As found this morning on the Madison County Courier website:

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean that Central New Yorkers can’t enjoy locally-produced foods. Meadowood Farms and Circa Restaurant of Cazenovia have organized a “Fourth Saturday” Winter Farmers’ Market.
On Saturday Feb. 27, from 9 a.m. to noon, a group of local producers will gather at Circa Restaurant to sell their farm-raised products. Meadowood Farms will offer pasture-raised lamb and beef, wool blankets and sheepskins. They will be joined by several other local producers, including Ingallside Meadows Farm, selling pastured pork, beef, and eggs; Dutch Girl Cheese, selling artisan goat and cow’s milk cheeses; and Owen Tallman, selling gourmet mushrooms.
In addition, Alambria Springs of Lebanon will share information about their Community Supported Agriculture program.
Bee Tolman, manager of Meadowood Farms, explains that in past winters, her customers have had to come to the farm to pick up their lamb and beef.
“They risked life and limb, leaving the tropics of Cazenovia and Manlius, to brave the blasts of frozen precipitation up here on the ridge,” Tolman said. “Now our customers can pick up their meat in a warm place, even relax and have a cup of Alicyn’s coffee if they’d like.”
Furthermore, she says, it’s a nice environment for the farmers in the winter.
“Winter can be isolating,” Tolman said. “Now we get to chat with one another. I talk to Daniel [of Ingallside Meadows] about his pasture management and visit with Renata about her experiences making incredible cheese.”
Circa Restaurant’s chef and owner, Alicyn Hart, has long been a supporter of locally-produced food, Tolman said. All of the farmers at the Fourth Saturday market also supply her restaurant with menu ingredients.
“I like hosting this market because it offers my customers and the larger community an opportunity to meet the farmers who grow our food,” Hart said. “It’s an extension of the farm-to-fork initiative that I’ve been part of for the last four years.”
The Fourth Saturday Winter Farmers’ Market at Circa Restaurant will also be held Saturday, March 27 and Saturday, April 24, from 9 a.m. to noon. Circa Restaurant is located on Main Street by the traffic light in the center of Cazenovia.
The farmers at this new market invite everyone to come and discover the variety of local farm products available, even in the depths of winter.
 
 
The fourth and final installment of the Tastes of New York State features Madison County once again.  This webisode shows off winter activities across that state and at the 5:42 mark of the video Madison County is featured.  They visited Critz Farms, Nelson Farms, the village of Hamilton and had dinner at the Copper Turret.  Check it out!
 
 

It is the final weekend before Halloween and your chance to pick out that pumpkin for a jack-o-lantern is running out.  You will still find dozens of places to pick a pumpkin this weekend so do not despair.  If you already have your pumpkin, here are a few more ideas for you this weekend:
1. Visit a Haunted House at Creepy Camp--Central New York's largest & scariest haunted attractions with completely re-designed indoor walk-through attractions plus novelties, food, games, giveaways, special nights and so much more.  It is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
2. The National Abolition Hall of Fame celebrates its inductees this weekend with a commemoration event at Morrisville State College.  The events are open to the public and it is a great opportunity to take in the history of the abolition movement.
3. Fall Festival Night at the Chenango Canal-- Festival Night lights up the Chenango Canal Towpath Trail in Bouckville. Come to this free community event in costume to be judged for a prize, follow a clues hunt on the trail and enjoy a Halloween cookie and cider at the Bouckville General Store. Hosts are in costume and guide you to indoor and outdoor games and crafts for the children. The trail offers spectacular Halloween displays, entertainment and music to haunt you!
4. The Colgate Inn is having a brew dinner on Saturday night featuring their awesome food paired with beers from Omegang Brewery.  Call the Inn at 315-824-2300 for more information.
5. On Sunday the Great Swamp Conservancy in Canastota will hold its Great Halloween Fun Day.  It is a non-scary fun day especially for children, includes displays, crafts, games, Features: pinata, stories, costumes encouraged great day of kids events. $3.00 per child 12 and under.
Of course there are a ton of other events going on around the county.  Visit our homepage and our calendar of events for more details.  Happy Halloween everyone!!!

 
 

Alaina Potrikus of the Post Standard has a great story today about Empire Brewing Company of Syracuse and two new beers they are brewing featuring Madison County produce.  The beers feature pumpkins and apple cider from Critz Farms in Cazenovia.  Madison County has long been known as a historical leader in the hops industry and many people are trying to bring the hops farm back.  This is a great step in the right direction, using local products in a regional beer. Hats off to Matt and Juanita Critz and Dave Katelski for this great idea.  Next time you are in Armory Square for lunch have a pint of autumn or apple ale and think about how great local farms are.

 
 

Matt Critz of Critz Farms tried his hand last winter and making some hard cider.  This year he wants to help you make your own hard cider at home.  On Saturday October 25th Critz Farms will host a seminar at 10am on home cider making.  Information will include what apples, ingredients and equipment you need, as well as the "how-to" of hard cider making.  Experienced hard cider and home wine-makers are welcome to join us and share your expertise.

 
 

The Madison County Historical Society and Ye Olde Landmark Tavern in Bouckville have announced the menu for the annual Hop Fest Brew Dinner on September 12th.  It is an awesome selection of beers and food.  Tickets for the dinner and the whole hop fest can be ordered by contacting the  Madison County Historical Society.

Madison County Historical

Society Hop Fest Brew Dinner 

Crispy Shrimp Cakes

Summer succotash, Bacon cornbread, Red pepper sauce
Paired with Nine Man Golden Ale

Mixed Greens Salad

Crisp apples, Local cheddar, Rye croutons, Whole grain mustard vinaigrette
Paired with Pride of Milford Special Ale

Choice of:

Maple-brined Pork Tenderloin
Bacon wrapped, Warm apple chutney, Root vegetable gratin, Green beans
or
Broiled Trout Fillet
Pecan-herb Crust, Horseradish coleslaw, Root vegetable gratin, Green beans
Paired with Back Yard India Pale Ale

Pecan Brownie Torte
Vanilla Ice Cream
Paired with Benchwarmer Porter


 
 

May 11th is Mother’s Day, and Madison County is a great place to show your mom how much you love her.  The Brae Loch Inn in Cazenovia will be serving up their famous buffet from 10:30 until 5pm.  For the 38th year Ye Olde Landmark Tavern will be the place in Bouckville to take mom as they will serve their full dinner menu from noon until 8pm.  If Italian is your mother’s favorite food, try Grimaldi’s in Canastota.  They will be serving from Noon until 6 and every mother will get a rose.  Of course reservation are recommended.

There are restaurants all over the county offering specials on Mother's Day.  Offering a wonderful view of Oneida Lake, Fisher Bay Restaurant in Bridgeport has breakfast and dinner specials, including their prime rib and shrimp or prime rib and scallops.  Zabroso, which is located inside the Oneida Community Mansion House is offering seatings at noon and 2:30.    The Colgate Inn has a fabulous menu planned for mom and they are taking reservations from 9am to 2pm.  If you haven't been to the Poolville Country Store lately now is you chance as they will be serving brunch from 10:30 to 1 and then a nice dinner from 5 until 9 on Mother's Day!

So you now have no excuse not to find a wonderful place to take mom for dinner on May 11th.


 
 

It is an annual event that many people look forward to.  Come sample some of the finest food, wine, beer and beverages from a wide variety of local restaurants, wineries and breweries.  Bid on many items in the silent auction and enjoy live music from the Neverly Brothers Band as we celebrate the best the area has to offer.  The event is May 21st at the Cazenovia College Athletic Center from 6 to 9 pm.  For tickets call 315-655-KIDS

 
 

Tuesday, April 22nd from 6pm-8pm Nirchi's wil be hosting a Finger Lakes Wine Festival!  They have invited some of the premier Finger Lakes Wineries to offer guests samples of their wines. Nirchi's will be offering appetizer samplings as well. This is a great opprotunity to learn ore about the Finer Lakes Wineries and sample some amazing wines. The event is free, but is only available to those 21 and over.

 
 

Nirchi's Italian Grill and Heron Hill Winery are partnering to present a wine dinner on March 13th in the grille's banquet room.  Heron Hill, a Finger Lakes winery, is sending a representative to the dinner to explain the wines and why they go so well with the meal.  The menu for the evening was created by Nirichi's own Cody Templar.  The cost is $55 per person or $100 for a couple and that includes everything.  The menu for the evening looks great:

Cucumber Shrimp Canape' paired with Heron Hill Eclipse White
Asiago Cup Salad paired with Heron Hill Semi-dry Riesling
Garlic and Cream Broiled Halibut with Scalloped Potatoes, paired with Heron Hill Pinot Noir
Grilled Tropical Tuna Steak and Asparagus paired with Heron Hill Eclipse Red
Pineapple Sorbet paired with LH Vidal.

For reservations or more information contact Sarah at the grill at 315-655-0382.