EAT UP // Cape Cod's East Dennis Oyster Farm Hobnobs in the Big City

In their domain: John and Stephanie Lowell

Much to our enjoyment, the higher-end NYC food & bar scene has spent the last year embracing the oyster, in some restaurants, serving them exclusively. One of the sudden major players has undoubtedly been East Dennis Oyster Farm in Cape Cod, supplying renowned dining spots Marea, Oceana, and Momofoku. Landscaper-cum-oyster farmers John and Stephanie Lowell are the folks behind the award-winning mollusks. As aspiring connoisseurs of endless oyster consumption, we reached out to the Lowells to find out how this all started--and why their product is officially on par with that hoity counterpart over in Wellfleet. 

When John got an aquaculture grant in 2003, he set up the farm: rows upon rows of enclosed pallets on stilts which get doused with saltwater when the tide comes in. Though in an ocean of oyster farmers, Lowell's were initially a tough sell, but once John got people to actually taste the product, they were sold. Local oyster bars began furiously snapping them up--and shortly thereafter, the Lowell's broke into their target market: New York.

"Our oysters aren't cheap," John says with a bit of a laugh. "There's more of a market for that in New York. People are willing to pay a premium for quality." John and Stephanie--who also works as an accountant--treat their business as a boutique provider. They're mission is sell to the discerning oyster fan, people who will taste the difference between bivalves from Wellfleet, East Dennis, and Prince Edward Island. 

So far, this approach has provided some nice perks to the Lowells; "We get treated pretty well when we go to New York, wined and dined," John says. Though on a larger scale, the success of Dennis Oyster Farm has opened the door for oyster farms from other parts of Cape Cod to be seen as purveyors of a luxury product. And that's all perfectly fine by the Lowells. "We have some rivalry, but it's all in fun," John says. He's glad to see his colleagues succeed and for the increased attention to the food's provenance, which Lowell believes will open diners up to new types of oysters. At the end of the day, East Dennis Oyster Farm is a labor of love--it's about a couple working on a beach with their dog--and as self-professed fans of their product, we'll tell you: All of that shines through in a slurp of briny goodness whether you're at Manhattan's finest or at your local Cape Cod beach shack.

--Layla Schlack

ESSENTIAL EVENT // Brooklyn Historical Society's "Historic Cocktails" with Regional Apple Alcohols

The Brooklyn Historical Society may be an organization in the midst of a massive renovation, but it keeps on trucking with fascinating talks, workshops and walking tours. One we feel obliged to direct your attention to will be hosted by historic gastronomist Sarah Lohman who has spent most of her career re-creating old recipes over a wood-burning stove. On October 20, she'll give you the rundown on the history of (and how to make your own) apple jack, apple brandy and hard cider. 

Sure, there'll be plenty of talking about this tantalizing booze, but you'll get to imbibe as well. Small groups will get hands-on instruction on whipping up some classic, apple-charged cocktails. Next step: Go home, make an apple pie, make some apple turnovers and impress all your friends with some artisinal, fall-themed drinks. 'Tis the season after all.

Admission for Lohman's event is $30 for members, $40 for non-members.

In related news, if hard cider whets your whistle, you're in luck--as we're officially part-way through Cider Week, sponsored by Glynwood, one of the premier organizations working to strengthen Hudson Valley farm communities.

Happy drinking, folks.

--Layla Schlack

OFF THE GRID // Writer Kirsten Matthew Goes Cash-Free in New Zealand

All images courtesy of Kirsten MatthewKirsten Matthew had a good thing going: She had an apartment she loved in Astoria, an adorable cat named Mariah Carey and a successful career as a freelance writer for the New York Post, New York Magazine, the Times and Page Six Magazine. But then (like all of us hopefully do) she got antsy. 

What did she come up with?

She'd move back to her native New Zealand for six months and grow all of her own food. Whatever she couldn't grow or make, she'd barter for with preserved goods or labor.

After months of making arrangements to store her New York furniture, finding a home for Mariah Carey, and lining up grants to fund her experiment, Matthew hopped on a plane for about 25 hours and began looking for a house to call homestead.

While it took almost a month for Matthew to find a cottage, she kept busy planting seedlings at her parents house and making country wine out of parsnips (Wine out of parsnips: news to us.)

The parsnip wine laboratory

Just in time for spring planting and armed with a collection of sprouts that will ideally grow into artichokes, radishes, tomatoes, peas, and eggplants, Matthew is officially moving into her home this week--as you can see from the photo way up above, it's not too bad a setup. Eventually--and to offset the temporary animal absence of Mariah Carey--she may end up with her very own chickens or goats as well.

Of course, when we say "off the grid," what we really mean is "still partly on the grid"--you can watch as Matthew updates her newfound cash-free existence on Kiwi. Apple. Kiwi. 

So no, you may not be able to hand your NY landlord a basket of veggies in place of that rent cash each month, but there are alternatives to the grind. Kirsten Matthew's just one (fine) example.

--Layla Schlack