Washington Gets a Taste of New York

                New York's award winning wines, farm-fresh products, sensational seafood, and fine restaurants will soon travel to the nation's Capitol to tastefully remind Congress, the Administration and others that New York is a major agricultural state, and agriculture is a major part of the state's economy.

             On Tuesday, September 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand will host "New York Farm Day" in the elegant Senate Kennedy Caucus Room at the crest of Capitol Hill.  Attendees will include dozens of other Senators, the New York Congressional delegation from the House of Representatives, members of the Committes on Agriculture, legislative chiefs of staff, agricultural specialists in Congress and the Administration, members of the Washington media, top area restaurants and fine wine shops. 

             "Senator Gillibrand has been a great advocate for New York agriculture, including the grape and wine industry," said Jim Trezise, President of the statewide New York Wine & Grape Foundation, which organizes the event.  "New York has some of the best wines, farm products, seafood and restaurants in the world, and we are honored to partner with her in tastefully proving that to official Washington."

              Since its inaugural launch in 2002, New York Farm Day has become the most popular event on Capitol Hill, with attendance normally exceeding 700 guests.  A major part of the attraction is that the people presenting the wines and foods are the same people who produce them--it's not just another catered event.

             "Farm Day is a unique and important opportunity for us to showcase the best of what New York's farmers and producers have to offer.  Every year we bring New York to Washington, DC, and I am thrilled that this has become such an anticipated event on the Congressional calendar," Senator Gillibrand said.  "New York's farmers and producers are some of the best in the world and this is a great opportunity to spread the word even further about the quality of our produce.  I know we are all looking forward to sampling some of the incredible wine, food and produce that will be on display."

              The event is generally organized according to the State's major wine-producing regions--Long Island, the Hudson Valley, the Finger Lakes, the Niagara and Erie areas, and North Country.  Each region has a "Farm Table" showcasing local agricultural products, a "Restaurant Table" featuring special recipes created from local products, and a "Wine Table" offering award-winning wines to match the foods.

              New York Farm Day is made possible by the generosity of its sponsors including CoBank, Constellation Brands, Farm Credit East, Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation, Mastercraft Glassware, New York Apple Association, New York Farm Bureau, New York State Restaurant Association, New York Wine & Grape Foundation, and Yankee Farm Credit.

                                          Long Island

New York State Aquaculture Association--Fresh Oysters and Clams farmed by Aeros Cultured Oysters and F.M. Flower & Son 

Cool Fish Restaurant--Spice Seared Montauk Tuna with Pickled Radish, Satur Farms Wasabi Sprouts, and "Voodoo" Sauce

Wines of Long Island--Martha Clara Vineyards, Suhru Wines, Waters Crest Winery, Wolffer Estate

Long Island Spirits--Vodka and Sorbettas made from John Kioski & Sons potatoes and Harbes Family Farm and Seps Farm berries.

Red Hook Farm (Brooklyn)

Charlie Palmer Steak (Manhattan)--Fly Creek Cider Mill Braised Pork Cheeks with Celery and Brown Farms Apple Salad

                                               Hudson Valley

Hudson Valley Fruit Producers--A rainbow of Sorbettos including Raspberry-Anonia, Whitecliff Winery Wine-Fruit, Mountain Range Farms Black Current, and Elderflower

Local Ocean--Corn Salad with Branzino, basil, tomato, scallions, lemon and virgin olive oil; Ceviche of Royal Dorade; Grilled Branzino with fennel infused olive oil and herbs

Flying Pigs Farm--Classic Smoked Ham Sandwiches

Chobani Yogurt (Norwich)--All natural Greek Yogurt in various flavors made from New York milk

Empire State Honey Producers--Sliced baguettes and crackers featuring New York State Honeycomb and Creamed Honey

Wines of the Hudson Valley--Brotherhood, America's Oldest Winery, Clinton Vineyards, Millbrook Vineyards & Winery

                                            Finger Lakes

Red Newt Cellars & Bistro--Spicy Greens with Red Newt's own "Verjooz" Vinaigrette and a Lively Run Chevre and Della Cotta Squash Crostini on homemade Walnut French Bread

Dinosaur Barbeque (Rochester)--Fresh Pulled Pork with the Dinosaur's own private label barbeque sauce on Dipaola's Bakery Slider Rolls 

Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty--Cheese from Muranda Cheese Company, Lively Run Goat Cheese, Finger Lakes Farmstead Cheese, Sunset View Creamery; Nunda Mustard, Golden Oaks Foods; Crackerman Crackers; Luciano Sacheli Onion Jelly; Chutney Fever; Hill 'n' Hollow Farm Chutney; Knapp Farm Jams & Salso; Crabapple Sauce; Chef Lerman's Dressing & Barbeque Sauce; Waid's Honey; Rosie's Garlic Scape Pesto; Ithaca Bakery Bread; Cornell Orchards Apples and Plums

Sheldrake Point Winery & Simply Red Bistro--Sweet Corn, Bacon and Pablano Soup made with Ithaca Milk Company milk and cream, Sweet Land Farm sweet corn, Good Life Farm pablano peppers, and Autumn's Harvest Farm bacon

Wines of the Finger Lakes--Anthony Road Wine Company, Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars, Fox Run Winery, Fulkerson Winery, Glenora Wine Cellars, Heron Hill Winery, Hunt Country Vineyards, Lakewood Vineyards, Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars, Red Newt Cellars, Sheldrake Point Winery, Standing Stone Vineyards 

F.X. Matt Brewing Company/Saranac (Utica)--Saranac Pumpkin Ale and Saranac Root Beer 

Cornell University (Smart Lunch Rooms Movement)--Fresh fruit from the New York State Agriculture Experiment Station

                                               Niagara and Lake Erie

National Grape Cooperative/Welch's--Red & White Sparkling Grape Juice & Welch's Juice

State University of New York (SUNY)--White Chocolate Dipped Maple Truffle made with Evan's Farmhouse Creamery Organic Butter, Meadowbrook Farms Milk, and Maple Hill Farms Maple Syrup.

Upstate Farms--Nonfat Strawberry, Raspberry and Blueberry Yogurt; New innovative shelf-stable Chocolate and Chocolate Strawberry milks

New York Apple Association--Fresh New York State apples and juice

Wines of Lake Erie and Niagara--Johnson Estate Winery, Mazza Chautauqua Cellars, The Winery at Marjim Manor

                                                     North Country

McCadam Cheese--Wicked Sharp Cheddar, Pepper Jack, Horseradish

North Country Specialties--Adirondack Beef Company All Natural Beef Sticks; Lyndakers Maple Orchard and Nadeen Lyndaker Sweet Shots; J's Bees and Janet Bartow Wildflower Honey on Bread; Kraft Foods Philadephia Cream Cheese varieties on crackers; Sustain Adirondack Fuji Apple and Honey Salsa with Tortilla Chips 

Mercer's Wine Ice Cream--Riesling, Peach-White Zinfandel, Chocolate Cabernet wine ice creams, and Apple Crisp a la Mode tradtional ice cream

Ice Wines and Dessert Wines--Casa Larga Vineyards, Hunt Country Vineyards, Johnson Estate Winery and Lakewood Vineyards

  "Enjoying great wine without great food is experiencing only half the pleasure."

                                                       --Michael Mondavi