NYBG’s Newly Expanded Farmers Market Opens for the Season, Offering Fresh and Nutritious Local Produce, Specialty Foods and Other Exciting New Features

Ahhhh - it's officially the first day of summer. Admit it, you've been waiting all year for this very moment.

If that wasn't enough to make you giddy with delight, today marks the return of the Farmers Market at The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG).

Offering a diverse array of fresh, locally grown vegetables and fruits, along with hand-crafted baked goods and specialty foods, The New York Botanical Garden’s Farmers Market opens for the season today, just inside the Mosholu Gate and across the street from the Botanical Garden station of the Metro-North commuter railroad.

With a newly expanded roster of vendors from the Hudson Valley and other parts of the tri-state metropolitan area, the NYBG Farmers Market will bring the flavors of the seasons to New Yorkers throughout the summer and into the fall every Wednesday, running until October 25, 2017. Hours are 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

The Garden’s market has been reimagined by Pascale Le Draoulec, who manages farmers markets in the Westchester communities of Hastings, Irvington, Chappaqua, and Bronxville.

Before running farmers markets, Pascale Le Draoulec was a newspaper reporter for 18 years. She spent most of her career writing about food, and from 2001 to 2007 she was the lead restaurant critic at New York’s Daily News, where she won a coveted James Beard award for her reviews.

A first-generation American of French heritage, she is the author of American Pie: Slices of Life and Pie from America’s Back Roads (Harper Collins, 2002), which chronicles her cross-country road trip in search not only of her American roots but also people who still make pie from scratch.

The market will include not only a regular weekly lineup of some of the area’s top produce vendors, bakers and specialty food purveyors—with more than twice as many merchants as in recent years—but also a rotating group of artisanal merchants, offering such treats as savory jams, piquant salsas, infused olive oils, caramels, and gourmet salts.

The market accepts cash, credit and debit cards, and EBT cards, providing visitors more ways to take advantage of the market’s amazing bounty.

Admission to the Garden grounds is free on Wednesdays, allowing visitors to explore many of the Garden’s offerings such as the ever-changing flowers and plant collections in the award-winning, sustainable Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden, the 50-acre old-growth Thain Family Forest, the Native Plant Garden, the Perennial Garden, and the inspiring Home Gardening Center.




As an added convenience, visitors can shop at the Farmers Market first, then store their fresh produce with the Garden’s new complimentary Veggie Valet service as they enjoy the Garden’s many features. Purchases will be kept on ice until visitors pick them up before they leave.

Nice touch! Love the greenmarket concierge service.

This is an outstanding, well-curated list of food artisans and growers. This collection, gathered in one place, helps distinguish a valuable Farmers Market, offering unique and distinguished ingredients, and makes it a must-do weekly food gathering -- plus -- what's better than shopping in a garden?

The weekly vendors at the NYBG Farmers Market will be:

• Big Bang Coffee Roasters, Peekskill, N.Y.–Hot or iced coffee and coffee beans 
• DiRiso Rice Balls, Hastings, N.Y.–Arancini (Italian rice balls) stuffed with porcini mushrooms and other homemade Italian foods. Arancini Brothers' could be the very best anywhere - enjoy these treats! 
• Dr. Pickle, Paterson, N.J.–Pickled products, from standard cucumber pickles to peppers, olives, mushrooms, and much more 
• Honey Locust Farmhouse, Newburgh, N.Y.–Organic teas, various types of honey, and jams made with local Hudson Valley fruit 
• Meredith’s Bread, Kingston, N.Y.–Breads, rolls, cakes, cookies, pies, biscotti, challah bread, and quiches, including sugar-free and gluten-free baked goods 
• Pie Lady & Son, Nyack, N.Y.–Butter-crust fruit pies such as mixed berry, strawberry-rhubarb, and apple, sold whole in three sizes or by the slice 
• Red Barn Bakery, Irvington, N.Y.–Savory and sweet treats from a full-service bakery 
• Taliaferro Farms, New Paltz, N.Y.–Wide variety of produce (peppers, zucchini, kale, spinach, turnips, beets), fruits (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, apples, and melons) and many varieties of interesting, hard-to-find produce and herbs 
• True Food of Nyack, Nyack, N.Y.–Fresh, flavorful seasonal salads and burritos made with local organic chicken 
• Wave Hill Breads, Norwalk, Conn.–Artisanal breads and pastries made with organic whole grains milled at the bakery 

Setting up at the farmers market on a rotating basis will be:

• Anna Maria’s Savory Jams, Cliffside Park, N.J.–Italian-style jams meant to pair with cheeses and yogurts, enhance the flavor of meats and poultry, and complete the presentation of cured meats and pâté 
• Arlotta Food Studio, Briarcliff Manor, NY - Infused organic olive oils such as garlic, lemon, red pepper, and blood orange; balsamic vinegars; and tapenades 
• Found Herbal, Chappaqua, N.Y.–Lotions, balms, salves, sunscreens, and more—all made with local herbs and flowers 
• Healing Home Foods, Pound Ridge, N.Y.–Gluten-free and vegan granola, crackers, and other delicious, healthy snacks 
• La Petite Occasion, Chappaqua, N.Y.–Caramels, toffees, and other handmade confections made with local, high-quality ingredients 
• Lucero Salsas, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.–Homemade salsas, pepito pestos, tortillas and tamales 
• Wild Sea Salt, Pomona, N.Y.–Gourmet salts infused with such local ingredients as dandelion, stinging nettle, cedar berry, and sumac. 

Happy Summer. Celebrate the season. Happy cooking and baking and drinking.

Foodies Celebrate - Savoring Gotham: A Food Lover's Companion to New York City is brimming with food & drink history

There’s no getting around it. Savoring Gotham - A Food Lover’s Companion to New York City, edited by Andrew F. Smith; and Foreword by Garrett Oliver is one huge tome. But then, it’s New York. Most everything here is big - as in fiercely superlatively, colossal. The buildings are big; the population is extraordinarily large and diverse; there are so many sports team that we have two of each of the majors -- so when it comes to that beloved subject we simply cannot stop talking about or sharing images of or indulging in: food and drink -- it is no surprise this landmark book clocks in at nearly 800 pages.

Savoring Gotham boasts 568 entry topics - from “Beverages” to “Chefs” to Food Controversies and Regulation” to “Holidays, Celebrations, and Festivals” to “Restaurants and Bars.”

The undertaking required 174 writers -- or a small army of foodies -- to capture what is really just the “first course” to Gotham’s extraordinary food stories.

In fact, at the book’s swanky New York City book launch party November 17 at the Oxford University Press’ elegant lobby, editor Andy Smith cheered the guests with the notation that this is just the first in a series of Savoring Gotham gastronomic collections.

Editor Andy Smith autographing a copy of Savoring Gotham for  Foodie Enthusiast, Karen Tenenbaum. I'm capturing the moment - and unknown to me at the time - the photographer was capturing me in the moment!

Also on hand to help celebrate at the premiere was local food and wine - and beer provided by JBF Award winner, Garrett Oliver’sBrooklyn Brewery .

Me and JBF Award Winner, author, Brewmaster: Garrett Oliver

The book officially went on sale December 10th. It’s worth noting that the book is not a “guide,” rather as the title offers, it is a “companion.”

Editor Andrew F. Smith and Marion Nestle

My" Shero" Marion Nestle, flanked by me, (L) and nutrionist & author: Nancy Addison 

A favorite food sprite: Mimi Sheraton (R) with author & nutrionist : Nancy Addison

Me and Max Sinsheimer, Managing Editor, Oxford Press (& Author Angel!) 

The stories are indeed lovingly written by writers who care passionately about the subjects. In fact, the writers chose their chapter subjects.

We may all know of Marion Nestle (my food “Shero”) and her Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition  and her effort to enlighten us to the effects of the ever-corrosive impact of Soda Politics: Taking on Big Soda (and Winning) but I daresay not many know of other food and drink tales.

For example, it was charming to learn writer Meryl Rosofsky came to love writing about New York’s iconic The Four Seasons Restaurant so much she was convinced by the managers to hold her own wedding there last spring -- in time before it shutters its glamorous doors in 2016 due to the siren song of lease issues.

Also, many may covet Roberta's pizza but yet may not know how the two shipping containers -- seemingly duct-taped to the restaurant -- is home to Heritage Radio Network - arguably the best radio station “on food news, farming issues, restaurant's, chefs, …. and just about anything related to food.”

And there’s Gum. Savoring Gotham’s chapter on the quintessential chewing sensation, Chiclets, was named for chicle, “the gummy sap of a tropical evergreen, sapodilla, that was made and marketed by Thomas Adams in 1857, when after meeting the former Mexican president and general, Santa Anna -- who was living in exile on Staten Island and needed the money to fund his return to power - and thus shared the ancient Mayan confection recipe with a plucky New Yorker.

I am so honored and proud to have had the opportunity to research, interview, and write three chapters that are dear to my passions - for Savoring Gotham.
The chapters I wrote are: “Farm to Table,” “Greenmarkets,” and “Ladies Who Lunch.”
And while all the research was exciting-- and as long-time readers of my blog know - I’m a dedicated advocate and devotee of all things natural, local, and F2T.

And yet, it was Savoring Gotham that allowed me to dedicate another passion about the extraordinary women of Gotham -- with my idea of capturing those ladies who long ago, bore the essence of what is best about Gotham: fashion, food , and fame -- long before social media. The Ladies chapter was truly a frothy adventure to write: given access to WWD.com - Women’s Wear Daily’s archives - and a free-form interview with legendary Sirio Maccioni -- a James Beard Lifetime Achievement award winner and maitre d/owner of Le Cirque, New York. As written, “... Bill Blass was often whispering in his ear, helping to navigate the potential minefield of nouvelle society’s indiscretions and successes.” For the book’s review, he wrote: “New York, one of the world's most extraordinary cities, is captured masterfully here through its food and food history." --Sirio Maccioni, restaurateur. Agreed, sir.

I will be launching a “Ladies Who Lunch” podcast and YouTube element of my Chefs Garden channel.
I have long planned to interview the best, most intriguing, talented, women who, today, are at the kinetic crossroads of my world: fashion, food, politics, art and gardens.
It’s a most natural intersection, no?

Can you please write/post me your most salient thoughts on this as we will begin production in early 2016? Can’t wait for this exciting exploration into today’s Ladies Who Lunch.

Despite its heft, Savoring Gotham is a book you can’t seem to put down. The chapters are crisp, brief narratives that are sure to spark many a dinner conversation or bar chat. Savoring Gotham is an ideal holiday gift - one that readers will return to again and again - for reference, exploration, fun, and pride. Time to dig in.

As a special gift to Savoring Gotham readers, friends, and family: your can save 30% when purchasing a copy of the book by entering code ADFLYK2 at checkout via the OUP website. Plus, even the savings are New York big: while at checkout, you can also register with the website and receive an additional 10% off your purchase.


Everything’s better in Gotham.