Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a Summertime Salad Tasting event hosted by Backyard Farms and Neptune Oyster.

Backyard Farms is a year-round tomato grower based in Madison, Maine. They grow three different kinds of tomatoes: on the vine, beefsteak and cocktail tomatoes. Backyard Farms’ tomatoes only travel as far as the farm can drive in one day.

At the event, Backyard Farms’ VP of marketing,Pete Lewis, taught us a lot about the farm and their tomatoes. We learned that Backyard Farms uses beneficial insects as their main source of preventing unwanted insects from coming near their fruit, and they also depend on bees to naturally pollinate their plants. Due to their year-round growing season, Backyard Farms is also able to provide more than 200 jobs in their community. 

During the bitter cold winter months, sipping on hot cocoa is a great way to warm up. But why not swap out the hot cocoa for something just as rich in chocolate flavor, and that can give you a buzz at the same time?  

Harpoon Brewery's Chocolate Stout can fulfill any self-proclaimed chocoholic's cravings. First brewed in 2008, this made-for-winter beer is only released from November through March. The brew's appearance is pitch dark, with an enticing foamy head, reminiscent of a rich, creamy ice cream float. The mouth feel is thinner than most stouts tend to be, but the taste reminds your palate what you're drinking. The flavor reminded this beer drinker of a Fudgsical – remember those? Now imagine that delightful Popsicle melted down, and turned into a silky smooth beer. Yes, it's that rich in chocolate flavor, with only a hint of artificiality.