One Straw Farm

This was our CSA choice this year.

http://www.onestrawfarm.com/

Pickup is available at My Organic Market, and they have a decent website. I'm psyched, though I liked the idea of veggies to my door.

Community Supported Agriculture ("CSA")

Community supported agriculture is essentially a purchase of shares in a farm, except instead of paying cash dividends, you purchase crop dividends during the season. Or maybe it's more like a bond where you clip the coupon, since very few equities pay dividends anymore. Financial metaphors aside, it can be a fun way of trying new produce.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/05/AR2008020500865.html

Since South Mountain Veggie is currently not delivering to me, I will likely be joining a CSA againt his year.

Gordon Ramsay's Maze at the London

I am a terrible, terrible person. Okay, well, maybe not, but slightly. This weekend we had a family emergency - one of Human # 1's siblings was ill and in the hospital in New York City. Human # 3, being a good sister, stayed overnight in the hospital with the sibling. Human # 1 and I needed to sleep somewhere. Of course, since Human # 1 twitters constantly, some friends of ours (okay, more like my college friends - a lovely couple, KD-her and CR- him) hounded us to hang out. Ironically, the cheapest room in NYC on short notice was the Hilton at 6th and 54th(I'm too old for the many futons and couches that were generously offered). Our hotel just happened to be across the way from The London, home to Gordon Ramsay restaurants. Where we met up with our friends after a long day and night at the hospital.

Hey, come on, it was cheaper than the Hilton's room service.

Of course I don't have pictures. What do you people take me for? So food obsessed that while a relative lay suffering in the hospital, I update my blog? I just took copious notes. Well, actually, my Blackberry camera would no save.

Since we had no reservation, we started in the London Bar. Apparently my husband and CR had amazing martinis. I wouldn't know. We did hang out for a bit, and it was exremely pleasant. More like the bar at Zaytinya than a typical NYC hotel bar.

Maze by Gordon Ramsay is a small plate restaurant. We each got two of the small plates.

We had the following:

Salad of confit fennel and beetroot, fresh ricotta, and candied walnuts.
The beets were amazing. They were interestingly savory, and contrasted sharply with the sweet walnuts.

Venison carpaccio, chilled foie gras, cranberries, globe artichoke.

I did not try this one, however, Human # 1 and CR enjoyed it immensely, though CR added salt. He's also a recent ex-smoker.

Lobster bisque.

I don't usually care for lobster bisque, but this was rich, creamy, and buttery - while at the same time tasting primarily of lobster, not dairy. It was almost like the flavor was all lobster and the texture was all buttery cream. Interestingly presented - basically a piece of lobster and the bisque poured at the table.

Sautéed sea scallops, butternut squash, and red wine vinaigrette.

Tortellini of beef short rib, escarole, trompette royale, and dashi.
This one was almost minty. It sounds weird, but it totally worked.

Pan fried Tasmanian ocean trout, orzo, and fennel heart cassoulet with peekytoe crab.
The ocean trout was deliciously rarely prepared, but with crispy skin. I was a big fan of the orzo. The crab pieces, not so much.

Braised beef short rib, truffle pomme purée, braising juices.

This was the hit of the night. I think Human # 1 licked the plate.

Mango parfait, pine nut brittle, and Douglas Fir sorbet.
The parfait was very good. But the Douglas Fir sorbet was amazing. It was like a distilled Christmas tree, but in a good way.

Concord grape crémeux, homemade yogurt, olive oil gelato, and granola.
Everyone must try olive oil ice cream. I can say no more.

Lemon quark cheesecake with strawberry gelée and pistachio ice cream.

The single best cheesecake I've ever had. The pistachio ice cream had the not too sweet nutty flavor of Indian ice cream, but the texture and mouth feel of gelato.

Anyway, Human # 3 was tortured the next day upon learning of our ahem, hotel and dinner experience. I swear it made sense at the time!

South Mountain Veggie

OMG, this is so cool. Most of you know that I really liked joining the CSA - there were ups and downs with the CSA we chose last year, somethings that worked for our family and some things that did not. However, the biggest pain was actually getting there and picking up the delivery. We get South Mountain Creamery milk delivery already (despite my best efforts, I still almost never drink milk, though others in the household do). They're introducing this:

http://www.southmountainveggie.com/home.php

I am so excited! I do like farmer's markets, but too often on a weekend I'm working, travelling, or if not too darn busy with household projects to take the time to go. I try to, but making it a weekly event is stressful. Delivery conquers a lot of my problems with obtaining local produce.

Of course, since I'm self-centered, I only encourage you to sign up if you live near me and are likely to help make my neighborhood the first test area.