Category: News

Keeping up with what’s new in the food industry

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Dining Across the Pond

Traveling is one of my favorite things to do. Getting to a new place, seeing new scenery, and trying new foods are what making adventures in different cities and countries the best!  Since Summer is often a time for travel, we’ve decided to focus our blog on foods in different places.

Right after I got married, my husband and I went to London.  This wasn’t a week’s visit, we lived there for two years. As you can imagine, I had the opportunity to really immerse myself in British Cuisine. British food has gotten a bad rap for a long time but let me tell you there is a lot of great food in London if you look for it.  As with any metropolitan city there are chefs from around the world, cooking their native cuisines. At the same time, there are still plenty of local chefs cooking amazing British Food.  Here are some of my favorites.

Geales – This is a neighborhood restaurant that serves up the biggest portion of fish and chips you’ve ever seen.  It is also the best fish and chips I’ve ever had.  We went here whenever anyone came to visit so they could cross fish and chips off their list.  Let me tell you, it never got old.  This is still a stop on any trip I take to London.

The Ledbury – Now Number 27 of the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants,  The Ledbury is fine dining at it’s best.  I had the pleasure of dining here many times as it was just down the street from where I lived.  The food and ambiance complemented each other perfectly providing an intimate dining experience on some of the best local foods.

St. John – This is one of the original nose to tail restaurants where they literally serve you everything from the snout to the hoof.  While that might not sound appealing to all, it was wonderful to see how they used traditional methods on non-traditional cuts of meat.  The flavors were traditionally British but the food was anything but traditional.

Rococo Chocolates – I couldn’t right a post about London without mentioning our amazing Rococo Chocolates.  We have a large selection in our marketplace, here.  There are four retail locations in London and if you are strolling around Belgravia, don’t miss the chance to have a coffee and a chocolate in their wonderful MaRococo Garden.  All of their chocolates are made in London and the fresh ganache isn’t available outside of England, so be sure to select a few of those to taste as well. My personal favorite is the Anglesey Sea Salt Ganache.

If you need any other eating tips in London just let me know.  I could write pages of recommendations.

Happy Friday,

Julie

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Seas the Day!

There is nothing better than lounging on the beach on a hot summer day. With easy access to a plethora of beautiful beaches via public transit, we New Yorkers are quite lucky! From Far Rockaway, to Fire Island, to the Hampton Villages, there is no shortage on beautiful beachfront fun. Laying in the summer sun near the water with a cocktail in hand and a speaker loudly singing makes for the most perfect day, so gather up your friends, pack a cooler full of snacks and our Watermelon Margarita Slush Punch, maybe a volleyball and frisbee, and make a day if it. It’s also important that you go prepared, regardless of which beach you choose to visit. A proper beach bag should contain a blanket or beach towels for lounging, a Bluetooth speaker, a hat, sunglasses, loads of sunscreen, water,  a book or a few magazines, and maybe also a collapsible beach umbrella. For snacks, it’s important to bring foods that don’t easily spoil — so I would personally avoid any type of meat or seafood unless you have a really well insulated cooler — like fresh fruit kabobs, vegetable crudités, chips and dip, or maybe even a classic PB&J…using Gus & Grey Jam of course!  Most importantly, pack plenty of water, as staying hydrated is imperative when spending a day outside in the heat of the summer. Spending most days surrounded by concrete, it can be hard to remember the beauty that surrounds us, but luckily so, the beauty of nature and the roaring ocean is only a quick train ride away!

Happy summer!

Payton

Watermelon Margarita Slush Punch

Ingredients:

1/3 c sugar

1/3 c fresh lime juice

5 c cubed seedless watermelon

1/3 c tequila

Fresh mint leaves

Method:

-Heat lime juice and sugar in a small saucepan until sugar is dissolved. Allow to cool.

-Add watermelon, lime syrup, tequila, and mint to a high speed blender and blend until smooth.

-Place in a shallow dish and freeze, agitating mixture with a fork every 30 minutes to create slushy texture. Transfer to a freezer safe storage vessel when completely frozen.

-Pack in cooler completely encased in ice.

-To build cocktail, add slush to a glass, add in another shot of tequila, and top with club soda and a wedge of lime! Enjoy.

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Life’s a Picnic

A picnic seems to be a quintessential summer outing; a nostalgic activity that quite effortlessly releases one’s childhood spirit. There is something so relaxing and youth-inspiring about lounging on a blanket laid overtop grass covered ground underneath the burning summer sun, sharing food, laughter, and time with those whom you cherish. More than just mere eating on the ground al fresco, a picnic ignites the melody of the summer breeze, bringing forth a connection to the ease, joy, and fascinating energy of the summer months. We think that a picnic is all about joyful relaxation, so we’ve compiled a list of tips, tricks, and artisanal food products to make your time outdoors as effortless and stress-free as possible. As with most things in life, preparation is key, and with any luck, our tips below will be the start to a relaxing summer day!

Tips and tricks for the perfect picnic:
1)The right food is imperative! Food that isn’t fussy, packs and travels well, does not require multiple utensils, and is nearly mess free makes for perfect picnic eating. In addition to the amazing artisanal items in our Life’s a Picnic gift-set, you should find yourself packing things like an assortment of different sandwiches and wraps, chips with a few different dips like hummus and salsa, fresh fruit kabobs, vegetable crudite with hummus and pesto, a simple meat and cheese tray, crackers, and a few sweet options like cookies or brownies for dessert — maybe even an alcoholic slush for the adults. Make sure paper plates, utensils, napkins, and stackable disposable cups find a place in your basket as well — biodegradable and made from recycled materials if at all possible! Also, use frozen bottles of water to keep your chilled items cold, and then drink once they defrost. For more inspiration, check out our Life’s a Picnic Pinterest Board.

2)REMEMBER FOOD SAFETY! A picnic isn’t stress free and enjoyable if you get food poisoning. Remember to keep cold items cold, using plenty on ice packs and or frozen water bottles, and do not allow the food to sit out in the hot sun for too long before enjoying once your picnic is set up. Pack away the cold items when not in use, and pull out of the cooler when needed.

3)Cleanliness and sanitation is essential. When packing your basket, don’t forget a to add few empty trash bags, as well as wet-wipes, and hand sanitizer.

4)Stay hydrated! The summer sun can be brutal! In addition to summer inspired beverages, both adult and kid-friendly alike, don’t forget to pack bottled water as well. As noted above, use frozen bottles of water to keep your chilled items cold, but it doesn’t hurt to pack extra water just in case.

5)Sunscreen. If you’re planning on spending more than 30 minutes outdoors on a summer day, sunscreen is an essential element in your picnic pack. It may also be handy to pack some toxin-free bug spray.

6)A comfy blanket with a large surface area to fit you, your friends and loved ones, in addition to the food is a must — the foundation to a perfect picnic.

We hope these tips prove helpful! Enjoy the summer sun, everyone!

-Payton

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Lessons from a Mom

This Sunday marks my fifth Mother’s Day as a mom and my first as a mother of three boys!  While most of my days are filled playing trains, running around and cleaning up messes I couldn’t be happier with my sons.  One of our favorite activities is reading books.  I feel like I have learned a lot from the books we read (beyond the names of the entire set of Thomas and his friends) and I’d like to share some of the lessons with you.

  1. You need help from your friends In The Little Blue Truck, the big, mean dump truck gets stuck in the mud.  With the help of Little Blue and Little Blue’s friends they are able to get the dump truck out of the mud.  As a working mother of three I know I cannot do it all on my own and my friends are always there when I need them.
  2. Team work is important In Mighty, Mighty Construction Site the trucks realize they all have to work together to get the job done. While I always new it was important to work as a team, I’ve found this is a lesson I apply at work and home.  At Julie’s Beet we collaborate on ideas for the site and marketplace and work together to get our many thoughts out to you. At home, I work with my husband to make sure we provide the best environment for our children.
  3. You must work hard and be patient to get recognized. In The Little Red Caboose, the caboose is sad because he always comes last and no one is excited to see him.  Then one day the train starts slipping down the mountain and the caboose saves the day by putting his breaks on.  After that the caboose gets all of the cheers and waves.  In life (personal & professional) nothing comes easy. I’ve learned that a lot of hard work pays off.  This is especially important as Julie’s Beet enters our fourth year.  We’re going to keep at it to make our marketplace the best around and cannot wait for more recognition from others.

I have grand plans to plant a garden this Mother’s Day.  We’ll see if the weather cooperates and the boys do too. I’ll have a great Mother’s Day as long as I am with my three boys… I know we’ll get to read at least one story!

Happy Friday,

Julie

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Mother’s Day Round Up 2018

This year we decided to think outside of the (Gift)box for Mother’s Day and ask some of our artisans(who are also moms) what they would want for Mother’s Day this year.  While each of these women deserves to be pampered everyday for all their hard work in the kitchen and at home, they all seemed surprised that anyone would ask them what they want.  We’re so glad we did because their responses allowed us to put together this amazing list of gifts for moms that love to cook, hike, eat and just relax.

 Hedley & Bennett Ms. Marlin Chef Coat :  This Chef’s coat is designed specifically for women, has the look and feel of a traditional chef’s coat but is designed with a cleaner cut to highlight a woman’s curves.  Perfect for a day in the pasta kitchen according to Leah from Semolina Artisanal Pasta but also great for the home chef.

Darn Tough Micro Crew Hiking Socks: These hiking socks are made in Vermont but perfect for where ever your feet take you.  These socks are comfortable, durable and perfect for those days out in mountains or the urban jungle.

Chelsea Miller Chef’s Knife –These knives are for someone who takes their knife work very seriously.  Hand Made by Chelsea Miller, herself, each knife is a one-of-a-kind.  The perfect gift for your one-of-a-kind-mom who likes to cook.  To be honest, these knives are so amazing you could consider each one a work of art.

Persiana by Sabrina Ghayour – Lucy of Lucy’s Granola made it clear that she would love a home-cooked meal on Mother’s Day but not something ordinary.  She loves this cookbook and would eat anything from it.  Apparently, it is pretty difficult to get Ethnic Ingredients up in Maine so she would also love some of the special ingredients needed to cook from this book. Persiana is full of recipes from the Middle East bringing a lot of flavor to your table.

Stasher Bags –These bags are perfect for snacks and lunch on the go while also taking care of the environment.  In half gallon, sandwich and snack sizes these bags are perfect for mother’s and their children and they aren’t just for holding food. Cook in quantity and freeze portions to make packing lunch easy and feel good about reusing the bag.  Stasher bags are also great for carrying make up and small toy parts.

Plants – Whether you choose something with a flower or not, plants definitely make moms smile.  This Herb Garden Kit from The Tasteful Garden is perfect for the mom who likes to grow and also cook.  I’m secretly hoping I’ll find this waiting for me on Mother’s Day.

Maia Moda Breastfeeding Top –Give a pregnant or breastfeeding mom a wardrobe update that is beautiful yet still functional.  For those days when you want to upgrade your look to something a little closer to your pre-mommy style, the ladies over at Maia Moda have you covered (literally). This dual purpose maternity and breastfeeding top has it all from style to versatility and is even machine washable.    Not to mention the entire line is made in the USA.

Pair any one of these gifts with one of our gift sets and your Mother will feel like a queen for the day! I hope my family reads this list so I get something amazing.

Happy Friday,

Julie

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Smorgasburg!

As the days quickly get warmer, New York City seems to recharge and become more and more alive. From  markets, street fairs and concerts, there is an abundance of things to do outdoors on a beautiful Spring or Summer day. Since we’re all about food, we especially love the warmer months of the year due the re-emergence of SMORGASBURG from its winter hibernation. Dubbed by the New York Times as “The Woodstock of Eating”, Smorgasburg was launched in 2011 and is now the largest open-air food market in the United States. Every Saturday in Williamsburg and every Sunday in Prospect Park, one-hundred local vendors come together to bring hungry people delicious food throughout Spring and Summer. From po boy’s to grilled lobster to vegan fare and everything in between, Smorgasburg has something delicious for everyone. One of my personal favorites is the Calexico Burger from Chickpea & Olive followed by a vegan scoop from Bona Bona Ice Cream Truck. Make sure to bring a blanket to spread out on the spacious open grounds, a book, and good company to help you enjoy the day! Also, most of the vendors are cash only, so if you don’t normally carry cash, be sure to stop at an ATM before starting your day.

– Payton

Saturday+Williamsburg.jpg

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Happy Birthday President Jefferson!

We all know Thomas Jefferson as one of the founding fathers of the United States of America and the third president of our country.  Today, April 13th, marks his birthday.  While Jefferson was a very influential in writing the Declaration of Independence and made many great contributions to our country, he is often overlooked for his influence on farming and his love of food.

As a farmer, Jefferson was obsessed with new crops, soil conditions, scientific agricultural techniques, and garden designs.  His main cash crop was tobacco, although it was rarely profitable.  Jefferson tried to achieve self-sufficiency with many vegetables, wheat, corn, hogs, and cattle to supply his family, slaves, and employees. Unfortunately, he was always in debt due to his other interests.  Among other interests, Jefferson was an inventor.  He is credited with making the moldboard plow.  This plow allowed farmers to turn the top soil on their fields and greatly reduce the time needed to prepare a field.  This in turn allowed farmers to work a larger area of land.

Thomas Jefferson was also interested in wine and considered a gourmet of his time.  As president, Jefferson, is remember for his elaborate entertaining.  Meals often consisted of wild fowl including pheasants, partridges, and wild pigeons.  Even when he wasn’t entertaining President Jefferson often began his day with Squab baked in a flaky crust or beef tongue.  He loved exotic fruits like pineapple and always had a supply of fresh-baked bread.  Jefferson continue to enjoy these foods beyond the end of his term.

As you can see Thomas Jefferson wasn’t only important in the founding of our country but was also a key player in adjusting the social norms around growing and eating food!  I can relate to his love of dining and entertaining. I also see that he set the precedent that our nation’s leaders should be a renaissance man with many different passions.

Happy Birthday President Jefferson!

Happy Friday,

Julie

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In like a Lion, out like a Lamb

March has been a very busy month… it came in roaring like a lion and hopefully, will go out like a lamb.  Tonight we begin the celebration of Passover with the first Seder. It is a time to be with family and friends to re-tell the story of the Jewish People’s exodus from Egypt.  One great part of any holiday is the traditions that go along with it.  As my children grow our traditions bring on new meaning and continue to grow as well. Here are some of my favorite family Passover traditions… you’ll notice most of them involve food.

  1. Singing Songs – At the end of a long seder, it is late and everyone has had a couple of glasses of wine(technically 4, but who’s counting?). It is the perfect time to sing all of the songs at the end of the Hagadah. One of my favorites is a counting song where each person takes a phrase. It is always a hoot to see who forgets and who remembers their number to keep the song going.
  2. Egg Soup – Eggs are a strong symbol at Passover representing life. It is common to eat a hard boiled egg at the seder but my friends take it a step further. They mix the hard boiled egg with salt water to produce egg soup and it is delicious.
  3. Chocolate – Since you cannot eat anything leavened during Passover most of the sweets tend to be chocolate related. I’m definitely okay with that and plan to eat chocolate before, during and after the Seder.
  4. Practicing our Hebrew – At my family’s Seder we take turns reading from the Hagadah. You are always encouraged to read the Hebrew rather than the English. The best part is that my mother-in-law follows along and corrects any mistakes along the way!  If someone is a good(meaning quick) reader we always make sure they take a long turn.  The faster you read, the sooner you get to eat!
  5. Family & Friends – At the end of the day, the best part of the holiday is spending it with family and friends. I’m lucky that I have 2 very special seders to attend and hope this tradition continues year after year.

Whatever holiday you are celebrating this weekend, I hope it is happy and meaningful and filled with all the traditions you love.

Happy Friday,

Julie

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From Grandma with Love

My love for food was ignited at the head of my grandma Carolyn’s old farmhouse table as she taught me how to roll out handmade cinnamon rolls when I was five years old. An unconditional nurturer, my grandmother radiates love and kindness, manifesting her love most clearly through food, always served with the most illuminating smile. As the mother of five children, a restaurant owner, and the head cook at Spring Grove School for more than two decades, my grandmother has dedicated her life to food. Her ability to share her love and warmth through food inspires me everyday to create beautiful and nourishing dishes for myself and the ones that I love.

As Easter nears, I wanted to share a recipe for one of my grandmother’s most sought after desserts — Scotcheroos — in hopes to inspire a fun family project in the kitchen. A simple combination of peanut butter, sugar, chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips, my grandma’s Scotcheroos are devoured almost instantly at any gathering that she brings them to. I hope you enjoy!

Payton

Grandma Carolyn’s Scotcheroos

Ingredients:

1 c sugar

1 c corn syrup

1 c creamy peanut butter

3 to 4 quarts popped Tiny but Mighty Popcorn

Optional*

1 c milk chocolate chips

1 c butterscotch chips

Method:

-Add sugar and corn syrup to a medium sized saucepan. Over medium high heat, bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in the peanut butter. Pour over popped popcorn.  Form into eggs. Allow to cool.

-The options for add-ins and toppings are endless! While forming, feel free to fill the center of your egg with your favorite candy of choice. Or drip or roll in melted or chopped chocolate, nuts, or candy pieces.

-My grandma always tops her scotcheroos with a combination of melted milk chocolate and butterscotch chips. Simply add chocolate chips and butterscotch chips to a glass bowl and melt over a double boiler. Once melted drizzle over the top of the formed eggs.

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Entertaining Made Easier

Entertaining can fun but also overwhelming, especially when you have kids.  For example, this weekend I’m hosting a brunch for my family which happens to be 20 people. Over the years I’ve discovered a few tricks that allow me to actually enjoy the celebration instead of feeling like I am slaving away in the kitchen or as the clean up crew.

Divide and conquer: This means get some help. At my house, I typically take care of the food while my husband takes care of the beverages. That means everything from selecting the wine to stocking the bar with ice, cups and garnishes, and ensuring the champagne saber is handy(usually just for New Year’s Eve).

For brunch on Sunday, my husband is in charge of picking up at the coffee at Dunkin Donuts and also responsible for picking up the bagels and smoked fish the day before. It isn’t a big drinking crowd so he should be able to handle both!

DO NOT try to make everything from scratch: I’ve learned that having 1 or 2 homemade items mixed in with some open and serve items creates the impression that you’ve done a lot of work and your guests will be really impressed.

For the brunch, I’m making my favorite Sour Cream Coffee Cake and an egg casserole.  We’re serving those along side bagels & lox with all of the fixings and a fruit tray.  My two amazing dishes show I put some effort into the meal but I wasn’t cooking for days to have it ready.

Preparation is key! I learned this when I was working in restaurants. You never know what you are going to walk into at the beginning of your shift so the more you can prepare ahead of time the better.  I also select menu items that require little hands on attention. For our New Years Eve Party we serve a large selection of cheese and I always make a brie en croute.  The brie looks really impressive and all I have to do is pop it in the oven and serve.

This weekend the casserole is the only item that needs to bake the day of. Everything else will be ready and waiting the night before.

Paper and Plastic are okay. This one really came into effect when my second son was born and since my third son was born it is the rule, not the exception. I just don’t have time anymore to wash all of those dishes.  Of course if I am serving a fancy sit down dinner for 6 or 8, I’ll pull out the fine china and silver but when it is a party with kids present, disposable is the way to go!

Luckily, I live down the block from Party City. We’ve already purchased our Thomas the Tank Engine Plates, disposable tablecloths and everything else we’ll need for the party.

I hope you’ll put my tips to good use next time you are entertaining. Please let me know if you have tips you’d like to add.

Happy Friday,

Julie