Details Here 

SPOTLIGHT ON FARMED + FORAGED SPONSORS

The dates, prices and menus for Farmed + Foraged vary. Some restaurants will be celebrating only on Saturday night or Sunday morning. Please contact participating restaurants directly for accurate information on when they will be offering Farmed + Foraged, their menu options and pricing.

The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, MA

 Foggy River Nettle & Cumin Bisque...Steamed Moon in the Pond Lambs Quarters with Poached Joshua Farm Egg & BOS Bacon Hollandaise...Farm Girl Green Garlic Braised BOS Pork Shoulder with Nettle Pappardelle & Shaved Berleburg Cheese...and a couple more things as they are harvested or foraged

 Mezze Restaurant + Bar

Allium Restaurant + Bar in Great Barrington

House cured sardines, berry patch radishes, farm egg, wild leek and fingerlings

House made ricotta cavatelli, zehr mushrooms, pecorino broth, berry patch kale, 60 minute egg

OR

East mountain farm ham, potato pave, frisee, mustard vinaigrette, berleburg cheese

Old Chatham yoghurt panna cotta/rhubarb gelee/poached rhubarb skewer/oatmeal crumble.

Baba Louie's Sourdough Pizza in Great Barrington and Pittsfield  

Equinox Farm Arugula Salad with pecans, chèvre, Prosciutto, and a Green Goddess dressing made with ramps  

Guido's Fresh Marketplace in both Pittsfield and Great Barrington locations   

Tasting starring local products from High Lawn Farm, Ronnybrook Farm, Berkshire Mountain Bakery, Sidehill Farm, Bola Granola and more!

Samples of Farmed + Foraged-inspired dishes from the Guido's Kitchen at Pittsfield on Friday, May 25 from 12 pm to 5 pm or while supplies last, and Saturday May 26 in the Great Barrington store, 12 - 5pm or while supplies last. In both store locations, customers can shop for the freshest local farmed and foraged edibles to try out recipes of local seasonal foods in their own kitchens. More event details at guidosfreshmarketplace.com.

More details here 

SOME SAMPLE MENUS FOR THIS WEEKEND! 

 PLEASE CALL FIRST, we don't want you to be disappointed:

 Phone numbers here 

Berkshire Organics 

KITCHEN OPENING & BERKSHIRE GROWN FARMED AND FORAGED 

FREE TASTINGS of the Following Items 3pm-6pm Friday May 25th at Our Grillin & Chillin 4 Year Anniversary Event:

Ramp Pesto (Wild) and Local Chèvre Served with house-made crostini (Berkshire Mountain Bakery Bread)

Grilled Local Asparagus (Smiarowski Farm, Sunderland, MA) with Sautéed Ramps (Wild) Tossed in olive oil, topped with shredded Parmesan

Curried Fried Spring Turnip Wedges (Markristo Farm, Hillsdale, NY) Fried in Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Served with Mint Yogurt Dip (Sidehill Farm, Ashfield, MA)

Marinated Bok Choy Stalks (Markristo Farm, Hillsdale, NY) Marinated in sesame oil, tamari soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger and garlic

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 CafeADAM in Great Barrington will feature a Farmed + Foraged menu, selections* include:

spring greens: taft farms asparagus, equinox greens, north plain farm egg, toasted walnuts, local dandelion, radish, stefanik farm honey mustard vinaigrette..................................$9

foraged fettucini primavera:  (housemade pasta contains, north plain egg yolks, king arthur organic flour VT) foraged housatonic fiddleheads, foraged morel mushrooms (if avail), new marlborough ramps, favas, peas.......................$25 dinner/17 lunch portion

spring gnudi: new marlborough ramps, housatonic fiddleheads, equinox spinach, BBC IPA beurre blonde sauce, highlawn cream, cricket creek maggie's round cheese...................... $26 dinner/$18 lunch portion

spring crumble: local rhubarb (grown in house) and black plum, soco black fig ice cream ................................$8

These items are available on our regular a la carte menu for lunch and dinner.  In celebration of the farmed and foraged week we will offer a discount if three courses are taken ie. greens then gnudi or fettucini then crumble all for $35.  If not taken as the three course set menu regular price is applied.

photo by Nichole Calero

* Ingredients may vary due to availability and weather.

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 Cafe Giulia 

A 3 course Farmed + Foraged prix fixe meal for $32  will consist of a vegetable antipasto (perhaps mixed baby beats from Farm Girl Farm with grilled red onions & fresh sheeps ricotta from Old Chatham or maybe a risotto cake with wild mushrooms depending on what's around that week)

a traditional meat, starch & vegetable course (perhaps Gibson Farm pork, McEnroe fingerlings & kale from Farm Girl Farm)

a raw milk panna cotta with a rhubarb compote unless local strawberries show up in time.

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Cafe Reva

Items to appear on menu: local goat cheese, maple syrup, strawberries,

ramps, Berkshire MountainBakery bread, rhubarb.

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 Chez Nous in Lee will feature a Farmed + Foraged Prix Fixe Dinner

Kir Breton, Richmond, MA Hilltop Orchards Johnny Mash Hard Cider with Creme de Cassis

Monterey Chevre Timbale with Grilled Peppers & Ted's Arugula

Northeast Family Farms Organic, Grass-Fed Rib Eye Steak with Zehr Farm's Mushrooms, Local Fiddleheads & Asparagus

Garden Rhubarb & Strawberry Shortcake made with Petit Epeautre/Einkorn Flour from the Heritage Wheat Conservancy, Colrain, MA

Complete Menu for $45.00 excluding tax and gratuity

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The Dreamaway Lodge in Becket will highlight a Farmed + Foraged Special Dinner available Thursday May 24th through Monday May 28th 2012

Please check our regular menu, where we always feature many local ingredients.

The Entrée is subject to change due to availability of seasonal running of fish.

Special three course dinner for $32

Local Arugula, Spring Radish, Grilled Lemon, and Monterey Chevre Salad

Baked Stripped Bass with Pickled Ramp Tartar Sauce, Roasted Overmeade Gardens Asparagus and Hakouri Turnips, and Boiled Herbed New Potatoes

Shaker Rhubarb Pie with a Lattice Crust and SoCo Vanilla Ice Cream

Barrington Coffee Roasters Coffee and Harney and Sons Tea included with meal.

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 Fiori Restaurant  

Pork and nettles: Leahey farms pork and beef bolognesse,

Forraged nettle lasagna and  Leahey Farms porchetta, forraged garlicy nettles

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Firefly in Lenox will offer a Burger, Beer & Bourbon for $30

Leahey Farms Grass Fed Burger with a choice of 2 toppings:

Smoked Berkshire Blue Cheese, Leahey Farms Fried Egg, Overmeade Gardens Grilled Asparagus

Served with:

A Glass of Berkshire Mountain Distillers Bourbon

A Pint of Wandering Star Brewing Beer

Farmers Markets are open!  

         Hurray!!!!!!!!!!               Support your local farmer

Wednesdays: Berkshire Area Farmers' Market at Lanesborough

June 13: Williamstown Farmers' Market

Thursdays:  West Stockbridge Farmers' Market
Farmers' Market at CHP in Great Barrington 

Third Thursday Pittsfield Farmers Market

Fridays: Lenox Farmers' Market

The Sheffield Farmers' Market  

Saturdays:

Berkshire Area Farmers Market at Lanesborough   

Great Barrington Farmers' Market

Otis Farmers Market 

Pittsfield Farmers' Market, Park Square

Norfolk Farmers' Market

Williamstown Farmers' Market   

Photo of Hawk Dance Farm by Nichole Calero 

 FIND FARMERS' MARKETS  on MAP-O-LICIOUS 

Annual Massachusetts Sheep & Woolcraft Fair 

 SAMPLE RECIPES FOR THIS WEEKEND

PLEASE CALL AHEAD for details!  Phone numbers. 

 

Gramercy Bistro @ MASS MoCA  

will feature a three-course Farmed + Foraged prix fixe menu for $35

Spinach salad with tangerines, marcona almonds, golden raisins, maple citrus vinaigrette. (farmed)

Grilled chicken breast, ramp butter, leek risotto. (farmed, foraged)

Fresh strawberry, rhubarb tart, port sauce. (farmed)

 
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Martin's Restaurant 

 

 

 

will offer specials with local asparagus throughout their menu, including breakfast and lunch items, and featuring Eggs Benedict with Asparagus.  

photo by Nichole Calero 

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Riverbend Cafe

 

will be serving a Equinox mesclin salad with marinated beets and Taft Farm asparagus topped with Berkshire Blue, candied walnuts, red onions, our homemade garlic herb vinaigrette

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Route 7 Grill

 

Ted's Equinox Farm Arugula Salad with Susan's Monterey Chèvre

Local Sir William Farm Pork Chops with Moon in the Pond Rhubarb Relish,

Zehr Farm Mushrooms & Foraged Ramp Butter Smashed Potatoes

Moon in the Pond Rhubarb Crisp

$35/person for 3 courses

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Stagecoach Tavern 

will craft a menu around what is available from the farms and what they can forage immediately prior to the Farmed + Foraged weekend.

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Starving Artist Cafe  

Spring vegetable soup - with fresh veggies from Woven Roots Farm, Lee

Rhubarb Iced Tea

Sharp Rhubarb Chutney Crepe ~ homemade rhubarb chutney, sharp cheddar cheese and organic sliced turkey breast served in a savory crepe

Dessert Crepe - Carmelized strawberry rhubarb wrapped in a dessert crepe and topped with sour cream

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 The Well Restaurant + Bar in Great Barrington writes:  

Treat yourself to The Well's signature grass-fed burger, fresh from Kinderhook Farm. Add some crisp, organic greens from Equinox Farms, a cold Pint of local Ale and relax!

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 Wild Oats Market 

 in Williamstown will feature:

Forest mushroom, ramp and wild rice salad. Ramps foraged by Rebecca Erb, from Bennington, VT and owner/operator of The Bennington Bakery. Mushrooms tbd. (whoever has them that week). Available in our grab n' go section the week end of May 25-28 for $9.99/lb

Marinated spring onion salad. Onions from Mighty Food Farm, Pownal, VT. Available in our grab n' go section for $8.99/lb

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The Williams Inn 

Maple Brook Farm Hand Crafted Burrata Cheese Bruschetta - Italian toast  points with melted Burrata cheese, sliced tomato and basalmic reduction      $10.

Wilcox Farms Veal Chop - pan-seared with local chives and honey mushrooms in demiglace     $24.

Local rhubarb crepes with apple finished with raspberry sauce and fresh whipped cream   $5.50

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For More Information

The dates, prices and menus for Farmed + Foraged vary. For example, some restaurants will be celebrating only on Saturday night. Please contact participating restaurants directly for accurate information on when they will be offering Farmed + Foraged, their menu options and pricing. 

 
Why eat meat?    

The New York Times ethicist asked readers to "make an argument for the ethics of eating meat."  Then a panel of judges selected their favorites. The panel of judges: Mark Bittman, Jonathan Safran Foer, Andrew Light, Michael Pollan and Peter Singer.  

Click to read the winning essay:

The Ethicist Contest Winner: Give Thanks for Meat

By JAY BOST

 "As a vegetarian who returned to meat-eating, I find the question "Is meat-eating ethical?" one that is in my head and heart constantly. The reasons I became a vegetarian, then a vegan and then again a conscientious meat-eater were all ethical. The ethical reasons of why NOT to eat meat are obvious: animals are raised and killed in cruel conditions; grain that could feed hungry people is fed to animals; the need for pasture fuels deforestation; and by eating meat, one is implicated in the killing of a sentient being..."

Photo of Brian Alberg by Caroline Alexander Berkshire Food Journal

Here is a link to the finalists in the contest, with more reasons to eat meat:

Put Your Ethics Where Your Mouth Is

What We're Reading

Battle Brewing Over Labeling of Genetically Modified Food

 

By AMY HARMON and ANDREW POLLACK

 

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. - On a recent sunny morning at the Big Y grocery here, Cynthia LaPier parked her cart in the cereal aisle. With a glance over her shoulder and a quick check of the ingredients, she plastered several boxes with hand-designed stickers from a roll in her purse. "Warning," they read. "May Contain GMO's (Genetically Modified Organisms)."

 

Read more in the New York Times. 

  

Quick Bites

DISCOVER THE:  

Berkshire Grown Online Farmers' Market

a 24 hour Farmers' Market! 

Self-propelled by Berkshire Grown members, the page benefits those of you who choose to participate in it. Farmers and food producers can post what they have available, and chefs and community members can comment or contact suppliers directly with requests for product or more information.   

Thanks for the photo of The Berry Patch's "Luscious Lettuce" to Dale Ila Riggs who posted it on Facebook.

Berkshire Grown offers this as a networking service and bears no responsibility for transactions.

MASSACHUSETTS GROWN...and FRESHER!  

 If you are traveling through Massachusetts check out this map, support our local farmers throughout the state!