Conference turris::cooks

    A few notes back someone was talking about a mushroom-growing-thing,
    and said they were from the Cravings Catalog.  Well, I ordered the
    catalog and there were a lot of exotic fruits and pineapples were among
    them.  I don't have the number but it may be worth a look. 

The Hawaiian pineapples we had there were nothing to write home about.  Then
again, I'm spoiled.  Some years back, I used to do support for the Puerto Rico
plants, and travelled there regularly.  Near San German is a town called Lajas.
In Lajas, they grow these "giant mutant pineapples"!  These things are about 10
pounds each!  And they are the sweetest things, too.  You would swear they have
had sugar added, but they are just naturally that way.  The sad part is that 
they are not shipped.  If you ever hear of anyone that's going to western PR,
have them get you one.  You have to select one that is ALMOST ripe, though. 
They have so much sugar in them, a ripe one will be soft and brown by the time
you fly home with it (and then all you can do is puree it and make the world's
best Pi�a Coladas!)

In the meantime, if you are ever in the Acton, Ma area, they have very good 
pineapples at Idylwilde Farms.  Select them by smell, or if you want one for 
immediate consumption, get one of the peeled ones.  They also have near perfect
oranges, apples, tangerines, star fruit, carambolas, papayas, persimmons, 
kiwis, grapes, cherries, strawberries, rasberries, bananas, plantains, peaches,
etc. etc. etc.

  I went to Idylwilde for the first time ever, and picked up a pineapple, as 
well as a whole lot of other "stuff" that I couldn't resist!  The pineapple
is great!  Too bad the place isn't really convenient to Southern NH!

--Sharon

A couple of more trips, and you'll find your definition of convenient changing.
Phrases like "I've been meaning to stop by the Mill for..."  and "It's on the
way back from Spag's"  will start creeping into your consciousness!

It is an amazing place!  I was there the other day, and couldn't resist trying
the craisins (dried sweetened cranberries).  Very interesting flavor!  I almost
bought a package.  I also noticed they have a new selection of dried fruits like
cherries and blueberries.

  Yeh, we used some of the dried cherries in a sauce for duck recently
  (along with some kirschwasser and raspberry vinegar) and it came out
  great (my opinion, anyway).

craisens and dried cherries make GREAT muffins and quick breads...and pancakes
that will get their attention as well....trust me.

 Directions to Idylwilde, please? From LKG (Littleton common) would be most
helpful. Thanks.

 The Doctah

  From LKG the fastest way is back roads, but I can't describe it so you
  wouldn't get lost. Simplest directions are probably to get on Rt 2
  eastbound and get off at the Acton/Littleton exit (the exit between
  495 and 27). Turn right toward Acton (you'll pass the Digital BXC
  plant) and it'll be on your right maybe a mile or so down the road.

  I masochistically intended to review the receipt once I got home to see 
*just* how high the prices were (I was too busy stuffing great-looking 
produce into my basket to care ;-)....however, once home, I didn't seem
to have a receipt!  I'm not convinced that it was an accident ;-)

--Sharon

    
    Idylwilde's produce prices vary so much that you never know if you're
    going to get a good deal on something or not.  I've been there when
    broccoli was $1.29/lb. and only $.99/lb. in Purity.  But as recently as
    Sunday, when broccoli was $1.19/lb. in Purity, it was only $.79/lb. at
    Idylwilde.  Needless to say, I bought it!!
    
    Other goodies, like Shotgun Willie's salsa, is always more expensive at
    Idylwilde than at the regular supermarket........
    
    Cara
    

    But the nicest part is -- you can pick up one stalk of broccoli instead
    of the whole pre-"packaged" [actually elastic-banded] bunch, or ask
    them to cut a cabbage in half and they'll do it -- if you don't need
    the whole thing.  And if something doesn't taste good -- I'm the only
    one in our family who really likes honeydew melons, so I often buy just
    a half [they are usually the same price ($$$$!) as the whole, only
    something was probably wrong with the other side] -- you can return it with 
    no problem.
    
    of course, you pay more than a little more for their produce generally,
    but I find it's worth it most of the time.
    
    sandy
    

    Re: Idylwilde -- beware!  They sell lettuce by the pound!
    
    I thought I was getting a pretty good buy a couple of weeks ago until I
    got home and looked at the register receipt (yes, they do give you one)
    and saw that I paid about 50% more than I thought I had.
    
    Sheila
    

    yes, and i've paid $2 for a smallish cantaloupe that would've been much
    less in a supermarket.  but if you're careful -- and want good fresh
    stuff -- then idylwilde's not bad.

    
    
    The glories of Idylwilde are many.  The produce is far superior in
    quality to the supermarket variety.  You can always get *ripe* fruit
    and vegetables - ever see a ripe pear in a supermarket?  You can get
    edible tomatoes year-round. Not to mention fresh herbs, store-baked
    sourdough bread, raw pumpkin seeds (for mol�), fresh vegetable and
    fruit salads, cut flowers and plants, etc., etc. 
    
    For all this I would gladly pay more. 
    
    

  I cut open a melon I bought at a local supermarket this morning, to find
that it wasn't even green inside!  I returned it on the way to work....and
I'm going to Idylwilde tomorrow to get some *real* fruit! ;-)

  (This time we're going to get *two* pineapples!)

--Sharon

P.S.  I'll change the title of this note to "Idylwilde Farm" - seems more
appropriate!

    
    Yes, yes, it is a most wonderful place.  Everywhere you look, there's
    something fantastic.  It's almost too much to take in at once.
    Well worth the extra cost for some of the items too, in my opinion.
    It's a great place to go for specialty items, as well as for superb
    fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
    
    
    

In addition to the 495-rt2 directions, you can get there directly from Littleton
center.  

From the LKG driveway on 110 (King Street), head west.  Go thru the lights, and
take the left at the end of the common.  This is called GOLDSMITH ST, and there
is a Cumberland Farms on the corner.  Idlywilde is on the left a few miles down
the road.  

Note that Goldsmith St becomes Newtown Rd for a few yards as it passes through
Boxboro (right around the rt 2 exit), and then becomes Central St in Acton.

About 1/2 mile past Idylwilde Farms is an intersection with rt 111 at the
traffic lights, and if you keep going you get to rt 27 at the South Acton 
commuter rail station (I add this just for reference).

					-JP

PS:  I know I've stated this before, but the produce from Idylwilde just plain 
     LASTS longer.  I've bought cheap supermarket lettuce only to have it become
     brown slime in less than a week, whereas the expensive Idylwilde stuff 
     lasts for a couple of weeks.

    An addendum to the directions in [-] ...
    
    after turning left onto Goldsmith St. in Littleton, stay on this
    'main' drag.  Note that you *do not* want to take Newtown road, rather,
    at the 'fork' in the road, bear right (this will keep you on the
    'main drag'):
                           
    			   
                        |  /
    	Newtown Rd ->   | /   <- don't know the road name, but *this* is
    	you don't want  |/       the road that you want (which becomes                                       		
    	to take this    |        Central St. in Acton) and is the 'main'
    			|        drag
    			/
    		       /   <-  Goldsmith Rd.
    		      /        from Littleton Common
    
    
    
    After bearing right at the fork (and thereby following the 'main
    drag'), you'll see a farm on the right, you'll then pass under Rt.2,
    will then pass a Digital facility on the right (where the Boxboro
    drive-in used to be), and you'll be within about a mile of Idelwylde.
    Note that Idelwylde is on the *right hand* side of Central St. (which
    is the name of this 'main drag' in Acton).  There are two entrances
    to the parking lot, just in case you miss the first one. ;-)
    
    
    

Yes, it is confusing, but the last reply is not quite accurate.  At the
only-in-MA-style-fork, if you go "straight" you have "turned" onto a road 
that will become NEWTOWN RD in ACTON.  If you bare right, you will continue 
on Goldsmith St. which becomes NEWTOWN RD in BOXBORO, and then becomes CENTRAL
ST. in ACTON.

I lived in the area for about 9 years.  It wasn't until I bought a book of maps
that I figured it out.  For a long time, I though it was strange that the sign
at the end of the rt 2 ramp indicated a rather insignificant right turn some 
miles down the road, i.e., Newtown Rd., Acton.

At any rate, this is one of the cases where the lack of street signs is an 
advantage, and you should ignore any you do see.  

    Hi -
    
    What's the best way to get to Idylwilde from AKO? I know how to 
    get there from Littleton (LKG), but is there a quicker way from 
    AKO? I'm spending a lot of time there these days, and a trip to
    Idylwilde can make the drive a little more bearable.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Kate
    

    Turn right at the lights onto 2A, then take an immediate left, the road
    that runs along the reservoir (I believe this is Nashoba Rd).  Continue
    on this road, it will cross over Nagog Hill Rd at an apple orchard. 
    Continue on until Nashoba butts into Goldsmith St.  Turn left and
    Idylewilde is a couple of miles down the road (you will go under Rte 2
    and pass BXC.  They are on the right.
    
    Chris
    

    
    	RE: .-1
    
    	A slight correction to the excellent previous reply:
    
    	Goldsmith St. has become Newtown Rd. when Nashoba Rd. butts in
    	to it.
    
    	rjc

    Thanks for the directions. The first time I did it, I was going from
    Idylwilde to AKO, missed a turn, and ended up at Littleton Common.
    But yesterday, I went from AKO and had no problems. 
    
    By the way, they had terrific asparagus for $2.98. It's nice
    and thin. I cooked some last night, and it was wonderful. I also
    got some awesome grapes. 
    
    I've been there several times over the last few weeks and, in general,
    have found their prices comparable to or even lower than current
    supermarket prices. For example, a few weeks ago, they had romaine
    lettuce for 50 cents a head. I bought the biggest head of lettuce
    I'd ever seen! The supermarket had ugly-looking brown stuff for
    $1.39. 
    
    So, it's been worth the extra drive. 
    
    Kate