I am fairly certain I have stumbled into the Woodberry Kitchen of Brooklyn this past weekend when visiting friends. Any good whirlwind weekend filled with NYC shopping, dining, cocktails, and good friends warrants a much needed relaxing, hearty brunch. Rose Water offers indoor or outdoor seating tucked away in Park Slope and organic, fresh, farm to table inspired dishes that give reason for the 30 minute wait we incurred. 

The cozy, small room in the back hosting merely 5-8 tables is warm and inviting with surrounding cookbooks and coffee table books in shelves along the proximity. 

Deciding to get their fresh squeezed orange juice as my beverage (they also have rose water lemonade and hibiscus iced tea), I loved the bright orange color of the juice-definitely not something you see in Tropicana or Simply Orange. This is the real deal, folks.

Despite getting their $14 prix fixe beverage and entree, their bread basket sounded like the most ideal basket of autumn goodies.

Apple coffee cake, lightly buttered challah, and corn bread overflowed and each one was gone within 5 minutes. Light, sweet, and served with a side of fresh butter and applesauce for spreading, the breads were irresistible! 

As for entrees, selections were diverse and each sounded flavorful and incorporating a distinct component of the season.

I opted for their 3 eggs that comes with potatoes and bacon. I highly enjoyed the light, fluffy eggs sprinkled with sharp cheddar cheese. The potatoes were perfectly cooked as was the the bacon. 

Of course it wouldn’t be a true seasonally changing menu if it didn’t offer at least one apple inspired entree for the fall. And boy did it.

Macoun apple pancakes accompanied with spiced butter and toasted walnuts. 

I think the juicy apples popping out of the pancakes speak for themselves. The pancakes were hearty and not one was able to finish the entire serving.

One of the things I always enjoy when visiting NY is discovering new food finds, trying creative pairings, and channeling my inner ‘foodie’ for places that are undeniably outstanding. This is one of them.

For all you Woodberry Kitchen lovers of Baltimore, a stop to Rose Water is a must when in Brooklyn! Sure the farm to table trend is here to stay but places like these have simply mastered the concept.

Grab a Bolt Bus and make your way here for brunch, dinner, or dessert-then swing by BluePrint for an after-dinner drink to cap off the night!

There’s nothing I love more than healthy foods. Give me an afternoon and a Whole Foods/Wegmans/Fresh Market/Trader Joe’s and I can spend hours (and big bucks) there with out a problem. Not to mention, despite all my bias, I find the Baltimore Farmer’s Market under the JFX to be one the best in the country. If you don’t believe me, spend your Sunday morning (then head over to Harvest Helpers-but you’ll read more about that later) there this weekend and try to leave empty handed and sans samples. 

I recently learned that 18% of Baltimore City residents live in what’s called a “food dessert,” meaning it’s low income residents who just don’t have the access to healthy foods (like skim milk, whole wheat bread-things I use on a daily basis). 

That’s why I wanted to share two amazing opportunities and initiatives that help bring fresh, organic foods to places (beyond MD) where many folks don’t have access or the fundings to these goods.

One of my favorite organizations, United Way of Central Maryland, has launched the Access to Healthy Foods initiative for the next three years. In short, they want to try to bring those great fresh foods to communities in Baltimore city and surrounding locations that simply lack that. 

Year one means increasing those healthy, affordable options for the poor in central Maryland by at least 1.5 million pounds. That’s a whole lotta produce right there-and families to provide. Not only that, but United Way hopes to expand infrastructure so that 60,000 people have more consistent access to those affordable, healthy food options.

This is such a massive undertaking and an even more massively awesome cause-one that I hold close because, well, I love me some healthy food and try to maintain a well-balanced diet. If I have this luxury, so should everyone else. Especially without having to think twice about the extra cost it is for that healthier bread.

This weekend, they are organizing “Harvest Helpers” on Sunday from 2-5 p.m at First Fruits Farm. One of my fave restaurants in the county, Manor Tavern, will be there with healthy food tastings and even a gift card raffle! Even though the event has filled up quickly, check out their calendar of events for more during the season!

I also recently started volunteering doing marketing for a non-profit in Baltimore called Garden Harvest, based in Reisterstown, who has a very similar credo. Their farm helps raise organic, fresh produce for the poor as well as educate on how to cultivate your own! Such a great concept and how can you not support the cause?

Check out the site for more info and please feel free to drop me a line if you’re interested in getting involved as well!

If my readers are anything like me (lovers of healthy and fresh foods), then these organizations are absolutely worth a look and support! Check out their website at http://www.uwcm.org/main/index.php/healthy-food.html and find new ways to get involved and informed on the program!

If I’m able to sit down to a tasty, healthy bowl of quinoa this weekend, I’ll definitely think twice and appreciate having the ability to easily access this amazing grain (seriously, try it!) and hope you all do the same! 

Take a second and wander over to either website and hope everyone enjoys their weekends spent either wandering the Farmer’s Market or checking out new bands and artists at Fells Fest! Welcome fall to Baltimore!