Tag: local farms

Local Corn? Native Corn? To Peel or Not to Peel? and Other Corn Questions

Sweet Corn from local farms is the only kind that we buy around here. Over on Chowhound there has been an interesting "Native Corn" discussion going on all month. This was triggered by the early appearance of sweet corn in the Boston market.

For our take on the subject, we're updating some information we ran back in 2010. What was true then is even truer today.

“Knee high by the Fourth of July” is a nice rhyme, but this year some farmers were actually able to bring their golden ears to market by Independence Day.

Early hybrid corn varieties not only extend the corn season, but also stay sweeter longer than the heirloom versions.

Great Varieties with Great Names
Ask about the variety of sweet corn a farmer is selling. That way you’ll begin to develop your own "favorites list." Look for these in local markets: Honey & Cream, Silver Queen, Sugar & Butter, Sundance, Sugar Buns, and Early Sunglow.

And, if you find one with “Mirai” in it’s name, grab it. It’s rare, but Penny says it’s one of the best she’s ever tasted.

To Tear or Not to Tear
One Cape Cod farm where we buy corn has a sign that reads, “Sweet corn 50¢ an ear, tear the husk and it’s $2 an ear.”

You don’t have to tear down the husk and make part of the farmer’s crop unsaleable to buy great sweet corn.

Look for corn that has moist, dark-brown, almost sticky silk and a husk that doesn’t feel dry. You can feel the kernels by pressing gently on the husk to determine if the ear is fully developed and plump.

Corn should not be peeled down until just before you’re ready to drop it into a steaming cook pot.

Do you have a sweet corn question? If so add your sweet corn thoughts or questions in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email. We'll talk to our favorite farmers and try to get an answer.

Related Links:

Cooking Sweet Corn: Microwave, Grilling, and Elote!
Penny’s Corn & Potato Salad

Penny’s weapon of choice for working with corn is her favorite Shun Santoku Knife. But, if you like gadgets, they make a lot of them for sweet corn.

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2010 – 2015 Penny Cherubino

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July 23, 2015
At The Market: Cheese from Local Farms

Artisan cheese is another reason to visit farmers' markets.

Cheesemakers like Smith's Farmstead Cheese, Narragansett Creamery, Crystal Brook Farm, Ruggles Hill Creamery, Fiore di Nonno, and Foxboro Cheese are among the cheese options you can find at Boston area farmers' markets.

Crystal Brook Farm offers a delightful goat cheese picnic lunch. The day we took this photo each bag included a container of their goat cheese with olive oil and herbs de Provence, french bread, trail mix, a plate, napkin, knife, and a dollar-off coupon for the next purchase.

In season right now!

This is the height of the harvest season. The stone fruit selection is glorious, the vegetables overflow their bins, and you enjoy each bite knowing this-or-that will soon be gone.

Get Some before it's gone!

Berries, stone fruit, heirloom tomatoes, and local honey – we've begun stockpiling our favorite from Foppema's Farm for winter.

Coming Soon!

Mums for fall planting, herbs for window sills, pumpkins, winter squash, late season apples.

Follow all of our Local Food/Farmers' Market and At The Market reports.

What's on your Food Lover's shopping list? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

September 12, 2013
At The Market: Cheese from Local Farms

Artisan cheese is another reason to visit farmers' markets.

Cheesemakers like Smith's Farmstead Cheese, Narragansett Creamery, Crystal Brook Farm, Ruggles Hill Creamery, Fiore di Nonno, and Foxboro Cheese are among the cheese options you can find at Boston area farmers' markets.

Crystal Brook Farm offers a delightful goat cheese picnic lunch. The day we took this photo each bag included a container of their goat cheese with olive oil and herbs de Provence, french bread, trail mix, a plate, napkin, knife, and a dollar-off coupon for the next purchase.

In season right now!

This is the height of the harvest season. The stone fruit selection is glorious, the vegetables overflow their bins, and you enjoy each bite knowing this-or-that will soon be gone.

Get Some before it's gone!

Berries, stone fruit, heirloom tomatoes, and local honey – we've begun stockpiling our favorite from Foppema's Farm for winter.

Coming Soon!

Mums for fall planting, herbs for window sills, pumpkins, winter squash, late season apples.

Follow all of our Local Food/Farmers' Market and At The Market reports.

What's on your Food Lover's shopping list? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

September 12, 2013
At The Market: Cheese from Local Farms

Artisan cheese is another reason to visit farmers' markets.

Cheesemakers like Smith's Farmstead Cheese, Narragansett Creamery, Crystal Brook Farm, Ruggles Hill Creamery, Fiore di Nonno, and Foxboro Cheese are among the cheese options you can find at Boston area farmers' markets.

Crystal Brook Farm offers a delightful goat cheese picnic lunch. The day we took this photo each bag included a container of their goat cheese with olive oil and herbs de Provence, french bread, trail mix, a plate, napkin, knife, and a dollar-off coupon for the next purchase.

In season right now!

This is the height of the harvest season. The stone fruit selection is glorious, the vegetables overflow their bins, and you enjoy each bite knowing this-or-that will soon be gone.

Get Some before it's gone!

Berries, stone fruit, heirloom tomatoes, and local honey – we've begun stockpiling our favorite from Foppema's Farm for winter.

Coming Soon!

Mums for fall planting, herbs for window sills, pumpkins, winter squash, late season apples.

Follow all of our Local Food/Farmers' Market and At The Market reports.

What's on your Food Lover's shopping list? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

September 12, 2013
Beef Dumplings & Corn Fritters from Mei Mei Street Kitchen

Always adding a new twist to our lunchtime pleasure, the team from Mei Mei Street Kitchen provided us with one of the best lunches of the week, last week.

Fritters made with local corn, local habaneros, and fried just right. They were light and crisp outside and filled with corn goodness inside. Mei Mei was serving them with Aioli, but they suggested spicy ketchup when we asked to have them without the mayo.

We love Mei Mei dumplings. These were deep-fried, stuffed full of meltingly tender, braised beef and set off by a serving of rice, pickled zucchini, and tangy dipping sauce. This is a filling meal.

This is one of the fantastic fleet of Boston food trucks that should be on your must-try list. Here's a recent menu. As you can see it reflects the season, supports local farms, provides vegetarian choices, and demonstrates the exciting twist they add to their food.

Payment: Cash, Major Credit Cards, and LevelUp

Website: www.meimeiboston.com

Twitter: @meimeifoodtruck

Facebook: Meimeisk

Pinterest: Mei Mei Street Kitchen

For more of our Food Truck/Street Food coverage: click here. Or, anytime you visit BostonZest, you can click on the Food Truck/Street Food tab at the top of the page.

Link: Boston Food Truck Location Map

Thanks to everyone who hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support. It doesn't cost you any more but they put a few coins in our tip jar.

What's on your fall shopping list. Click here for fall season savings over at Amazon.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

Related articles

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Cooking Sweet Corn: Microwave, Grilling, and Elote!

September 19, 2012
Beef Dumplings & Corn Fritters from Mei Mei Street Kitchen

Always adding a new twist to our lunchtime pleasure, the team from Mei Mei Street Kitchen provided us with one of the best lunches of the week, last week.

Fritters made with local corn, local habaneros, and fried just right. They were light and crisp outside and filled with corn goodness inside. Mei Mei was serving them with Aioli, but they suggested spicy ketchup when we asked to have them without the mayo.

We love Mei Mei dumplings. These were deep-fried, stuffed full of meltingly tender, braised beef and set off by a serving of rice, pickled zucchini, and tangy dipping sauce. This is a filling meal.

This is one of the fantastic fleet of Boston food trucks that should be on your must-try list. Here's a recent menu. As you can see it reflects the season, supports local farms, provides vegetarian choices, and demonstrates the exciting twist they add to their food.

Payment: Cash, Major Credit Cards, and LevelUp

Website: www.meimeiboston.com

Twitter: @meimeifoodtruck

Facebook: Meimeisk

Pinterest: Mei Mei Street Kitchen

For more of our Food Truck/Street Food coverage: click here. Or, anytime you visit BostonZest, you can click on the Food Truck/Street Food tab at the top of the page.

Link: Boston Food Truck Location Map

Thanks to everyone who hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support. It doesn't cost you any more but they put a few coins in our tip jar.

What's on your fall shopping list. Click here for fall season savings over at Amazon.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

Related articles

Edible Boston Fall 2012 Issue Around Town Now!

Where to Find Old Friends Farm Local Ginger

When Pigs Fly Bread for Inspired Grilled Cheese

Cooking Sweet Corn: Microwave, Grilling, and Elote!

September 19, 2012
Beef Dumplings & Corn Fritters from Mei Mei Street Kitchen

Always adding a new twist to our lunchtime pleasure, the team from Mei Mei Street Kitchen provided us with one of the best lunches of the week, last week.

Fritters made with local corn, local habaneros, and fried just right. They were light and crisp outside and filled with corn goodness inside. Mei Mei was serving them with Aioli, but they suggested spicy ketchup when we asked to have them without the mayo.

We love Mei Mei dumplings. These were deep-fried, stuffed full of meltingly tender, braised beef and set off by a serving of rice, pickled zucchini, and tangy dipping sauce. This is a filling meal.

This is one of the fantastic fleet of Boston food trucks that should be on your must-try list. Here's a recent menu. As you can see it reflects the season, supports local farms, provides vegetarian choices, and demonstrates the exciting twist they add to their food.

Payment: Cash, Major Credit Cards, and LevelUp

Website: www.meimeiboston.com

Twitter: @meimeifoodtruck

Facebook: Meimeisk

Pinterest: Mei Mei Street Kitchen

For more of our Food Truck/Street Food coverage: click here. Or, anytime you visit BostonZest, you can click on the Food Truck/Street Food tab at the top of the page.

Link: Boston Food Truck Location Map

Thanks to everyone who hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support. It doesn't cost you any more but they put a few coins in our tip jar.

What's on your fall shopping list. Click here for fall season savings over at Amazon.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

Related articles

Edible Boston Fall 2012 Issue Around Town Now!

Where to Find Old Friends Farm Local Ginger

When Pigs Fly Bread for Inspired Grilled Cheese

Cooking Sweet Corn: Microwave, Grilling, and Elote!

September 19, 2012