a sample of Canale's traditional sauce ($4.99 per jar) with a slice of Italian bread. The sauce has the depth and richness of flavor that comes from slow cooking. I'm not embarrassed to tell you I asked for another slice of bread to wipe that little serving cup clean.

 

Organically Hip, a business owned and operated by two friends, is known primarily for its organic baking mixes, including chocolate chip cookies, microwaveable brownies and pecan waffles, including some gluten-free options. I came home with a bottle of their vanilla extract, which co-owner Maria Euceda promised will add extra vanilla oomph to my holiday baked goods because it doesn't contain any water. I can't wait to try it.

Meadowood Farms, near Cazenovia, had a spacious corner spot at the Harvest Fest for showcasing its sheeps' milk cheeses (including feta, boursin, award-winning ginger cheese) and yogurts and pasture-rasied lamb (sampled in the form of lamb meatballs and sauce). Their products are available in the local food case at Circa restaurant in Cazenovia, Green Hills Market in Syracuse and other locations. 

Family-owned Gannons calls itself "Syracuse's favorite homemade ice cream." It's no doubt some of the richest, too, with flavors like Almond Bark, 'Cuse Trax and Cappuccino Crunch. Gannons rolled several of its seasonal flavors out at the Harvest Fest, including apple crisp, eggnog and pumpkin (my photo of the pumpkin sample doesn't do it justice). Savor the possibilities for holiday entertaining. 

Comments

[Margaret @ Eat First]

Hi, Marjorie --

Shopping time at the New Hope Mills store is definitely worth the drive to Auburn!

Thanks for sharing.

--Margaret

[Marjorie W]

I wanted to say thanks for a previous post on New Hope Mills. Took one of my buddies there today, and we had a great time, and knocked off some Christmas gifts.

[Margaret @ Eat First]

Hi, Pat -- I somehow missed their stand/display but have heard great things about this oil. I wonder if it's available at Green Planet Grocery or somewhere else locally... will have to look.

I hope you enjoyed the Harvest Fest. Will be taking a look at your blog!

Cheers,

--Margaret

[Pat Steer (Gaelen)]

Did you get the chance to taste some of the roasted squash oils (butternut or delicata) from Stoney Brook Wholehearted Foods, Geneva? Discovered them at Finger Lakes Cork & Fork, and looking forward to continuing the conversation and picking up a couple more bottles at Harvest Fest. The taste is incredible.