From the Fyr
- Max John
- 7 hours ago
- 5 min read
1st Edition (10.22.2025)
We’re so excited to share something new from our crew at Fyr & Salt Café & Market here at 8 Hands Farm. Over the past year, we’ve loved cooking, gathering, and celebrating good food with you and now we’re excited to share we will be bringing a little more of that to your inbox and hopefully, your kitchen.
How We Joined Forces: Fyr & Salt started as a wood-fired private dining and catering business by Jonathan Shearman and Max Mohrmann. They bonded over a love for not just food, but how and where it is sourced, the farmers involved, sustainability and seasonality. With a passion for wood-fired cooking and letting quality ingredients shine, they look to bring unique and personalized dining experiences to you.
In the Fall of 2023, Tom and Carol of 8 Hands Farm sat down (on a hay bale in the barn where the baby chicks now reside) with Max and Jon to talk about possible future endeavors together. After years of running the farm, market, butcher, and cafe on their own, Tom and Carol knew they needed to make a change before burnout set in. They didn't want to lose sight of their passion and what their dream was all about - joy, food, and a better quality of life all-around! So when they sat down with Fyr and Salt, it was clear that their passion for food tied perfectly to Jon and Max's vision to get that food onto people's plates. After many meetings and hours in the kitchen, learning the ropes, the two companies joined forces and created a partnership that allowed 8 hands to focus on the animals and the land while Fyr & Salt could do what they do best - cook! It was important to Tom and Carol that the original feel of the farm and market remained, keeping those beloved comfort foods like shepherds pie, bolognese, and your favorite - custard!!! We hope you all stop by the farm, browse the butcher and market, then sit down for a sandwich from the cafe. It does not get more local than what is going on behind the scenes at 8 Hands Farm.
Dishin’ On the Cafe: This week’s cafe menu is utterly Fyr! Tough to pick a favorite! But for my Thursday treat, I couldn’t resist this week’s egg sammie. It’s F&S’s twist on the OG classic Bacon, Egg, and Cheese, featuring farm-fresh eggs, crispy bacon from pigs raised right here on 8 Hands Farm, melty cheddar, scallions, potatoes, and a sweet pepper jam that takes it to the next level. So if sweet and salty is your jam (see what I did there?) you'll want to try this! And let’s not forget the most important part - the bread! We make our sourdough fresh every week with all organic NYS farmer ground flour. Not an easy find!
So, why choose F&S’s egg sammie over your usual local deli? First, no other spot nearby offers such a coveted combo with truly organic, farm-fresh eggs and bacon from livestock raised with care. These eggs are packed with vitamins A, D, E, antioxidants, omega-3s, and higher beta-carotene, thanks to hens fed organic, pasture-raised diets. The bacon? Made with less preservatives, minimally cured, and from pigs raised outdoors fed an all organic diet, which means healthier fats, more omega-3s, and zero antibiotics. It’s a tastier, more nourishing choice all around!
Made with Love in the Market : This week, we’re offering a variety of fresh and frozen options, check out the menu! If you pick up anything, get a quart (or two) of our Chicken and Rice Soup with tomato and dill. It’s not only delicious, but perfect for this time of year when cold and flu season hits. Ever wish you had homemade chicken soup to help you recover? Freeze this soup for those moments. Made with farm-fresh braised chicken, it’s rich in immune-boosting broth, and the tomato and carrots pack a vitamin C punch. Remember, when you’re sick with a respiratory infection, warm broths and drinks are your best friends.
Veggie Lovers: For our plant-based friends, you might be wondering what we offer at the cafe and market. The Turkish eggs (if you know, you know) and ricotta squash toastie are must-tries! The squash is to-die-for and grown right here at the farm. Vegan? Hold the goat cheese, please! If we can’t get it from the farm, we prioritize sourcing locally and organically whenever possible, which makes a real difference. Plus, this week’s market features our delicious Coconut Curried Carrot soup with freshly harvested carrots from Oregon Road Organics that are bursting with flavor and nutrients.
Market Grabs: Never been to the market? Well, get on over here then! Not only do we offer freshly made soups, foods, spreads and baked goods, but we also stock our favorite products from other small businesses we believe in. We get that shopping is time consuming and we want this to be your one-stop-shop for everything you need! One personal must-have is the Kriemhild Farm butter. It’s another “if you know you know” kinda thing, you know? Butter has gotten a bad rep over the years, but would you believe there are a ton of health benefits to butter? This one is from 100% grass-fed cows, organic, rich in Vitamins A, D, E, K and fatty acids which support your immune, skin, bone, and gut health! It’s also rich in CLA and omega-3’s which not only support your heart, but they also help to reduce inflammation.
Kitchen Spark: We all find ourselves in food ruts, so here’s a little spark to light the fyr in your kitchen!
Spiced Beef Kabobs with Baba Ganoush
Ingredients:
1 lb beef (sirloin or tenderloin best bets, but can use flatiron or ribeye too!), cut into cubes
EVOO
1 Tbs paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp garlic
½ tsp cinnamon
Salt and pepper, to taste
Juice from one lemon
Optional fresh parsley or cilantro to garnish
Instructions:
In a medium bowl, combine about 2 T EVOO with paprika, coriander, cumin, garlic, and cinnamon. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Add the cubed beef to your marinade and toss it around to coat evenly. Cover and fridge it for at least 30 minutes, or overnight.
Remove your beef and place onto skewers.
Using either your grill or cast iron, turn heat to medium-high.
Grill for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until desired temp.
Remove from heat and let rest for about 10 minutes.
Pair with Baba Ganoush from the market and serve over rice or grilled vegetables with a little squeeze of lemon!
Like the idea of that one-stop-shop? Here is your grocery list for products available at 8 Hands Farm!
Freshly prepared Baba Ganoush
Organic Jasmine Rice
Organic EVOO
100% grass-fed and finished beef from the butcher counter
Veggies from the stand (I would suggest grilled zucchini and/or peppers, and parsley)
Organic garlic, cinnamon, coriander, and black pepper