New York Foods, New York Beverages, New York Restaurants...

 Senator Gillibrand to Host New York Farm Day 

            A cornucopia of New York farm products--from eastern Long Island to western Chautauqua, from North Country to the Southern Tier--will be showcased in the Nation's Capitol on July 29.            

 Washington Gets a Taste of New York

                New York wines and other farm-based craft beverages, farm-fresh food 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, July 29 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 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 as well as other farm-based craft beverages," said Jim Trezise, President of the statewide New York Wine & Grape Foundation, which organizes the event.  "New York produces some of the best wines, beers, spirits and ciders, as well as other farm products and seafood, and is home to some of the best restaurants in the world. We are honored to partner with Senator Gillibrand in tastefully proving that to official Washington."

              Since its inaugural launch in 2002 (then hosted by former Senator Hillary Clinton), New York Farm Day has become the most popular event on Capitol Hill, with attendance normally exceeding 500 guests.  A major part of the attraction is that the people presenting the beverages 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," said Senator Gillibrand, New York's first member of the Senate Agriculture Committee in nearly four decades.  "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, beer, spirits, cider, milk, food and produce that will be on display."

              The event is generally organized according to the State's major wine-producing regions--Long Island, Brooklyn and New York City, the Hudson Valley, the Capital District, Central New York, the Finger Lakes, the Niagara and Erie areas, and North Country.  Each region features a diverse array of foods and beverages, with some including restaurants which feature New York products.  This year, for the first time ever, the Food Network will be among the exhibitors.

              Farming is a $38.4 billion industry vital to New York's economy, according to a recent economic impact study commissioned by Farm Credit East, a sponsor of the event.  About 23% of the State's land area, or 7 million acres, are covered by 36,000 family farms.  New York ranks high among the major agricultural states in America--first in the production of yogurt; second in apples and maple syrup; third in grapes, grape juice and wine; and fourth in pears and dairy, which is by far the largest segment of the agricultural sector.  The grape, grape juice and wine industry alone generates more than $4.8 billion in economic benefits annually to the State of New York.

              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, New York Apple Association, New York Farm Bureau, New York State Restaurant Association, New York Wine & Grape Foundation, and Yankee Farm Credit.

               Below is the all-New York "menu" for Farm Day 2014, with new participants indicated by an asterisk (*)

                                                    Long Island

K & B Seafood--Fresh Oysters and Clams  

Jewel--Peconic Bay Scallop Ceviche with Passion Fruit, Mango and Chilies

Wines of Long Island--Wines from Lieb Cellars, Martha Clara Vineyards Merliance, Sannino Bella Vita Vineyard, Sparkling Pointe, Suhru, and Waters Crest Winery

                                                   New York City

Food Network*--New York State Salt Potatoes with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing and Heritage Bacon made with new harvest potatoes from Garden of Eve Farm; bacon from Arcadian Pastures; organic buttermilk from Hawthorne Valley Farm; micro greens from Koppertcress; butter from Ronnybrook Farm; and spicy ketchup from Sir Kensington's Ketchup

Brooklyn Winery

Brooklyn Oenology

Kings  County Distillery (Brooklyn)--Kings County Bourbon, and Kings County Moonshine made from Lakeview Organic Grain corn

61Local restaurant (Brooklyn)--Delhi-Deviled Eggs featuring roasted garlic achaar from Brooklyn Delhi and farm eggs from Local Roots; Veggie Burger Sliders featuring beet hazelnut veggie burgers from Made by Lukas on whole wheat challah buns from Hot Bread Kitchen (featuring New York State flour) with rhubarb ketchup, pickled shallots, McCadam cheddar and greens from BK Farmyards; People's Pops peach vanilla Sauvignon Blanc popsicles featuring Palmer Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc; seasonal fresh fruit pops

Orwasher's Bakery--Levain Locale, Morning Spelt, Ultimate Whole Wheat, Cabernet Rustic with ingredients from North Country Farms, Farmer Ground Flour, Channing Daughters (grape yeast), and Horizon Mills (white flour) 

                                                  Hudson Valley

Tuthilltown Spirits Farm Distillery--Whiskey, Vodka, Gin, and Cassis

Micosta--Aronia Juice and Syrup from Mountain Range Farm; Black Currant Juice and Syrup featuring black currants from Crop Pharm; Infused Crop Pharm Berries; Mediterranean-style Tofu with vegetables and herbs from Holmquest Farm 

Hudson Valley Harvest*--Hudson Valley Vegetable Gazpacho and Tacos al Peche featuring pork from Sir William and produce from Taliaferro Farms, Black Horse Farms, Hepworth Farms, Little Seed Gardens, The Orchards of Conklin, Migliorelli Farm, and Bradley Farm chili oil

Wines of the Hudson Valley--Brotherhood, America's Oldest Winery; Millbrook Vineyards & Winery; Stoutridge Vineyard; Whitecliff Vineyard

                                               Capital District

Hawthorne Valley Farm--Sourdough Hawthorne Valley Farm Bianca fresh herbed, olive, and smoked cheeses on sourdough baguette slices; Ginger Carrots, Caraway Sauerkraut, and Ruby Sauerkraut 

The Matt Brewing Company--Saranac Pumpkin, Saranac Octoberfest, and Saranac Root Beer Soda

                                                Central New York

Chobani--All Natural Greek Yogurt made from New York Milk: Watermelon, Grapefruit, Strawberry, Blueberry, Peach, Vanilla, Black Cherry, Pineapple, Pineapple Coconut, and Key Lime

Empire Brewing Company--Empire State Pale Ale, and Liv and Let Rye featuring hops from Foothill Hop Farm

State University of New York (Morrisville)--Chilled Raspberry Chili Soup with products from Mosher Farms and Morrisville State College; Cheese Curd Kebobs with tomatoes, basil and balsamic drizzle with products from MSC Dairy and Aquaponics Greenhose; Ginger Snap, goats milk ricotta cheese and pickled beets with products from 7 Trees Dairy and Alambria Springs Farm; Ratatouille Empanadas with products from Alambria Springs Farm and Fresh Herbs; Capicola and Salami Cups filled with diced fruits and dirzzled with vincotte with products fromm Five Roses Farms and Canaseraga Farms; Rhubarb Tarts with products form Bingley Acre Farm

 New York Apple Association--Fresh New York State Apples and Juice

New York State Maple Producers Association--Shaver-Hill Maple Farm Maple Petites and Thompson's Sugar Shack Maple Popcorn

State University of New York (Cobleskill)--Farm Salsas with chips and chevre mousse featuring Barber's Farm corn and tomotoes, Honeybee Farm Goat Cheese, melons and peppers from Schoharie Valley Farm/The Carrot Barn, and herbs and peppers from Wellington's Herbs and Spices

Farm Credit*--Smith's Orchard Bake Shop Apple Pie 

                                                  Finger Lakes

Empire State Honey Producers--Honeycomb and Creamed Honey from Seaway Trail Honey

The Little Bleu Cheese Shop*--Shtayburne Farm Garlic and Dill Jack; Jones Family Farm La Bruja; Lively Run Cayuga Blue; Saratoga Crackers in Sea Salt

Wines of the Finger Lakes--Anthony Road Wine Company, Belhurst Estate Winery, Casa Larga Vineyards, Chateau LaFayette Reneau, Dr. Konstantin Frank Wines, Fox Run Vineyards, Fulkerson Winery, Glenora Wine Cellars, Hosmer Winery, King Ferry Winery, Lakewood Vineyards, Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars, Sheldrake Point Winery, Standing Stone Vineyards, Three Brothers Wineries & Estates, Wagner Vineyards

Finger Lakes Distilling--McKenzie Rye, Seneca Drums Gin, and Cherry Liqueur

Cornell University (College of Agriculture & Life Sciences)--A selection of artisanal cheeses from Across the Pond by Keeley's Cheese Co.; Shaker Blue by Old Chatham Sheepherding Company; Bogart by Sprout Creek Farm; Mohawk Maenad by Danascara Cheese

                                                Niagara and Lake Erie

National Grape Cooperative/Welch's--Concord Grape Juice, and Sparkling Red and White Grape Juice

Upstate Niagara Cooperative--Upstate Intense Caramel Apple Milk, Intense Chocolate Milk, Strawberry Nonfat Greek Yogurt, Blueberry Nonfat Greek Yogure and Vanilla Nonfat Greek Yogurt

Wines of Lake Erie and Niagara Escarpment--Black Willow Winery, Johnson Estate Winery, Liberty Vineyards & Winery, Mazza Chautauqua Cellars, Merritt Estate Winery, The Winery at Marjim Manor

Five&20 Spirits*--Rye Whiskey, Pear Eau de Vie, Steuben Grappa

                                                     North Country

Agri-Mark--The Cabot Farmer's Legacy Collection: Farmhouse Reserve, Alpine Cheddar, and White Oak Cheddar 

North Country Specialties--Moser Maple Mini's Hard Maple Candy; Bechaz Riverdale Cheese Curd; Adirondack Rhubarb Traditions Rhubutter; Boquet River Jelly Mill Scott's Jalapeno Mustard; Maple Water; Birch & Walnut Syrup 

Wines from Thousand Islands Region 

Mercer's Wine Ice Cream--Strawberry Sparkling and Riesling Wine Ice Cream

Ice Wines and Dessert Wines of New York--Hunt Country Vineyards, Johnson Estate Winery, Lakewood Vineyards

  "A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine."

                                                       --Anthelme Brillat-Savarin