Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Admittedly I am a little late with this post. Strawberry season is over on Eastern Long Island but as I have mentioned before, chocolate covered strawberries are still one of my favorite things.

In preparation for next strawberry season (it is certainly not too early to look forward to it), here is how I make delicious chocolate covered strawberries for myself!

1. Head to a local farm stand and pick up some strawberries when they are in season (usually in June).
2. Next, head to a candy store to get some chocolate to melt down.
3. Once you are home clean up your strawberries. Rinse them under water and then cut off their green tops. Some people will leave the tops on to look pretty but I think it makes things easier to cut them off.
4. Now it is time to take the chocolate and melt it down. I usually just put in in the microwave in a bowl and check on it after a minute or two to stir it and put it back in until it is fully melted. Some people will melt it over the stove, but again I think microwaving it makes things easier.
5. It is finally time to actually put the berries in chocolate! This is a simple enough job. You just take a berry and put it in the chocolate and make sure it is completely covered before taking it out. (If you left the green stems on this is where things would get more difficult as you would have to make sure the stem did not get covered. )
6. After all of your berries are covered just put them on a tray and throw them in fridge until they are hardened and ready to eat!

I love chocolate covered strawberries, especially when Eastern Long Island Strawberries are in season. Hopefully next year you will get a chance to make your own of these delicious treats using my directions!

The Hamptons vs. The North Fork

Last summer an article published by the New York Times caused quite a stir on Eastern Long Island. The article featured in the paper's real estate section discussed the rising popularity of the North Fork because it is the "anti-Hamptons."

On the North Fork, the Un-Hamptons got a lot of people on the North Fork talking because as the area has become more popular in recent years, many locals have felt it has become just like the Hamptons. But, as the article argues and as I feel the North Fork is still quite different from the Hamptons and the two areas provide two different vacation experiences.

The article describes the South Fork as becoming "overbuilt, overhyped and overcrowded" which is exactly why many North Forkers I know feel their home is becoming like the Hamptons. Many locals on the North Fork think because it is becoming so crowded it is turning into a second Hamptons. I feel that is not the case at all though.

One of the more obvious differences in my mind, and one the article points out quickly, is the beaches. The South Fork offers the ocean while the North Fork has the sound, and although the North Fork does have its share of beaches the ones in the Hamptons do usually provide a better experience. If I wanted a beach vacation I would head to the Hamptons and the ocean.

The article also points out the farms and vineyards of the North Fork, which are two of the area's defining features. The North Fork has long been an agricultural area and today it still offers tons of farms with local produce. Of course there are also tons of vineyards too as the area has become known as Wine Country.

A good quote in the article that tries to sum up the differences between the two areas is, “The Hamptons are a place where people go to see and be seen, and the North Fork is a place where people go to see the scenery.” I want to take the quote a step further and say that on the North Fork there is more to see while in the Hamptons there is more to do. As beautiful as the North Fork is, there is little to actually do compared to the Hamptons where there are more beaches and villages to walk around.

Since the article focuses on the real estate aspect of the two areas the rest of it is full of house and rental prices, but the main point still rings true.

Even as the North Fork continues to get busier, it is still not the Hamptons. The two areas offer different vacations and what kind of summertime vacation you want should effect where you decide to head on Eastern Long Island.

Stop and Smell the Lavendar

Perhaps one of the smallest and quietest places on all of Eastern Long Island is the hamlet of East Marion. East Marion is located on the North Fork between Greenport and Orient, meaning that a lot of visitors that arrive to the area via the Cross Sound Ferry pass through it. The very small hamlet does not have a lot to offer to guests which is why many probably drive through it without even knowing.

Located in East Marion are a firehouse, a post office, a country store named Fork and Anchor, Sep's Farm and Lavender by the Bay and that is it. So not a lot, but one of those places may be the most unique destination on all of Eastern Long Island.

Lavender by the Bay is a lavender farm. Typically something associated more with France, the farm prides themselves with being something that looks like it has been plucked right out of France and placed on Eastern Long Island. It is the only u-pick lavender farm on Long Island.

Think about that, it is the only place on Long Island where you can pick your own lavender! Even if lavender is not something you love I suggest checking out the place because of the uniqueness it offers the quiet little hamlet.

Even if you have no interest in picking the lavender, there is a lot the farm has to offer. During peak season (June or July depending on the top of lavender) the sites and smells of the fields, located right behind the main shop, are incredible.

In case you are completely unaware of what a lavender field looks like here is something to give you an idea.

Can't you just picture yourself there either picking your own lavender to take home and enjoy  or just relaxing?

And the fields are not the only thing Lavender by the Bay has to offer, it also has a shop that sells all top of lavender products. To give you an idea of what is sold in the shop, one of my personal favorite things is the lavender honey. Trust me, it is delicious even if you are not a big honey fan. I love it and cannot get enough of it!

If you are on the North Fork, Lavender by the Bay is a must stop for the views, smells and products it offers. Please feel free to check out lavenderbythebay.com for more information on lavender and when the farm itself is open.

What's In Season?

I have mentioned this before but I think something fun

to do while you are vacationing on Eastern Long Island is stopping by a

local farm stand to try some fresh fruits and vegetables. One problem I have noticed

about some local stands in the area however is that they

are not always truthful about where their products come from. Some farm stands will

try and pass fruits and vegetables from other places off as their own.

And while it is hard to always tell what was grown on the Island and what was not,

a good way to start figuring it out is by knowing what is in season

in the area when.

 

I worked at a farm stand in high school and have a pretty good idea of what is in season

when on Eastern Long Island and so I am going to share that with you

in hoping that it will help you be sure to only buy the freshest veggies on your trip!

 

May

Asparagus is really the only item that is in season for all of May.

Spinach comes late in May and depending on the weather radishes may be ready by

the end of May also. Strawberry season usually begins around Memorial Day Weekend

as long as the weather cooperates. To go along with the strawberries, rhubarb is
among the May vegetables too.

 

June

With June comes a lot of local vegetables and fruits on Eastern Long Island. If
strawberries are not ready for the end of May they certainly
will be ready come June. Beets, carrots,

lettuce, arugula and other leafy greens in the same category

are ready in June. Onions, potatoes, zucchini and cucumbers also come later
in the month along with peas and beans.
 If the weather is right, raspberries also may ready in June.

 

July

Local corn is a big one in July. Local corn is usually ready for July 4th or the following
week depending on the weather. Following corn in July are peppers, eggplant

and usually field tomatoes late in the month. Farms may have tomatoes grown in
greenhouses earlier in the summer but the best tomatoes from the
field come in July before peaking in August.

 

August

Watermelon is the big thing in August since by then most things have already
been around for awhile.

 

September

Even though September brings the end of summer it does not mean the end

of fresh vegetables on Eastern Long Island. Broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts and other

vegetables that thrive in cold weather come in the fall. The fall also marks pumpkin
season for farms which means that the farms that have pick your own

are full of visitors picking pumpkins. Local apples also are available in the fall.

 

 

As was already noted a few times, it is important to remember that everything depends
on  the weather. This year the weather has been funky
so everything is already a little behind. Another year the weather
 may be perfect so everything comes early. Keep

in mind this post is just a general guideline for when local produce is in.

 

So now that you know when is the best time to buy what at farm stands on
Eastern Long  Island be sure to include stopping at one for some
of the best produce out there!

 



Strawberry Season

June means a lot of different things but one of the more tastier things it means is strawberry season on Eastern Long Island. For the month all of the farm stands in the area offer tasty berries to locals and visitors alike.

I think we all get so used to California strawberries found in the supermarket that we forget just how good the fresh berries can be. If you head to any farm stand on Eastern Long Island you will most likely find strawberries picked that day that are to die for! And it is pretty easy to find farms in the area, especially on the North Fork, so just look for one while you are driving.

Fresh berries are delicious on their own but they also are quite yummy covered in chocolate. Just like plain strawberries are easy to find in the area so are chocolate covered strawberries. Most candy shops you find will sell chocolate covered local berries. There is also always the option of buying berries and covering them in chocolate yourself if you have the space to on vacation. I prefer doing my own just because it's a fun experience and you get to eat some extra chocolate in the process.

If you happen to take your vacation to Eastern Long Island in June just make sure you find a farm stand to stop out and buy some of their local strawberries. I promise you will not regret the decision to buy some of the best strawberries out there while they are in season!