Fresh organic Korean melons, a small oblong variety of Cucumis melo also known as chamoe, with smooth bright yellow skin marked by pale linear stripes running from stem to blossom end. The flesh is crisp and white, closer in texture to a cucumber than a soft cantaloupe, with a mild sweetness that carries notes of honeydew and banana. Korean melon is eaten differently than most melons: the skin is thin enough to eat, and the seed cavity, sweet and slightly gelatinous, is traditionally considered the best part rather than something to scoop out and discard. In Korea, chamoe is treated as a mark of summer and is almost always served chilled, cut into wedges or spears as a simple snack. It needs no dressing up: quartered lengthwise, seeds and all, over ice is the standard way to eat it, though it also holds its shape well diced into fruit salad or blended into a cold summer soup. Because the flesh stays firm and juicy rather than going soft and musky, it pairs easily with cucumber, mint, lime, or a scoop of shaved ice.
Rock Tavern, NY
Halal Pastures is a certified organic and halal farm based in Upstate NY, founded by husband-and-wife team Samer and Diane Saleh. They are dedicated to providing exceptional tasting organic vegetables and halal meats and meat products. Over a decade ago, a single article about Egypt rejecting genetically modified corn sparked their journey. At the time, the only food label they paid attention to was “halal”, but that moment led them to question how food is grown and what truly makes it pure.
Determined to feed their family food that was not only halal but tayyab (pure), the Salehs began growing it themselves. What started as a personal mission soon grew into Halal Pastures, a farm rooted in the values of health, ethics, and transparency.
Today, Halal Pastures cultivates thousands of vegetable varieties using regenerative practices that foster biodiversity and enrich the soil. The farm never uses chemical pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or genetically modified seeds. Instead, they focus on nourishing the land and growing clean, flavorful produce that reflects the care behind every step of the process.
With a deep commitment to transparency and traceability, the Salehs remain hands-on in every part of the farm’s operations.