As the crisp September air rolls in, New York City’s cultural calendar comes alive with vibrant events, performances, and exhibitions. From groundbreaking art shows to live jazz, comedy, and garden celebrations, there’s no shortage of ways to soak in the season. We’ve highlighted some of the most exciting happenings at our partner venues this month—perfect for planning a day or evening out in the city.

Brooklyn Museum

September is buzzing with creativity at the Brooklyn Museum, offering engaging exhibitions and community-driven events.

Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center

The home of live jazz welcomes you with rhythm, soul, and world-class performances.

The New York Historical Society

This month, New-York Historical blends history with entertainment, offering a mix of laughter, film, and cultural reflection.

Poster House

Step into the vibrant world of design and visual storytelling at Poster House this September.

Wave Hill

Escape to nature this month at Wave Hill, where art, gardens, and serene landscapes meet.

Whether you’re looking to explore art, enjoy live music, laugh at a comedy show, or simply bask in the beauty of a garden escape, September in New York has something unforgettable for everyone.

As we prepare to welcome Rosh HaShana, we celebrate with foods that symbolize sweetness, abundance, and new beginnings. Apples dipped in honey remind us of the hope for a sweet year ahead, and for our own “Queen Bee,” Barbara Glassman, Executive Director at The Sylvia Center, the season is especially meaningful. Barbara not only tends her hives but also weaves honey into her kitchen traditions year-round. This year, she shares with us a story and recipe that have become part of her family’s holiday table.

Barbara’s Story:

You’d think that as a bee keeper that the Rosh HaShana season, when tradition has us eating honey laden foods, would be my perfect match. I have copious amounts of honey at home and I use honey as a sweetener almost exclusively in my baking year round.

Rosh HaShana’s traditional honey cake, however, posed a bit of a quandary for me. You see, although a holiday tradition, honey cake is not universally beloved in my family and earned a reputation as being bland and dry.

Not to date myself, but based on this Filofax note from 1986 (pre-internet and NYTimes Cooking App), I discovered a honey cake that worked. Reminiscent of autumnal flavors, with a nod to carrot cake’s spice, fruit, and nuts, this loaf cake has become our nonconventional holiday addition. I had to make a few adjustments along the way–including using half the honey, only one loaf pan, and cutting the cooking time in half–but it works!

Delicious as a bit of sweetness post our evening meal, or toasted and smeared with butter or cream cheese the next morning, this honey cake has become a tradition we all look forward to.

Barbara Glassman’s Honey Cake

Yield: 14–16 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves

  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 2 cups honey

  • 1½ cups orange juice

  • ½ cup shelled white pistachio nuts

  • ½ cup shelled walnuts

  • ½ cup raisins

  • ½ cup dried apricots, cut into bite-sized pieces

  • 1 teaspoon unsalted margarine (or softened butter)

  • ¼ cup slivered almonds

Add Your Heading Text Here

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.

  • Mix dry ingredients together and set aside.

  • Combine honey, orange juice, nuts (except almonds), and dried fruits.

  • Add honey mixture to flour mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until combined.

  • Grease a 4½ x 8½-inch loaf pan with margarine. Pour in the batter.

  • Sprinkle slivered almonds on top.

  • Reduce oven temperature to 325°F and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean.

  • Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan.

Barbara's Notes

  • I use half the honey for better balance.

  • I bake in one loaf pan instead of two.

  • I cut the baking time in half—check for doneness earlier.

From hive to holiday table, Barbara’s honey cake carries the spirit of Rosh HaShana: a sweet reminder of tradition, family, and the gifts of nature. As our Queen Bee, Barbara not only shares her honey but also her wisdom, whether through reflections on community or the joy of cooking. May this recipe inspire you to bring a little extra sweetness into your new year—l’shana tova!

At Great Performances, sustainability isn’t just a philosophy—it’s woven into everything we do, from the food we serve to the events we create. Our founder, Liz Neumark, has always championed creative ways to reduce waste. One day, while looking at the colorful flour, rice, and onion bags from our kitchens, she wondered: Why should these beautiful materials end up in the landfill?

That spark of inspiration led to Sustotes—durable, stylish tote bags crafted from materials that would otherwise be thrown away. Today, Sustotes are made not only from leftover ingredient bags but also from discontinued linens generously donated by Party Rental Ltd (PRL), one of the country’s leading event rental companies.

A Partnership in Sustainability: Party Rental LTD

PRL has long been committed to sustainability in the event industry, from maintaining a massive linen inventory in constant rotation to finding ways to reuse, repurpose, or recycle materials once they’re no longer needed. When manufacturers discontinue a print or design, PRL often has yardage left in storage. Instead of letting those fabrics sit unused, PRL donates them to local organizations and projects like ours.

These discontinued linens have become an exciting addition to our Sustotes line. Just like the grain and flour sacks, they’re practical, usable, and beautiful—infusing the totes with new textures, colors, and designs while preventing perfectly good fabric from ending up in the landfill.

PRL’s approach to sustainability extends well beyond donations like these. From recycling and repairing linens behind the scenes to exploring how “pink is the new green”, they’ve built sustainability into their operations. You can also read more about their initiatives on their sustainability page and learn about the life cycle of a linen.

By partnering with PRL, we’ve expanded Sustotes into something even more impactful: a project that reflects collaboration, creativity, and a shared commitment to sustainability.

Sustotes in the Hands of Artisans

To bring Sustotes to life, we collaborate with talented artisans who share our passion for craft and sustainability. One of them is Seneca, a designer and founder of the clothing brand Good Days. Seneca learned to sew as a child from her grandmother and has been working with recycled materials throughout her career.

For Seneca, working with grain sacks and linens posed unique challenges. She experimented with sewing machine settings to handle the heavy textures and learned how to adapt techniques for sturdier seams. But through that process came creativity: playful flourishes, durable stitching, and even whimsical details like burlap ruffles.

Seneca’s favorite bags? The ones made from chicken feed sacks—quirky, charming, and full of character. Like all Sustotes, they embody the spirit of reuse and reinvention.

Sustotes: Carrying Sustainability Forward with Great Performances

Projects like Sustotes remind us that sustainability isn’t only about big initiatives—it’s also about the small, creative choices that make a difference. By transforming food bags and linens into durable totes, we give new life to materials that might otherwise be wasted. The result is functional, beautiful, and a reflection of what happens when organizations and individuals come together around shared values.

For us at Great Performances, sustainability extends beyond our menus and events. It’s part of how we think, create, and engage with our community. We’re proud to showcase Sustotes during Climate Week as one example of how we’re reducing waste, building partnerships, and inspiring conversations around sustainability.

🌱 Want to see Sustotes for yourself? You can find them at Wave Hill, where they’re as functional as they are beautiful—perfect for carrying produce, books, or everyday essentials.

Together with artisans like Seneca and partners like Party Rental LTD, we’re carrying sustainability forward—one tote at a time.

At Great Performances, we believe that people make things happen — and nowhere is that more true than at SummerStage, a showcase for our expertise in NYC cultural event catering and large-format festivals. Each summer, Great Performances manages concessions for thousands of guests, showcasing not just classic park favorites but also diverse and exciting food from our some of our favorite restaurants, chefs, and partners.

SummerStage is more than concerts under the stars; it’s a celebration of New York City itself — lively, diverse, and collaborative. It’s also a chance for us to demonstrate our expertise in NYC catering, cultural event food & beverage, and large-format festivals. At the heart of it all are the people who lead our teams, and this year, Giuliana Mariani, our VIP Manager at SummerStage, stepped into a leadership role that highlights the very best of GP values.

We sat down with Giuliana to learn more about her experience, what keeps her coming back each summer, and how she brings the SummerStage energy to life. Giuliana’s leadership reflects the excellence we bring to festival catering in NYC.

Q&A with Giuliana Mariani, VIP Manager at SummerStage

What brought you back to SummerStage this year, and how does it feel stepping into the manager role?

I have been working at SummerStage every summer since it returned after Covid in 2021. I always come back to it because I enjoy the fun atmosphere it provides. You get to see all kinds of different concerts and work in such a cool venue. Getting to be outside in Central Park all summer has always been a draw for me. It has felt great to step into a manager role this summer. We have a great team that supports each other, and I have loved getting to play a bigger role in running the concessions and keeping up the special energy that comes with working at a concert venue.

Can you describe a typical day for you at SummerStage?

A typical day for me at SummerStage looks like arriving at the venue before any other GP staff to make sure we receive all our correct deliveries and sending our staff list to CPF to give to security. I then put together the staffing assignments and check the menus for the day. Once staff starts arriving, we have our pre-shift meeting and manage the night as it goes.

What’s one standout memory or moment from this season so far?

One standout memory for me so far has been the raccoons. They are cute when you keep your distance, but there is a whole family that comes around as we are wrapping up and putting out family meal at the end of the night and it has become quite the show. My grandma got me two raccoon stuffed animals to commemorate our friends Ricky and Rhonda. I made them little SummerStage shirts from my old shirts from past summers and they are now our mascots that sit in our office window. All the staff has fallen in love with them and wants one of their own.

What makes the food & beverage experience at SummerStage special for guests?

The GP team has worked very hard this year to bring special and diverse food options to SummerStage this year. What makes the experience so special for guests is that they can get classic park staples like a hot dog or they can find more unique options such as the Momofuku Bang Bar. We have also secured very special partners throughout the summer, which has really elevated the food experience for guests this summer. We have had the BelFries food truck serving French Fries at select shows all season, and we have had Charles Pan Fried and Hudson Smokehouse operating out of one of our concession containers on select shows as well. In addition, on specific cultural shows we had special partners doing authentic cuisine for the respective show. For example, for Bastille Day we had O’Cabanon serving Crepes and Croque Monsieur. It has been great to work with so many partners who are always so excited to be working at SummerStage.

How do you keep your team motivated during the busiest shows?

During the busiest shows the energy is always high. I make sure to make stops around the venue to check in with everyone and lend a hand wherever needed. But mostly I try to start the shift with good energy, starting at the pre-shift meeting with all the staff. Making sure they have all the information they need to be successful and getting them excited for the show ahead is the best way to keep up motivation.

What’s it like serving such a diverse audience in Central Park?

It is amazing seeing all the different demographics that different artists and genres attract. It is so great getting to serve all different types of people although occasionally challenging when there are language barriers. There is almost always someone on our staff that speaks the language of the guests though, as GP is also very diverse in our staff. It is very reflective of New York City as a whole.

How has this experience shaped you as a leader?

I have grown exponentially as a leader from this experience. It has been so rewarding to take on this role at SummerStage. I had already started gaining experience leading staff from captaining on events, but to take on managing the concessions at this venue was another step above that. I have gained invaluable knowledge on the administrative side of leadership as well as in building and maintaining client relationships.

If you had to describe SummerStage in three words, what would they be?

In three words I would describe SummerStage as Lively, Diverse, and Collaborative.

A Summer of Flavor, Culture, and Leadership

Giuliana’s story is just one example of how our people bring events like SummerStage to life. From ensuring smooth operations and motivating teams, to welcoming diverse audiences and curating unique culinary partnerships, her leadership reflects what makes Great Performances stand out in cultural event catering and large-scale festival concessions.

As the SummerStage season winds down, we celebrate not only the music and the memories, but also the extraordinary efforts of the people who make it all possible.

👉 Learn more about SummerStage at City Parks Foundation and discover how Great Performances can bring the same energy, expertise, and flavor to your next large-format event.

Explore what’s happening this month across the Bronx—from outdoor concerts and art festivals to family paddles and open mics. Scroll by venue to find your favorite neighborhood spots or discover somewhere new.

September Events

Fun things to do around the Bronx this month

Bronx Night Market

  • Date: Saturdays — September 6, 27
  • Time: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
  • Location: Fordham Plaza
  • Cost: Free entry, food for purchase

The Bronx’s signature open-air food and culture festival! Sample bites from 40+ international vendors, enjoy live music, and connect with the local community. A family-friendly, must-visit event.

Website

Saturdays on the Sound – Revitalize Soundview Park

  • Date: Saturdays — September 6, 13 & 27
  • Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Location: Soundview Park, Lafayette Ave & Morrison Ave
  • Cost: Free

Volunteer with Bronx is Blooming to help care for one of the borough’s largest waterfront parks. Activities include planting, mulching, and eco-friendly projects.

Website

Ferragosto Festival – Bronx Little Italy

  • Date: Sunday, September 7
  • Time: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
  • Location: Arthur Avenue, Belmont neighborhood
  • Cost: Free (food for purchase)

Celebrate Italian culture with live entertainment, delicious food, and community spirit in the heart of the Bronx.

Website

Annual Bronx Block Party

  • Date: Sunday, September 7
  • Time: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
  • Location: Bronxwood Avenue (between Boston Rd & Allerton Ave)
  • Cost: Free

Enjoy music, food, and games for all ages at this lively neighborhood block party.

More Info

161st Friday Food Festival

  • Date: Friday, September 12, 2025
  • Time: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Location: Joyce Kilmer Park, 960 Walton Ave, Bronx, NY 10452
  • Cost: Free (food & shopping available for purchase)

Take a stroll on your Friday lunch break and enjoy a fun street festival in front of Joyce Kilmer Park. Delicious food, unique vendors, and a lively atmosphere await.

Family Time at The Bronx Museum

  • Date: Saturday, September 13
  • Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
  • Location: Bronx Museum of the Arts, 1040 Grand Concourse
  • Cost: Free

A drop-in art-making workshop inspired by sculptor Joyce McDonald. Families can explore creativity together in a welcoming environment.

Website

The Firefighters vs. Savannah Bananas

  • Date: Saturday & Sunday, September 13–14, 2025
  • Time: 7:00 PM (both days)
  • Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
  • Cost: Ticketed (prices vary; starting around $102) :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Catch the infamous Banana Ball spectacle—fast-paced, quirky, and wildly entertaining baseball with comedic routines, dance breaks, and nonstop fun. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Find Tickets

Ode to the Black Fiddler Music Festival

  • Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
  • Time: 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM
  • Location: The Bronx Brewery, Bronx, NY
  • Cost: Ticketed

Join the 9th Annual celebration of BIPOC string players—genre-defying performances, DJ sets, food, drinks, and a vibrant marketplace celebrating local artists. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Tickets / Info

New Balance Bronx 10 Mile – NYRR

  • Date: Sunday, September 14, 2025
  • Time: 8:00 AM
  • Location: Grand Concourse (just south of 164th Street), Bronx, NY
  • Cost: Registration required; sold out—some entry via waitlist or resale may be available.

Run the Bronx in this lively NYRR event along a scenic 10-mile course starting near Yankee Stadium, up Mosholu Parkway, and looping back to finish by 161st Street.

Boogie Down Kids Run at the New Balance Bronx 10 Mile

  • Date: Sunday, September 14, 2025
  • Time: 9:10 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Location: Joyce Kilmer Park, 955 Walton Ave, Bronx, NY 10452
  • Cost: Free

A lively, kid-friendly run held alongside the Bronx 10 Mile—perfect for families to participate or cheer on the action.

Crotona Fridays – Park Volunteer Day

  • Date: Friday, September 19
  • Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Location: Crotona Park, Crotona Ave & Claremont Pkwy
  • Cost: Free

Join neighbors to revitalize Crotona Park through weeding, planting, and cleanup work.

Website

Family Camping — Bronx (NYC Parks Urban Park Rangers)

  • Date: Friday, September 19, 2025
  • Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 AM (overnight)
  • Location: Orchard Beach Nature Center
  • Cost: Free (lottery selection—registration opens September 10) :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

An overnight nature adventure with the Urban Park Rangers—perfect for families. Lottery registration opens September 10. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

More Info

The Mambo Legends Orchestra

  • Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
  • Time: 8:00 PM
  • Location: The Lovinger Theatre at Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Blvd W, Bronx, NY 10468
  • Cost: Tickets available on Concerts50

Experience the timeless mambo sounds with vibrant performances from this renowned orchestra.

Tea & Tarot Autumn Equinox Pop-Up Party

  • Date: Sunday, September 21, 2025
  • Time: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Location: Joyce Kilmer Park, Bronx, NY
  • Cost: Ticketed (details on Eventbrite) :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Eventbrite

Bronx Zoo – Harvest Glow

  • Date: Opens Thursday, September 25 (select evenings through November 2)
  • Time: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
  • Location: Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd
  • Cost: $39.95 Adults / $29.95 Kids (3–12)

Walk through glowing pumpkin displays, illuminated sculptures, and fall-themed installations.

Website

Bronx Zoo – Boo at the Zoo

  • Date: Weekends, beginning Saturday, September 27
  • Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Location: Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd
  • Cost: Included with zoo admission

Celebrate the season with costumed characters, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, and lively entertainment throughout the zoo.

Website

Bronx Native American Festival

  • Date: Sunday, September 28
  • Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
  • Location: Pelham Bay Park, South Picnic Area
  • Cost: Free

Honor Indigenous communities with traditional music, dance, storytelling, and cultural activities in a beautiful outdoor setting. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

More Info

At Great Performances, we’ve long believed in the power of food to transform lives and create opportunity. That’s why our partnership with Hot Bread Kitchen holds such a special place in our work. Over the years, we’ve collaborated in countless ways — from celebrating milestones together to championing a new approach to community workforce development, and even sharing our perspectives in public forums like the Women’s Forum of New York. Most recently, we’ve deepened this relationship by welcoming Hot Bread Kitchen’s Culinary Career Pathways program into the Bronx, expanding access to training and opportunity in our home borough.

Hot Bread Kitchen and Great Performances Partner to Expand Culinary Career Pathways in the Bronx

Since 2008, Hot Bread Kitchen has provided culinary job training, food business incubation, and an ecosystem of support for New Yorkers looking to get their start in the food industry. Their programs promote economic mobility and professional growth using culinary careers as a catalyst.

For the first time, Hot Bread Kitchen has expanded to the Bronx through a partnership with longtime employer partner Great Performances, bringing their transformative programs closer to Bronx residents.

Now offered in the Bronx, Culinary Career Pathways for New New Yorkers helps newly arrived, Spanish-speaking residents authorized to work build skills for a culinary career. Participants receive hands-on training in cooking techniques, baking, food safety, and kitchen operations. In its second year, the program is already making a significant impact.

Hot Bread Kitchen students in class at Great Performances in the Bronx

Recent graduate Wendy is a perfect example of the program’s reach. Born in the U.S. to Mexican parents and raised in Mexico, Wendy returned to the U.S. seeking better opportunities for herself and her children. After hearing about the program from her sister, also a Hot Bread Kitchen alum, she applied.

Learning new skills and being part of this community was a beautiful experience.

For Wendy, the program offered not only new skills but also a sense of belonging. Since graduating, she is ready to build a brighter future for her family.

Stories like Wendy’s reflect the heart of why we partner with Hot Bread Kitchen: together, we’re creating real opportunities for New Yorkers to thrive in the culinary world. We’re honored to support this work in the Bronx and look forward to celebrating the successes of future graduates. To hear more about the impact of this partnership, watch this conversation between Liz Neumark and Leslie Abbey.

Each month, our Food Festival series celebrates a single seasonal ingredient through a chef-driven recipe, creative tips, and serving inspiration. There are few foods that capture the essence of late summer like corn. Sweet, juicy, and versatile, corn is at its peak in September, filling farmers’ markets and kitchens with endless possibilities. From backyard barbecues to elegant plated dinners, this golden ingredient shines in comfort food classics and modern dishes alike.

In honor of September corn, we’re spotlighting one of our favorite ways to savor the season: a rich and flavorful Corn Chowder, built on a base of homemade corn stock for maximum depth and sweetness.

Want more seasonal ideas? Explore the full Food Festival series here.

Ingredient Spotlight:

Corn is one of the world’s oldest cultivated crops, with a history dating back over 9,000 years in Mesoamerica. Today, it’s grown across the globe and enjoyed in countless forms—grilled, steamed, creamed, baked, or even popped. In its fresh form, sweet corn is celebrated for its plump kernels and natural sugars that shine when cooked simply. Beyond taste, corn is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins B and C, and antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin, which support eye health.

September corn turns into a delicious Corn Chowder
Artwork by Danica Andler, July 2025

Recipe: Corn Chowder

Ingredients

  • 10 ears fresh corn, cut off the cob (about 4 cups)
  • 2 cups diced Spanish onion
  • 2 cups small, diced potatoes
  • 1 Tbsp fresh tarragon, chopped
  • ¼ cup diced bacon (optional)
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 3 quarts Corn Stock (recipe below)
  • Salt, to taste

Procedure

  1. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, render the bacon until it begins to crisp. Add the onions and sweat until translucent. Stir in the potatoes and roast lightly until golden. Add the corn kernels, tarragon, and black pepper, then deglaze with corn stock. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
  2. As the potatoes soften and the corn releases its starch, the chowder will naturally thicken. Skim off any excess bacon fat, adjust seasoning, and serve hot—or cool and store for up to 4 days.

Recipe: Corn Stock

Ingredients

  • 10 corn cobs, kernels removed

  • 1 Spanish onion, halved

  • 2 stalks celery, roughly chopped

  • 1 bay leaf

  • 6 quarts cold water

Procedure

Place all ingredients into a large stockpot. Bring to a simmer and cook for 4 hours, allowing the flavors to fully infuse. Strain, discard the solids, and reserve the liquid. Cool before storing.

Pro Tips from Our Chefs

🌽 Milk the cobs
After cutting the kernels off, use the back of your knife to scrape the cobs and release the “corn milk.” This adds natural sweetness and body to the chowder.

🥔 Potato power
Dice the potatoes small so they break down more quickly, thickening the soup naturally without the need for cream.

🥓 Go veggie-friendly
Skip the bacon for a vegetarian version, or swap it for smoked paprika to capture that same savory depth.

🧊 Make ahead
Corn stock freezes beautifully—make a big batch now and you’ll have summer flavor ready to brighten dishes well into winter.

How to Use It: Serving Suggestions

  • Ladle into big bowls with crusty bread for a hearty meal.

  • Garnish with fresh herbs, a drizzle of cream, or extra crispy bacon for flair.

  • Pair with a simple green salad for balance.

  • Serve as a first course for a late summer dinner party.

From Our Farm to Your Table: Meet Katchkie Farm and Our CSA

The corn in this month’s recipe—and many of the ingredients we spotlight—come straight from Katchkie Farm, our organic farm in Kinderhook, NY. It’s where we grow with intention: focusing on flavor, sustainability, and connection to the land.

Through our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program, you can enjoy the very best of the season each week—from just-picked produce to specialty pantry items and surprises from our kitchen.

Want a deeper connection to your food? Learn more about our CSA and Katchkie Farm →

Keep Cooking with Us

We’re cooking our way through the seasons—one ingredient at a time. Sign up for our newsletter to get each month’s recipe, tips, and art delivered to your inbox.

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As part of our Chefs’ Choir(SM), Anastassia and Mike Deuel add their voices to our celebration of food and inspiration from the kitchen. In this story, they explore cooking with edible weeds like dandelion, plantain, mullein, wild lettuce, and Asiatic dayflower. These resilient plants are often pulled out as nuisances, yet they have been valued for centuries as both food and medicine. First, the chefs describe how these plants thrive in their own garden. Next, they show how each one carries unique flavors and health benefits. More than that, they share recipes that transform weeds into meals — from a bright salad to crisp fritters, plus a calming tea. As a result, readers learn that sustainability can begin right at home, by cooking with what already grows underfoot. Finally, Anastassia and Mike remind us that edible weeds connect us to tradition, to the land, and to each other.

From Weeds to Wonders: Cooking with Wild Plants from Our Garden

As chefs, we’re trained to seek out the finest ingredients—rare mushrooms, heirloom tomatoes, aged vinegars. But sometimes, the most powerful ingredients grow right under our noses, often overlooked or ripped out and tossed aside. In our little garden patch, among the kale and tomatoes, we let a few “weeds” grow wild on purpose. These aren’t just invasive plants, they’re ancient food and medicine, free and nutrient-rich, just waiting to be rediscovered.

Today, we want to introduce you to five misunderstood plants that thrive in neglected corners of gardens, sidewalks, and backyards: Spiky wild lettuce, Plantain, Mullein, Asiatic dayflower, and Dandelion. We forage these by hand, with our little one strapped to our chest or exploring with us and bring them straight to the kitchen. Here’s how we use them for their health benefits and flavor, and how you can too.

Edible Weeds: The Powerhouse Plants in Our Garden

1. Wild Lettuce (Lactuca serriola)

Don’t let the spines scare you—spiky wild lettuce is a powerful medicinal plant with natural pain-relieving and sedative properties. The leaves of this edible weed are bitter, similar to chicory or dandelion greens, and best eaten young. We harvest them early in the season and use them sparingly.

Benefits: Natural pain relief, calming properties, digestive aid.

Wild lettuce growing on the side of a building

2. Plantain (Plantago major or lanceolata)

This low-growing leafy plant (not the banana!) is everywhere. Its broad or narrow leaves are rich in calcium and vitamins A, C, and K. It’s anti-inflammatory and helps with gut health and skin repair. We love cooking with this edible weed – check out our recipe for Plantain and Mullein Greens Fritters!

Benefits: Wound healing, gut health, anti-inflammatory.

3. Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Those soft, fuzzy leaves make fantastic herbal tea for respiratory support. We dry mullein in bunches and store it for the cold season. You can also cook the young leaves like collards, though they’re best blanched first.

Benefits: Lung support, anti-inflammatory, soothing to mucous membranes.

Foraging edible weeds like mullein and plantain

4. Asiatic Dayflower (Commelina communis)

These vibrant blue flowers and tender stems are edible and mildly sweet. We toss them into salads or use them to garnish cheese boards. The mucilaginous quality (slightly slimy, like okra) makes them great in cooling broths.

Benefits: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich, cooling for the body.

5. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Every part is useful—roots, leaves, flowers. Dandelion is one of the most versatile wild plants, and we use it in everything from salads to vinegars to tea.

Benefits: Liver support, digestive aid, rich in potassium and iron.

Cooking with edible weeds – dandelion greens salad

From Weeds to Wonders: Recipes from Our Kitchen

Asiatic dayflowers - an edible weed that might grow in your garden - is a great addition to a salad!

Cooking with Edible Weeds

Chefs Anastassia and Mike Deuel share how cooking with edible weeds transforms overlooked plants like dandelion, plantain, and mullein into delicious, sustainable dishes.

Read More »

Bonus: Wild Lettuce & Mullein Calming Tea.

Steep 1 tsp dried wild lettuce and 1 tsp dried mullein leaves in hot (not boiling) water for 10 minutes. Add a spoonful of raw honey and sip before bed for calm nerves and restful sleep

A Chef’s Reflection

Working with wild plants makes us feel more connected—not just to our land, but to ancient traditions that honored and respected every growing thing. These so-called “weeds” remind us to slow down, observe, and nourish ourselves with what’s already here. They’re flavorful, healing, and resilient. Just like a good meal shared with family.

So next time you see that patch of “unwanted growth” in your garden, take a closer look. You might just find your next favorite ingredient.

About Chefs’ Choir®

A chorus of culinary voices from Great Performances—our chefs step out of the kitchen to share recipes, stories, and inspiration. Learn more

This plantain fritters recipe from our Chefs’ Choir(SM) shows how humble garden weeds — plantain and mullein — can turn into something crisp, golden, and crave-worthy. Anastassia and Mike Deuel use young, tender leaves to create fritters that taste fresh and light. First, they blanch and chop the greens. Next, they mix them with scallions, garlic, eggs, and chickpea flour. Then, they fry spoonfuls of the batter until each fritter is golden brown and full of flavor. As a result, the dish is hearty, simple, and satisfying. More than just a snack, this recipe for plantain fritters also celebrates sustainability because it reduces waste and makes use of plants that often get ignored. In addition, each bite shows that edible weeds can be both nourishing and delicious. Finally, when served with lemon or yogurt dip, these plantain fritters prove that good food can also be good for the planet.

Plantain & Mullein Green Fritters

by Chef Anastassia Batsoula-Deuel and Chef Mike Deuel

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

  • 1 cup young plantain leaves (blanched and chopped)
  • 1/2 cup young mullein leaves (blanched and chopped)
  • 2 scallions, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup chickpea flour (or all-purpose flour)
  • Salt, pepper, and crushed red chili to taste
  • Oil for pan-frying

Procedure

  1. After blanching and draining the greens, squeeze out excess water and chop finely.
  2. In a bowl, mix greens, scallions, garlic, eggs, flour, and seasoning.
  3. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture and flatten slightly.
  4. Fry 2–3 minutes per side or until golden brown. Serve with lemon wedges or a yogurt dip.

Don’t be fooled by this deceptively simple plantain fritter recipe — they pack in a ton of flavor and nutrients! Feel free to use  an egg substitute (1 Tbsp ground flaxseed + 1 Tbsp water for each egg) to make it vegan. Try it alongside our foraged dandelion salad recipe for a fresh-from-the-garden lunch.

About Chefs’ Choir®

A chorus of culinary voices from Great Performances—our chefs step out of the kitchen to share recipes, stories, and inspiration. Learn more

This recipe is part of our Chefs’ Choir(SM), where our chefs share their voices through food. In this dandelion salad recipe, Anastassia and Mike Deuel highlight the beauty of cooking with edible weeds found right in their own garden. Tender dandelion greens are combined with delicate Asiatic dayflowers, toasted walnuts, and goat cheese, then brought together with a tangy honey-mustard vinaigrette. The result is a dish that’s fresh, vibrant, and full of flavor — a salad that transforms simple wild plants into something special. This spring salad recipe with dandelion balances bitterness with sweetness, earthiness with brightness, proving that the most overlooked plants can make the most memorable meals. More than just a salad, it’s also a celebration of sustainability: a way to reduce waste, honor biodiversity, and reconnect with the garden. With this recipe, Anastassia and Mike show how humble weeds can inspire extraordinary dishes.

Dandelion & Dayflower Spring Salad with Honey-Mustard Vinaigrette

by Chef Anastassia Batsoula-Deuel and Chef Mike Deuel

Serves 2-4

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dandelion greens (young leaves, chopped)
  • 1/2 cup Asiatic dayflower petals and tender stems
  • 1/2 cup arugula or baby spinach
  • 1/4 cup toasted walnuts
  • 2 tbsp goat cheese (optional)
  • 2 tsp raw honey
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Procedure

  1. Combine the greens, dayflowers, nuts, and goat cheese in a bowl.
  2. Whisk together honey, mustard, vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
  3. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss gently. Serve immediately.