Catskill Comfort

Maples trees are a dime a dozen in Upstate New York. Maple syrup requires 10 gallons of sap to yield one quart of syrup. That is about what the average tree will tap in one year. It really should be called liquid gold! It is wonderful to see the resurgence of the popularity of cottage industry goods, like local maple syrup. Catskill Comfort, besides having a catchy name has a stellar medium amber syrup that is going to make my good stuff picks. I found it at my local coffee shop, Jacks. Catskill Comfort will guild the lily on my Stack of Homemade Pancakes this weekend.

Catskill Comfort - Neversink, NY (845) 985-2996

image, Hirsch Media

Unordinary Condiment

I'll be using Sir Kensington at #NYWFF Burger Bash! Get the Secret "George Burger" Recipe @6PM Friday

This is the opposite of standard choice in ketchup with a colorful story and efforts above and beyond in each and every jar of Sir Kensington's Scooping Ketchup. I might add the word gourmet to the description; with attention to making a difference in the ketchup experience with vine-ripened per tomato puree, agave nectar and raw brown sugar as its ingredients. Sir Kensington serving suggestions, two servings per jar. It's that good. I say more than just ketchup. 

Available at fine specialty food shops like Dean and Deluca.

Classic Flavor: modeled to be a highly-evolved natural variant of the ketchup taste you know. The magnum opus of sauce – a classic reborn with a perfect balance of sweet and salty.

Spiced Flavor: infused with chipotle peppers, cilantro, lime juice, agave nectar, honey, and coriander. Spicy enough to entertain your taste buds without overpowering, it packs a pleasant punch.

Texas Original

The next time you are in Austin, drop by Stubb's. It's an institution of Q originality, filled with love, music and soul. BTW- the brisket is out of this world.

"Barbecue is eternal, like the Mississippi River. It's big and it's simple and it takes its own sweet time."  C.B. Stubbfield

You can also have your Stubb's at home. Not quite take away, but close. You Can Do IT! at home. The original Bar-B-Q Sauce is pretty darn good. The flavor; sweet, tangy tomato and molasses with a kick of vinegar and pepper.

Stubb would gladly give his recipe away to anyone who asked. "The recipe alone is just words on paper and that won’t do it." C.B. Stubbfield

Mugolio

Good Stuff Pick: Mugolio Pine Cone Bud Syrup

At the end of May each year, condiment artisan, Elenora Cunacia hand harvests Mugo pine cone buds to create delicious mugolio syrup. The cones are from the dwarf Mugo pine trees, located in Northern Italy's Dolomite Mountain region. The syrup is then aged in the sunlight for six months before being filtered, sweetened and cooked. The result is a golden nutty-sweet syrup similar to dark honey, ideal as a sweet decadent topping.

Serving suggestion: Drizzle over thick Greek yogurt, gelato, mascapone or grilled pork.

Available at specialty markets.

For more Good Stuff Picks

Entertain, Made in Spain

How about entertaining with a bit of Northern Spain/ South of France influence? Stock up on Olives and Anchovies. Tip: Give Arbequina olives a try - they are grown in Catalonia, Spain and have a buttery flavor with hints of pepper.

Tapenade comes from the word tapeno which means capers in Provence. The addition of sun dried tomatoes adds a little sweetness.

Olive Tapenade

Recipe by George Hirsch | Makes 1 cup

2/3 cup black oil cured olives (Kalamata or Nicoise), pitted and finely chopped 

2 anchovy fillets in oil, drained and finely chopped 

4 cloves caramelized garlic 

2 Tablespoons capers, drained, rinsed under cold tap water and finely chopped 

2 small sun dried tomatoes, finely chopped 

4 Tablespoons virgin olive oil 

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 

3 basil leaves , chopped

In a bowl, mix together the olives, anchovies, garlic, capers, sun dried tomatoes, oil, pepper, and water. Spread Tapenade on toasted French baguette bread, top with fresh basil, or serve with your favorite sandwich.