Delicious Find in NJ

John & I savored split breakfast's yesterday - he had a meet-up at Fred's while I took the opportunity to nip across the river to play catch-up with Barbara over a latte & an everything bagel (with her fabuloso  homemade veggie cream cheese) at Buck's Ice Cream & Espresso.  Afterward, we tagged up for our 2nd-time EVER backroads ramble in virtually unknown NJ.

Neither of us have a clue WHY it's taken us so long to consciously meander our neighbor state's backroads, but great was our joy last month when we realized what terrific rambles lay ahead.  Felt a bit like when the Europeans finally realized they'd discovered whole new lands, not simply a shorter route to the Orient. (Except, unlike Isabella, we were elated, not downcast.)  Might sound a tad grandiose, but truly captures our joy.

So totally worth the gas!!  Especially yesterday, when we tootled past the HIGHLAND GOURMET MARKET on Rt 519 Stockton NJ.  Let me set up the moment - we'd just driven past some very woofy-haired we-knew-not-what grazing in a small meadown;  something caught my eye on the left, just as we drove past;  turned around to check it out and - voila! - we were introduced to the joys of Highland Gourmet Market, a smallish market worth every drop of gas to get there!

Turns out the woofy-haired critters are grass-fed (obviously - we saw 'em) Highland cattle which are featured in the meat case, all cuts gorgeous, some beautifully aged.  What they don't sell to a devoted following, they whip up as ready-to-serve delectibles OR transform into pot pies & shepherd's pie (waiting in the freezer case).  

And then there are the baked goods.  Thought I had to drive all the way to Delicious Orchards (interesting - also in NJ) for a pie that completely satisfies my tastebuds.  Now, can take a leisurely hour drive to Kingwood.  I normally do not like a crumble-topped pie, but their cherry a total swoon.  

Although not huge, this gem of a find also features a "Wine Coop" with a small but well-chosen selection of wine, liquors & beers, all clearly labeled by types ("smooth & mellow," "large & robust") rather than brand, a boon for someone (like yours truly) not very knowledgeable about wine.  

A beautiful ramble (near Frenchtown, Stockton and Flemington) will take you to this delicious NJ discovery!

Movie trivia tidbit - the cattle grazing in the meadows outside the market are similar to the one featured in the Jimmy Steward/Maureen O'Hara movie, The Rare Breed.  Hard to imagine what cowboys & cattlemen in the American West thought, first seeing these strange looking critters ~  sort of look like bovines from another planet!

"The Highland Gourmet market is proud of our 100% all natural grass fed Highland ground beef, hand cut steaks, all natural chicken, and local honey. Homemade pies, cakes, and cookies are baked in our kitchen daily.  Highland Gourmet has a full service deli featuring sandwiches made with Boar's Head meats and cheeses, homemade soups, chili and hot dishes."