THE GIFT OF FALL
For schoolchildren, the change in seasons is marked with precision and clarity. That first day of classes signals the end of summer, no matter the temperature.
For adults, the change in seasons is thankfully less precise, a blurred line, an easing.
Fall arrives when fall arrives, that first crisp undercurrent in the air, that first leaf to lose its luster. As the daytime hours wane, every extra moment seems a gift—every tomato that continues to ripen, every crystal-clear day during shoulder season Down the Shore, every Jersey clam.
In the 1970s, an energetic student could pay for college with little more than a pail and a rake. Yet surprisingly, the New Jersey clam story is not as well known as it ought to be. Our award-winning writer Jenn Hall has researched clams for months. In this issue, she shares, with particular eloquence, the story of baymen who remain baymen, pulled to the water no matter the changing tides in the clam market. We also share practical tips from chef/writer Emily Peterson, who, as the daughter of a clam digger, especially knows what’s what. Our special report on clams begins on page 34.
The gift of Jersey tomatoes is one that keeps giving for the Dreyer family, who started farming in Cranford in 1904. (For perspective, Las Vegas was founded in 1905.) Writer Kevin Nigel Watson profiles the history of this farm, nestled incongruously on a suburban street amid a neighborhood of backyard trampolines. Today, the farm and market, run by the forward-thinking Jessica Dreyer, remains relevant, thanks in part to wine tastings, morning cider doughnuts and yoga in the field. See page 28.
A crime thriller is a gift to be enjoyed year round. In this issue we share a personal essay from New Jersey crime writer Wallace Stroby, whose eighth book, Some Die Nameless, was published earlier this year to great acclaim. For our Local Drinks issue, Stroby’s personal essay, on page 23, shares the favored cocktails of famous characters in crime fiction. A drink, after all, reveals character.
Our Slow Drinks feature, page 26, focuses on pawpaws—yes, they are real, and, yes, they grow in Jersey. Meantime, craft beer lovers will appreciate the energy of both brewery and storyteller in our feature on the Twin Elephant Brewing Company in Chatham, page 57. We invite you to kick back, ease in and enjoy.
Cheers!
