THIS FARM STANDS ALONE

FARM FRESH VEGGIES!! Does anyone else get as excited as a three year old at 6 AM on Christmas morning when they see this hand painted sign pop up on the Main Road in Laurel??  I hope I'm not the only one!! And if you have no idea what I'm talking about, please keep reading.  I think you'll thank me at the end and will be saying to yourself, "I need to forkin' go there!!"

Wowak Farms is the site of that infamous sign mentioned above.  Although now they have changed it to "Wowak Farms Home Grown Vegetables" as of last year.   Located at 2805 Main Road in Laurel, NY, it is hands down my favorite farmstand on the North Fork of Long Island.  Starting in the spring when I see the asparagus vertically lined up on the farmstand counter and that hand painted sign appears, my yearly northforkin' produce adventure begins.

Wowak Farms was started by Tom Wowak in the 1970's.  He had learned how to farm from his father, who lived in Jamesport after coming to the United States from Poland, where he farmed as well.  Tom was born in the United States, and after he decided to start his own farm, his father would help him out as much as possible driving the tractor.  At first, Tom only grew potatoes, and for years the potatoes were sold mostly wholesale.  But some 50 pound bags would be placed outside of the house for sale with just a jar outside the door to collect the money.  The epitome of small town farm living!! 

But after many years of potato farming, soon there was little to no money to be made with only growing potatoes, and the changing economy about 15 years ago forced a shift.  Tom asked his daughter Valerie if she wanted to open a farmstand with him, and because she had grown up working with him on the farm, it was only natural for her to say yes.  And now as Tom is looking at retirement, the family tradition can continue with Valerie and her husband Kevin fully taking over the farmstand.  For me, as someone who also works with their father (and grew up working with him as well!) and also plans on taking over the family business, this northforkin' family farmstand story is even more special to me.

Let me first get out of the way that Wowak farms is strictly a FARMSTAND.  No frills.  No extra distractions.  No hay rides, no corn mazes, no winery, no singing, no tshirts for sale, no face painting, no all you can pick, no petting zoo, no death defying circus acts (just kidding on that last one...but now I probably gave someone their next big idea).  It's just amazing, fresh, locally grown produce at reasonable prices, and that's all I need.

So back to that Christmas-like excitement I feel when the farmstand finally opens for the season.  My favorite soup growing up was (and still is) roasted asparagus soup with a hint of tarragon.  And after years and years of eating it, I can say that my favorite asparagus is found at this farmstand.  Now, I have tried asparagus from other places in times of "dire need" when I have a particular craving for this soup.  Sometimes I would "have to" purchase from the grocery store when it was locally out of season...letdown.  And sometimes thinking about asparagus soup all day at work and then driving by the farmstand after I'm done and they are sold out and I have to get it somewhere else...another forkin' disappointment.  Edible yes, good yes, but not Whoa-wak good.

The next big locally sourced food event for me is when sweet corn is finally in season.  The typical benchmark for these golden and white gems is around the 4th of July.  When we have been lucky with a warm spring and early summer, sometimes a bit earlier, and when we have suffered with colder temperatures like this year, it was a long awaited arrival.  Sadly, I think about this corn ALL YEAR LONG.  I'm not kidding.  And when it finally arrives, two of my favorite dishes to make, besides the usual corn on the cob, is a simple watermelon, corn and feta salad and shrimp corn chowder.  And for those of you that know me, know I love to cook, so I've decided to include my favorite recipe for shrimp corn chowder.  (It's based on a recipe from Cooking Light.)

SHRIMP CORN CHOWDER 

Ingredients:

4 bacon slices, chopped

3 shallots, minced

1-2 tablespoons fresh thyme

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 cup flour

2 1/2 cups skim milk

1 1/4 cups chicken stock

2 bay leaves

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

24 medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

3 ears of corn, steamed and cut off cob

Green onions for garnish, thinly sliced

1. Cook bacon in a large saucepan over medium heat 6 minutes until crisp.  Remove bacon from pan with a slotted spoon, reserving drippings.

2. Add shallots and thyme to drippings in pan; sauté 2 minutes.  Add garlic; sauté until fragrant. Sprinkle flour over mixture and cook for 1 minute stirring constantly.  

3. Stir in milk, chicken stock and bay leaves and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium; cook 2 minutes.  Stir in salt, black pepper and shrimp; simmer 4 minutes or until shrimp are done.  Add in corn and discard bay leaves.  

4. Serve sprinkled with bacon and green onion for garnish.  

Ok.  Let's get back to forkin' business.  Another favorite of mine from Wowak Farms is their yellow cherry tomatoes.  They are INSANELY delicious.  A friend of mine nicknamed these little yellow morsels "Pop 'Ems", because you can't help but keep popping these addictive little bites into your mouth.  I'll stop by the farmstand just for a couple of pints of them, and three pints later, I'm back at the farm stand the next day.  No dressing or dip needed.

Beyond the asparagus, corn and tomatoes I've highlighted, there are so many other delicious finds here.  Spinach and other lettuces, beets, radishes, zucchini, yellow squash (summer squash corn chowder!!), cantaloupe, watermelon, butternut squash, broccoli, cauliflower, string beans, peas...the list goes on and on.  My Dad gets like a little kid on Christmas morning when the lima beans are revealed in the late summer.  And I actually tried them last year after hating them for about 35 years, and I think I'm starting to take a liking to them!! I'm actually looking forward to another test run this year.  So stay tuned.

So for those of you that are fans of Wowak Farms already, the next time you are there, think of me and maybe try something new.  And take a picture to share your northforkin' food adventure!! And for those of you who haven't been to Wowak Farms yet, I urge you to visit! Get your favorite farm fresh veggies and maybe something new as well or something that you've tried before but haven't liked in the past.  You may be surprised! Make your own home farm to (vege)table.  

HAPPY NORTHFORKIN'!!

DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A WRITER.  MY GRAMMAR SKILLS ARE SUBPAR.  I HAVE NEVER WRITTEN A BLOG IN MY LIFE.  UNTIL NOW. 

BUMP, (SUN)SET, SPIKE

Today I wanted to take a step away from a food focused blog entry like the first two "where the fork to go" have been and focus on something a little more simple.  Sometimes we (or at least I know I do), get so wrapped up in the everyday basic things that we need, like food, that we forget to appreciate the little things around us that make our lives a little more enjoyable and a little more full.  It does, sometimes, take a conscious effort to step away from the mundane and getting done what needs to get done, to sit back, take a deep breath, and enjoy the simple beauty that surrounds us.

"Never go too long without watching a sunset." - Atticus

If you grew up on the North Fork of Long Island, you know that we see some incredible sunsets on a pretty regular basis.  Even if you vacation out here, I am sure that you have taken the time to enjoy one (or many) of these forkin' sunsets as well.  So many nights when I am inside my house, I look outside at the sky as I am busy cleaning up my dinner or busy getting ready for the next day ahead, and I see the sky begin to turn those incredible colors.  Sometimes it's more red and orange, sometimes more blue and purple, sometimes a mix of everything.  And unfortunately I have to say, 99% of the time, I just think, "Wow, that's a beautiful sunset." And that's it.  I don't take the time to go outside and really appreciate it.  And then of course later that night when I'm scrolling through social media, 324908734 pictures of that incredible sunset pop up.  #sunset #nofosunset.  I feel like I really missed out.  #fomo.

"With every sunset, A new hope is born, An old expectation dies." - Noor Unnahar

There are so many perfect places to see the sunsets around here.  Even just watching the sunset in our own backyards rarely disappoints.  But, I think there is something extra peaceful about the sun slowly sinking down beyond a vast seemingly never-ending farm field.  It's almost like the universe is saying, "job well done, now take a rest, and tomorrow is another day to do what needs to be done."  And also, with our beautiful and serene beaches on the North Fork, there is nothing like watching the sun set slowly down below the horizon, with the incredible colors of the sky and the golden glowing sun reflecting off of the water.  Add a sailboat, a bird flying by, the sound of the waves crashing...pure heaven.  Am I forkin' right?

"It's almost impossible to watch a sunset and not dream." - Bern Williams

With all of this natural beauty around here, it's really hard to pick one spot that is my favorite place to experience a true North Fork sunset.  But, for the sake of trying to narrow it down to write about it, Breakwater Beach it is!!  Breakwater Beach, located on the Long Island Sound in Mattituck off of Cox Neck Road to Breakwater Road, definitely holds a special place in my heart when it comes to sunsets.  Ever since I was 18 and allowed to join, I have been a part of the beach volleyball league that plays at Breakwater Beach from mid-June through August.  Some years it was the Wednesday night league, other years (like now) it is the Tuesday night league (GO MATTITUCK PLUMBING!!), and when life was really good and I didn't feel like I was 80 years old, it was both nights.  And having just started up the beach volleyball season last week, this Breakwater Beach sunset post seems like perfect timing.

"Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully." - Kristen Butler

Playing beach volleyball at least once a week, beyond it's obvious physical health benefits, also contributes so much in the mental health department for me as well.  Watching an incredible sunset once a week really can help put your life into perspective.  No matter the day I had, the week I am in the midst of, or the month/year/etc., stopping to take a deep breath and take in the natural beauty and changing colors of a sunset, always seem to be just what I needed.  Many nights during a competitive game on the sand, someone would say, "Guys, this sunset is incredible right now.  Let's just stop for a moment and take this sunset in for a moment."  We would stop play, take a moment, and then get back into the game.  And sometimes, in the game of life, more often than we do and think we should, a stoppage and a moment of reflection is all that we need to reboot and get back on track.  Even nights when the games are finished but the sun hasn't yet set, I find myself hanging around for just a couple of minutes more, just for that reSET that I feel my mind and body need.

"Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

So the next time you are feeling overwhelmed by just trying to get done what you feel like needs to get done (and to be honest, probably does need to get done), maybe that night take the time to watch a sunset.  Whether it's in your backyard, or over looking a farm field, or at one of the local beaches, Breakwater or otherwise...take a moment to take a deep breath and really appreciate the sun sinking down, the changing colors of the sky, and the beautiful end to the forkin' day.

"May every sunrise hold more promise, And every sunset hold more peace." - Unknown

HAPPY NORTHFORKIN'!!

DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A WRITER.  MY GRAMMAR SKILLS ARE SUBPAR.  I HAVE NEVER WRITTEN A BLOG IN MY LIFE.  UNTIL NOW.  

BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER, OH MY!

Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner.  How many restaurants can you think of that you can eat any meal of the day at, AND THEY ARE ALL AMAZING??! Love Lane Kitchen is the one place I think of that consistently serves a perfect, fresh and delicious plate of food anytime of the day.  While I'm going to focus more on the AM spin of this place, know that their dinner is just as tasty as well.  But the tough part with dinner here is that if you have just had breakfast or lunch here, it makes it difficult to justify another meal here served only several hours later.

As you can probably figure out based on the name, Love Lane Kitchen is located on...you guessed it!...Love Lane!  This Mattituck locale, I think, is just an added bonus, because when you do have to occasionally wait to be seated, there are plenty of shops perfect for browsing to make that wait seem like an event in itself.  And then once you do get seated, believe me, you realize it was well worth the wait.  And after dining, you might find yourself going back to browse Love Lane some more.

Owned by Carolyn Iannone since 2012, this quaint cafe style restaurant has maintained the reputation of a seasonally balanced menu that continues to bring in fresh and, when possible, locally sourced items.  The service is impeccable, and being a local yes, you are greeted by name.  But I think that even a non-local can agree that they feel like family when dining here.  With indoor and outdoor seating (weather permitting), it helps create an immersive experience.  Sitting outside on a beautiful sunny day, watching people strolling down this picturesque street (again this Love Lane location is dynamite)...you feel as if you are in a whole different world.  Maybe a northforkin' world?

So, just a disclaimer, I am not usually a breakfast person.  Writing this particular blog post focusing on a breakfast/brunch/lunch seems ironic.  With that, for years, when I would come to LLK for breakfast or brunch, I would ALWAYS order a lunch item.  My standard was the chicken salad sandwich.  The chicken salad is filled with golden raisins and walnuts, is served on the most perfect focaccia bread with a nice balance of fresh greens.  And with a side of crispy sweet potato fries and chipotle mayo, it is in my eyes the perfect combination, no matter the hour.

However, several months ago, I decided to go out on a prong (bad fork joke?) for brunch, and ordered a BREAKFAST item, the Rancheros. And let me tell you, ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS EVER!!! 2 runny fried eggs (or eggs anyway you want, scrambled maybe like my sister?), refried beans, salsa, guacamole and warm corn tortillas.  It was PERFECTION.  And now sometimes I find myself waking up on a Sunday morning thinking, "I need some Rancheros today." I have a new found love of breakfast thanks to LLK.  And I'm sure if you talk to other people, they will certainly rave about other breakfast items as well...pancakes (regular or with a seasonal twist), French toast, the breakfast bowl, steak and eggs...endless forkin' possibilities.

Not only are their standard menu items consistently delicious, their special board is always full of a variety of choices that make ordering your standard meal a tough decision.  Recently, again, I went out on a limb for lunch, and ordered their ABLT sandwich off of that specials list.  As expected, another perfect sandwich.  A classic sandwich, kept simple with each fresh ingredient being allowed to shine, and so delicious that coming back a week later, I had to order the same thing.  And that's another thing that is so tough here.  You have your standard dishes that you love, you try new dishes that you love, so what do you order the next time?!?!? UGH! Forkin' decisions!

Beyond the delicious food here, I do want to touch on the drinks for a bit as well, because they are something special and deserve their own turn in the spotlight.  LLK has put together a fun cocktail list with twists on classics as well as entirely creative and new concoctions that are just begging to be enjoyed.  They offer several local craft beers on tap, have an approachable and diverse wine list featuring local wineries as well as their own private label "Share the Love" made in collaboration with local winemaker Alie Shaper.  IT DOES NOT DISAPPOINT.  When ordering off of their cocktail list, I personally love their French 75.  And I know for brunch the Bloody Mary is a staple.  I mean, check out that beauty! Again, decisions decisions.

So if you haven't experienced this place yet, I urge you to try it.  For breakfast, for lunch, for dinner...your choice!! And maybe it will get you to rethink what you typically gravitate towards for a certain meal and choose something different for once.  You hopefully will be pleasantly surprised.  And it definitely looks like I'll have to try something new the next time I'm at LLK too.  Maybe the lobster roll???  Seems appropriate. 

HAPPY NORTHFORKIN'!!

DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A WRITER.  MY GRAMMAR SKILLS ARE SUBPAR.  I HAVE NEVER WRITTEN A BLOG IN MY LIFE.  UNTIL NOW.

ICE CREAM, ICE CREAM! WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM!

ICE CREAM, ICE CREAM!!  WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM!!

Especially when that ice cream is from…MAGIC FOUNTAIN!!

For those of you that have read the story behind northforkin' and where the idea for this business originated, you will know that this first "where the fork to go" blog post is only natural.  But for those of you that haven't ventured onto our website before reading this post, or even if you have and just haven't visited the "our forkin' story" section (yet!!), here's a brief back story.

I, Elizabeth Anne Doroski, grew up here on the North Fork of Long Island, born and raised, and have lived in Laurel, Cutchogue, and for the majority of my life, and currently, in Mattituck.  I graduated from Mattituck High School.  My parents, grandparents, and even great grandparents are from here.  On the maternal side of my family, my ancestors were some of the founders of Southold Town.  The North Fork is in my blood.  Even while away at college (GO VILLANOVA!) and dental school (I guess yay Stony Brook too), I continued to come back to visit frequently; weekends, summers, any chance I got.  And during those first 32 years of my life, it would have been impossible to not notice the changes slowly taking place.  Wineries, breweries, restaurants, and so much more popping up, ready for us locals to enjoy, but also increasing the tourism in this area.  First only in the summer, but slowly extending as early as the spring through to the fall.  And then winter.  

Memorial Day weekend 2014, I was standing in line at…you guessed it!…MAGIC FOUNTAIN!!…waiting to get a delicious and refreshing perfect scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream in a sugar cone.  After waiting in line for over an hour, I was (I'm not going to sugar coat it) ANNOYED!! An hour for ice cream!!?? Are you kidding me!!?? Are you forkin' kidding me???!! And then my wheels started turning.  For the rest of the weekend I kept thinking about it…forkin', northforkin'…and kept thinking and thinking and shall we say, thinkin'?

For the next three years the idea would occasionally pop back into my head.  I would jot down some more ideas in my phone and then would put it on the back burner for awhile, and the cycle continued…until the Summer of 2017.  And the rest was forkin' history.  You can visit the "our forkin' story" page for the rest, but now, let's get to the good stuff!!

So Magic Fountain, located in Mattituck, NY.  Sometimes I think of it as the "gateway to the North Fork", but while that makes sense for someone living in Mattituck just east of it, the North Fork technically starts about 10 miles west of it.  So let's think of it as a local landmark, one of the "Magic Wonders" of the northforkin' world.

Magic Fountain is a family owned and operated business that first opened in 1966 as a Dairy Queen, which was then sold to another owner and renamed in 1977.  In keeping with the history though, the Dairy Queen girl still has her perch atop the signature orange roof.  All of the ice creams are homemade, and they also have a selection of yogurts, sorbets, flying saucers, dog treats, ice cream cakes, and other human treats.  Can anyone say fudge nut bar? And let's not forget their famous variation on a milk shake, the Magic Wonder, your choice of ice cream with your favorite candy blended in.  Hello Chocolate Heath Bar.  And while I'm going to focus on their ice cream, I also want to take a minute to honor their ice cream cakes that can be made to order (although I don't think they will do custom orders during the busy summer season).  This year for my birthday my parents got me the most delicious custom ice cream cake with…you guessed it!…mint chocolate chip! SIMPLY AMAZING!! 

But ok, back to ice cream.  Yes, they have your standard flavors, chocolate, strawberry, pistachio, etc.  And yes, even if you want to get a little fancier Salted Caramel, Honey Cinnamon and Red Velvet Cake.  A family favorite growing up was Chocolate Raspberry Truffle, and every once in awhile I have to get a scoop simply for the nostalgia factor.  I'm even remembering now one summer living home during college that my mom and I would go there (probably on an almost daily basis) and get these tiny baby cones (picture a 2 inch cone) with a smidgen of soft serve vanilla and chocolate swirl with rainbow sprinkles.  The perfect little bite.  (Magic Fountain, can you bring that back??? Please?!!)

But beyond your regular standard flavors of ice cream, Magic Fountain has the knack for creating these delicious ice cream flavors using what some would think of as unconventional ingredients as well as creative combinations that just simply work.  Some of my favorites over the years (when I can drag myself away from ordering my usual MCC) have been Banana Butterfinger, Coconut Avocado, Chocolate Chili, Fig and Honey and Cherry Pistachio.  I probably could list several more too.  But I seriously think you can't go wrong with any ice cream flavor or any treat whatsoever at this place.  And now that they serve some sugar free and vegan options, I think everybody can find something to love here.

So if any of you reading this (you guys are still reading, right?) haven't been to Magic Fountain, I strongly urge you to try it.  It's truly a taste of the North Fork.  And for those of you that have tried it, next time you are there, just think of how lucky we are to have a place like this close by.  And maybe you will smile just a little more knowing that this is a place where dreams are made, ice cream and otherwise.

HAPPY NORTHFORKIN'!!!

DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A WRITER.  MY GRAMMAR SKILLS ARE SUBPAR. I HAVE NEVER WRITTEN A BLOG IN MY LIFE. UNTIL NOW.