Letter
from the
Editor
This Land is Foodies Land
Yes, we did it. We went ahead and threw down the culinary gauntlet. We asked some of New England’s best chefs to pick their favorite regional fruits and create something extraordinary – and they did it.
Indeed, they responded to the New England Fruit Challenge, in spades. Be amazed by the creations of Chefs Kristin and Matthew Gennuso from Chez Pascal in Providence, or check out Chef Michele Ragussis – Season 8 Food Network Star finalist and recently featured on NBC’s hit show, Food Fighter’s - from The Pearl in Rockland, Maine. Also in the lineup, Chef Toby Hill from Brewster Fish House on the Cape, Chef George Craft from Derry, New Hampshire’s Cask & Vine, and finally, Chef Allen Granberg from Bellla’s Bistro in Putnam, Connecticut. As if that weren’t enough, we’ve lined the delightful pages of this issue with a small handful of New England’s ever-expanding presence of farmer’s markets. You’ll delve into the best farmer’s markets we could find in Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut, with related features that include a one-night stay at The Lord Jeffrey Inn in Amherst, complete with a walking trip to the local Farmers’ Market accompanied by Executive Chef, Dino Giordano. Other delightful features you’ll not want to miss include an exposé on the Tantasqua Regional High School’s Team Chef competition, which spotlights the school’s culinary department as well as its finest young chef-to-be culinary students in full competition. Speaking of up-and-coming chefs… be sure you check out Tom Verde’s Cooking Up a Career series, Part II, which showcases the life and experiences of culinary students on their way to gastronomic greatness. Then, for you foodies who are looking for more than just a food experience, stop for a refreshing (and spiritual) encounter the Trappist Brewery in Spencer, Massachusetts, which features craft brews so delicious and marvelously created, you’ll swear the brewers had a little extra help - from above. Apropos of our New England Fruit Challenge and farmer’s market themes, Sandy Curewitz takes you on a Fall Fruit Picking tour. After, let Peggy Bridges take you out to meet Jim the Berry Guy, at Hunt Road Berry Farm in West Brookfield, Massachusetts. Fruit, fruit and more fruit! “Even when it’s not real, it still looks delicious!” says Honee Hess, executive director of the Worcester Center for Crafts in Worcester, Massachusetts, as she describes the beautiful monumentally-sized, blown-glass fruit creations of glass artist Stephanie Chubbuck. Of course, no issue of Foodies of New England magazine would ever be complete without the stylish and informative musings of our regular department staff, including Jodie Boduch’s History Of (Juniper Berries), Ellen Allard’s Gluten Free Pizza, Peg Bridges’ Food for Thought (a myriad of fruit-based salsas), Alina Eisenhauer’s Sweet Sensations, Matt Webster’s Brew Review, Elaine Cowan’s Healthy at Home, Ryan Maloney’s Whiskey… Under Loch & Key, Adam Gerhart’s Liberating Libations, Chris Rovezzi’s Pasta (and life): 101, and FNE publisher Domenic Mercurio’s Wines of Distinction.
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Foodies of New England