So many incredible provisions are made on the North Fork that the length of a complete list would rival that of a CVS receipt.
Here, however, we’ve rounded up just seven of our favorites. And while any of these would make a great hostess gift, we encourage you to keep your own kitchen stocked with them as your personal taste of the North Fork.
Farmers Kitchen Pesto
$10 per 7-ounce container
Made with seasonal local ingredients, this pesto is a great summer staple. Go beyond pasta and smear it on toasted bread or top off your favorite North Fork vegetables. Flavors include: parsley, basil, arugula, cilantro, cilantro-jalapeño, scallion-walnut and spinach-walnut. Scallion-walnut and basil shown here.
309-1 East Main St., Riverhead, 631-727-7044
Lavender by the Bay Dried Lavender
$12 per bunch
English lavender is known not only for its fragrant aroma, but for its culinary uses, too. Use the herb in homemade iced tea or as an ingredient in your favorite baked goods. Grown locally at family-owned and -operated Lavender by the Bay in East Marion, this provision is as delicious as it is beautiful. Lavender by the Bay also grows French lavender. English variety shown here.
7540 Main Road, East Marion, 631-477-1019
Catapano Dairy Farm Goat Cheese
$12 per 5-ounce container
Fresh and flavorful, Catapano’s goat cheese is a must-taste North Fork product. While you visit the farm’s quaint cheese shop, also take time to enjoy the grounds, hang out with the goats, watch the milking process (4 p.m. daily) and sample the freshest chevre you’ll ever have. Flavors include: traditional, herbed, wildflower honey, lemon pepper, garlic, cranberry, seasonal flavors and more. Sampler trio shown here.
33705 County Road 48, Peconic, 631-765-8042
Holy Schmitt’s Horseradish
$7 to $8 per 8-ounce jar, depending on flavor
This locally grown superfood is for those who like a kick. Holy Schmitt’s is homegrown and prepared all-naturally without any preservatives. Horseradish can be used in many recipes, not just as a cracker topping. Check the recipe section at holyschmitts.com for inspiration. Flavors include: original, mustard, cranberry, beet, BBQ and hot pepper. Original shown here.
3355 Sound Ave., Riverhead, 631-983-6565
Blossom Meadow Farm Jam
$6 per 4-ounce jar; $12 per 8-ounce jar
The folks at Blossom Meadow Farm grow their own red raspberries, black raspberries, strawberries and blueberries naturally, with no pesticides, and handpick their fruit twice a day to harvest at peak ripeness. The jam is handcrafted in small batches, resulting in deeply fruity flavors. Varieties include red raspberry, black raspberry, strawberry and seasonal blueberry. Red raspberry shown here.
31855 Main Road, Cutchogue (at Coffee Pot Cellars), 631-765-8929
Mattitaco Hot Sauce
$6.95 per 5.8-ounce bottle
If hot sauce is your go-to condiment, these creative homemade sauces must make their way onto your meals. From tangy to creep-up-on-you spicy, there’s something here for everyone. Flavors include: Tropical Thunder, Beet the Heat, Jala-piña and Haunted Apple. Tropical Thunder and Beet the Heat shown here.
10560 Main Road, Mattituck, 631-298-7826
Feisty Acres Farm Pickled Quail Eggs
$15 per jar of 20 eggs
It’s true what they say about good things coming in small packages. Each tiny quail egg contains rich amounts of vitamins and high levels of protein. Not to mention that they are absolutely delicious, especially when pickled. There’s a reason these pickled eggs have a cult following. Flavors include: smoky jalapeño, spicy habanero, dilly beet, horseradish and turmeric. Spicy habanero and dilly beet shown here, along with fresh quail eggs, also available at the farm.
45375 County Road 48, Southold, feistyacres.com
