Published by Josh Friedland, The Food Section covers the world of modern gastronomy, from chefs to chevre and everything in between. Gourmet calls us "the consummate gastronomic blog." 
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October 01, 2007
The Food Section: Now "Jersey Fresh!"
So, after a summer sabbatical from publishing, we've resurfaced to post a brief update from our new home in Maplewood, New Jersey. The town (about 35 minutes from Manhattan by train) is sort of a suburban Park Slope-in-exile, with colonial houses instead of brownstones.
We're slowly acclimating to our new surroundings, enjoying the weekly farmer's market (whose small, but impressive bounty can be seen in the snaps below), and facing the typical ordeals of first-time homeowners, from a broken dishwasher and leaky faucets to tackling landscaping . . . speaking of which, any idea what kind of herb Anya is sniffing above (which has overtaken a good chunk of our garden)? It looks and smells like mint, but tastes awful.
We're picking up and leaving soon for a quick trip to Las Vegas and San Francisco. Upon our return, The Food Section will return to its regular diet of postings, including the occasional foray into the wilds of the Garden State.
Posted by Josh Friedland on Oct 1, 2007 in Announcements | Permalink
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Comments
Oh, she's so cute! I'm in Montreal consulting The Food Section from our hotel room here. Definitely looks like mint, which is highly invasive in Oregon at least. I'm not sure why it tastes terrible?
Posted by: Erika Blum at Sep 5, 2007 7:24:43 AM
Looks like mint to me too. Does it taste at ALL like mint? If so, maybe it's mint that already went to seed? Often herbs get a more bitter taste after they've flowered and seeded. Nice pictures!
Posted by: EmmaC at Sep 5, 2007 9:37:10 AM
If it tastes like mint only awful, maybe it's peppermint!
Posted by: mdvlist at Sep 5, 2007 1:02:54 PM
Welcome back , we have been missing ya........
Posted by: Chicken Fried Gourmet at Sep 5, 2007 8:13:21 PM
Hi Erika! Montreal is amazing. It's one of my favorite places. Do you eat meat? If so, do go to Au Pied du Cochon for a great meal.
Emma: It really tastes nothing like mint (almost inedible). But it smells beautiful. I am thinking it has seeded . . .
mdvlist: I like peppermint. Something is wrong with this stuff.
Chicken Fried: Thanks! Nice to be missed! We'll be back soon.
Posted by: Josh at Sep 5, 2007 8:44:30 PM
Welcome back and congrats on the move!
Posted by: Phoebe at Sep 5, 2007 11:25:17 PM
I thought you'd never return...everyday coming to the site to check for an update! So glad you're back!
Posted by: JEP at Sep 6, 2007 6:55:37 PM
Welcome back & good luck at your new location! chefjp
Posted by: chefjp at Sep 6, 2007 8:11:26 PM
Could be spearmint too...
Posted by: sh at Sep 8, 2007 3:27:15 AM
Catnip is in the mint family.... Never tasted it, and not too sure it looks THAT much like mint, but....
Posted by: jaydub at Sep 8, 2007 11:42:07 PM
Great to have you back!
Posted by: Dana Harris at Sep 9, 2007 1:26:47 PM
Josh,
Congratulations on your new home. Anya looks so cute and grown up. Glad to have you back!
Posted by: Reid at Sep 9, 2007 2:12:30 PM
That's gotta be catnip. We've had that grow wild in our yard here in Seattle too and I made the mistake of using it as mint. Tastes baaaaad.
Posted by: Ali at Sep 9, 2007 10:38:04 PM
... also had reports from a reader that it looks like "horsemint."
Posted by: Josh at Sep 14, 2007 10:05:38 AM
Gorgeous shots.
Posted by: urbanvegan at Sep 14, 2007 5:26:29 PM
Jersey is the Garden State for a reason. I spent a few days in Cape May earlier this month. On the way I stopped at a roadside farm stand and picked up some delicious white corn and Jersey tomatoes. There's something about those tomatoes that just can translate in other regions of the country.
Great blog. I'm looking forward to reading more.
Posted by: piealamona at Sep 27, 2007 12:41:27 PM
Welcome to the Garden State, I live in the Cape May area. Love your blog, best of luck in the new home I am familiar with the Maplewood area its a great place. I lived in Northern New Jersey for several years.
It's definitely some form of wild mint,just not sure which one.
Posted by: Heather at Sep 28, 2007 11:21:14 AM
Recently i bought fresh products from Peapod.com store at couponalbum.com and got good discount on every purchase..
Posted by: Fabien at Oct 10, 2007 8:21:31 AM
That looks like the wild mint in my garden. Someone told me that it was wild spearmint. It has a strong scent and a very sharp taste. I've grown it for over 40 years. It's an acquired taste! I grow other types of mint that are much less pungent.
Posted by: Dew at Oct 17, 2007 12:16:16 AM
Those pictures are BEAUTIFUL!
Posted by: Jac at Oct 24, 2007 10:49:20 AM
My gardener friend told me there are inedible mints after I found a mint-like thing in my garden.
Posted by: Karen at Oct 24, 2007 12:28:11 PM
Josh,
Welcome back! I've missed The Food Section all summer long. Congrats on the move, and Anya is SO adorable! I'm definitely looking forward to regular postings after your trip. Have fun!
Posted by: Celia at Oct 24, 2007 12:50:39 PM
Welcome back, Jersey Boy.
Posted by: annulla at Oct 30, 2007 12:31:21 AM
Josh - congratulations on your new home, looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful pictures from there! Anya looks so cute as always.
Posted by: keiko Oikawa at Oct 31, 2007 6:40:40 AM
It's most definitely (invasive) peppermint. Not good for cooking, but GREAT crushed with sugar into a tall glass of iced tea in the summer.
Posted by: eholley at Oct 31, 2007 1:36:46 PM
