Foods We Love in Fall

Fall is such a beautiful, bountiful and colorful time of year and for those of you who love Fall, it has officially arrived.  The days are getting shorter, the air a bit cooler, and the foods heartier.  Local fruits and vegetables are still available in abundance and we’re excited to share some of our favorites with you.

Squash

Fall & Winter squashes (butternut, acorn, spaghetti, pumpkin, etc.) are delicious in Fall cooking because their flavors are stronger and sweeter than summer squashes.  They’re versatile and can be prepared in many different ways- roasted, steamed, baked, sautéed and pureed.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower, a member of the cabbage family, is available year round but becomes “in season” in the late Fall through Spring.  Cauliflower is very nutritious so don’t let the bland, white color fool you. It is low in fat and in carbohydrates and high in dietary fiber, folate, and Vitamin C.  Cauliflower is delicious simply roasted with olive oil, salt, and pepper, or steamed and mashed as a healthier alternative to potatoes. It’s also great with Curry powder or, as the French prefer, Au Gratin.

Green Leafy Vegetables

We can’t say enough good things about greens! Green leafy vegetables are especially nutritious because of their high Vitamin K content and also their high water content, protein, fiber, calcium, folate, vitamin A, and more.  Kale, swiss chard, mustard greens, spinach, collards, and turnip greens are some you might recognize. Greens have been very “trendy” for quite some time now and we predict (and pray!) this trend will last. It is best to buy your greens  - at least kale, collards and spinach - organic since these are part of the Dirty Dozen. A tried and true favorite way to enjoy greens is Louise’s easy, crunchy kale chips. You don’t even need a recipe!

Wash and Cut into 2”-3” pieces, dry, toss lightly with EVOO and salt and bake uncovered in a 325 oven for approximately 15-20 minutes or until crispy.

Apples & Pears

Both members of the “Pomes” family, apples and pears are now readily available. They are delicious on their own, added to salads, and of course baked in desserts.  Apples and pears will be available in grocery stores and farmers markets for the next few months but for the absolute best tasting fruit, we suggest picking your own.  Not only is it fun but it’s also the best and most affordable way to get the freshest fruit.  Lucky for us, there are tons of places in Connecticut to pick your own fruit. Check out http://www.pickyourown.org/CT.htm to find an orchard or farm near you!

Just about all of the fall produce we mentioned is available at the Bishop’s Corner Farmers Market.  Many of our prepared soups, salads, and baked items that we sell will include these ingredients.  Come visit us and the other vendors every Saturday from 9 a.m. - noon until the end of October. In November you can plan on Saturday mornings at the “Café Marketplace” at our New Britain Avenue storefront location. We will continue with retail sales on Saturdays from 9 a.m. – noon beginning November 1^st.

Enjoy and Bon Appétit!

Meet us at the Farmers Market

This has been a great summer for Café Louise that has been highlighted by our participation in the newly formed farmers market sponsored by the Bishops Corner Neighborhood Association.  Every Saturday until mid-October we’ll be among a great group of vendors selling.  Our Pastry Chef, Megan, provides tasty sweet treats including brownies, cookies, buttermilk scones, tea breads, fresh fruit hand pies, and Swag Bars (all of which have already given us return customers!).  Executive Chef, David Tolly, provides lots of wonderful items to choose from such as 6 inch quiches, pasta salad, chicken salad, seasonal soups, barbeque sauces, and fresh salsas which are available to sample at our tent.

  Participating in a farmers market is a new venture for us and so far has been a lot of fun.  Being in Bishops Corner every Saturday morning has given us a great opportunity to meet new local people and share what Café Louise is all about.  We are not your traditional farmers market vendor but we strongly believe in the philosophy of supporting local farms, food, and businesses.  The farms participating in this market provide beautiful, fresh produce every week.

George Hall Farm- Simsbury, CT

Located in Simsbury, George Hall Farm has been in business since 1966 and has been certified organic since 1979. They are famous for their blue potatoes but provide a wide variety of fresh vegetables that they sell at the farmers market. Along with their produce, they also sell eggs, pork and honey at their farm stand in Simsbury and offer a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).

Chubby Bunny Farm- Falls Village, CT

The Chubby Bunny Farms practices sustainable farming and takes a holistic approach when it comes to raising and growing their produce. They believe in having a direct connection with their customers and strive to keep the conversation going throughout the community.  They offer a wide variety of fresh produce, over 50 different crops, and focus on nutrient dense food.  The big dark green bunches of kale jump out to shoppers every week.

GeoRoots Solar Growth Farm- North Canton, CT

GeoRoots is a small, family run grower of healthy and chemical free crops, specializing in vegetables and herbs.  They have a variety of unique and heirloom greens that they sell, including beautiful salad mixes dotted with edible flowers. The fresh herbs that GeoRoots brings to the farmers market perfume their whole tent!

Anthony’s Farm- Simsbury, CT

A certified organic farm, Anthony’s Farm is located in Simsbury but also grows crops in neighboring towns.  Their specialty is growing a wide variety of potatoes. We also bought a few ears of corn from them and they were delicious!

Newgate Farms- Windsor, CT

Newgate Farms has been family owned and operated since 1933. They grew tomatoes exclusively for 50 years. They are know for their heirloom tomatoes and now grow and supply a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits to their customers. Along with the Farmers Market, they also sell produce at their farm stand on Tuesdays.

This farmers market is organized and run by the Bishop’s Corner Neighborhood Association, a non-profit organization that works with residents and businesses to make Bishops Corner a destination for all.  They’ve worked hard to make the market successful and we thank them for letting us be a part of it. They're also looking for volunteers to help in the upcoming weeks at the market.

Please visit the farmers market for produce, pastries, and much more!

Bishops Corner Farmers Market

(next to Starbucks & The Crown Market)

Saturdays, 9:00 am – Noon

August 2 – October 18

Bon Appétit!

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Mother's Day is just a few days away and and Café Louise owner, Louise Albin, reflects back on one of her favorite Mother's Day memories and sends a special Mother's Day message.

There are so many great gift options when it comes to Mother’s Day.  Gifts can be fun, personal, and don’t need to be expensive.  Our advice?  Give something to Mom that she may not normally buy for herself, but would love to receive and say “what a nice gift”.  There are so many to choose from but here are a few of our favorite gifts ideas with a few different options:

Plants

You can never go wrong with a beautiful and practical plant this time of year.  We love the idea of giving pots of fresh herbs such as basil, parsley and thyme. Fresh herbs are great to always have on hand to add freshness to any meal. 

 

One of our favorite ways to use fresh basil is by making pesto.  Pesto is so versatile and can be used in many different ways.  Toss with hot pasta, spread on sandwiches, or mix with softened butter and the possibilities are endless. Below is Chef David’s recipe.

Basil Pesto by Chef David Tolly

2c packed basil leaves
2 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 c pine nuts, toasted
1/2 c olive oil
1/2 c grated Romano cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Place basil and garlic in food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add olive oil and blend until almost smooth. Add pine nuts, Romano cheese, salt and pepper and pulse until just blended. If you prefer smoother pesto pulse until desired consistency.

Lemon Trees

 You can take potted plants one step further with a Meyer lemon tree. Meyer lemon trees produce beautifully sweet, vibrant yellow lemons and are also wonderful to have on hand for everyday cooking and entertaining.  Imagine wowing your friends and family serving iced tea with lemon slices from your own tree. So fun!

Kitchen Linens

We use a variety of different linens every day in the catering world but know how useful they are for people at home.  If your Mom loves to cook and entertain, there’s a good chance she could use extra or new linens to freshen the look of her kitchen.  Here’s our list:

• Tablecloths- remember one size does not fit all. Choose fabrics that are easy to wash and care for.

• Napkins- Have some fun with these!  Choose colors that contrast a tablecloth or table runner that your Mom might already own.  Fun napkin rings add a nice touch.

• Dishtowels & Tea Towels- Dishtowels are usually more absorbent but tea towels can have beautiful designs and add great décor to Mom’s kitchen.

• Aprons- Aprons with fun fabrics and designs are still a big trend and so fun to collect.  If Mom likes to cook, we think she’ll like a new apron.

Whether you’re going out for brunch, sending Mom to the spa, or planning a relaxing day at home, we hope you have a great day celebrating the women you love. Happy Mother’s Day!

Food of the Irish

Saint Patrick’s Day is less than two weeks away so we of course have Irish food on our minds.  “The day of the festival of Patrick”, is a public holiday in Ireland but is widely celebrated around the world.  With holiday celebrations comes an emphasis on food and drink and Saint Patrick’s Day is no different.   What many people do not realize is that Irish cuisine goes far beyond your standard Shepherd’s Pie and boiled Corned Beef & Cabbage.  Here are some fun facts and myths about Irish cuisine.

Corned Beef

Corned beef is a salt cured beef product.  Corned Beef & Cabbage is the most recognized meal to eat on St Patrick’s Day, if you’re celebrating in the United States.  Corned beef and cabbage didn’t actually originate in Ireland and if served in Ireland, is more for tourist appeal. The Irish-American “Corned beef and cabbage” actually developed from the traditional Bacon and Cabbage.    The dish was made with back bacon and boiled with cabbage and potatoes.  It is believed that Irish immigrants replaced the back bacon with corned beef in the mid to late 19^th century due to cost and availability and it has been a tradition ever since. 

Irish Stews

When you think of an Irish Stew, you probably think of a combination of lamb or beef, potatoes, carrots, and Guinness.  While, these ingredients are traditional and popular among the Irish there are also many variations.  Coddle is a traditional stew made with sausage, rashers (thinly sliced back bacon), onions and potatoes.  Unlike many beef and lamb stews, Coddle is made with chicken stock or water, making the stew light in color but certainly still rich in flavor as it is usually cooked for several hours.  Also, fish stews and chowders can’t be forgotten.  Ireland is a country on the coast with access to an abundance of fresh seafood.  Oysters, wild salmon, white fish, and varieties of shellfish are among the Irish favorites for stews highlighting their sea.

Vegetables

Many believe that the only vegetables that exist in the average Irish person’s diet are potatoes, cabbage and the occasional root vegetable.  Potatoes are the pride of Ireland.  They grow in abundance there so it is no surprise they are such an important and celebrated part of their cuisine.  Other popular vegetables found in Irish dishes include cabbage, leafy kale, carrots, onions, leeks, parsnips, turnips, brussel sprouts, and cauliflower. 

Soda Bread

We can’t talk about Irish food without mentioning Soda Bread.  Soda bread is a traditional baked bread in the Irish culture.  It is a “quick bread” comprised of just a short list of ingredients; flour, salt, baking soda, buttermilk, and (depending on the recipe) a little sugar.  When introduced in the 1800’s, it was made in a “bastible”, a large cast iron pot with a lid, and cooked over a flame or coals which meant anyone could make it, no oven required.  Today, there are several variations of the recipe but if you ask us, there is only one way to serve it- with a generous smear of butter. 

At Café Louise, we’re celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day with, among other things, delicious Brined Corned Beef, Buttery Potatoes, Cabbage and Soda Bread.  See the complete St. Patrick’s Day menu below and call or email us to place your order.

Saint Patrick's Day Weekend Extravaganza

Corned Beef Dinner- Corned Beef with Cabbage, Baby Carrots and Yukon Gold Potatoes.

Bangers & Mash- Traditional Irish Sausages griddled with Sweet Onions, served with Garlic and Herb Mashed Potatoes.

Lamb Stew- Tender Lamb simmered with Root Vegetables in a rich broth with Fresh Herbs.

Cottage Pie- Ground Beef, Corn and Lima Beans in a rich Gravy topped with whipped Yukon Gold Potatoes.

*All meals served with Irish Soda Bread and Shamrock Cookies.

$20 per person plus tax (minimum 2 orders per item)

Available March 14, 15, 17

Pre-Order 24 hours in advance

*additional Irish Soda Bread and Shamrock Cookies available for purchase.