Whole milk yogurt from the Argyle Cheese Farmer
So last weekend at the Central Avenue Farmers' Market I made a beeline for the Argyle Cheese Farmers' stand and the promise of, well, cheese.
And I went away with -- yogurt. Home-made whole-milk yogurt.
And?
Move over Dannon.
It's going to be pretty hard to ever go back to the sugary, conventional stuff. Even my default "healthier" choices, Brown Cow and Stonyfield Farms, can't top this thick creamy locally made product.
Why am I such a fan of this stuff? It's rich, thick and tangy -- more like Greek-style yogurt.
Also, The Argyle Cheese farmer doesn't use synthetic hormones, and while the yogurt isn't completely organic, they do grow all of the forages fed to the cows. It's a small Washington County farm, not one of those huge, industrial dairy farms that kind of scare me.
The price might seem a little steep, but I think it's worth it. A 16-ounce jar of the plain, vanilla or hint of maple will run you about $3 - $3.50, but there's also a one-time $1.50 jar deposit. Bring the jar back each week for your 'gurt fix though and it doesn't seem that bad.
Especially when you consider how delicious it is (did I mention it's delicious?).
I went home and paired it with a few beautiful, juicy strawberries - also from the farmers' market - and it was the perfect breakfast.
You'll find them every Saturday at the Central Ave farmers' market. FYI, the market itself is worth a trip. It's still on the smaller side, but it's calm and manageable.
Say Something!
We'd really like you to take part in the conversation here at All Over Albany. But we do have a few rules here. Don't worry, they're easy. The first: be kind. The second: treat everyone else with the same respect you'd like to see in return. Cool? Great, post away. Comments are moderated so it might take a little while for your comment to show up. Thanks for being patient.
Comments
If you find a yogurt you really like, don't be afraid to use some of it to make your own.
... said B on Jun 16, 2009 at 2:14 PM | link
Jess, thanks for mentioning this farmers' market. It is indeed small, but I was so impressed at the high quality of all vendors. Had some yummy samples of Argyle Cheese Farmers' salty, tangy feta and cheese curds. I'm already budgeting for next week!
... said kerosena on Jun 16, 2009 at 2:23 PM | link
Argyle yogurt can also be found at the Honest Weight. And try the quark--a German type fresh cheese (also great with strawberries).
... said chrisck on Jun 16, 2009 at 2:37 PM | link
I personally don't eat dairy, but I am all for locally produced quality dairy over conventional garbage and think Albanians that indulge in delicious cheese should support these guys.
... said madeline on Jun 16, 2009 at 2:49 PM | link
Make your own yogurt at home, it's easy and tasty. Use local whole milk and a few tablespoons of the above as a starter, and you're good to go. More info: http://www.good.is/post/better-living-through-homemade-yogurt/
... said AddiesDad on Jun 16, 2009 at 3:29 PM | link
I bought the maple flavored Greek yogurt which is sooo yummy. Also their sun-dried tomato schmear is amazing and I gobbled down the garlic cheese curds in one day. The lady working the booth was friendly, informative and let us try before we bought. I'm upset I couldn't make it last Saturday but will be there this week stocking up on cheese.... Mmmmmmm...
... said Alison on Jun 16, 2009 at 3:41 PM | link
These guys are normally at the Troy Farmer's Market on Saturdays too (although I haven't gone there since the Central Ave one opened, so I can't confirm they are doing both on Saturdays)
I love their Vanilla Greek yogurt!!
... said Jessica R on Jun 16, 2009 at 4:30 PM | link
They are also at the Saratoga Springs Farmers' Market (definitely Wed & probably Sat) AND the Schenectady GreenMarket on Sundays! They are EVERYWHERE!
... said Matthew on Jun 17, 2009 at 8:51 AM | link
@Madeline: it's really *Armenians* that we should associate with yogurt..not Albanians...;-)
... said rebecca on Jun 17, 2009 at 9:06 AM | link
Speaking of yogurt... does anyone know of a place around here where you can get Skyrr? It's a flavored, whipped yogurt from Iceland. Good stuff, but I haven't found it here.
... said amymengel on Jun 17, 2009 at 9:23 AM | link
@B - I'm simultaneously fascinated and terrified by DIY yogurt. My buddy Renee got on a big yogurt-making kick for awhile but I've yet to try it. Have you?
... said jess on Jun 17, 2009 at 10:14 AM | link
jess, not yet... I'm still trying to get the wild yeast starter project down. After three or four days I always forget to feed it and it dies on me. Then I want to do a vodka infusion, then homemade tonic water, then bitters... yogurt's on the list somewhere.
... said B on Jun 17, 2009 at 10:52 AM | link
@jess: I have (yes B, shocking), it is pretty easy. And definitely tastes better :)
... said -S on Jun 17, 2009 at 11:09 AM | link
Um, B, if you ever need help sampling those vodka infusions, I'm totally game.
I did horseradish-infused vodka once so I could try the Polish tradition of chasing shots of that with pickle juice. I kinda loved it.
... said jess on Jun 17, 2009 at 11:24 AM | link
Yogurt making is pretty easy and you can make great yogurt "cheese" by draining the whey (through cheese cloth or a fine mesh sieve) and adding herbs and other flavorings. You need to get the temperatures right and there are lots of online directions. It is easier to make yogurt in the summer when ambient temperatures are very warm. I have more trouble making yogurt in the winter (house kept at 60), but will use heating pads and such to keep the cultured milk warm enough.
... said chrisck on Jun 17, 2009 at 11:25 AM | link
I believe you can find this delicious stuff and other Argyle Cheese Farmer goods at the Schenectady Farmers Market on Sundays from 11 - 2pm. And I must say, Jessica Pasko is a great investigator of local gems!
... said Adrianna on Jun 19, 2009 at 11:25 AM | link
Faddegon's Nursery in Latham is now stocking some of the Argyle Cheese Farm products. We are hoping to enlarge the line as time goes on!
... said Jamie Renning on Aug 7, 2009 at 1:08 PM | link