Farmers Market

As we transition into the warmer weather and longer days two things are guarantees.   First I will owe the government money and second farm stands along the highways and country roads as well as streets in major cities farmers markets will spring up.  For me this is truly a great time of year because this allows people who live in the city and don’t get out to the country that often to enjoy farm fresh products.  Farmers markets can provide one with everything they need to sustain a healthy life style.  All types of farmers and artisans set up booths along these closed streets for a day, a week in certain areas daily in many other locations.  You can get fresh milk from local dairy farms as well as handcrafted cheese.  There are many different kinds of meats from buffalo to chicken.  Fresh eggs generally don’t get any fresher then when purchased directly from the farmer who raises the chickens.  Many markets have artisanal bakers so you can purchase that perfect loaf for your grilled cheese sandwich or even an all natural brownie.  You can even find a candle producer to impress your date with a candle lit dinner for two on your roof top.  Don’t forget about the great flowers that are offered.

Produce at farmers markets is the star attraction.  The best thing about the produce is that its at the stand when its at its best.  If the produce from your region was at the market and next week its not then you have to wait until next year.   I believe that by more and more people filling their cupboards and refrigerators with this local product we begin to enjoy food for what its supposed to be.  When you grab a peach from a farm stand and bit into it the natural sweet juices running down your arm, that peach tastes like more.  So you get home stop by the grocery store and buy a peach, bite into it and nothing but chalky dryness that’s lacking in natural sugars, what a let down.  Same thing goes with rediscovering the tomato.  I grew up in Jersey and I have great memories of eating Jersey tomatoes at the shore during summer and the fruit was so sweet and juicy , it was incredible.  Since then we as society demanded a different perfect red round tomato and the Jersey tomato was lost.  Then along comes the popularity of heirloom variety tomatoes and once again society wants them year round so with all of our technological advancements we produce year round heirloom tomatoes.

Bite into a gorgeous marvel stripe tomato that has been picked at the peak of its ripeness from a farm within 200 miles then try one of these year round versions of that tomato and you will want to spit that year round baby in the face of the person who gave it to you.  That being said one of the beautiful things about an heirloom tomato is that they have very thin skins and don’t last very long once picked and certainly don’t travel well.  But this new variety travel great, have thick skin but aside from the color don’t resemble any of the great characteristics of a true seasonal heirloom.

This year I’ll be launching the 2010 season of the Penn Quarter Freshfarm Market. Every month we’ll focus on a local farmers’ produce and hold a cooking demonstration at Zola Wine & Kitchen for our Farmers in Residence program.

So Ill see you on Thursday April 1, 2010 at the Penn Quarter Farmers market opening!

Spring Chicken Salad with Shaved Farm Vegetables, Peppercorn-Honey Gaqtrique, Boiled Egg & Cracklings

Salad:

• 2 c.  Shaved farmers market vegetables: carrots, baby zucchini, radishes, pearl onions, cucumbers, celery
• 4 c.  Greens, cleaned and torn
• 3 c.  Shredded chicken meat from a roasted chicken
• ½ c.  Peppercorn-honey gastrique
• 4 ea.  Soft poached eggs
• (Optional: Chicken cracklings made from shredded chicken skin, sautéed in oil)
• Peppercorn-Honey Gastrique
• ½ c.  Meyer lemon juice
• ½ c.  Shallots
• 2  Cloves Garlic
• 1 t.  Ground black pepper
• 1 T.  Peppercorns, cracked
• ½ c.  Honey
• 1/3 c.  Sugar

Place all ingredients except the coarse cracked black pepper in a small sauce pan. Bring jus to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer. Strain mixture through a fine mesh sieve. Add cracked peppercorns, taste and adjust seasoning and tartness.

Tags: farmers market, fresh produce, freshfarm market