Each month, I’ll be building out a whole issue around one thing. Not a theme, not a mood, one ingredient, followed all the way from the field to the counter to the restaurants I’m dying to get into (this month. We’re starting with corn because we’re a week+ away from August, which means PEAK corn season.
Corn reminds me of sweet summer childhood. Corn was always on my dad’s grills. Anytime you went to a BBQ, 8/10 times corn was present. It's just easy and delicious. And I can confidently say corn is Mars’ favorite food and has been for a while. She had her first bite ever when she was 6 months old in Spain, and it's been a summer-month favorite ever since. Here's Mars literally last night…She does not miss a kernel.
So: corn is the star. Here’s where to find it, what to do with it, and where to eat while you wait for it to hit its peak.
At the market
New York corn doesn’t really arrive until mid-July, and it doesn’t hit its ridiculous peak until August. The time is now!
Two stands I’d walk past everyone else to reach. Sycamore Farms, out of Middletown, grows some of the best sweet corn in the market (and the best heirloom tomatoes, but that’s a future issue). And Norwich Meadows, which has been the chef’s-choice organic stand at Union Square for more than twenty years and has never once steered me wrong. Union Square runs Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Go early, do a full lap before you buy anything, and bring cash even though most of them take cards now.
Picking it is simple, and everyone overthinks it. You want an ear that’s heavy for its size, a husk that’s bright green and wrapped tight, and silk at the top that’s golden and slightly sticky, not brown and dried out. You do not need to peel it back and manhandle it in front of the farmer. And then the only rule that actually matters….eat it that day or as soon as possible. Corn starts turning its sugar to starch the minute it’s picked, so the ear you eat tonight is a different, sweeter vegetable than the one you let sit until Thursday. Same-day is the entire point. It’s why the market ear beats the supermarket ear every single time, and it isn’t close.
Recipes for the month:
Corn being the star and the behind-the-scenes
Sweet Corn & Crab Fritters - video
Summer Corn & Coconut Milk Risotto with Seared Scallops - video
Corn Salad w/ Apricot, Eggplant, and Greens (aka everything you want in a bowl) - video
Two recipes that are not mine, but a dear friend's. Justine Snacks comes up with some of the best recipes. Always fun. Always creative. Try her:
Corn Gazpacho with Salmon & Crispy Rice
Treat yourself to Corn
Where to find my favorite corn dishes and sweets in NYC
Lonnie’s - Sweet Corn & Tomato Tagliatelle
Bong - Corn side
Red Gate Bakery - Corn Bun & Corn Cake
Redfarm - Sauteed Summer Corn
Papa Damour - Elote Corn Soft Serve
Chim Chim - Sweet Corn Cheese Cake
My list was long! I made it to only 6 spots (mom/worklife). But here’s the full list of spots that have corn specials or rotating dishes currently on their menu!
That’s all for now. Stay tuned for the corn shopping addition coming soon!!!!!!!!
Here’s this month’s playlist in case you missed it <3
xx
Gina
Love this !!
That corn/peach gazpacho sounds amazing!