Make A Wish

This weekend is action packed for Madisono's Gelato. I need to tell you about a really cool thing that has happend. Madisono's is now packaging our gelato and sorbet under the Sustain Brand Label. This is a very unique concept started by Matt Kennedy of Kennedy Creative. Please see the links for more information. The concept is this Sustain Brands works with in a designated food web and sells the products only within 300 miles of the production location. They helpt cottage producers who are looking to build their business but find it hard to do so as a small vendor. The package not only tells the sustain brand story but it also tells about the producer of the food product. Madisono's does not loose any identity in the process. It is now being sold in the grocery department at Jungle Jims and at the New Richmond IGA. Sustain Brand will be at the Covington Food Fair this weekend with samples.
Madisono's is also proud to be a part of the Make A Wish Foundation fund raiser this weekend at ShakerRun Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio. This is a great organization that has made a big difference in many peoples lives. We are offering our Madagascar Vanilla, Belgian Chocolate, and Lemon sorbet. These are going to be paired with a hand painted cookie that is shaped like a maple leaf. There is a person that makes these cookies and paints each one by hand! She is making 300 of them. Is is an honor to have been asked to participate. Thanks to all of you who took part in that very special event. I hope you enjoyed the gelato and sorbet.
What else? Well Midpoint music festival is going on and you can find Madisono's being served at Coffee Emporium and at their mobile gelato cart as well. I know the weather is not the best for cold treats on a rainy cool night but just think about that with a hot cup of espresso. Yum.
Matt

Lunch on the Land

I added these photos from the Findlay Market site. Check out the link for more info and pictures.

This past weekend I spent in the country. Not far from city lights but in Indian Hill on Turner Farm for the first Lunch on the Land fundraiser for Findlay Market. I felt as though I was back in Adams County. For those of you who do not know I lived there for 5 years farming small fruits, shiitake mushrooms and vegetables. I could go on for hours about this event. I will look for a link to share. It was documented by a real production company and it will be aired on Channel 5 in a few weeks. I will get up as well. I had a great time with all of the chefs. The food was spectacular and the attendance was sold out. 160 people at one long table eating family style. I can not say enough about the organization and the spirits of all involved even while it rained. I partered with Summer Gimanetti from the Palace. We did a sudae with sweet corn gelato, homemade toffee popcorn, blueberry compote, and fresh whipped cream from Snowville Creamery. It was paired with a blueberry wine. Thanks to all of you who attended. I would write more but I have to get the kids from the bus. More to come later.
Matt

Local 127

Tonight marks the opening of the new Local 127 on 4th Street. Chef Steven Geddes from Las Vegas has been shopping at my parents store working on recipes for the last month or so. Today Madisono's delivered 3 custom flavors for the gran opening. Bourbon, made with Woodford Reserve, Malted Milk, and a French Vanilla with cracked black pepper. They are also serving my Lemon Basil sorbet. I am eager to get there soon to try out many of the local ingredients they will be serving at Local 127. It is the dedication of chef's like Steve that make a food community work. Good luck to everyone at Local 127.
Matt

Whispering Beard Festival

Shhhhhhh...... Quiet...........I think I hear a whispering beard!

Madisono's will be offering gelato and sorbet at the Whispering Beard Fesival.

Matt Williams a buddy of mine, he is the produce manager at Whole Foods Rookwood, is one of the founders of the Whispering Beard Folk Festival. Madisono's is excited to offer our all natural vanilla and chocolate gelato along with the lime cilantro sorbet and lemon basil sorbet. Both of which are vegan. I will be there Friday Saturday and Sunday. It is a three day event with camping, a lake and much more. Please check out the website for more information. I am sure this is going to be a big festival in years to come. This is the first year it is open to the public so come on down to the farm and say you were at the first ever Whispering Beard Folk Festival and had some of Cincinnati's First Gelato Company, Madisono's while taking in the sounds of Peter Rowan, Rumke Mtn. Boys and many more.

Cool Nights

I have been enjoying the cool nights. On Sunday my family enjoyed a fire pit in our back yard. the temperature and breeze was just perfect. Over the summer Madisono's has been using local basil for my lemon basil sorbet. These cooler nights and shorter days are beginning to show on the basil that is coming in. The leaves are no longer big, bold and meaty. There are more flowers on the tops, which have to be dicarded, the leaves are 1/1o the size of the early pickings. I farmed for my parents 5 years in West Union Ohio. The farm was certified organic through OEFFA and basil was one of my crops. We sold to several restaurants and to QueensGate Foods. At the peak of the season we would harvest 100 pounds a day. Observing the basil now it brings back fond memories of those days and also anxiety for my local basil farmer. I know and she knows that the first frost day is just around the corner. These cool nights are a tease for that and when it hits the basil is the first to go. It will not take even a nip. When that happens the harvest and cash flow stops. I tried covering with remay cloth but we had so much it was next to impossible.
When the basil stops I will seek out basil from the south and at some point it will be coming from California. We are all connected to these cycles some more than others. Many have lost their jobs from the current depression but farmers always lose their jobs when Jack Frost rolls around. I hope that you have had a chance to enjoy my lemon basil this summer. I expect the outlying areas will see one sometime late September or early Ocotober if we are lucky.
Matt

College Hill Coffee Company

College Hill Coffee Company is going strong. It may be that Tina is charged with espresso or maybe she just likes to share good things with her customers. We placed a freezer there about 4 weeks ago and she is doing a great job. They have a great lunch/ dinner menu and have some great music on Fridays and Saturday's. Chris Collier is playing tonight. Please see the link for more information.
If you have not been to the shop it is located at the corner of Hamilton and Northbend.
Matt

Room For Gelato

Congratulations to all of the gelato businesses featured in Polly Cambell's article on Wednesday! I was not aware of the location in Dayton KY. I can not wait to go for a gelato there. I have included the link for you to visit the site and read the article. Click here to go. This week has been a busy one. I will be delivering 3 new flavors to Oxford Ohio on Monday. 45 East and Tonic Sushi Bar will be serving Madisono's. The new flavors are Ginger Gelato, Bourbon Vanilla with Cherries and Tea with Lemon Sorbet. This one is really good. It tastes just like sweet tea with lemon but creamy and smooth. We brew the tea, add the lemon and use Madisono's sorbet science to create a remarkable textured sorbet. They are going to use it at the bar. I would like to thank Chef Paul Sturkey for helping out with this. He has been consulting and contacted me about flavor development for 45 East. I have always respected Paula and Pam for their contributions to our great city. I used to sell him mushrooms from the farm as well as blackberries when they were in Wyoming. That was a few years ago and we are still connected through food. Some bonds are hard to break. I will be doing a demo at Findlay Market on Saturday and one at Bigg's Hyde Park on Sunday. If you are in the neigborhood stop buy.
Matt