In Our Summer 2017 Issue

Photography By | Last Updated June 01, 2017
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edible western ny summer cover

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Growing up, the kitchen and dining table were the center of activity in our house. If we weren't preparing meals, eating, or doing dishes, we sat at the table playing cards (a lot of cards) talking and laughing. I learned about family history over holiday meals and worldly events when guests came to dinner.

When Chautauqua Institution announced last year the theme for this season's final week, At the Table: Our Changing Relationship with Food, I knew that it would be the inspiration for this summer's issue. And, I hadn't even committed to starting the magazine yet.

Coincidentally–or by some cosmic plan–the organizers of Chautauqua's lecture series scheduled Marion Nestle to speak in the Amphitheater on August 24th. The Paulette Goddard professor of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health at New York University, Marion Nestle also penned an article for Edible Communities in celebration of their 15 years of publishing. Her article, "Where to From Here? The local food movement 15 years later" is a perfect fit with Chautauqua's Week Nine theme.

As the dynamic, creative process of planning and writing this issue progressed, Our WNY Table became a collection of stories not only about our changing relationship with food, but also our changing attitudes toward gathering around the table. We have moved from formal traditions and large family meals to meeting with friends informally. We have set aside calorie-laden, time-consuming feasts for lighter fare that requires less time to prepare and presents the opportunity to make better use of local resources–what's available at markets and what we can grow on our own. And, while we often relate to our family's culinary heritage, we adapt to changing lifestyles and dietary needs.

This issue is about the symbolic regional table we share. It is big and wide and embraces guests who bring diverse customs and traditions from all over the world. Along with our individual place at the table we possess a common connection to this place called Western New York, situated next to two Great Lakes that in one way or another also influence the foods we grow, prepare and consume.

I am enamored with signs and symbols and Our WNY Table is full of both metaphors and stories. I hope you enjoy it, and that these stories inspire a new appreciation for your own table and those who gather around it.

Slàinte,
Stephanie Schuckers Burdo, Publisher & Editor

What's in Season: Summer

Edible Flowers: Day Lily
From edible flowers to stone fruits, check out what's fresh from June to August in Western NY.

Chokecherry Coulis Over La Luna

chokecherries
The pairing of flavors in this appetizer is perfect for a mid- to late-summer evening soirée. The slightly astringent character of the chokecherry is mellowed by luscious raw honey. Drizzle the sweet...

Stone Fruit Corn Salsa with Black Beans & Rice

stone fruit
This dish is a vibrantly fresh summer accompaniment to grilled fish, pork or chicken. It’s also a delightful vegetarian entree with the added beans. The rice can be served warm or mixed with the...

Shrubs: Merging Cocktail Culture with Local Foods

blueberries
Shrubs are making a comeback in cocktail culture thanks to their versatility and unique ability to preserve strong flavor values, melding acidic heights with sugary peaks and providing an excellent...

Blueberry Shrub Mocktail

blueberry shrub
I've put together the directions for a simple blueberry shrub, which can be combined with soda water for a refreshing summer mocktail or used in the recipe for the "El Chapo in New York," a twist on a...

El Chapo in New York Cocktail

el chapo shrub cocktail
"El Chapo in New York," is a twist on a traditional margarita that we've been serving at merge for many years.  

Quick Apple or Pear Shrub

This quick apple and pear shrub can be combined with soda water for a refreshing summer mocktai or mixed into a cocktail.

An Erie Gardener Connects to Her Roots through a Backyard Garden

Katie Chriest reflects on her backyard garden as a child and how this nostalgia shaped her into the gardener she is today.

An Erie Gardener's Timeline

backyard chives
Not sure what to plant when? This Erie gardener gives us her planting timeline for each month.

The Colorful Creations of Katherine Gullo

Ceramic artist Katherine Gullo in her studio
Ceramic Bananas and Whimsical Creatures From brightly colored doors and windows painted with geometric shapes to intricate garden...

Monarch Butterflies, Our Environmental Ambassadors

Monarch butterfly drawing nectar from flower
Protecting the monarch's seat at our table

Plant Nectar Plants that Attract Butterflies

Bees and butterflies account for the pollination of 70 percent of our fruit and vegetable crops–not to mention an abundance of...

The Cutlery Heritage of Cattaraugus, Little Valley and Bradford

Cutting Edge In 1849, Cattaraugus, New York, became the nation's first railroad boomtown, situated alongside what was then the longest...