Roshelle Zielinski

  • Home
  • Roshelle Zielinski

Roshelle Zielinski Chef • Forager • Herbal Wellness
Bringing wild foods, homegrown ingredients & beautiful recipes to everyday life.
↓ Shop • Watch • Learn

20/07/2026

Huge thanks to for sending over this beautiful selection of fresh exotic fruits!

Here's what I tasted, in order:

Prickly Pear: Mildly sweet with juicy watermelon and pear-like notes, finished with tiny edible seeds that add a light crunch.

Rambutan: Sweet, juicy, and floral with a texture similar to a grape or lychee.

Dragon Fruit: Light, subtly sweet, and refreshing with a kiwi-like texture from its tiny black seeds.

Tamarillo: Bright and tangy with a balance of sweetness and acidity, like a cross between a tomato, passion fruit, and citrus. It also has a bit of a salty finish that pops up at the end.

Mangosteen: Soft, juicy, and incredibly sweet with delicate notes of peach, strawberry, and citrus. It's often called the "queen of fruits" for good reason.

Achacha: Sweet, tangy, and incredibly refreshing, with flavors reminiscent of mangosteen, apricot, and fresh lemonade.

Key Lime: Intensely aromatic with a bold citrus flavor that's more floral and slightly sweeter than a regular lime the perfect way to finish.

As an island girl, fruits like these have always been part of my culture, and I miss having easy access to them. It can be hard to find truly flavorful, nutrient-dense tropical fruits in New Jersey so having a place to shop that offers such a wide variety and delivers straight to your door is a huge win in my book.

Which one would you try first?

19/07/2026

Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) is one of those plants that reminds us why proper plant identification matters. It's easy to focus on the warnings and they are absolutely warranted, but understanding why a plant has earned both respect and caution gives us a much better appreciation of its place in history and science.

Pokeweed is a native North American perennial that plays an important ecological role. Its berries provide food for many species of birds, which are able to eat them without harm and help disperse the seeds. The flowers also attract native pollinators, making the plant beneficial to local ecosystems despite its toxicity to humans and many mammals.

Scientists continue to study pokeweed because it contains several unique bioactive compounds, including Pokeweed Antiviral Protein (PAP) and Pokeweed Mitogen (PWM). Laboratory research has explored their effects on viral replication, immune function, and certain cancer cells. While these findings are promising from a research standpoint, they remain limited to laboratory and animal studies. They should not be interpreted as evidence that pokeweed is safe or effective as a treatment for any disease in people.

Pokeweed contains toxic compounds throughout the entire plant, with the roots, seeds, mature leaves, and berries posing the greatest risk. Even handling the plant can cause skin irritation in some individuals. Symptoms of poisoning may include severe vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and, in serious cases, difficulty breathing, seizures, or other life-threatening complications.

Learning about wild plants isn't about encouraging people to eat or use them. It's about understanding the landscape around us, recognizing both the benefits and the risks, and making informed decisions based on evidence rather than internet trends.

Never consume or use wild plants unless you are absolutely certain of their identification and preparation.

17/07/2026

If you've been following me for a while or know me personally, you already know how passionate I am about supporting local farmers, farmers markets, small food producers, and even growing your own food whenever possible. It isn't just about buying fresh produce it's about knowing where your food comes from, building relationships with the people who grow it, and investing in the communities that feed us.

Foodborne illnesses aren't new. They've been around for as long as we've been producing and distributing food. But every outbreak should be a reminder not a reason to panic that we all have a role to play in food safety.

If I'm being honest, I think one too many recalls and outbreaks have made a lot of people stop and question who's controlling our food and how it's being handled before it reaches our tables. More and more people are asking where their food comes from, how it was grown, and whether there are better ways to shop. I don't think that's a bad thing. If anything, it's encouraging people to reconnect with the source of their food instead of taking it for granted.

It's also a reminder to get back to the basics: wash your hands, clean and sanitize your kitchen before and after preparing food, rinse produce under running water, prevent cross-contamination, using heat when necessary and store food properly. Small habits make a big difference.

Whenever you can, support your local farmers and farmers markets. Ask questions, learn what's in season, and get to know the people growing your food. Supporting local agriculture strengthens our communities, helps preserve farmland, and keeps more of your dollars with the families working hard to feed them.

The goal isn't to fear fresh produce. The goal is to stay informed, practice good kitchen hygiene, make thoughtful choices, and continue enjoying the foods that nourish us.

Let's use moments like this to reconnect with our food, appreciate the people who grow it, and do our part to handle it safely from the farm all the way to our tables.


Foodborne illnesses aren't new, but they serve as an important reminder that food safety starts long before a meal reach...
16/07/2026

Foodborne illnesses aren't new, but they serve as an important reminder that food safety starts long before a meal reaches our plate. Every step from growing and harvesting to transportation, storage, and preparation plays a role in protecting public health.

Fresh fruits and vegetables remain some of the most nutrient-dense foods we can eat, and this isn't a reason to avoid them. Instead, it's an opportunity to be more mindful about where we shop, how we handle our food at home, and the importance of supporting farmers and producers who prioritize safe growing and handling practices.

I also believe this is a good reminder to reconnect with local agriculture whenever possible. Visiting a farmers market, joining a CSA, getting to know the people who grow your food, or even growing a few herbs and vegetables at home can help build a stronger connection to what ends up on your table.

Knowledge is one of the best tools we have. Staying informed about food recalls and outbreaks allows us to make better decisions without living in fear. The goal here is awareness rather than fear, good food safety habits, and supporting a healthier food system for everyone.

Have you changed the way you shop for fresh produce over the last few years?

15/07/2026

One of the things I appreciate most about chicory root is that it offers a rich, roasted flavor without the caffeine. For anyone looking to cut back on coffee, reduce caffeine intake, or simply enjoy a warm drink without the jitters or afternoon crash, roasted chicory has been a traditional option for generations.

Unlike coffee, chicory root is naturally caffeine-free. It's also a source of inulin, a prebiotic fiber that supports the beneficial bacteria in your gut. However, that doesn't mean it's the right choice for everyone people with allergies to plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae), such as ragweed, should use caution, and anyone with digestive sensitivities may want to introduce it gradually since inulin can cause gas or bloating in some people.

This patch was being cleared, so rather than letting the roots go to waste, my mom and I harvested what we could and put them to good use. Maybe it's the chef in me, but there's always something deeply satisfying about taking the time to process your own food from the ground up. It reminds me that nature often provides more than we realize.

Next up: roasting and grinding these roots into a smooth, flavorful cup of nature's coffee.

Tell me, have you ever had chicory root coffee?

13/07/2026

One of my favorite parts of living where I do is that I can walk outside and discover something useful growing almost everywhere. The more I learn about wild plants, the more I realize how much traditional knowledge has been forgotten.

Plantain seed stems are often overlooked, but they've been valued in many herbal traditions for generations. After harvesting, I dry them carefully and store them in glass jars so they're ready whenever I want to prepare a mineral-rich herbal broth. Taking the time to preserve seasonal plants means I can enjoy them long after they're no longer growing.

Foraging has also changed the way I think about food. It teaches patience, observation, gratitude, and respect for the land. Of course, never harvest a plant unless you're 100% certain of its identification, and always avoid areas that may have been treated with pesticides, herbicides, or exposed to roadside contamination.

What wild plant would you love to learn more about next?

Address


Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Roshelle Zielinski posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Roshelle Zielinski:

Shortcuts

  • Want your business to be the top-listed Media Company?

Share