All Posts by James Gherardi

The Cellar Market at Penn State

Next to Eisenhower Auditorium, on the University Park campus, sits a small garage. On Wednesdays from noon until 5:30pm, this garage opens its door and becomes the “Cellar Market,” selling seasonal fruits and vegetables to students and locals passing by.

Pumpkins, gourds, and cold weather vegetables were on display this past Wednesday. I spoke with Jenn Landry, who works with the Penn State Horticulture Program and runs the market.

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Herwig’s Austrian Bistro in State College

I’ve passed Herwig’s Austrian Bistro on College Ave. at least a hundred times and never considered going inside. Then a friend told me the food is unbelievable. So, the other day, my brother and I finally decided to give it a shot. 

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A Taste of Penn State Tailgates

Penn State is a school of traditions. And none of those traditions garners quite the devoted following that tailgating on a football Saturday seems to. WPSU’s Local Food Journey’s James Gherardi takes us tailgating.

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Gemelli Bakery in State College

Tucked into a discreet nook of McAllister Alley off of Calder Way, Gemelli Bakery is producing perhaps the best bread that State College has ever tasted.

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Fasta & Ravioli Company in State College

Almost a year ago, Bob Ricketts brought a new business to State College: a fresh ravioli and pasta shop. Today the Penn State alum and owner of Fasta & Ravioli Company caters to a surprisingly large niche market of students and locals. Ricketts offers customers homemade pasta and ravioli and a selection of sauces like tomato, vodka, and pesto. Products are available at the South Fraser Street storefront and at farmers markets and restaurants, as well. “Fast and Fresh” is the mantra here, a motto that Bob lives by. He was eager to share his story with me.

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The Cheese Shoppe in State College

The Cheese Shoppe in State College offers more than coffee and conversation. Listen to Owner Bill Clarke share the history of the shop and meet some of the regulars.

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The Garden in Centre Hall

Last Sunday afternoon, while driving along unfamiliar roads in Centre Hall, my parents and I stumbled upon “The Garden.” Though small, this shed off of Old Fort Road was packed with the summer’s final fresh produce. There were shelves of jams and jellies, fresh packed dill pickles and beets, salsas and jarred tomatoes. The options were boundless; which is often rare for a roadside farm stand of this size.

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A Market Dictionary

Today we are faced with a laundry list of considerations when shopping at the market. Is this an organic apple? Does it come from a sustainable farm? Is this beef from grass-fed cattle, and are these eggs from free-range poultry?

In an attempt to simplify the elusive terminology of the farming world, we have created a what’s what of words and phrases to make your local eating experience a more informed one.

The following ten terms are the most important ones to consider when browsing markets and buying from local farmers.

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Comments (3) | Permalink | Tags: foodsafety | organic | market |