famers' market: like coming home
Two weeks ago this morning, while at WisCon, I visited my beloved farmers' market for the first time in nearly a year. I didn't have a chance to write it up at the time.
I wanted to go at my usual time (7am), and told oyceter and oracne that they were welcome to come with me but they'd need to be in the hotel lobby at 6:55 to meet me. They were both there, and even mobile, if sleepy. They did make rather plaintive noises about coffee, so we stopped at a stand on the corner to get them some, and then crossed over to my favorite bakery stand so I could get my usual lemon-poppyseed muffin (though the rhubarb turnovers were tempting).
I couldn't buy nearly as much as I wanted to, since I had to purchase things that would keep fairly well; hence no mushrooms, asparagus, etc. But I did end up with quite a few things. (oracne took pictures of our collective acquisitions, which I hope she'll post at some point.)
First stop was morels, which I was shocked to find were still available; apparently the cool damp spring pushed the season back a bit. I got just a few, to make morel cream sauce (which turned out very well on the mushroom strudel it later accompanied). We paused to look at maple sugar candy, but I didn't buy any. We stopped at my favorite goat cheese vendor and I asked after the chevre that she packs in jars of oil (so it keeps nicely), and she'd already sold out; but she did have the fresh stuff, and we all got some. (Mine was consumed a few days later as the prelude to a lovely dinner that mirrorthaw made for truepenny and matociquala and myself.)
Around the corner, we stopped at my favorite preserves vendor, where oyceter got positively fluttery with excitement as she looked at the dozens and dozens of options; I was tempted to buy an entire mixed case, but in fact I can get quite good preserves here at home, so I restrained myself and simply got two jars of apricot jam. A little further on, we reached the farmers from whom I used to buy berries and herbs and edible flowers and sweet onions and occasionally asparagus; all I got was a bunch of oregano, but still, it was nice to see them again. After that we walked a few blocks without buying very much, although I did point out the Amish bakery with the tiny pies, the best place to get cheese curds, the guy who sells white asparagus, etc.
When we reached my favorite vendor, I was surprised and delighted to find one of my former students working there, and another former student visiting her, so I got to catch up with them. I was also delighted to find ramps; I'd thought they'd be over, but like the morels they lingered on a bit later than usual. I got four bunches, since the bulbs keep nicely even if the greens don't. (Special to truepenny and mirrorthaw: ramp pizza! whee!) They also had sorrel, which I grabbed a bit of to make sauce for asparagus frittata, and of course the usual salad greens and cooking greens. And I also picked up a chili pepper ristra, partly because I will actually use the peppers (I can get dried chilis here, but they tend to be milder than I'd like) but largely because they're just so lovely; the ristra is currently hanging from a plant hanger in the arch between my dining room and living room, since there's no good place to put it in the kitchen, and it makes me smile every time I see it.
By this time I was really wishing I had my market basket, so after walking the rest of the way round the square we went across the street and bought canvas bags (I'd been needing a new one anyway, and now I have one with the market logo), and then while oyceter picked up some vinaigrette I got some cinnamon rolls, and then stopped for sourdough bread (to go with the goat cheese!) on the way back to the hotel.
It was wonderful to be back at my market; and also heartbreaking, because now I miss it more than I have in the past year.
But not so heartbreaking after all, because: I've arranged to start buying vegetables directly from one of my local farmers, and will be picking up a box weekly between now and the end of October, starting this Tuesday; so while the farmers' market posts are no more, CSA box posts may be starting soon. And I'm looking into local sources for beef and pork and honey and apples and winter squash. It takes a bit more work, now, to buy locally; but after years of knowing my farmers, of knowing that the money I spend on food is supporting my neighbors, it's not something I'm willing to give up. It's about politics and economics and community-and the best damn food money can buy.
Good health and good eating to you all.
I wanted to go at my usual time (7am), and told oyceter and oracne that they were welcome to come with me but they'd need to be in the hotel lobby at 6:55 to meet me. They were both there, and even mobile, if sleepy. They did make rather plaintive noises about coffee, so we stopped at a stand on the corner to get them some, and then crossed over to my favorite bakery stand so I could get my usual lemon-poppyseed muffin (though the rhubarb turnovers were tempting).
I couldn't buy nearly as much as I wanted to, since I had to purchase things that would keep fairly well; hence no mushrooms, asparagus, etc. But I did end up with quite a few things. (oracne took pictures of our collective acquisitions, which I hope she'll post at some point.)
First stop was morels, which I was shocked to find were still available; apparently the cool damp spring pushed the season back a bit. I got just a few, to make morel cream sauce (which turned out very well on the mushroom strudel it later accompanied). We paused to look at maple sugar candy, but I didn't buy any. We stopped at my favorite goat cheese vendor and I asked after the chevre that she packs in jars of oil (so it keeps nicely), and she'd already sold out; but she did have the fresh stuff, and we all got some. (Mine was consumed a few days later as the prelude to a lovely dinner that mirrorthaw made for truepenny and matociquala and myself.)
Around the corner, we stopped at my favorite preserves vendor, where oyceter got positively fluttery with excitement as she looked at the dozens and dozens of options; I was tempted to buy an entire mixed case, but in fact I can get quite good preserves here at home, so I restrained myself and simply got two jars of apricot jam. A little further on, we reached the farmers from whom I used to buy berries and herbs and edible flowers and sweet onions and occasionally asparagus; all I got was a bunch of oregano, but still, it was nice to see them again. After that we walked a few blocks without buying very much, although I did point out the Amish bakery with the tiny pies, the best place to get cheese curds, the guy who sells white asparagus, etc.
When we reached my favorite vendor, I was surprised and delighted to find one of my former students working there, and another former student visiting her, so I got to catch up with them. I was also delighted to find ramps; I'd thought they'd be over, but like the morels they lingered on a bit later than usual. I got four bunches, since the bulbs keep nicely even if the greens don't. (Special to truepenny and mirrorthaw: ramp pizza! whee!) They also had sorrel, which I grabbed a bit of to make sauce for asparagus frittata, and of course the usual salad greens and cooking greens. And I also picked up a chili pepper ristra, partly because I will actually use the peppers (I can get dried chilis here, but they tend to be milder than I'd like) but largely because they're just so lovely; the ristra is currently hanging from a plant hanger in the arch between my dining room and living room, since there's no good place to put it in the kitchen, and it makes me smile every time I see it.
By this time I was really wishing I had my market basket, so after walking the rest of the way round the square we went across the street and bought canvas bags (I'd been needing a new one anyway, and now I have one with the market logo), and then while oyceter picked up some vinaigrette I got some cinnamon rolls, and then stopped for sourdough bread (to go with the goat cheese!) on the way back to the hotel.
It was wonderful to be back at my market; and also heartbreaking, because now I miss it more than I have in the past year.
But not so heartbreaking after all, because: I've arranged to start buying vegetables directly from one of my local farmers, and will be picking up a box weekly between now and the end of October, starting this Tuesday; so while the farmers' market posts are no more, CSA box posts may be starting soon. And I'm looking into local sources for beef and pork and honey and apples and winter squash. It takes a bit more work, now, to buy locally; but after years of knowing my farmers, of knowing that the money I spend on food is supporting my neighbors, it's not something I'm willing to give up. It's about politics and economics and community-and the best damn food money can buy.
Good health and good eating to you all.