Local Archives - The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener

Curiosity Doughnuts

Posted on March 6, 2016 by jmarkowski Posted in Local .

What you are about to read is the story of how one family came to find Curiosity Doughnuts and how it has changed their perspective on breakfast forever. Keep searching locally and you too can find the next treasure in your ‘hood.

You know the type of weekend morning I’m talking about. You wake up later than expected, still cannot function properly and have no desire to put even an ounce of effort into preparing breakfast.

That was us this morning.

On top of that, we’ve been crazy busy since returning from vacation a few days ago and haven’t had a chance to restock the pantry. Add it all up and it is all about dad grabbing the keys and making the breakfast run.

None of us were in the mood for the old stand-by, the bagel, and Dunkin Donuts wasn’t going to cut it because well, they’re not good. My daughter suggested a trip to the Stockton Market, a weekend-only market just one town over from us, that offers up everything from fresh local vegetables, flowers and local fare which includes a number of killer bakeries. We hadn’t visited in a few months and it made sense to make the trek again.

She and I jumped in the car, me looking like I was recovering from a two week bender when in reality I fell asleep at 10:30 the night before watching Better Call Saul, and headed to just one of our favorite local establishments. I may have looked all banged up but the payoff was going to be worth it.

And it was closed.

Not open until 10:00 AM and it was 9:15.

No wonder we found such a prime parking spot. Son of a … what do we do now?

Right before we pulled away in a panic, we noticed that the cafe attached to the market was open. Ok, that could work, so we got back out of the car and ventured on in.

LIFE CHANGING MOMENT ALERT

We quickly scanned the 4-5 kiosks that were open for business but were immediately drawn in by the last spot on the left, near the back of the store.

Curiosity officially piqued.

As we approached the Curiosity Doughnuts counter, we were greeted not only by the sweetest woman, but a display of doughnuts that made us both swoon.

I’m talking authentic looking roundish pillows of doughy deliciousness that smelled like heaven if it were inhabited by yeast and butter and sugar and happiness. Breakfast plans solidified.

Choices included cinnamon-cardamom-sugar (Jamie’s fave), maple glazed, chocolate devil’s food cake, vanilla glazed, chocolate glazed, lime zest, tutti fruitti and some killer combo of butterscotch and crushed pretzels topping (my fave). I’m sure I’m missing many others but it’s so difficult to take it all in when you are stuck in a doughnut stupor.

We ultimately settled on ordering eight different doughnuts which if my math is correct, equals two per family member. I wanted to order more but some how managed to show some restraint. As we were ready to depart, the owner, and an immediately likable chap, offered some just-made-custard to my daughter because you know, why not, and she enjoyed it on the ride home. Nice.

Speaking of the ride home, we were tempted to sample the doughnuts during the drive but ultimately agreed that this was too significant of an event to not experience together as a family. It almost hurt to wait.

After the ten minute drive home, Jamie and I skipped into the house, thrilled to share our find with my wife and son. As I opened the Curiosity Doughnuts box and revealed our treasures,

there was a five second silence as we all allowed the scent to engorge our noses and take us to a simpler time when all that mattered was a good doughnut.

They were the

GREATEST

DOUGHNUTS

ALL

FRIGGIN

TIME

That is no exaggeration. OMG … no scratch that … OMFG.

Our lives had been changed forever.

I’m still an amateur food reviewer, so the best I can describe it was warm, crunchy on the outside and moist and cake-like on the inside; it almost made a popping sound as I bit into it. Imagine the best doughnut you’ve ever had and then add on at least 25% more deliciousness.

After wolfing them all down, I grabbed the laptop and started to research this company. Without regurgitating the details here, I highly recommend that you read the following links which further aid in the appreciation of their creations.

Elevating a Munchie to Amazingness

NJ doughnut shop offers fried treats a la mode

America’s newest doughnut destination

Did you read both? You really should, as it is interesting to learn that:

The owners currently live in New Hampshire and commute to Hunterdon County, NJ each weekend.
The owners are the authors of multiple cookbooks.
The owners are food scientists and consult with chefs all over the world.

And much more so one more plea to go back and read the Curiosity Doughnuts links above.

I’ve also come to learn that the owners now make fried chicken along side the doughnuts and after reading this article, Fried Chicken Joins the Party, I’m literally drooling all over the keyboard.

So one final reminder, the doughnuts are to die for.

My daughter fully endorses them.

And my dog, Mia cannot stay away from Curiosity Doughnuts as well.

If you all ask nicely, I’ll kindly ship them to you anywhere in the world, for a very small fee. They are THAT good.

The Frenchtown Memorial Day Parade

Posted on May 26, 2015 by jmarkowski Posted in Family, Local .

New Jersey Festival of Ballooning

Posted on July 28, 2014 by jmarkowski Posted in Local .

Our annual Sunday night hunt for the balloon launch in nearby Branchburg, NJ is complete and once again it didn’t disappoint.

Another trip to “The Garden at Federal Twist”

Posted on June 30, 2014 by jmarkowski Posted in Local, Public Garden .

I hate my garden.

I need more height in my garden.

My garden needs to be more fun and loose.

My garden needs more chaos.

I need to take advantage of self-seeding plants.

I need more mature trees.

I need more seating in my garden.

I need more meandering paths.

I need more plants with lingering seedheads.

All of these thoughts raced through my head after I left The Garden at Federal Twist this past Saturday. This was my third visit to this local garden (literally 5 miles away from my own home) in the past year and I’ve enjoyed chatting with its owner, James Golden, a number of times as well.

To read the history of the garden, click here.

This is my ideal garden and the greatest by far, that I’ve ever seen in person. I’m already anxious to make a return visit in the fall. Massing of giant perennials, ornamental grasses, water features, paths leading to private seating areas, sculptures = heaven on earth. If I don’t walk away with ideas and inspiration, I’m a bleeping idiot.

Here are the pics. Where I can, I’ve identified the plants based on James’ feedback and from scouring his website:

Filipendula rubra in the background

Iris ensata

Ligularia japonica

Button Bush

Rattlesnake master

And possibly my favorite pic with the tree framing the entire garden below:

A true gem and inspiration.

I vow to create my own mini version of this garden somewhere in my garden in the near future as a shout-out.

Thank you James.

Out and about in Hunterdon County

Posted on October 29, 2013 by jmarkowski Posted in Local .

Revisiting the Garden at Federal Twist

Posted on October 20, 2013 by jmarkowski Posted in Local, Public Garden .

Back in June, I visited the Garden at Federal Twist and found myself inspired like never before. This friggin garden smacked me upside the head and said “This is what you love dummy. Stop with all the small groupings of plants and endless mulch. Think architectural plants and Piet Oudolf and grasses (that one I have nailed down).”

The memories of the garden still resonate today but hot damn I had no idea how much more inspired I would be after visiting Federal Twist again this past weekend. The visit was part of the The Garden Conservancy’s “Open Days Program” but before I share the photos with you, you MUST read the following article that just appeared in the New York Times on the garden and its owner, James Golden:

“The-good-for-nothing-garden”

Seriously, don’t move on until you have read this article. It provides such a wonderful backdrop before viewing the garden. And I couldn’t be more fortunate to live ten minutes away from this gem.

Now we move on to the photos … without interruption of my words … because my words will do it no justice:

The Garden of Dorothy and John Meggitt

Posted on July 3, 2013 by jmarkowski Posted in Local, Public Garden .

Today I am sharing photos from another garden I toured on Saturday as part of The Garden Conservancy’s “Open Days Program”. This one – The Garden of Dorothy and John Meggitt – is located in New Hope, PA and well, let me share the description of the garden with you right from the Garden Conservancy website:

John and Dorothy Meggitt have a love of English gardens, so theirs overflows with perennials and specimen trees. The garden is approached across Pidcock Creek and up a hill where it presents itself as a wonderful surprise. It lies on the side of a valley and is designed so that views of Solebury Mountain can be enjoyed. The hillside is terraced with stone stairs, dry stone walls, and a pergola, so there are numerous places to sit, including a secluded belvedere. There is a water garden with hardy lilies, lotus, and many marginal plants. This is home to specimen koi and a large school of goldfish. A growing collection of significant statuary adds further interest. Much of the ten-acre property is in its natural state to provide a habitat for wildlife and can be explored by trails that lead to the creek.

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

On to the pics:

Damn, I have work to do on mine.

John

The Garden at Federal Twist

Posted on July 1, 2013 by jmarkowski Posted in Local, Public Garden .

On Saturday, as part of The Garden Conservancy’s “Open Days Program”, I visited a local garden (so local that it is technically the next town over), “The Garden at Federal Twist”. I knew a little bit about this garden from reading the owner’s blog – View from Federal Twist – but was super psyched to finally see it in person.

And it blew me away.

Because we are in proximity to each other, I know what kind of conditions FT need to contend with and the challenge of getting anything to grow in these conditions (clay soil with real poor drainage). To say I was inspired is an understatement and I have been planning changes to my own garden ever since I left.

The description of the Garden at Federal Twist on the Garden Conservancy’s website nails it to a tee:

“When we moved into a mid-century house overlooking the woods, I immediately knew only a naturalistic, informal garden would be appropriate to this place. The garden is hidden. You enter through the house, where you first glimpse the landscape, a sunny glade in the woods, through a wall of large windows. Featuring many big perennials and grasses that evoke an “Alice in Wonderland” feeling (many plants are taller than you), the garden is in the tradition of such “new perennial” designers as Piet Oudolf. Visitors have described it as a highly emotional garden. Plantings emphasize structure, shape, and form as much as flower. Begun as an experiment to explore the potential for working in unimproved, heavy clay, the garden is ecologically like a wet prairie, and is maintained by cutting and burning in late winter. Flowers and butterflies peak in mid-July, then a second peak occurs in October when low sunlight strikes fire in the blousy russets and golds of the grasses. A small pond attracts hundreds of frogs, insects and wildlife.”

And of course, I took over a hundred photos during my “stay” at the garden and here they are:

These are shots taken of the garden from various view points:

You feeling it? It is the closest to a Piet Oudolf style garden that I’ve ever seen in person. Lots of ornamental grasses and tall perennials, many with fantastic seedheads.
Oh those phenomenal seedheads:

And winding paths that just dare you to see what lurks beyond:

Nothing gives me a gardening “a ha” moment more than a well placed focal point and to this day, I haven’t pulled off even one successfully.

It looks so easy when done right:

My initial reaction when I got home on Saturday was “I can’t garden to save my life.”

Mine felt so simple, stale, small and uninteresting, But I slowly realized that it takes time and numerous failures and frustrations along the way to get to that point.

The fun is in the trying.

John