03/30/09

Nettle Noshing

If you’d asked my maternal grandfather, Phil Smith, where he came from, he would proudly reply “Drumavaddy, in the Parish of Den,” a tiny hamlet comprising a pub and a church at an out-of-the-way crossroads in the heart of County Cavan, Ireland. The land there is wild and the Smiths, being carpenters and not farmers, rented a small cottage. Phil eventually carved out a solid middle-class life in New York, accomplishing more, I am sure, than he ever would have imagined as a small boy. He would tell us stories about his humble upbringing, and one that I always remember was that his mother would send him out in the early spring to collect nettles, which grew wild in the fields. He said that she would make them into a type of a soup of which he had very fond memories....

Posted at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1

03/23/09

Best Burgers in Westchester

Okay, folks—now for equal time. You saw in my post “Burger Meister” that I’m a fan of Kory Wollin’s burgers at BSF, whose slices of plain ’ol Pullman bread (think Wonder) get slathered in a mayo-based sauce and then crisped on the griddle.

But here’s the thing: BSF is a burger stand, like a Dairy Queen, with a shake machine, order counter, and gingham-printed cardboard baskets. It’s wholesome: bright, clean,...

Posted at 01:31 PM | Permalink | Comments: 5

03/16/09

Raw and Uncut, Andy’s Pure Food

At five months old, Andy’s Pure Food in downtown Rye is one of Westchester’s only vegan cafes. Specializing in organic and vegan foods (no meat, dairy, or eggs), the brightly colored shop has a few tables near the front windows, but primarily does takeout business, serving up soups, salads, smoothies, juices, freshly prepared hot and cold items, and even desserts.

Owner Andy Ozgur points out that all of the food in his store contains no preservatives and is either served raw or lightly steamed, since grilling and baking destroy essential...

Posted at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0