Puzzled: When Food Could Be Art

I can't be the only one that thinks this would make a beautiful puzzle, yes? It would be hard, but what a lovely image to stare at on a rainy afternoon.

I took this photo last week at Cedar Sol Hydro Farm in Cedar, Michigan. I came for the tacos, but I was captivated by the tomatoes. The farm is king this time of year and I am a happy subject.  

Hydroponic Strawberries: Cedar Sol Hydro Farm Saves My Summer

We actually went to Cedar Sol Hydro Farm for their tacos. I know it sounds funny, but this thriving hydroponic business has also become famous for their homemade tacos and chips & guac.

My dad and I stopped for a quick lunch and were intrigued by their U-Pick Strawberries sign. The strawberry crop in northern Michigan felt late and small this year and consequently, we never made jam over the 4th of July.  

So here we were thinking, "Strawberries? Really? You have strawberries growing right now and all we have to do it is pick them?"  It was like someone saying they had a little snow in their backyard.  Now? Really?

We tromped down the track that led to the hydroponic garden and voila!

They have buckets and scissors available and we picked some beautiful fresh basically organic strawberries.  

We made a batch of strawberry jam this morning and I can't wait to eat an unreasonable about of toast and jam tomorrow morning! Thank you, Cedar Sol Hydro Farm for saving my summer!

P.S. They grow gorgeous lettuce too that they sell in bags at the taco stand.

Cedar Sol Taco Stand, Leelanau Peninsula

You know a place is good when you are eating your lunch and wondering how soon you can come back.  

With made to order tacos that are delicious and a view that is completely "up north," Cedar Sol Taco Stand is THE fun new place to grab lunch.  

Cedar Sol Hydro Farm is the outdoor vertical hydroponic farm that grows a slew of vegetables and strawberries and sells the produce as well as the hydro-stackers that they grow in.  Cedar Sol Taco Stand is the booming side business that blossomed when Carlos, a friend and employee at Cedar Sol, suggested they open a taco stand on the property.  The owners converted the garage on the property (at the top of the hill on the side of the road), put out some picnic tables and a sign that read "Tacos" and the rest is history. You can read all about it in an interview with the owners in the Spring 2013 issue of Edible Grand Traverse magazine.  

I ordered a fresh whitefish taco that was loaded with fluffy mounds of Carlson's whitefish that had been marinated and grilled.  It was in a flour tortilla with fresh pico de gallo, a squeeze of lime and some beautiful hydroponic lettuce from the Cedar Sol crop!  Yum yum yum.  The order also comes with a few tortilla chips, to provide that satisfying crunch while eating.

I devoured my taco, sipped a spicy ginger ale and soaked up this view.  Then I went back and ordered another taco.  This time the line had grown and I had time to consider my selection.  I ordered a shredded chicken taco in a corn tortilla with pico, lettuce, lime and a sprinkle of cheese.  It was so good that I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.  

This was my first visit to a taco stand (a rarity in Michigan) and now I'm hooked.  If you find yourself whirling through the roads of Leelanau County (perhaps Martha Stewart sent you?), you must stop for a taco in Cedar.