Lambert Farms mostly supply my salad greens, tomatoes and award winning Blueberries.

Trip to the farm

I've mention Lambert Farms a couple times in my postings.


Today I drove out to Gary Lambert's farm in Cairnbrook PA. The first amazing thing was that there were TWO "Main Streets", I think, somehow the "Main" street split out of a town called "Central City". Central of what? I have no idea.
Ending up on the right Main Street by instinct was pure luck.....the second time.
It's very late in the growing season, obviously, but seeing how and where everything grows was very enlightening to me.
Knowing how bad the deer kill the crops and how hard it is to keep the bees pollinating opens up a whole new respect for what one man is doing here.

On top of that, he's (Gary Lambert) going to try and grow some micro ingredients for me.

By the way, Dad, this man has without knowing it supplied your Christmas present.


I can only post so many pictures in one posting, I may have to switch blogs soon.
Eating a fall strawberry right off the plant was enough to make my line cook realize why we made the trip out to the farm.
Then, seeing the same strawberries inside the greenhouse, wow, what a huge difference in color and smells.

I will post supplemental pictures above this posting to example how fresh and wonderful this produce is. It's certified organic, and when Gary walks into the kitchen and says "It doesn't get any fresher than this:" I know he means it.
From field to plate.
I can't wait to see what we can grow together.

Number 100 post, Driving into the abyss

Coming Down the Mountain. I wish I could insert music on some of these postings. There is a very appropriate song that would play now.

Not sure if you can see it, but driving into a "cloud" of settled fog.

Way down into the fog is work....like another 12 miles.

Forked Tongue

This was a course on our new Wine Flight menu. It changes weekly.
Pressure cooked Veal Tongue with Tomato Mustard and Pesto.

Tomato Mustard

yes. Another mustard.

But what do you get on your hotdog at a picnic?

Ketchup and Mustard.

Meetings

OK, so I really didn't meet everyone that I should have.

But, I was close enough to get some pictures.


For at least four or five years now, I've been a fan of Ideas in Food and knowing they would be at the chefs congress I had to at least introduce myself to them. A photographer offered to take the picture.




Whylie Dufresne was there. Joel Robuchon was there.



Pretty much more than you can ask for from two days in New York.
Grant Achatz and Paul Liebrandt where judging the PacoJet compitition.
The whole thing was a surreal experience.

Windows on The World

Sadly, Chef Lamonico's restaurant is no longer here But it was appropriately named.
The Chef's Congress took place on the 51st and 52nd floors of the new No.7 World Trade Center building.
The 360 view was amazing.
The view straight down was a huge tug on the heart.
Every scene from the news that I've seen, on that day and on every anniversary, just started to play back in my mind.
You can't help imagining how everything happened, how anyone survived, how scared everyone was.
I've seen ground zero before. But not from up here.

The Chefs Congress

Heading here on Monday, such a huge exposure to the best of the best. I have never been, but know this will be the adventure of a lifetime so far.

And then, Here for dinner, couldn't really ask for anything else.

I will have this to read on the travels, can't wait.

Versus Dinner

Quick run down:

I'll come back and elaborate later.

Chilly Avacado Chili with Ancho and Leek Cornbread, Avacado Ice Cream

Caramel Smoked Pear, stuffed with Horseradish Brie and Lobster salad with Kielbasa Consomme. (Simple but good)

Duck Coq Au Vin, Red Wine and Chocolate "Pudding", OJ and Bacon.

Lamb Osso Buco, Minted Carrots and Mushroom Risotto.

Kielbasa Consomme

Pressure cooked and then fortified with some grilled and blistered pieces.

So FULL of flavor.

There was a Sauerkraut Sorbet that went with an earlier version of this attempt.

Tie-Dyed Smoked Salmon

Play On Thier Favorites

Espresso Vodka, Brown Sugar water Iced Tea topped with Xanthan Gum whipped Moccachino.

Swedish Fish Consomme with Fruity Pebble fried Shrimp.

The Best Things in Life

In no particular order:::::
New Socks.
Clean Sheets.
Q-Tips.
Ice Cold Water.
And, A new knife.
A new knife is like a new car. You want to take it everywhere and out do everything with it. Tonight was a new Wustoff Boning Knife waiting for me in the mail for a great price. I can't wait to get back into the kitchen tomorrow and and take it for a spin.