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Affordable Restaurants in NYC That Still Keep it Chic

By
Emma Riva
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0
The interior of Balaboosta, a restaurant in New York
Photo courtesy of Balaboosta

New York City is the city that never sleeps and the city that never stops eating with a restaurant on every corner and hopefully a few affordable options along the way. New York is known for being something of a money pit. How is the simple tourist to know what’s a good but affordable dining option for brunch, dinner, or an afternoon snack? Enter: TABLE Magazine’s list of six locally-recommended spots that won’t break the bank but still provide an upscale and cool experience. These affordable New York restaurants run the gamut from relaxed breakfast to late-night cocktails with snacks, and run the world from Thai to Israeli to French to Californian food. If you fancy a drink, also check out our guide to New York’s cocktail bars. Read on, brave tourist!

Affordable Restaurants in NYC That Still Keep it Chic, According to Locals

Dim Sum Go Go

 5 E Broadway

This restaurant is unassuming from the outside, but those who know their dim sum know that Chinatown’s Dim Sum Go Go is one of the best. Serving sweet, syrupy pork buns, crispy shrimp balls and gingery snow pea leaf dumplings, the restaurant is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. It has an extensive menu and is always buzzing, with dim sum service offered daily until 9pm.

Sappe  

240 W 14th St

Sappe’s bright yellow facade gives way to a dramatically lit interior. This spot serves maximalist cocktails with vivid Thai street food. Expect a table laden with roasted skewers of all sorts: chicken skin, beef liver, and pork intestines. For mains, don’t miss the Laab Ped Udon, a duck salad with a spicy dressing of shallots, lime juice, cilantro and crunchy rice powder. Or, if noodles seem more in your comfort zone, the Cha Mama Koong features wavy, ramen-style egg noodles tossed with shrimp and fingerroot.

Mamoun’s Falafel

119 Macdougal Street

These days, Mamoun’s Falafel has a number of locations up and down the East Coast. But the original Greenwich Village location is the oldest falafel restaurant in New York City, and has seen enduring success for good reason. The menu is exactly what you’d expect from a standard Middle Eastern joint: crispy falafel smothered in white sauce, perfectly spiced lamb shawarma or chicken kebob sandwiches, and as much hummus, tabbouleh and baba ghanoush as you could ever eat. Mamoun’s superpower is that it makes every one of those standard dishes perfectly delicious at an affordable price.

Loring Place

21 W 8th St 

A block away from Washington Square Park, this upscale, California-style affordable New York restaurant is casually impressive and perfect for almost any occasion. It boasts a tastefully decorated mid-century interior and seasonal, vegetable-heavy concoctions, though the whole wheat pizza is a year-round staple. Currently on the menu is a roasted black bass with summer beans, peach-tomato sauce and almonds. Or, try the simple but delectable heirloom tomato salad. Actually, try everything. You can’t go wrong.

Balaboosta 

611 Hudson St 

Balaboosta is a place where Persian and Yemeni influences pair with Israeli cooking to create a sun-drenched, Mediterranean masterpiece. The hummus comes half crushed, with a mortar and pestle for you to do the final mixing. The whipped feta is tangy, and the salmon is crusted in quinoa and eggplant purée. Inside, Balaboosta is edgily industrial-chic; perfect for a late lunch or casual dinner, the flavors will transport you oceans away.

Cafe Gitane

242 Mott St

This French cafe is open from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, and will give you anything off the menu during those hours. The place looks like it hasn’t been repainted since 2010, but that is all part of the charm. Cafe Gitane claims to have been the first place to serve avocado toast, but with a menu full of classic French and Moroccan-influenced breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner food, you needn’t stick to the familiar. Try the cold fish tagine, spiked with jalapeño and paprika. Or, for the more breakfast-oriented, dip crusty baguette into warm, runny egg yolks baked in tomato sauce and topped with fresh basil. Either way, take your time while you eat: the cluster of outdoor tables under a striped awning means you can pretend you’re in Paris and people-watch away.

Story by Mitra Nourbakhsh / Photo courtesy of Balaboosta

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Cloth Napkins to Wow Guests

By
Emma Riva
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A set of napkins with pomegranates on them
Courtesy of Food52

Tasteful pieces and neutral tones at your table can, of course, be chic and wonderful! But sometimes you need a little something extra to take you out of your comfort zone. (It’s like when conservatively dressed men talk about how they inject personality into their outfits with colorful, patterned socks.) Cloth napkins can be that something.

Here is a lineup of cloth napkins with prints ranging from subtle to substantial. Some are suitable for everyday use, others for special occasions. Most can go from the picnic table to the dining room come Fall. Don’t be afraid to take some chances or (gasp!) even clash a little.

Cloth Napkins Add Personality to Your Table

A napkin with geometric patterns on it on a white background

Caskata 

This brand has so many adorable options it’s difficult to pick just one. Patterns range from tasteful geometrics to lobsters, octopi, birds, and more.

A yellow napkin with a red border

John Derian

The New York-based owner of a row of spectacular stores on the Lower East Side has a particular eye for cloth napkins that look as if they’re family treasures. A tan napkin on a white background

Libeco Home 

Founded in 1858, Libeco weaves all of its cloth napkins in its native Belgium, and the products are heirloom quality. The company is even CO2 neutral.

A beautiful flowery napkin set from Food52

Food52 

Every one of the napkins from Food52 looks like something you’d see at the home of a friend that has exquisite taste—you’ll want to buy everything!

A napkin on a wood floor background

Serena & Lily 

This French-inspired brand offers cloth napkins for your home that capture that elusive mood that’s both elegant and fun at the same time.

Story by Stephen Treffinger 

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Doogh, A Persian Non-Alcoholic Spritz

By
Emma Riva
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A non-alcoholic spritz with yogurt, mint, and ice in it

Yogurt and sparkling water may seem like an odd combination to the uninitiated, but make this Persian version of a spritz called a Doogh and you might just be a convert. Doogh is a tangy, light, refreshing accompaniment to meat-heavy Persian cuisine. It is the Persian take on the bottled Ayran served at many Turkish restaurants — a more watered down, herb-heavy version. This recipe takes the refreshing qualities of the Italian spritz and puts a Persian spin on it. Instead of swapping out spirits in a traditional mocktail recipe, instead take this opportunity to learn something new for a non-alcoholic spritz.

Tips for Making Doogh

The main ratio to remember for this non-alcoholic spritz is 1/3 yogurt to 2/3 water (though you could adjust that to personal taste). The ingredients are simple, but try to find the thickest, tangiest and saltiest yogurt you can. Traditionally, you would leave the yogurt to ferment for a few days, but regular yogurt works just fine for the sake of convenience. If you can access Ayran, a bottled yogurt drink often found at Middle Eastern markets and restaurants, that makes an even better Doogh; just be sure to raise the ratio of yogurt to water.

Doogh, A Persian Non-Alcoholic Spritz Recipe 

Doogh, A Persian Non-Alcoholic Ingredients

  • 1 cup yogurt
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • A handful of fresh mint leaves or 1 tsp dried mint leaves
  • 2 cups sparkling water
  • Optional: 1 cucumber

Persian Non-Alcoholic Spritz Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. Alternatively, add them all to a mason jar and shake to combine. Adjust salt and yogurt to personal taste.
  2. Pour over ice and garnish with a sprig of mint to serve

More Spritz Recipes

Story by Mitra Nourbakhsh
Photography by Dave Bryce 

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Masienda Brings You The Best Tortilla Press Ever

By
Emma Riva
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A chef cooks a tortilla using Masienda's tortilla press

Sometimes a device is so beloved and iconic that you think there’s really only one model but thankfully the Masienda Tortilla Press is different. The Bialetti Express stovetop espresso maker comes to mind. So does The Bodum French press coffee maker. Some might think a tortilla press has that ubiquity. It’s just two plates of hinged aluminum or cast iron with a long handle that causes them to squeeze together. There are a couple of variations out there—but why bother? All it’s doing is pressing tortillas. Well, here’s why: Enter Masienda.

The Masienda Tortilla Press for All Occasions 

The Masienda Tortilla Press is not just a pretty face. It comes from a brand with a deep appreciation for the craft of tortilla-making. The company’s name is a combination of the word masa (corn) and tienda (store) and it strives for quality in independent masa production. Founder Jorge Gaviria delves into all of this in MASA: Techniques, Recipes, and Reflections on a Timeless Staple, where you can learn more about his masa journey.

Masienda comes with endorsements from the editors at Epicurious, Saveur, Serious Eats, and America’s Test Kitchen. It’s as sturdy as can be because its exterior is hot rolled steel. It also features larger, square plates, meaning you can make tortillas of various sizes with ease.

The finish comes in five colors: azul, espuma, epizote, bianco, and humo. The product is artisan-made in Mexico, and then the finish is applied in the U.S. You can even buy masa harina and press liners from them—plus molcajetes, salsas, and more.

In addition to the press, the website has great recipes, including Crispy Sopes, The Perfect Tomatillo Aguacate Salsa Verde, and ArnieTex’s Tender Beef Barbacoa. And why not try some of TABLE’s Smoked Mushroom Vegetarian Tacos with the twist of homemade tortillas this time.

Story by Stephen Treffinger / Photo courtesy of Masienda

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Heirloom Tomato Galette

By
Kylie Thomas
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An Heirloom Tomato galette sits on a brown table with red and yellow tomatoes on top and a spatula nearby.

We’re sure this Heirloom Tomato Galette will make good use of your bountiful harvest when tomatoes are at their peak season from July into the fall. A crunchy crust hugs a filling of warm cheese, savory cuts of tomato, onion, and fennel. Top your slice off with a honey drizzle and basil garnish for the rustic picnic treat of your dreams.

What is a Galette? 

This French-style pastry is known for its flat-form, relaxed appearance. A galette typically consists of a rolled-out dough base topped with a variety of sweet or savory fillings (though we of course opted for savory for this mouthwatering recipe). Unlike a pie, a galette is not confined to a pie dish, allowing for a more rustic presentation. A galette is often made with classic fruit combinations. Savory options like cheese and vegetables are also very familiar.

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An Heirloom Tomato galette sits on a brown table with red and yellow tomatoes on top and a spatula nearby.

Heirloom Tomato Galette

  • Author: Anna Franklin
Print Recipe

Description

Your answer to how to use all those plump tomatoes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2–3 heirloom tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 bulb fennel
  • 1 onion
  • 3 oz gouda cheese, grated
  • 3 oz Farm Girl Cheese, grated
  • Honey and basil for garnish

For the crust: 

  • 8 tbsp cold butter cut into 1/2-inch chunks
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk
  • 2 tbsp corn meal**

Instructions

  1. Mix together flour, sugar, and salt, and pour into a food processor. Add butter and pulse until butter is cut into the flour (make sure it still has visible chunks no larger than a pea.)
  2. While pulsing, slowly trickle in 1/4 cup of the buttermilk. Continue to pulse until the buttermilk is incorporated into the dough. At this point, your dough should look like rough crumbs and just hold its shape if squeezed together. If the dough does not, add a a little more buttermilk, one teaspoon at a time.
  3. Lay a sheet of plastic wrap on the counter. Dump the dough crumbs onto the sheet. Gather the edges and press tightly together to form a 1-inch thick disk. Place in a plastic bag and refrigerate for at least an hour (up to 24 hours.)
  4. While your dough is chilling, sauté the onion and fennel in 2 tablespoons of butter until soft and translucent. Set aside.
  5. Once chilled, sprinkle cornmeal all over dough and roll out into a large round disk. Try to get the dough as thin as you can, you don’t want it to be thicker than 1/4 inch.
  6. Fill the dough with the grated cheese, and the sautéed onion and fennel mixture. Leave 2 inches of pie dough around the edges. Top with slices of tomato and fold the edges up over the tomatoes.
  7. Season with salt and pepper and bake at 375 degrees until the crust is slightly brown. Drizzle with honey and garnish with basil before serving.

Notes

**Rolling out the pie dough using cornmeal adds a nice crunch to the crust, but normal flour can be used as well.

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can’t wait to see what you’ve made!

Recipe and Styling by Anna Franklin
Story by Kylie Thomas
Photography by Dave Bryce 

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Savory Eggplant Jam with Homemade Crackers

By
Kylie Thomas
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0
A plate holds an Eggplant Jam that sits beside an array of placed homemade crackers on another small plate.

It’s time to hold your end of summer picnic with our Savory Eggplant Jam and Homemade Crackers as the star. Making jam is a breeze with our easy step-by-step instructions. Plus, the addition of Homemade Crackers makes sure your recipe is farm-to-table in every aspect. You could even choose to substitute the Homemade Crackers with other fresh produce for dipping like carrots or zucchini. Just make sure you have a jar handy because you’re going to want to save every last drop!

Tips for Making Jam

Choose firm, ripe eggplants for the best flavor and texture when making our eggplant jam. If you want to remove some of the bitterness, you can peel and salt the eggplant before cooking. When cooking, be patient as eggplants can release a lot of water, so reducing it to a jam-like consistency may take time. You can also experiment with flavors beyond what we’ve suggested here. Add ingredients like various vinegars, citrus zest, or your favorite spices to enhance the taste. Eat your eggplant jam right away, or store covered tightly in the refrigerator up to about a week.

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A plate holds an Eggplant Jam that sits beside an array of placed homemade crackers on another small plate.

Savory Eggplant Jam with Homemade Crackers

  • Author: Anna Franklin
Print Recipe

Description

Elevate any snack plate with this eggplant jam.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 medium eggplants, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced 
  • 2 tsp paprika 
  • 1 tsp ground cumin 
  • 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon or allspice 
  • 1/8 tsp harissa 
  • 1/4 cup water 
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice 
  • 1 tbsp chopped parsley 
  • Honey for garnish
  • Homemade crackers (See below)

For the crackers:

  • 2 cups flour 
  • 3 tsp baking powder 
  • 1 tbsp sugar 
  • 1 tsp kosher salt 
  • 6 tbsp cold butter 
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil 
  • 1/3 cup water 
  • 1 egg, beaten, for egg wash 
  • Sesame seeds for sprinkling 
  • 2 tbsp butter, melted 

Instructions

For the Jam

  1. Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Brush two baking sheets fairly well with olive oil and lay the diced eggplant on the baking sheets in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

  2. Bake the eggplant for about 25 minutes, stirring them on the baking sheets midway during baking.

  3. Once the eggplant pieces are cooked, put them in a large bowl with the garlic, paprika, cumin, cinnamon or allspice, harissa, and water. Mash them well with a fork or potato masher. (Not all the eggplant skins will break up into little pieces.)
  4. Heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet and cook the mashed eggplant mixture on low heat, stirring frequently so it doesn’t scorch on the bottom. It tends to stick a bit, but just scrape up those brown bits which might form on the bottom of the pan.
  5. Continue to cook the eggplant until it’s thick and most of the moisture is removed, about 20 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and let cook another minute, then remove from heat and add the parsley. When cool enough to taste, check and add a bit of salt and lemon juice. Serve drizzled with honey. 

For the crackers:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Add flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt to the food processor and give a quick pulse to combine.
  3. Add 6 tablespoons of cold butter a few small pats at a time, and pulse to combine then. Then, while running the food processor, slowly pour in vegetable oil.
  4. While the food processor is pulsing, add water a little bit at a time until a dough starts to form into a ball. You may not need to full 1/3 of a cup. Do not add it all at once.
  5. On a floured surface, roll dough out as thin as you can with a rolling pin. Add, adding more flour if needed when it sticks.
  6. Use cutter to cut the dough out into long thin crackers. Continue to roll out dough and cut out crackers until all the dough is used up and place them on parchment lined baking sheet.
  7. Poke holes in each of the crackers, brush the cracker cut outs with the egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can't wait to see what you've made!

Recipes and Styling by Anna Franklin
Photography by Dave Bryce

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Natural Sleep Aids for Election Day Anxiety

By
Emma Riva
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0
A natural sleep aid tea
Courtesy of The Tea Spot

Is Election Day anxiety keeping you up at night? No need to pop melatonin pills or doomscroll until your eyelids start drooping. There are a number of natural sleep aids that can help you get out of that sleepless funk. We asked experts from national brands to recommend herbal remedies for a better night of sleep.

Some Pointers on Natural Sleep Aids

Herbal medicine often gets dismissed as “woo woo,” but there’s a lot of science behind it. Doctors, including the medical professionals at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, have studied herbs’ effects on the nervous system. The most effective natural sleep aids are “nervines,” herbs that act on the nervous system to calm you down. So, the doctors at the VA compiled data on nervines and what they do. A few of the nervine herbs to look for in the teas you buy as natural sleep aids are:

  • Valerian: This ancient botanical is thought to work on receptors in the brain to combat insomnia, especially when used longer term according to several medical studies.
  • Hops: They’re often combined with Valerian and also thought to act on melatonin receptors in the brain.
  • Lemon Balm: Often invasive in home gardens, lemon balm has been used since the middle ages to soothe anxiety and insomnia. It’s available in both leaf form and in tinctures.
  • Chamomile: This well known, classic natural sleep aid can be helpful when you drink it thirty minutes prior to going to bed.

Keep an eye out for these ingredients in the teas you buy. Herbalists that specialize in tinctures and holistically made, loose-leaf tea put a lot of care into what they make. To make sure you can combat those sleepless nights refreshing polling numbers, TABLE sought out teamakers across the country with blends specifically meant to help you get to sleep.

Cutting Root Apothecary recommends…

Sweet Slumber Tea Blend

A relaxing blend of herbs perfect to drink before sleep to promote peaceful dreams. Ingredients: all organic: catnip, chamomile, oatstraw, skullcap, mugwort, hops.  Aroma and taste: Floral and green. Brew time: 2-3 minutes 

ZZZZZs Tincture

Formulated to help you get to sleep and stay asleep, these herbs are relaxing and supportive to an overworked nervous system. Take 1 – 2 dropperfuls before sleep. Ingredients: Hops strobile, valerian root, catnip leaf, passionflower leaf, mint leaf, water, ethanol.

Boulder Dushanbe Tea House recommends…

Dreamtime Tea Organic

All organic ingredients including: spearmint, linden leaf and flower, chamomile, rosemary, hops flowers, jasmine petals, calendula flowers, skullcap, and mugwort. Spearmint adds a bright, aromatic touch, complimented by the full flavors of chamomile and rosemary, accented by the smooth, floral qualities of jasmine. A pale yellow colored cup has a sweet, minty aroma. The flavor is bright, and fresh with a light, aromatic finish; Top notes of spearmint lead to mid tones of chamomile with end notes of jasmine.

Sleep Deep Tea Organic

Each selection in our line of wellness tea is made with all organic ingredients. Sleep Deep includes valerian root, spearmint leaf, linden leaf and flowers, chamomile, passionflower, skullcap, and hops flowers. A yellow tinted cup has a full minty aroma. The palate is bright, and sweet with a refreshing finish. Top notes of spearmint lead to mid tones of chamomile with light, nutty endnotes.

The Tea Spot recommends…

Lights Out

Organic Lights Out is a caffeine-free herbal tea that features a base of hibiscus flower, a beloved ingredient with a long history of use in traditional medicine. The tea is naturally sweetened with licorice root, and softened with lavender, chamomile flowers, and peppermint leaves, making it the perfect bedtime beverage to help you fall asleep. Additionally, Lights Out includes valerian root.

Farmhouse Teas recommends…

Hops in the Sack Tincture Mix

When it’s time to hit the hay and you find your counting sheep and talking to the Shepherd try adding some Hops in the Sack Tincture mix to your nightly routine! (Don’t stop talking to the Shepherd though!) A few drops in a cup of hot water at night or quickly under the tongue can help bring the peaceful feeling of sleepiness along.

Plumb Tuckered Out Herbal Tea

With a blend of calming herbs like chamomile, spearmint, and lemongrass, our Plumb Tuckered Out Herbal Tea offers a comforting aroma and perfectly balance. Has chamomile, spearmint, blackberry, hawthorne, lemongrass and linden.

Triple Moon Alchemy recommends…

Good Night Tea Blend

Reach for this blend 30-60 mins before bed. Steep to your desired strength and enjoy a restful night. Has hops, chamomile, lemon balm, valerian, lavender, and stevia for sweetness.

Not Today, Satan

The title says it all—perfect for fighting Election Day anxiety .Reach for this blend when it’s time to nourish your nerves. This blend is a synergy of several nervine herbs that have been known to help to align you with a more calm and peaceful disposition. Has skullcap, tulsi, oat straw, violet, marshmallow root

Story by Emma Riva

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16 Pittsburgh Area Apple Orchards for Farm Fresh Cider

By
Kylie Thomas
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0
four kids work together to hold up a ladder and pick apples from a tree.

It’s apple season, and we have a list of Pittsburgh farms you’ll want to visit for locally-grown apples and fresh cider. So skip the store-bought fruit and head to one of these beautiful and delicously-filled orchards.

Pittsburgh Area Apple Orchards

Trax Farms

Nestled in the South Hills, Trax Farms has provided Pittsburghers with fresh fruits and vegetables for decades. They boast that they have the “Best Apple Cider in Pittsburgh,” and you can sample and purchase freshly-pressed apple cider from the farm’s cider mill, which started pressing apples into cider in 1964. Note: Trax’s apple cider must be kept refrigerated, but you can also freeze it so that chilled (or mulled…and spiked!) apple cider can be enjoyed during those long winter days ahead.

Soergel Orchards

The apple cider fun extends beyond the fall season at Soergel Orchards. The farm’s cider press runs all year round. In September and October, you can also pick your own apples to eat or use in apple sauce, apple pie, or whatever recipe your heart desires.

Shenot Farm

Apple cider and chocolate fudge? You’ll find both at Shenot Farm, a must-add to chocolate lovers’ to-do list. Plus with 25 apple varieties across 15 acres, you’ll be hard-pressed not to find the perfect apple in this orchard’s diverse selection. In addition, Shenot Farm offers freshly-pressed cider and a Fudge Room with over 50 homemade fudge flavors.

Norman’s Orchard

Looking for apples of the heirloom variety? Norman’s Orchard grows a variety of heirloom apples and pears, characterized by their distinctive taste and appearance, which are not readily available elsewhere. Visitors are welcome to pick their own fruit straight from the tree or to purchase freshly picked fruit from the farm market. Apple butter and local honey are also available.

Triple B Farms

Whether you’re looking to eat or bake your apples, you can pick your own at Triple B Farms, as well as flowers and pumpkins for a little more fall fun. Triple B Farms also offers activities for the kiddos, including the Squirrel Hill Tunnel Slide and the Farm Playground.

Godfrey Run Farm

Take a two-hour drive outside the city, and you’ll be rewarded with a freshly-pressed apple cider slushie from Godfrey Run Farm. Of course, while you’re there, you might as well stock up on cider, apples, and more.

Apple Castle

Apple cider donuts with real apple chunks? Enough said. Apple Castle also boasts a large selection of apples, a playground for the kids, and other locally made products.

Emmett’s Orchard

Started in 1997 and only open during the autumn season, Emmett’s Orchard’s Facebook bio says it best: “a family run business, open in the fall for apples, cider and other fun things!”

Simmons Farm

Simmons Farm boasts all the fun farm activities: hayrides, fresh produce and greenery for purchase, and pick-your-own excursions for apples, pumpkins, flowers, peaches, and strawberries.

Sally’s Cider Press

Not only can you purchase freshly-pressed apple cider and apple butter from Sally’s Cider Press. If you bring your own apples, Sally’s will press them into your own refreshing cider!

Half Crown Hill Orchard

At this family-owned and operated farm and retail market, you can pick your own apples or snag a premade grab bag. They also offer honey, beeswax products, and cider pressed and UV pasteurized at Sally’s Cider Press.

Sturges Orchards and Farm Market

You’ll find apples, peaches, plums, Asian pears, and cherries growing on the 65 acres at Sturges Orchards and Farm Market. Kick it up a notch with their homemade hard cider. Available at Pittsburgh farmers’ markets, too!

Brown’s Orchard & Cider Co.

Using an apple press from the 1930s, Brown’s Orchard & Cider Co. makes delicious fresh apple cider right on-site. They are open from August to December.

Barbers Orchard

Peppers, tomatoes, and a variety of apples: stock up on all your favorite fruits and vegetables and fresh apple cider during the fall season, which Barbers Orchard presses itself.

Daugherty’s Orchards

Find fresh pies all year round and yummy apple cider in the fall at this Westmoreland County farm. The Daugherty family hand sows, grows, and picks the most produce available themselves.

Golden Apple Farm and Market

Alongside their homemade cider, Golden Apple Farm and Market offers “hive-to-spoon” local raw honey and seasonal, sustainably sourced produce.

Pome Ridge Orchards

The sprawling Blairsville orchard features such apple varieties as red delicious, golden delicious, double red delicious, and northern spy.

Story by Jordan Snowden and Kylie Thomas / Photography by Katie Long

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5 Fabulous Flower Pots

By
Emma Riva
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A flower pot on a sable background

Flower pots are an underrated accent for the home. While it’s easy to pick up a basic terra cotta pot just about anywhere, there are some very beautiful options out there that will give your windowsill or nursery some real presence.

5 Fabulous Flower Pots

A flower pot on a sable background

Bergs, The Hoff Collection

Bergs is something of a one-stop shop for all things flower pot. They have a great selection, many in raw or unglazed clay. These stackable models by graphic designer Anne Hoff are beautiful and come in a range of colors. Some of the pots are raw to allow roots to breathe, the bottoms hand-dipped in playfully contrasting shades. The collection includes candleholders as well.

A few grey flower pots on a white background

Ben Wolff

These cult favorites are all hand-thrown by Wolff and stamped with his name and a number that indicates the weight of wet clay used. (Each one is also signed on the bottom). The subtle detailing and gentle curves make these minimal but not in any way plain. The white and gray pots quickly develop a wonderful patina and change color, a process that differs with soil and water content.

A flower pot from Bunny Williams on a white background

Bunny Williams, Brush stroke cachepot

Its size (8 1/2”d x 6 1/4”h) makes it perfect for a smaller floral arrangement. The flourish of brushstroke underglaze gives it an artisinal feel that looks great in settings both traditional and modern. Ideal for a setting such as a powder room or end table, but would also look great on a small entryway table.

A planter with a tray from Wilcoxson

Wilcoxson Brooklyn Ceramics, Planter with Tray

Handmade of porcelain in the Wilcoxson ceramics studio in Brooklyn, this intriguing pot has a slightly irregular shape and an even more irregularly shaped tray. The collection is made to be a highly functional approach to porcelain, making it suitable for use in everyday life. Also available as a small bowl (without tray) and a vase, in several colors.

IKEA citrusfrukt, a flower pot with plants in it

IKEA, Citrusfrukt Plant Pot with Saucer

In sizes ranging from 3 1/2” to  7 ½ “, these simple pots by British designer Ilse Crawford, available in gray or yellow-brown are ideal for creating arrangements of different-sized plants. (The sizes are indicated on the bottom so no need to measure.) The two colors have enough character to shine but still allow the plants to star.

Story by Stephen Treffinger

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Watermelon Decorations for a Cute Summer Vibe

By
Emma Riva
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A table set with watermelon decor for summer

There’s still plenty of summer left, and nothing says summer quite like watermelon. Why not take it a step further and outfit your whole table with watermelon decorations? Check out these watermelon decoration options to make your cutest summer table.  Two collections—one in ceramic from Portugal, the other in Melamine—let you keep that warm-weather vibe year round. And this stuff could not be any more adorable!

Watermelon Decorations for a Cute Summer Vibe

A watermelon decor piece by Neiman Marcus

Bordallo Pinheiro

The pieces from Bordallo Pinheiro include plates, bowls, fruit bowls, pitchers, cake plates, and serving plates. They have a chic, natural feel due to irregularities in shapes, the realistic textures, bright colors, and detailing. The company was founded in 1894 and the work maintains both a super high level of quality and craftsmanship—but also a sense of humor. There are all sorts of fruits, flowers, and vegetables—even lobsters—on offer.

Watermelon plates from Lakeside Collection

Watermelon Melamine Dinnerware – The Lakeside Collection

If you’d prefer something you can throw around, stack with abandon, and drop on the patio without fear of smashing, then the set from The Lakeside Collection is your best bet. It’s made of Melamine so it’s practically indestructible. And you can’t beat the prices!

Watermelon Recipes for Your Watermelon Decorations

Why not add some actual watermelon to your watermelon decorations? TABLE has you covered through the end of the summer with some watermelon recipes.

A white man's hand hold a bottle of ginger beer as it sits on a black table. Next to the soda sits a mojito mocktail orange in color.

Watermelon Cucumber NO-jito 

Grab your friends and some fresh watermelon and cucumber from your local farmer’s market, and mix up this mojito mocktail.

Watermelon salad in a spiral bowl, which is placed on a napkin, Pieces of watermelon in a smaller bowl

Watermelon Salad

Try Chef Jackie Page’s excellent (and easy) recipe for refreshing Watermelon Salad with lemon zest and mint added. Serve it in your watermelon bowl!

Three Watermelon Sandwiches served on a heightened plate. Two sandwiches served on two smaller plates on the side.

Watermelon Sandwiches

Whip up watermelon sandwiches for your next warm-weather gathering and put them on your watermelon plates — this refreshing healthy treat will be a fan favorite.

Story by Stephen Treffinger

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