City Mouse Tastes Country Life
In keeping with my resolution to eat more fruits and vegetables this summer (six consecutive mornings of Irish Breakfasts will do that to a girl), I got up early today to go to the new farmers’ market in my neighborhood (early for me on a Saturday, that is. I got there at 11:30am. I’m lazy, what can I say?).
The 14th & U Farmers’ Market opened last weekend and will run every Saturday 10am-2pm outside the Reeves Center until November 17. It’s small, about seven or eight local producers, and it’s going to become my new addiction. Just a five block stroll from my house and all the seasonal bounty I can carry back. Fantastic. I had about $25 in cash in my pocket and picked up apples, mesclun salad, arugula flowers, strawberries, and applewurst. I could easily also have been tempted by the delicate thin asparagus (I HATE thick asparagus with a passion), jugs of apple cider, farm-fresh eggs, and rhubarb (if I had any clue how to make rhubarb pie).
Back home my husband laughed at his city mouse ecstatically eating strawberries and waxing poetical about how adorably sweet they were (“and they’re not all the same size!” I cried, waving my now-red fingers in glee). As a former country boy he knows all about the virtues of farm produce and thinks my naivete pretty hilarious. It is, but that won’t stop me from indulging in my new Saturday ritual next week. Hope to see some of you there. I’ll be the girl buying all the honey she can carry.
I love Farmers Markets too. I was at the Del Ray one this morning. Next time, get the rhubarb along with strawberries and make a cobber. I was unfamiliar with rhubard; a little intimidated actually. I made a cobber last weekend, that was the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted. With some whip cream or vanilla ice cream, it’s a real treat. I used up the rhubarb by making a chutney which I put over pork chops.
I am so happy I tried it.
I love the berry season. Seriously. The best smell in the known universe is warm strawberries, just hot from the sunshine. You bury your nose in the container and inhale deeply. It’s better than any drug I’ve ever tried, and way, way cheaper.
That said, I missed the Courthouse market this morning, but I think it won’t be long before we get into raspberry season, or blackberry…
Thanks Monavano – chutney is a great idea!!
Blueberries rule and June is the season! Pick up Michigan or other more locally available over the Florida or south American varieties. I eat them like candy.