Hello my foodie friends!

This weekend is Father’s Day. Not sure what to get dad? A home cooked meal with some of their favorite foods is a great way to kick things off. How about cooking something special for him? Many of us have been lucky enough to grow up with dads who love to cook, who have mastered crème brûlée or grilling or taught us to make perfect rice. Others have dads who just love to eat, who will dig into a shared plate happily and are always ready to share a meal. This Sunday, we’ll honor all of them, maybe with pancakes or a special dinner or a thoughtful food-related gift. In preparing that special meal, there may be some cool culinary tools you need to help.

As I reflect on Father’s day, I realize that the most important part of being a father is being in my children’s lives, to show them my love and to support their dreams and aspirations. I always knew I wanted to be a father and consider fatherhood my greatest achievement.  Once I was asked, “do you miss your children being young?” My response was that I truly have enjoyed and continue to enjoy every stage of my children’s lives. I consider being a father a privilege with the gift of loving and teaching them through every part of their lives watching them change and mature. My children fill me with the important parts of overwhelming pride and joy I have for them. Being a father to them has given me the greatest gift in being their protector, caregiver, and mentor. 

Father’s Day is a time to show the father’s and father figures in our lives appreciation and to celebrate those who have guided, supported, and taught us through our lives. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store, to treat dad to some cool culinary tools. For Father’s Day, eat together as a family.  Relish the memories and show Dad how much you love him. I am very proud of both of my children, Johnny and Aubrey, and thankful to be their dad. I once told a customer that I’m great at 2 things: Sharpening knives and being a Dad. I also get the opportunity to celebrate our daughter’s birthday that falls on Father’s Day this year.  The Husband part is a work in progress according to Paula.  Remember my Foodie Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen”. 

Take Care, 

John & Paula

Are you preparing to celebrate Father’s Day? How about a hearty breakfast the entire family will enjoy? Recently, delish.com featured 55 dad-approved brunch recipes, which will leave you feeling hungry after exploring the list. So, I thought it would be fun to share a few top picks and see how easy it would be to find ingredients at the farmers’ market.

Top picks include:

1. Breakfast tacos are a family favorite that can diversify in many ways.

2. Fried egg tostadas topped with pico de gallo; there’s nothing like fresh pico de gallo made with locally grown cilantro.

3. Waffles (or pancakes) with fried chicken on the side are a hungry man’s dish and a fun treat for all. They’re the perfect combination of sweet and savory.

4. Hash brown crusted bacon and cheddar quiche are perfect because hash browns, seasoned and crisped correctly, make everything delicious.

5. BLT egg benedict is a fantastic way to incorporate fresh greens and tomatoes into flavorful bites.

Now, check out this shopping list and the various vendors who have the ingredients needed to make these fun breakfast dishes for Dad. The list includes items currently in season at the Saturday market.

Bagels, bread, & more: Bread Butler, Katie Bakes GF, Night Work Bread, Jennifer Bakes Sweet Treats (English muffin bread), and Kokinda Farm

Cheeses: Argyle Cheese Farmer and Nettle Meadow

Eggs: Hepatica Farms, Jireh Organic & Livestock of NY, Kokinda Farm, Squash Villa Farm

Fresh vegetables & herbs: Green Jeans Market Farm, Kokinda Farm, Leaning Birch Farm, Lovin’ Mama Farm, Owl Wood Farm, Squash Villa Farm, Burger’s MarketGarden

Meats (bacon, sausage & chicken): Grazin’ Acres Farm, Hepatica Farms, Jireh Organic & Livestock of NY, Long Lesson Farm. May-K-Mark, Squash Villa Farm

Syrups, honey, and jams:  Ballston Lake Apiaries, Kokinda Farm, Slate Valley Farm, 

Tomatoes: Shushan Valley Hydro Farm

As you shop the market, consider your ready-to-eat breakfast by visiting Something’s Brewing for coffee, Thorn + Roots for smoothies and bowls, M&A Farm for breakfast sandwiches, The Breakfast Nook for omelets and waffles, Drizzly Bear for waffles and other assorted goods, La Capital Tacos for breakfast burritos, Saratoga Apple for cider donuts and Katie Bakes Gluten-Free, Parchment Baking Company, Night Work Bread, The Sweetish Chef and The Bread Butler for croissants, bagels, scones, and more.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open on Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at High Rock Park in downtown Saratoga Springs. Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SaratogaFarmersMarket.

Hellomy Foodie Friends!   

There is something delicious and nostalgic about strawberries. 

When I just see them, my mom flashes into my memory.  Growing up, I lived by a farm that grew strawberries. The last weeks of the month of May would bring the start to some beautifully ripe and delicious strawberries.  My mom used to love taking all of us strawberry picking. Maybe it was her grand plan to tire out her three rambunctious boys or she just loved how happy it made us to accompany her on the strawberry picking adventure. We would race to fill our baskets and run them back to mom.  My two sisters were diligent in looking for the biggest, reddest strawberries. However, my brothers and I preferred to create a “bug competition” looking for the most bugs and different bugs we could find. The other issue was when we did pick the strawberries, it was difficult not to take a bite out them. My mom would often find our buckets filled with little bites taken from several of the strawberries. I have to admit the best part of the day was eating the strawberries.

During our strawberry excursions, my brothers and I, John, Danny and Billy, always competed in everything we did so we would split up to find our own patch. On one of our strawberry picking adventures my brother Danny who was usually the one who got into mischief, was kneeling on the ground talking to a very cute animal. Since we were about the ages of five or six, we had no fear of animals yet.  I said “Danny, is that a cat? He then responded “yes, I think so and he’s wearing a mask!” He was saying “here kitty would you like a strawberry?”  You know what happened next, the “kitty” took the strawberry and bit Danny’s finger. We were then off on another adventure to the emergency room where Danny saw a very big needle. That is also when the doctor told all three boys what a raccoon was and how much they enjoyed strawberries as well. We still talk about that day whenever we get together. 

Being involved with creating a garden or visiting one is a wonderful way to encourage eating fresh garden harvests. Although my mother and grandmother did not have strawberry fields, they did have beautiful vegetable gardens. One of my favorite memories is when my mother would ask us to gather rocks for her garden. Picking out the largest and coolest rock kept the us three, highly energized boys busy for hours.  Another favorite memory was plucking the fruits of my mother and grandmothers gardens. Snacking on the garden vegetables was another challenge for us to avoid. We would play hide and seek in the garden while nibbling on some of the garden treasures. My brothers and I would try to hide and flatten our bodies close to the ground as soon as we heard either my mother or grandmother asking us what we were up to.

Getting children involved with gardening and harvesting fruits is a great way to create memories. Being involved with creating a garden or visiting one is a wonderful way to encourage eating fresh garden harvests. With picking strawberries, we get to celebrate having fresh strawberries and whipped cream. This is one of my favorite desserts and snacks. There are so many ways to use strawberries; you can eat them for breakfast and add granola for some texture, drizzle chocolate on them, or make strawberry cream pie or shortcake 

At Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place, we carry tools to help you with your strawberry creations. One item is the strawberry huller. A strawberry huller is a small kitchen tool used to remove leaves and the hull from the top of a strawberry. Lots of dishes call for it. The huller, which resembles a mini set of tongs with tips or you can get the one with teethlike edges, allows you to push the tips into the top of a strawberry (around the stem), grip, twist, pull, and you’re done. The advantage to using a huller is that you lose much less fruit than if you just cut the ends off of your berries. Yes, you could use a knife. However, the huller is much safer. Another item to have is a paring knife to help you slice up your strawberries. This spring, step into the strawberry fields with friends and family or stop by the farmers market to pick up some strawberries.  While you are creating your favorite strawberry dish, maybe even put on the Beatles and listen to “Strawberry Fields Forever” (oh! I am showing my age). Remember my Foodie Friends; “Life Happens in the Kitchen”. 

Take Care, John & Paula

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market started in 1978 with a small group of farmers opening the first area market in a parking lot. They appear to be the first farmers’ market in Saratoga and the surrounding Capital Region. The market has gone on to serve the community for over 46 years and is in constant motion, growing and changing.

They have become a 501(c)3, as well as a small business incubator and area host that provides an opportunity to bring locally grown and produced goods to the area. They now host indoor and outdoor markets, striving to serve their membership and the community year-round.

The market is at an exciting growth point and is striving to add to its growing list of free programs for the community. This includes educational events, a kids club, weekly entertainment, festivals, cooking demos, the SNAP/EBT program, and expanding SNAP benefits at satellite markets in Clifton Park and Milton.

Growth and expansion require funding, and the market is excited to announce that the American Farmland Trust is offering a $5,000 prize to the farmers’ market of the people’s choice. The market wants to get the word out to the public and ask for your vote.

It’s easy and takes a few minutes. Please consider visiting markets.farmland.org. Look on the site for America’s Farmers’ Market Celebration and click ‘vote now’ to cast your vote.

Please vote for the first option listing the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. Every vote counts, and we hope to be the People’s Choice for 2024, striving to continue to serve the community in new ways.

Visit our markets throughout the year:

• Saturday outdoor market at High Rock Park, Saratoga Springs (May through October, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

• Wednesday outdoor market at High Rock Park, Saratoga Springs (May through October, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.)

• Monday outdoor satellite market at Shenendehowa Methodist Church, Clifton Park (June through Mid-October, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.)

• Thursday outdoor satellite market at Burgess-Kimball Memorial Park, Milton (July 11 through the end of August, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.)

• Saturday indoor markets at Wilton Mall, Saratoga (November through April, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) 

The Saratoga Farmers Market is 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturdays in the food court of the Wilton Mall. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for previews of what’s fresh. 

We are in the midst of so many reasons to celebrate. Among those reasons are individuals who are graduating from high school and college. I can recall the emotions of pride watching each of my children get their diploma from high school and college. For a parent, there are so many mixed emotions. During graduation day from high school, I knew my children would be fine – they would be great. Their high school graduation was just the beginning of some amazing times to come. For me, it was the start of a very different time in my life. As you watch your child cross the stage, you can feel your heart expand and surge. That moment was precious and overwhelming at the same time. During their college graduations, I cheered them and supported them as they navigated living away from home. They are out there living their own lives, and as a parent you can only sit back, hope and wish them the best. These feelings occur at all levels of watching individuals enter into new stages of their lives. That’s the thing about graduations, they bring out all the feels. (And so many tears.).

Over the many years here at our store, many customers come in and tell us stories of the love of cooking that so many younger individuals have. The stories and pictures of favorite meals, menus, and creations are shared and now this person is graduating from school.  Do you know someone who is graduating—what an excellent occasion. Or perhaps the person who is graduating is you, in which case, congratulations! Either way, graduation means presents are in order—and it also means it’s time to move out of that crappy college apartment. That’s why, if you’re wondering what to gift your grad, outfitting their new adult kitchen is the way to go. It’s a new stage of life for your proud graduate, so treat them to some useful culinary tools. 

At Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place; let us help you select that special culinary gift to congratulate the graduate. To all of our graduates: “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln. Remember my Foodie Friend; “Life Happens in the Kitchen.”

Take Care, 

John & Paula

As you get ready to sip the sweetness of summer, it’s always fun to peek at what’s on trend, whether you’re enjoying a nice quiet moment, entertaining guests, sipping around the fire pit, or enjoying the horse track. 

According to Advanced Mixology, 2024 is the year of artisanal spirits, craft cocktails, small distillery-batched products, and sustainability, which means the Saratoga Farmers’ Market is the place to visit to keep your ‘glass half full’—never half empty (wink). 

Around town, Saratoga is currently buzzing with details and news of the Belmont visiting Saratoga this June. I had no idea this race lent its name to its traditional cocktail, but why not? The Belmont Jewel mixes pomegranate juice, lemonade, and bourbon. In fact, Discover Saratoga recently hosted a contest inviting local restaurants and businesses to participate in putting a unique twist on this specific drink, which has led to interesting mixes and new concoctions complete with creative names featured throughout the area. Sixteen establishments joined the contest, and you can check out all the ingredients and drink-mixing fun at DiscoverSartoga.org. 

As you plan your mixology, incorporate a swing by the market to support the local, artisanal, hand-crafted, small-batch brands ready to make their way into your summer coolers.  Remember, mocktails are still on trend, and the market is full of endless ideas and ingredients to accompany your shake, mix, and stir menu sips.

Wednesday’s Market:

Saratoga Apple: Hard cider
Springbrook Hollow Farm Distillery: Moonshine, coffee-flavored liqueur, gin, vodkas, limoncello, orangecello, and more.

Saturday’s Market:

Albany Distilling Company: Assorted flavored vodkas, rum, whisky, canned cocktails, and more.New Scotland Spirits: Bourbon, whiskey, vodka, and more
Old Tavern Farm: Assorted wines, vodka, flavored drink syrups, and more
Saratoga Apple: Hard cider
Schenectady Distilling Company: Bourbon, gin, muleshine, whiskey, and more.
Slyboro Cider House: Assorted cider-based wines, hard cider, and more
Springbrook Hollow Farm Distillery: Moonshine, coffee-flavored liqueur, gin, vodkas, limoncello, orangecello, and more.
Yankee Distillers: Rum, whisky, and vodka
Coming Soon: GhostFish Brewing Company East featuring assorted craft beers

Hello  my Foodie Friends!   

This is Memorial Day weekend. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate so we can have our outdoor picnics to celebrate the holiday. I am so happy to see the sun and the warmer temperatures. The season between Memorial Day and Labor Day brings the opportunity to host many outside events. 

Having a picnic with family and friends on a beautiful day can be a time that creates those unforgettable moments and memories that last a life time. 

Each week we write about the fun of creating and cooking fabulous dishes. However, with making these dishes comes the mess and dreaded task of cleaning up which becomes someone’s responsibility. Many conflicts occur within a household on whose turn it is to wash the dishes. I remember in my childhood, years fighting with my four other siblings on who would be assigned the chore of doing the dishes. Having grown up in a household with five children, my mother ran a tight ship and made sure all of us were assigned cleaning duties. Fighting over who was going to wash the dishes was a common occurrence even after my mother made it clear whose job it was that evening. Through the years we learned that washing the dishes did not take that long when each of us helped out. When we shared and helped each other in our household chores, we then had plenty of time to go and do what we wanted afterwards. While doing chores and playing together, we became good friends; a friendship that still holds today. 

“You know you’re an adult when you get excited when there is a new sponge in the sink”. Author Unknown. To this day, believe it or not, I enjoy washing dishes. I love bringing home new types of items to help me with this chore. One of our favorite items we carry is the Jetz-Scrubz cleaning sponge. This sponge will not scratch even the finest surfaces. They can last for several months and can be cleaned in the top tray of your dishwasher. The sponge has a foam side that holds suds longer and has a scratch-free scrubber side for pots and pans. Jetz-Scrubz is also made in the USA. 

This Memorial Day weekend, whose ever job it is to wash the dishes and clean up, try out this really cool sponge!  Come visit Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery Store located on 33 Railroad Place in Saratoga where we have Tools for Cooks! Have fun cooking and cleaning up.  Remember my Foodie Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen”.

Take Care, 

John & Paula

Whether you’re starting your grilling game this weekend or you’re a year-round grilling enthusiast, Saratoga Farmers’ Market vendors have many products to make an easy, delicious meal.

At Longlesson Farm, you can shop for beef and pork products. “Sirloin steak is an excellent option,” says Christophe, the farm owner. “It’s a versatile cut—grill whole or make kabobs to feed a crowd.” For kabobs, Christophe recommends bringing the steak to ambient temperature, cubing it, and marinating it in olive oil, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper for one hour. Pair with your favorite grilled vegetables. 

May-K-Mark offers beef, pork, and veal products, and Ariel shares her grilling favorites. “Steaks are always great, but I love hot and sweet Italian sausage. We have veal chorizo and bratwurst that can feed a lot of people. And shaved sliced steak on the grill is clutch on busy dinner nights.”

Hepatica Farm brings pasture-raised chicken, and Melanie’s absolute favorite is grilled chicken breast bone-in. “Bone-in prevents the meat from drying out, and the breast is flavorful and juicy,” she explains. “Thighs are also delicious, and our packs of drumsticks are a great value.” Melanie’s go-to marinade is lemon, rosemary, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper, and a little tamari. 

At Grazin’ Acres, Nate and Meghan have pork, chicken, and beef products. “Pork chops are always great and easy with salt, pepper, garlic, and oil,” says Nate. “Rib eye or NY strip steaks are other really good options. One of our family favorites is a whole chicken, halved and grilled slow and low at 200 degrees, and the chicken is juicy and just falls apart.”

Squash Villa Farm has simmering chicken and goat. Co-owner Himanee highly recommends rib chops and loin chops. “They are really easy to grill. Sear the meat and set the grill temperature to low to cook through. You can use a marinade or rub, but salt, pepper, and olive oil allow the flavor to shine.”

The Mushroom Shop LLC offers various mushrooms for vegetarian and plant-based grilling, and Elise recommends flavorful oyster mushrooms. “They are really easy to prepare. Just brush with your cooking oil of choice and season with salt and pepper. Grill for 8-10 minutes per side.”

Regardless of what you choose to grill, vendors at the farmers’ market have incredible options. So get your spatula ready, plan your visit to the market, and get grilling tips from the experts. 

The Saratoga Farmers Market is 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturdays in the food court of the Wilton Mall. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for previews of what’s fresh. 

Hello  my Foodie Friends!   

We are in that time of year of celebrating Weddings. Typically, the season begins in late Spring and goes into early Fall. It’s the most wonderful day for many – the day you get to say your vows with the one you love the most in the world. The one that you want to spend the rest of your life with. And all the people you love most in the world will be right there with you! 

I hold dear memories of my own wedding that include the magical part of being special and surrounded by love. It includes feeling the delight and sharing that happiness with others and recognizing that these are the people who will remain in your life as a part of your marriage. We were very blessed to have parents on both sides, which made sure our wedding day was unforgettable. Keep in mind that things will happen and not to sweat it. Our day was perfect until we did not have a ride home from the venue! 

My mother added to our day by making large platters of Italian cookies to add to our dessert offerings. All of the Italian matriarchs in my family joined in together to make the most incredible cookies (that were a hit) being consumed by the handfuls by our guests. Paula and I walked around the reception with two huge platters to share with our guests. Although cookies may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of a wedding, once you start thinking about it, you may realize how much they can be a perfect way to celebrate such a special day. While the wedding cake is still the belle of the ball, cookies can be an excellent support to this main headliner. In fact, cookies are a great treat that are commonly served during weddings or special occasions, we just don’t pay that much attention to celebrate such a special day. As we plan for our daughter Aubrey’s wedding, we reflect on the magnificent experience that our families provided in making sure we had a special day. 

Another part of weddings is what to get for the couple? At Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place, we offer those culinary tools that many would contribute to a couple’s kitchen and culinary needs. We also offer a wedding registry for the special couple. Stop in and we can work with you on your selection. Updating the kitchen is often the first thing we think of when starting a new life together. This new step offers a great opportunity to throw out old kitchenware and update your old pots, pans, and knives. Gifting kitchen tools to someone who loves cooking can be a thoughtful and practical gesture. Consider their cooking style and preferences when choosing the tools, and you might want to pick something unique or of high quality. From specialized gadgets to quality knives or cookware, there are plenty of options to consider. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, and let us help you with that special gift. Remember my Foodie Friends: “Life Happens in the Kitchen.”

Take Care, John & Paula

Whether you have a large vegetable garden or a few vegetables or herbs in planters, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market has many varieties of plants to get you started.

In May, several vendors offer herbs, vegetables, and fruit for you to grow and harvest right at home. One of my favorites is the lettuce bowls filled with different leafy finds you don’t have to transplant. You simply grow, clip, and enjoy. Some herb selections come similarly, making container gardening easy on a sunny porch or patio.

Whether you are searching for individual herbs or vegetable plants, there are many sizes and plants at various growth stages to consider. Staggering various sizes of plants can assist with spreading your vegetable harvest throughout the season.

Shoppers will also find hanging strawberry plants and patio tomato varieties at the farmers’ market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Both options make gardening more accessible and provide fresh produce without the responsibility of a large garden.

Tips for transplanting your newly purchased plants:

Plant height

Ensure plants are 4 to 6 inches tall and haven’t flowered before transplanting.

Weather ready

Be sure to acclimate plants from inside to outside before transplanting immature plants, which is known as the hardening process. Also, ensure temperatures are ready for your plants, and you have proper coverage as needed.

Soil

Overturn and fertilize the soil before adding plants to the garden. Laurie from Kokinda Farm encourages gardeners to use organic compost, which can be purchased at most local garden stores.

Measure and match

Know your plants and the space they need to grow before transplanting them. Consider researching companion planting for an optimal growing environment. Planting specific vegetables together can prevent plants from reaching their total productivity while, if done correctly, can increase yield.

Ask a farmer

Farms selling starter plants like these have years of experience and knowledge. They can answer your questions and guide home gardeners toward a successful growing season. 

The Saratoga Farmers Market is 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturdays in the food court of the Wilton Mall. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for previews of what’s fresh. 

Vendors Offering Starter Plants

Garden plants can be found on Wednesdays:
Burger’s Market Garden, Gomez Veggie Ville, & Scotch Ridge Farm

And on Saturdays:
Balet Farm, Burger’s Market Garden, Gomez Veggie Ville, Green Jeans Farm, Lovin’ Mama Farm, & Scotch Ridge Farm