The Beertraveler

It’s Labor day weekend. That pretty much means one thing in this area. It’s almost time to pick those apples to make cider.

One thing you will hear, incessantly, is that all apple cider must be pasteurized in the state of Connecticut. I am happy to say that this is simply not true. Apple Cider that has been pasteurized seems to lose some of its character. For those of us who grew up on the unpasteurized good stuff, you know what I’m saying.
Then, of course, there was a scare. Back in 1996 there were 14 cases of people getting sick from drinking apple cider that was made from “dropped apples.” These are apples that were picked from the ground instead of the trees. No one died, but this caused a scare and many orchards decided to start pasteurizing their cider to be on the safe side.


Do not fear! You are still able to get the original, unpasteurized, version of apple cider. In Connecticut, all that is required is a warning label stating that the cider is unpasteurized. Luckily, one of the places you can find this sweet nectar is right in the middle of the state in Meriden. High Hill Orchard is the place to go. They are a local family farm offering apples, pears, fresh cider, pumpkins, vegetables, flowers and herbs. They have told me that they will have fresh cider in a couple of weeks. I hope you can all hold off that long.

It’s getting near the end of the harvest season for all you maple lovers out there. So take a little drive and get some of Connecticut’s finest sugary product.

I went to restock my supply of maple syrup at my local sugarhouse only to find that they did not tap any trees this year. I was devastated and I’m pretty sure I teared up a little. Apparently the snow was so bad this season that they couldn’t reach the trees easily. Even the trees on the side of the roads were hard to get to because of the piles of snow left there by the plows made it nearly impossible to reach.

What was I to do? I was all set to purchase large quantities of Grade A Medium Amber goodness. I shivered at the thought of having to go to a market and purchase any of that Canadian crap, or even worse, that stuff made by hippies up in Vermont. So I quickly got out my Guide to Connecticut Sugarhouses and feverishly searched for another “dealer” to get my maple syrup fix.

I decide upon Lamothe’s Sugar House in Burlington, CT.

Lamothe’s is a working farm and has much more than just maple syrup. They had all 3 of the Grade A types of maple syrup, Light Amber, Medium Amber, and Dark Amber. They also carried all things maple: maple cream (awesome on crepes), maple sugar, maple taffy, maple candy… The list goes on. It’s a quaint little country gift shop that’s worth a visit for more than just maple syrup. So take a little ride and give this place a visit. Help support local artisans.

Lamonthe’s Sugar House 89 Stone Rd, Burlington, CT

Now that the crazy heat and humidity has subsided (for now), I decided to make another farm visit. This time to Bush Meadow Farm in Union, CT. It was super easy to find, exit 72 of I-84, which is always a plus.


What made this farm visit so appealing to me, was that not only did they have cow milk products and goat milk products, they also have a small little cafe built right into their country store where they serve breakfast and lunch Thursday through Friday. What’s even better is that most of what you can order off their menu is made/produced right there at the farm.
Milk and cheese made from their goats and cows, farm fresh eggs, baked goods baked right on premise, gelato, and for you meat eaters they even smoke and cure their own meats.

I was excited about purchasing some of their cow’s milk because they do not homogenize their milk, only pasteurize it. For me this is great because I make my own cheese, and the homogenization process kind of screws up the cheese making process. I do buy raw milk from Deerfield Farm sometimes for cheese making, but I’m lazy and I like that I didn’t have to pasteurize my own milk.

I couldn’t resist getting one of their big cinnamon rolls. What you see in the pictures is actually one cinnamon roll that is cut in half and then heated up on the griddle with butter. Ummm, yeah… a decadent pastry that is warmed up on the griddle with butter. Why are you still reading this? Go there. Now.

I would highly suggest visiting Bush Meadow, especially if you have some family or friends visiting from out of state. It’s a nice, friendly place to sit down and have some good, locally produced food, and then do a little shopping to bring home some unique artisanal items.

While I was at the past couple of farmers markets, I picked up some chocolate milk from Deerfield Farm. Let me just say right off the bat… It was probably one of the best chocolate milks I’ve ever had. So when I woke up this morning and took a look at my empty fridge and thought to myself that I wish I had some of that kick ass chocolate milk from Deerfield right now, it didn’t occur to me right away that I should get off my lazy ass and drive to the farm and get some. It was early, so it took a little while to clear my brain.
When my senses finally started to kick in, I remembered that they were located in Durham, only about a 15 minute drive. So after having a battle with myself about leaving my house at 9am on a Saturday, the anticipation of chocolate milk won out and I made my way to the farm.

It was easy to find, just off Rt. 68, which was nice because my brain still wasn’t functioning correctly and I probably would have cried if I had trouble finding it. The farm looked like it was straight out of guide book, red barn with a large, white topped silo standing next to it and a large pasture behind it. The store is basically an open shed to the right with a couple of fridges, a freezer, and a table display full of the products they offer.

I made a b-line to the fridge. Luckily there were no small children around. I would have knocked them down. No, really, I’m not kidding… No kid is going to stand in the way of me and my chocolate milk.
I stood in front of the fridge. Looking at the selections. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. There was NO chocolate milk available! I looked around the small area to see if they might have a special section dedicated to this elixir. Nope. Nothing. I was in shock. Did the cow that produces chocolate milk die? I could have sworn the guy that just left carried out chocolate milk. Is he still in the lot? Was he bigger than me? I wasn’t thinking clearly at this point as you can tell. I know what you’re thinking. Just ask someone. Well… In true farmstand fashion, there is a lock box on the counter and purchases are made on the honor system. Normally I would have found this endearing, having that bond of trust with your customers, but somehow I felt heartbroken.

After going through a whole range of emotions and confusion in a very short span of time, I decided to check the fridge with the milk again. Maybe there was some expired chocolate milk lurking behind all the other milk that I could find. As I started scanning for my chocolate bounty, I noticed right in front of my eyes milk containers with a dark substance inside. Could I have been that blind? Nope. After a moment of elation, my heart once again dropped to the floor. These containers were labeled “Mocha Coffee Milk.” This intrigued me so much that all the emotions I was recently experiencing, halted. I grabbed a container and proceeded to read the ingredients. What I found was a list that was pretty much the same as my precious chocolate milk from what I remember, with one major exception. Coffee. They put coffee in chocolate milk. Ingenious. How simple. Why haven’t I thought of that? Why is this product not on the table of every household in the world? Where was this person who made this so I can give them a nobel prize, or at least a hug? My crisis had been adverted. The world was now safe again.

I happily put my money into the lockbox and then noticed that they had samples available of his newly discovered food of the gods. Let me just say… It took all the will power I had not to drink the whole sample container. This stuff was pure goodness. The one thing that stands out about the Mocha Coffee Milk as well as their Chocolate Milk, was what I call “mouth feel.” I love the fact that they use whole milk as a base. Most chocolate milks I found use skim or partially skim milk which is why I almost never buy it. I usually buy whole milk and make up my own chocolate sauce to add to it because of this very reason. Whole milk is the key and I applaud Deerfield Farm for using it.

I highly recommend visiting Deerfield Farm, either at their home location or at one of the farmer markets they sell at.

I now need to take a nap after riding the emotional rollercoaster of my visit there.

Today was the first day of the Chester Farmer Market. This will happen every Sunday until October 24th.
It’s a pretty easy find, only being about a mile off Rt. 9, and certainly worth a visit.

It’s a nice size market, certainly not the biggest around, but it has all the basics. I was happy to find 4 of the local Connecticut cheese makers as well as 2 local artisan bread bakers there. This alone warrants me showing up to any market. Throw in a bunch of veggies and herbs, and it’s a party.

Located in Southbury CT, this little gem of a store is kind of a one stop shopping experience for many of the locally made artisanal products from CT and New England region.
You can find close to 100 different farmstead and artisanal cheeses available here as well as breads, chocolates, and condiments.


As you can see to the right, I picked up quite a few goodies for myself while here. After sampling several cheeses, I decided upon getting some of the goat cheeses from Beltane Farms (Which I still have to visit…) as well as a French Country loaf. Chocolates from Anna Shea and a jar of Chipotle Honey Mustard from Appalachian Naturals.


Easily located off Rt. 84, this store is a convenient location to pick up some wonderfully made artisanal products.

I had the chance to visit Saratoga Springs, NY for a couple of days recently. This would be the 3rd time I’ve been up there, and I hope it won’t be the last.

Just a short drive north of Albany, the best way I could describe Saratoga Springs to New Englanders is that it is similar Northampton, MA., just a little less “eclectic”. Primarily known for horse racing, I have yet to visit it during racing season. This is because racing season pretty much only happens during the month of August. I’m sure it would be a much different place during that time though.

First off… There are a LOT of bars in Saratoga Springs. A pub crawl would certainly be an adventure, but you really only need to know about one.

9 Maple Avenue

That’s right, only an address for the name. This bar happens to be one of my favorite bars I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been to a lot. I’ll admit right off the bat that this bar isn’t for everyone. It’s a small jazz club that just happens to have the largest single malt scotch collection in NY.

They also have Irish Whiskeys, Bourbons, and a nice Martini menu. Add all that up, and they have well over 200 different bottles to choose from. Just ask for the menu, and you’ll get a book listing all the bottles available. Take your time, choose wisely… If you need a little help, don’t be afraid to ask. The bartenders here are very knowledgeable about their products, and are very willing to talk you through the daunting task of choosing from their vast collection. The aura emanating from behind their bottle collection is the primary source for lighting in the bar. Just a few extra candles scattered about, and a single streetlight standing outside the front window is all that is needed to set up the proper mood to sit back and enjoy some of the best scotches available. This dimly lit joint should be a destination for any Scotch fan.

If it’s food you desire, you certainly won’t go hungry in Saratoga Springs.

RAVENOUS is a gem of a find in the downtown area. If you’re craving crepes, sweet or savory, then this is your destination. The last 2 times I’ve been to Saratoga, I wasn’t able to make it here so I made it a point to make sure I tried this place on this visit. Actually, I went twice. The first day for a savory crepe, and the next day for a sweet one.
A small little cafe down a side street, it’s easy to find because there is usually a line of people outside queued up salivating.

Sitting at the counter in full view of the master crepe maker, I awaited my “La Sorbonne” crepe and a side of their Belgian Pommes Frites with dipping sauce. The crepe was filled with fresh asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes, and chevre. They lasted about 3 minutes on my plate.

When I returned the next day for my “sweet” crepe, I decided upon the “French Kiss”. A crepe with chocolate-hazelnut spread dusted with vanilla powdered sugar and finished with whipped cream… It lasted about 30 seconds on my plate. I think I might have scared some of the other customers because they all stared at me while covering up their plates, protecting their precious crepes. Lucky for them I had other places I wanted to visit.

Harvest and Hearth was a great find for me. Just a short drive south from the downtown area, I would HIGHLY recommend making the trip here. Specializing in all natural, organic, artisan style, wood-fired pizza, this place should be on your short list of places to eat if in the area.The philosophy here is simple, try to support local & organic farming communities. Organic produce, local spring water, free range/antibiotic free meats, and artisanal flours pretty much sums it up.
If having one of their artisan pizzas wasn’t enough, how about having the Fair Trade, Organic Hot Brownie for dessert? That’s right, a Wood Fired Double Chocolate Brownie with all natural vanilla bean ice cream and fresh organic whipped cream… Are you still reading this? Why aren’t you driving there right now?

An important place worth mentioning is Esperanto. Recently expanded, this is the perfect place to visit after a night of bar hopping. Why is it important to mention this place you ask? Because they are open later than any other food joint around! 3:30am on Friday & Saturday to be exact. All you drunks out there know how important that is.
This is the “de facto”, late night, college eatery that you find around any college town. They specialize in authentic ethnic style foods including Greek, Mexican, Thai, Middle East, and of course the ever important pizza slice. Good, cheap, and late night. Thank goddess for punk rock eateries!

Cupcakes

Last, but not least, there are cupcakes to be found in Saratoga Springs. I find this important since this is probably going to be one of the ventures I pursue in the near future.

The Cupcake Lab is a nice place that offers a little more than just cupcakes. Their tag line says it all: “Cupcakes, Coffee, and Comfort Food.”
This recently opened eatery is a little hard to find because its entrance is located behind the building it’s in. I do think it’s worth walking around the block to get to it though.
Cupcakes offered in mini & regular sizes, fresh individually brewed coffee, homemade soups and other comfort foods, make this a unique place in the area.
A neat little service they offer is that if you call before 3pm and order one of their casseroles, it will be ready for you to pick up when you get out of work, or they will freeze it for you so you can reheat it whenever you want. I prefer having cupcakes for dinner myself…

Bettie’s Cakes located in the Downstreet Market place, is a small little “cupcakery cafe” that reminded me a little of the places I visited in LA. A stylish little place with a retro theme where you can get some tasty treats. I will admit, that they had a really good Red Velvet cupcake, almost as good as mine…

When people think about Maple Syrup their first thought is usually “Vermont.”  Well,  my Connecticut people, forget Vermont!  You can get great quality maple syrup right in your own back yard.   Sure, if you want to go tap some sugar maples and collect about 35 gallons of sap so you can get about a gallon of the sweet stuff, go ahead.  You might be better off visiting a Maple Sugar House near you and have someone else do all the hard work for you. It is true that Connecticut comes no where near the producing volume of Vermont when it comes to Maple Syrup, but there is certainly enough to go around right here. Why not keep it local?

This is the prime time to go get some of the freshest Maple Syrup in Connecticut. The season for collecting the sap is coming to an end. Cold nights and warm days make for prime sap collection. All you have to do now is make up some Belgian Waffles and pour some of that Amber liquid over it and enjoy.

I get my syrup from a small local producer in Meriden, Ray Sievert. He sells it out of his wood heating supply store located at 346 Johnson Ave. I’ve been going there for years, even when it was once a dairy farm and I used to go visit the cows when I was a kid. He has a small little sugar shack across the parking lot where the magic happens. If he’s boiling up a batch, ask if you can take a look. It’s pure New England.

Here is a link to the Dept of Agriculture’s site about Maple Sugar Houses.

Here is a link to Maple Syrup Producers Association of Connecticut.

Yesterday was the first day of Spring, so it was the perfect time to start my journey to seek out some local Connecticut goodness.

It was an easy choice to choose Cato Corner Farm. I’ve had some of their cheeses before at a farmer’s market and loved them. I wish that they were more readily available, but if you check out their site, the CT locations that carry their products is a bit slim. The ones that do carry their product only carry a couple of them, which sucks because they have about a dozen different cheeses that they make.

They are easily located in Colchester, off Rt. 2. Not hard to find at all, and actually closer than I thought they would be. It was one of the really nice weekend drives with the windows rolled down and the radio blasting.



I was expecting something a little different when I arrived. I was thinking more of a country style retail shop with other little goodies for sale. Nope. Cato Corner Farm was exactly that, a farm. A farm with a little shack attached where they sell their cheese. You gotta respect that.

They had about 8 or 9 of their cheeses available for purchase, and yes, you bet your ass that I tried each and every one of them. They were all exceptional. It was so hard to choose, but I thought it would have been rude to ask for another sample of each and everyone of their cheeses.

Here is a list of what I got:

• Dairyere – A firm Alpine style.
• Dutch Farmstead- A Gouda style
• Drunken Hooligan – Soft and pungent rubbed with wine grapes from a local Vineyard.
• Vivace – Medium sharp
• Womanchego – Cows milk version of Manchego

My favorite? Hmmmm. It’s hard to decide because they all were very good. I would have to say that because I’ve been on a Manchego kick for a little while, that I was quite pleased with their Womanchego.

All their cheeses are made in small batches using raw milk from their Jersey cows. A good thing to note is that they proudly don’t use growth hormones, herbicides, or animal based feeds and the cows get to graze freely in the pasture.

Cato Corner Farm
178 Cato Corner Rd.
Colchester, CT 06415
860-537-3884

Go there! But if you can’t, they do mail order.

I’ve tried a couple of times to get a blog going, but this time I think I actually might put some effort into it.

I plan on covering my travels.  Just to be clear, this doesn’t just mean my vacations…  It will be more of my “search” for the things that interest me.  So yes, I’ll be talking about beer as well as the brewpubs & breweries I visit along the way.  I will also be talking about fiber since I’ve recently taken up knitting & crocheting.   I’ve also decided that I want to visit local “artisans” on my quest for locally made & produced items.  I think this is important in times like now.  Supporting local businesses and artists and helping other people do the same.

So, let the journey begin…