It’s chilly out so I placed the big salad I made on the back porch while I made a pasta dinner. When I went out to retrieve the salad I saw that all but a few scraps had been eaten. Some deer or raccoon must have thought they were invited for dinner tonight!
“Work With What You Got!”
© Victoria Hart Glavin Tiny New York Kitchen © 2015 All Rights Reserved
Living is New York City is a wonderful thing. The city is never boring and always vibrant, but living in the city is also tiring. By the end of the week I’m usually pretty tired and am in need of a major weekend rest. Last night I had a meeting to go to and then had planned to leave for my weekend home in Connecticut for a long Labor Day weekend. Walking home from my meeting last night I was crossing 42nd Street and saw that the Chrysler Building was beautifully lit. While taking this photo I reflected on how grateful I am to have the best of both worlds and how I was soon heading to my house for a much needed break. Blessing to all of you!
Last Sunday Wilton, Connecticut’s, Cannon Grange, had their annual fair. I love this little fair because it truly is something from out of the past. The fair is held inside the grange where people compete against one another for things like “best homegrown tomatoes” and “best homemade pickles.” Outside are various local venders as well as a children’s’ watermelon eating contest. On a whim I decided to enter my Root Beer Brownies and won first prize. Next year I may enter my rhubarb jam or my double decker carrot cake. These are some of the simple things in life that make me happy.
Saturday the mail carriers were collecting food for the local food banks. This was what I left in my mailbox.
Cannon Grange Fair In Wilton, Connecticut
Tiny New York Kitchen went to the Cannon Grange Agricultural Fair today. We had so much fun today looking at all of the winning pies, baked goods, eggs, vegetables, flowers and bunnies. There was a great turnout and everyone seemed to be having a great time.
Fairfield County (& Surrounding Areas) Farmers’ Markets
Summer is officially here and Farmers’ Markets are in full glory! Here is a list of a good number of Fairfield County Farmers’ Markets. No doubt I may have missed a few, but here is a good guide for some farm to fork eating.
Bethel Farmers’ Market: Saturdays 9am to 1pm, From June 29th to November 2nd, Location is Fairfield County Extension Center, 67 Stony Hill Road (Route 6), Bethel, CT. For more information go to www.bethelfarmersmarket.org.
City Center Danbury Farmers’ Market: Fridays 11:30am to 5:30pm, From June 28th to October 25th, Location is at Kennedy Park on Main Street (across from the bus station), Danbury, CT. For more information go to www.citycenterdanbury.com.
City Seed Farmers’ Markets: Multiple New Haven Locations: Wooster Square, Saturdays 9am to 1pm, From May 4th to December 21st, Location is at Russo Park (Corner of Chapel Street & DePalma Court), New Haven, CT. Edgewood Park, Sundays 10am to 2pm, From May 5th to December 22nd, Location is at Corner of Whalley & West Rock Avenues, New Haven, CT. Downtown, Wednesdays 11am to 3pm, From June 19th to November 27th, Location is at New Haven Green at Temple & Chapel Streets, New Haven, CT. Fair Haven, Thursdays 2pm to 6pm, From July 11th to October 31st, Location is at Corner of Grand Ave & Poplar Street, New Haven, CT. The Hill, Fridays 11am to 2pm, From July 12th to October 25th, Location is at Connecticut Mental Health Center (Corner of Park & South Streets, New Haven, CT. For more information go to www.cityseed.org.
Darien Farmers’ Markets: Wednesdays 11am to 4pm, From May 29th to Christmas, Location is in the Municipal Parking Lot off of Mechanic Street which is behind the firehouse on Boston Post Road, Darien, CT. For more information go to www.darienfarmersmarket.net.
Fairfield-Greenfield Hill Farmers’ Market: Saturdays 11am to 4pm (Rain or Shine), From May to October, Location is at 75 Hillside Road (Between Hillside & Bronson), Fairfield, CT. For more information call: 203-259-8786
Georgetown Farmers' Market: Sundays 10am to 2pm, From June to October, Location is in the Village of Georgetown, 4 Old Mill Road, Georgetown, CT. For more information go to www.georgetownctfarmersmarket.com.
Greenwich Farmers’ Market: Saturdays 9:30am to 1pm, From May 18th to the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Location is at the Commuter Parking Lot (Corner of Arch Street & Horseneck Lane), Greenwich, CT.
John Jay Homestead Farm Market: Saturdays 9am to 1pm, From June 22nd to October 12th, Location is at 400 Jay Street, Katonah, New York. For more information go to www.johnjayhomestead.org.
New Canaan Farmers’ Market: Saturdays 10am to 2pm, From May 11th to November 23rd, Location is at Old Center School parking lot at South Avenue (Maple Street & Main Street), New Canaan, CT. For more information go to www.newcanaanfarmersmarket.net.
Old Greenwich Farmers’ Market: Wednesdays 3pm to 6pm, From May 29th to TBD, Location is at Presbyterian Church in Old Greenwich at 38 West End Avenue, Old Greenwich, CT. For more information go to www.oldgreenwichfarmersmarket.com.
Rowayton Farmers’ Market: Fridays 12pm to 5pm, From May 31st to TBD, Location is at Pinkney Park, 177 Rowayton Avenue, Rowayton, CT. For more information go to www.rowaytonct.com/farmersmarket.
Stamford Farmers’ Market (French Market), Saturdays 9am to 3pm, From June to October. Location is at Bedford Street at Forest Street, Stamford, CT.
The Farmers’ Market at Fairfield Hills: Tuesdays 2pm to 6pm, From June 18th to Oct 22nd, Location is at Fairfield Hills Campus @ Wasserman Way, Newtown, CT. For more information contact Mary Fellows at 203-313-9908.
Village of Devon Farmers’ Market: Sundays 10am to 2pm, From July through October, Location is at 120 Bridgeport Ave (Route 1), Milford, CT. For more information check their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Village-of-Devon-Farmers-Market/308864369173448
Weston Farmers’ Market: Saturdays 9am to 12pm, From Mid-June through October, Location is at the Weston Historical Society at Weston Road (Route 57) & High Acre Road, Weston, CT.
Wilton Farmers’ Market: Wednesdays 12:30pm to 5pm, From June 5th to September 25th. Location is at the Wilton Historical Society, 224 Danbury Road (Route 7), Wilton, CT. For more information go to www.wiltonfarmersmarket.com.
Farmers’ Market at Gossett’s Nursery: Saturdays 9am to 1pm, Location is at Gossett’s Nursery, 1202 Old Post Road (Route 35), South Salem, New York. For more information call 914-763-3001.
Sunday Farmers’ & Bakers’ Market & Second Sunday Antiques Market: Sundays 11am to 4pm. Location is at Antiques & Tools of Business & Kitchen, 65 Westchester Avenue, Pound Ridge, New York. For more information call: 914-764-0015 or 914-764-5122.
**Make Sure To Check Listings Before Heading Out As Things Are Subject To Change!
Fresco Trattoria
I love this place. I repeat I love this place. I discovered Fresco Trattoria about a month ago and I am really glad that I did. Making my Friday night trek from the city, my husband and I had gone to a French restaurant, in Wilton, earlier in the evening only to be rudely turned away. I had remembered that someone told me about a new restaurant in Georgetown that was really good and worth checking out. We were tired and it was late, but we decided to give it a go. What a surprise to find such a local treasure. Fresco Trattoria is an unpretentious Fairfield County treasure.
When we walked in we were promptly greeted and seated. Our server came over immediately and was extremely attentive. We reviewed the menu and were pleasantly surprised to see a wide array of authentic Italian food along with some nice creative salads. We were very hungry and I had heard that the restaurant had installed a wood –fired pizza oven. Always enjoying leftover pizza for the next day we ordered a pizza, salads and great pasta entrees. Everything was so delicious that we ate everything including the entire pizza.
During our meal the chef, Michael Pellizzari came to our table to inquire how our meal was. We certainly couldn’t complain and enthusiastically nodded our heads with mouths full. Next one of the owners, Frank Lombardi, came over to see how we were doing and chatted for a bit. Talk about a complete 180º from the previous Wilton restaurant that didn’t seem to want our business.
I am so happy that we found Fresco Trattoria. What a great local place to go to. Everything is homemade including the sauces. You can taste it too. The prices are very reasonable; the portions are generous and best of all you can tell that the owners and chef love what they do. They have a full bar with a decent wine list as well. I live in New York City during the week and am spoiled by all of the great high end restaurants. I typically don’t rave about many restaurants, but Fresco Trattoria is truly a special place.
Fresco Trattoria is open, Monday through Thursday, 11am to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 11pm, and Sunday 5 to 10pm. The address is 22 Main Street, Redding, Connecticut 06896. Their telephone number is 203-544-9447. You can visit Fresco Trattoria on the web at http://www.frescotrattoriaredding.com/ or
https://www.facebook.com/FrescoTrattoriaRedding.
New Canaan Farmers’ Market
I love going to farmers' markets, especially good ones. It's the closest to "farm to table" that I can get without growing my own fruits and vegetables. Yesterday was my first visit to the New Canaan farmer’s market. It’s a good one! I picked up beets, radishes, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, peaches and plums. Everything looked great and even though the vendors were busy they were very friendly and seemed happy to be there.
New Canaan Farmers’ Market
Saturday 10am to 2pm
May 12th Through October
Old Center School Parking Lot
South Avenue & Maple Street
www.newcanaanfarmersmarket.net
Interesting Chicken Facts
I have loved chickens for many years. Twenty years ago I had a chicken coop built on my property where I lived in the Pacific NW. I raised laying hens so that I could cook with fresh eggs. During the day I let my hens roam my property and at dusk my son’s corgi would herd them into their coop. Each morning I would go out to the coop, thank the “girls” and gather beautiful fresh eggs. Those days are gone and I now live a much different life dividing my week between my apartment in New York City and my house in Fairfield County.
Here are some fun and interesting chicken facts:
Chickens are omnivores. In the wild they will scratch the soil searching for seeds, insects, young mice and lizards.
Alektorophobia means “fear of chickens.”
The older the hen the larger the eggs she lays.
Chickens with white earlobes lay white eggs. Chickens with red earlobes lay brown eggs.
Chickens can live for 5 to 10 years depending on the breed. According to, The Guinness Book of World Records, the world’s oldest chicken died of heart failure at age 16.
A fresh egg sinks in a bowl of water, and old egg floats.
Hens start clucking to the eggs a few days before hatching, making it more likely that they will all hatch at approximately the same time.
DNA evidence suggests that chickens are the closest living relatives to the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
The first pictures of chickens in Europe were found on 7th Century BC Corinthian pottery.
Eggs dry out more quickly in your refrigerator’s egg rack so it is best to leave them in the carton.
If you can’t remember which eggs you cooked then spin them. If an egg spins quickly then it is hard boiled. If an egg spins slowly and wobbles then it is raw.
It is estimated that there are four chickens to every human on the planet.
The egg carton was invented in 1911 by a Canadian newspaper editor named, Joseph Coyle, in Smithers, British Columbia
An egg standing on its end can bear up to 200 pounds. The record was set by the Ontario Science Centre.
For best results, eggs should be brought to room temperature when used for baking.
A plastic egg, golf ball or avocado pit placed in a nest will encourage a hen to lay in it. This is the origin of the term “nest egg.”
“Go away, boy! Or I’ll spank you where the feathers are the thinnest.” – Foghorn J. Leghorn
