Selling boxes of cranberries at the Chatsworth festival. We bought 7 1/2 pounds. (one box as shown.) By Paul Goldfinger 2014. ©
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
As always, huge crowds showed up early today to celebrate the 3rd largest cranberry harvest in America. The bogs are practically down the block from this south Jersey country town where the festival is held each year. Thousands of people were scarfing up foods made with the local berries including wine, muffins, breads, bagels, jellies, and jams. Country music was playing, and dogs and kids were all over the place. Parking was available in front yards, clubhouse lawns, and townies’ driveways. One guy was offering a free hot dog if you parked on his lawn. We paid $5.00, but as you got closer, the price went up to $10.00.
Friendly locals selling “award winning” hot dogs. We took the photo and passed on the dogs. Paul Goldfinger 2014 ©
The most popular display was the big tent where free wine tastings were occurring. It seemed like every other display was for something to eat or drink, so everybody was munching on something.
We stopped for a bagel with a cream cheese schmeer and coffee by the Bagel Bums from Columbus, NJ. What attracted us to their stand were their bright pink bagels Oy vey! Although they were made from cranberries and were quite photogenic, we opted for sesame, and actually, they were quite good, and we are fairly critical bagel mavens. And surprisingly, this crowd, which seemed like they just got off the boat from the heart of Appalachia, actually were going for the bagels. Maryanne waited on us, and she gladly posed for a photo with her sous chef Ivan and one of their pink specialties. I promised to post her photo on Blogfinger, and she became the first person to get one of our new business cards.
Maryanne and Ivan, two Bagel Bums, with their totally unique pink bagel; definitely not from Minsk. Paul Goldfinger photo ©
We bought our annual 7 1/2 pound box of cranberries and had the farmers hold them for us till we were ready to leave. Then we trudged back to our car parked at the Pinewood Antler Club where the members, evidently all men, were directing traffic. No guns or deer in sight. Just a bunch of good old boys who couldn’t be more helpful and cheerful. They even complimented my car —the Blogmobile.
Here’s a link to my 2013 photo of the Pinewood Antlers Club. BF link
And we’re sending this song out to Maryanne and Ivan. It’s some genuine bagel eating music from the KLEZMER CONSERVATORY BAND who, I’m certain, have never performed in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. This song is called “Mazeltov Dances:”