Going green has been a hot trend over the past few years and in conjunction with this revelation, the flower of all things organic has blossomed as well. Niles Gourmet Country Market & Bistro Cucina Rustica, 4588 Grange Hall Road, Niles, provides its customers with the taste and experience of organic cooking within a scenic country setting.

The bistro provides all natural and organic specialty foods from free range local meats to the vegetables directly taken from the garden of the three-acre piece of land surrounding the log cabin location. All meals are handmade from scratch and recipes are “made up as I go along,” says Sandie Becker, who owns and runs Niles Gourmet with her husband Eric. Sandie Becker prides herself on using foods that contain no pesticides, hormones or additives.

The best way to gain experience in a certain field is not by reading it out of a textbook, but rather, actually working firsthand in the field. Thanks to a joint collaboration by Jubilee Homes and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County, a number of youth from the city of Syracuse are provided with such an opportunity.

Now in its ninth year, Urban Delights: Youth Farmstand Project, allows kids and young adults ages 14 to 21 to establish, manage and operate eight farm stands throughout the city of Syracuse on a weekly basis. The grand opening for this endeavor will take place at noon on Wednesday, July 23, at Toomey Abbott Towers, 1207 Almond St.

”Gazoontite or hetchoo, a grinder built to bless you.” That is the slogan of Abart Industries’ Greatwoodies, a pepper and salt grinder business located in Skaneateles. Abart carves each grinder individually, but with a touch of fun. With over 40 different designs available, customers can choose a keg-shaped pepper grinder or swing the seasoning of a baseball bat-shaped shaker. There are also mushrooms, a pig and dozens more.

Nothing says summer more than licking ice cream cones and spending a lazy afternoon at the ballpark. So Cold Stone Creamery has combined the two favorites to celebrate July as National Ice Cream Month by unleashing a multitude of new flavors and creations surrounding America’s pastime.

Life’s a Beach at Ale’n’Angus, while the Pascale Bakehouse serves up yummy treats nearby

By Tom Kahley

 

Rise and shine: Kristin Hughes of Pascale Bakehouse Café displays a medley of their fresh baked bread. Michael Davis photo.

 

Many people only take downtown Syracuse at face value. Heading from the northern suburbs into the city, Hanover and Armory Squares are the first to greet those looking to drink in or get a taste of our big-city culture. Both bustling hangouts have their share of fine restaurants and pubs, which tend to get loud and crowded during daily lunch hours and the many downtown festivals in the summertime. But there are less-deafening alternatives.

Strong Hearts Café brings late-night vegan cuisine to the east side of downtown

By Nathan Turk

Pass through the lobby doors at 719 E. Genesee St., and then past the inner facade of the new Strong Hearts Café, and you're suddenly more at ease. It's not just the muted colors and aesthetically pleasing high-counter layout at work, but the menu: “milk”shakes, sandwiches, salads, sodas, waffles (even for dinner). The stuff of comfort, like Grandma's house.   

Eggs’ versatility extends to their being cooked in the shell

By Lorraine Smorol

It is anyone’s guess how the term “hard-boiled” came to be associated with the firm white and yolk preparation of an egg. The more accurate term is hard-cooked, because the never-fail method of assuring a perfect end product depends on removing the egg immediately, or taking the pan off the heat, once the water has come to a boil.    

Doug’s Fish Fry has been buoyant on the Syracuse restaurant scene since 1981. Effective June 1, a new line was cast as Jim and Susan Darnieder, owners and operators of the Doug’s Fish Frys on 6812 Manlius Center Road, DeWitt (437-3684), 3610 Route 31, Clay (652-7335) and 3249 Milton Ave., Fairmount (487-3010), decided to split from the chain and those locations are now known as JD’s Fish n’ Grill.

Not everyone finds the taste of Iceland’s most popular import, Bjork, savory to the senses. But maybe when she wore the “swan dress” to the 2001 Oscars, she might have been inspired by her native country’s eccentric and eclectic aquatic life, a portion of which has found its way to the Bonefish Grill, 600 Towne Drive (in the Towne Center Plaza), Fayetteville.

Flown in directly from Iceland, Bonefish Grill now offers Arctic Charr, a sweet, flaky swimmer most closely related to trout. But the Charr’s nippy-cold underwater habitat that’s constantly being filtered through volcanic rock sediment contributes to the distinguishably rich flavor of the fish.

In the mood for takeout but don’t feel like having the restaurant cook it for you? Then Vince’s Gourmet Imports, 440 N. Main St., North Syracuse (452-1000) has the solution. Visit their new Web site, www.vincesgourmet.com, and have one of more than 70 of their pre-made “take and bake” almost-thawed meals ready at whatever time you designate so you can pick it up, drive right home and begin cooking.