MADISON, NJ – Nestled in the corner of Drip Great Coffee’s counter in downtown Madison are enticing-looking indulgences which are actually good for the body and kind to the environment. Is that possible?
Absolutely, when one is talking about the choices from Burden Free Foods, which fall under the categories of gluten free, sugar free, vegan or vegetarian depending on the selection one chooses. And to top it off, the owners support local agriculture and the environment.
Skip the Lean Cuisine and how about some "Green Cuisine" instead? I chose a sandwich of sautéed collard greens with roasted tomatoes and topped with a locally made Gouda cheese, which I accompanied with a generous mug of decaf latte. I couldn’t resist a banana chocolate vegan bar for dessert. In all, I walked out with my appetite satiated while realizing I ate healthily.
The day I was there, there was also a pulled pork sandwich to appeal to meat lovers. There were other selections as well including small strawberry cakes and Burden Free Food’s special granola, which either could be a perfect complement to Drip’s coffee drinks, or be eaten after lunch, as I did. "
It’s different every day," said Sebastian Jones regarding Burden Free Foods’ selection, who runs Drip Great Coffee with his father, Rupert. "Depending on what Martine makes is what we have here."
Martine Marcus, who founded Burden Free Foods with her friend, Judy Mancini, said, "We use what’s seasonal and local in New Jersey. For example, the sandwich you had today contained local hot house grown collards. The cheese came from Valley Shepherd Creamery in Long Valley. We like to put our money back into the local economy."
Marcus, who was employed in the food industry in New York City in the 1980’s before working in design; and Mancini, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America who has a background in the New York restaurant scene, comb the farmer’s market in Morristown for example, and then prepare foods on the spot at their booth for hungry patrons walking around the market.
"At the farmer’s market, we’ll purchase fresh local tilefish from the fishermen and then make Ceviche (citrus-marinated seafood)," said Marcus. "Everything to make the Ceviche, outside of limes, would be with local items." "We’ll walk around the market and take the items back to our kitchen," Marcus added.
Burden Free Foods’ philosophy is to work with the freshest local ingredients and to support the area’s farming industry. For example, meats and lamb come from neighborhood sources such as the English Farm in Basking Ridge. Eggs are purchased from a farm up in Montague, New Jersey. Mancini and Marcus also work with the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA), which Marcus describes as a "farm to kitchen wholesale distribution", and which connects Burden Free Foods with regional organic farmers.
Their baked goods are also created with the best of health in mind, with a gluten free commercial kitchen/bakery in Morristown. It is a non-contaminated room which is also free of animal products.
The concept of preparing foods with wholesome components and processes is one of the driving forces behind Burden Free Foods. "We wanted our foods to be burden free to the body and to the environment," said Marcus.
The environmental factor derives from the company’s use of practices to protect the environment, as well as eco-friendly packaging and "Greenware", which are biodegradable utensils made of cornstarch. "You can eat this bag if you want to," said Rupert Jones of Drip Great Coffee, holding up one of the bags of granola. The label described the packaging as, "sustainable packaging made with 100 percent cornstarch."
"The environment has a strong influence on our packaging, it costs a lot more, but the huge commitment is worth it," said Marcus.
One local coffee shop which had stocked Burden Free Food’s granola products had asked Marcus if she could substitute the cornstarch packaging with plastic to increase the product shelf life and to reduce the price. The granola is made with local honey, cranberry and maple syrup and Marcus refused the compromise, which would sacrifice the integrity and purpose of their product. "We stopped doing business with that account," she said.
According to Marcus, packaging can be a challenge with local health departments, who have very strict regulations on how foods can be packaged. "We can’t use the corn starch bags on sandwiches because the wetness breaks them down."
Foods are prepared in the kitchen of Drip Delicious in Mendham and transported to Drip Great Coffee in Madison. The Mendham location, which Marcus said has four times the food of the Madison location, carries two soups, two salads and two types of sandwiches daily, and also stocks other selections such as frittatas. With the kitchen in Mendham, there is more flexibility with the packaging, including biodegradable and compostable packaging.
Marcus compliments both Drip locations for their commitment to the environment. "You don’t typically find mugs in other coffee shops. In most cases, cups are not sustainable and the locations don’t offer ceramic. I find drinking out of a paper cup is very uncivilized anyway," said Marcus. "Why waste paper even if it’s compostable?"
Marcus said all coffee shops which have the capability to offer ceramic cups should do so wherever possible. She said in general, businesses should select ideal alternatives even for recyclable items, since once an item is recycled, it can only be remanufactured into a lesser item.
Marcus also endorses the Drip locations for their direct trade and fair trade practices. Some coffee beans, for example, are purchased directly from Guatemala and farm roasted as needed on order from a facility in Ithaca, New York, which carries only organic beans.
Additionally, Drip Great Coffee in Madison is a promoter of local artists, with a once a month rotation of their works on exhibit and sometimes for sale. "We would like to promote this area as an arts center," said Rupert Jones, who works closely with Drew University.
To experience Burden Free Foods, go to the following locations:
Drip Great Coffee, 34 Main Street, Madison. Telephone: (973) 443-0300
Drip Delicious Coffee, 5 Hilltop Rd., Mendham. Telephone: (973) 543-3747
Morristown Farmers Market, Dumont Street Parking Lot #10, behind the Morristown Diner and the Post Office. Open every Sunday June 14 through October 25, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Contact Telephone: (973) 455-1133.
Burden Free Foods also offers off-site catering for parties of up to 100 and ships items throughout the United States. For further information call: (973) 886-6755, email: orders@burdenfreefoods.com or go to their website: http://www.burdenfreefoods.com/