Berkshire Tidbits: Apple Squeeze Returns to Lenox; Kushi Opens Doors
 Baker and Lebanese cook Mary Zabian at Apple Squeeze 2014 with one of her mile-high cakes. |
Becket Monthly Community Breakfast
Saturday, Sept. 26
The Yoked Parish of Becket presents its monthly breakfast on the last Saturday of every month from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. All are welcome. Menu consists of homemade scrambled eggs, pancakes, French toast, bacon, sausage, ham, hash, home fries, fresh fruit, juices, tea and coffee.
At Becket Federated Church, 413-623-5217, 3381 Main St., across from the Becket Washington Elementary School, just past the intersection with Route 8. Adults $6; children under 12, $3.
Kushi Institute Open House
Saturday, Sept. 26; 1 to 6 p. m.
Kushi Institute in Becket is the originator of macrobiotic eating, education and living in the West. It was founded by Michio and Aveline Kushi in 1978 to teach the macrobiotic approach to health and healing based on a whole grain-centered diet of fresh, organic, mainly cooked-from-scratch vegetables, legumes, sea vegetables and whole grains with some fruit and occasional fish.
They offer programs as short as half a day and as long as years.
The open house afternoon is by registration only. It includes a presentation about their programs, an introduction to using macrobiotics for healthy weight loss and two 45 minute mini classes: a cooking demonstration of quick and healthy meals and tips on using shiatsu hands on healing to improve digestion. And tasty macrobiotic snacks and beverages such as cookies, vegetable sushi, hot cider or twig tea.
There will be a free raffle drawing with such prizes as a free meal or an overnight stay including a day with three meals at the Institute.
If you come early you may walk around the campus which is a beautiful old estate, or shop in their store.
Open house attendees are encouraged to come early to have a macrobiotic lunch or/and stay after the event for a macrobiotic dinner. Meals at Kushi Institute are buffets. The people who live there are generally friendly to guests.
The Kushi Institute is at 198 Leland Road, up the hill/High Street behind the Becket General Store on State Road/Route 8. Call 413-623-5741 or 800-975-8744 for more information or to register for the open house.
36th Annual Apple Squeeze Harvest Festival in Lenox
Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26 & 27; 10 a. m. to 5 p. m.
Lenox antique dealer Charles Flint started the Apple Squeeze in 1979. It took off, was taken under the wing of the Lenox Chamber of Commerce and has taken on a life of its own. It has evolved over the years. No more monument-size apple pie. Not even a pie contest. But lots of apples and lots of food.
There is certainly much music and tightly packed artisans and vendors selling things and kids' events but the food is worth a visit on its own.
Come hungry.
Longtime owner Earl Albert said Loeb's will be selling apples right outside its doors -- "and hamburgs and hot dogs and kielbasa cooked in cider." Olde Heritage Tavern will have hot dogs and hamburgers, too. Ernie Jordan will be a fixture with his Grampie's Dog House hot dog and kielbasa stand.
Chamber director Ralph Petillo said, "Mary Zabian will be there with her mile high cakes and pizza. The bagels place [Bagel and Brew]. Bakeries from Pittsfield. On A Roll. Greek food from St. George Greek Church. Burgers and hot dogs. Firefly is having a special. Alta and Church Street Café. Haven will be there. Prime is doing sausage and peppers. We'll have Italian food. Berkshire Christian School is doing candy apples and caramel apples and tacos in a bag. And, we're featuring Lenox High; they're doing food from scratch in their kitchen. We are not having a pie contest. Nothing from Zinc. But we are having all kinds of food."
Balderdash wines will be there. There will be wine tastings. Farmers will bring their produce. There will be apples, apples, apples. And recipes available. And much more.
The Apple Squeeze takes place on all the (five) downtown streets. Lenox is compact. Good for walking. Good for strolling and eating.
Hudson Valley and North Quabbin Garlic Festivals
Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26 & 27
If you love garlic but you missed the Southern Vermont Garlic Festival in Bennington just before Labor Day, your chance has come again. In fact, two chances. This weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26 and 27, the Berkshires are between two garlic festivals; the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival to the west in Saugerties, N.Y.; the 17th Annual North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Fest, at the east end of Franklin County in Orange, Ma., to the east just beyond Amherst.
It's harvest time and garlic is a savory harvest as opposed to apples.
The first Hudson Valley festival was in 1989 and was adopted by the Kiwanis Club of Saugerties in 1992. The first event drew under 500 but crowds quickly grew to and continue to be in the tens of thousands.
It features chefs including local celebrity chef Ric Orlando, lectures, garlic farmers, a garlic marketplace, food vendors, entertainment, crafters and children's activities.
Online one day only tickets in advance are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors over 65; children under 12 accompanied by an adult are free. Admission at the gate is $10 per person with no discounts. Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Information: Hudson Valley Garlic Festival, 845-246-3090, Cantine Field on Washington Avenue Extension, in Saugerties, N.Y., south of Albany and Hudson on the western banks of the Hudson River and the Esopus Creek.
The North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Fest sounds fabulous, too. With cooking demos and a new cookbook with recipes from 10 years of cooking demos, garlic games, a raw garlic eating contest, farm fresh food and enticing events and booths too numerous to name. It is supported by many individuals and some organizations.
Adult admission is $5/day or $8 for a whole weekend pass. Children under 12 are free. There is free parking and a free shuttle to the festival. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. But it will be beautiful and sunny both days.
Information: North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Fest, 978-544-9023, Forster's Farm, 60 Chestnut Hill Road, Orange, to the east just beyond Amherst.
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