Q: To follow up on a question from last week about short ribs, do you know where I could find off-cuts of meat like veal sweetbreads, beef cheeks, or pork cheeks, for example?
Tom: Pretty much a ditto answer to last week. Make friends with a local farmer via your neighborhood farmers market. Items like beef cheeks and pork cheeks are rare delicacies typically snapped up by local chefs before any have a chance to trickle down to the home cook, but personal requests could get you to the front of the line. A little farmers market networking can go a long way. All that said, Evans Family Farm, out of Mt Ulla, N.C., has an online shop currently listing hard-to-find items such as beef heart, beef tongue, pork heart, and pig ears. You’ll also find them at the Uptown and Davidson farmers markets. Coldwater Creek Farms (found at South End and Davidson farmers markets) does process pork cheeks, but is currently out. Again, keep those farmers communication links going to get first dibs.

Q: This November weather has me thinking about cold & flu season. Where can I get some locally-made elderberry syrup?
Tom: Elderberry syrup is highly touted for its high-vitamin immune-boosting qualities (it also mixes nicely with gin and a little lime juice). Sweet’s Elderberry makes organic elderberry syrup, shrubs, and tinctures right here in Charlotte. You can find them at several specialty shops in the area as well as via its online store. The Jugo Bar makes elderberry syrup in addition to its line of fruit juices and lemonades. You can find them at the Jugo store in NoDa, local farmers markets, and online. You can also make your own.

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