Strider Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Call me a snob, but not for me the wax and chemical-laden fruit and vegetables of the supermarkets or grocery stores. What does it matter that the outside of an apple looks shiny and perfect if the inside tastes so poor? I don't even like buying my produce in the sterile atmosphere of Whole Foods. No, for me, give me the sights, the sounds, the colour, the smells, and most important, the flavoursof the local farmers' markets. From Santa Monica to Pasadena, there are farmers' markets nearly every day of the week. Then, there's the landmark Farmers Market on 3rd and Fairfax, open every day. My Sunday isn't complete without a visit to the Hollywood Farmers' Market. Not only is it ginormous with plenty of different farmers and bakers and fishmongers, too...but it's right across from Amoeba Records, so I can do some record shopping afterwards. If you feel the same as I do, and you have a local farmers' market that you support, share the fruits and veggies of your local market with us. What specialty of your region is in season now? Share and post photos of your local bounty. Here are my photos from the Hollywood Farmers' Market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share Posted August 13, 2013 Of course, the avocado stand is always popular. A little music while you shop. Legumes, funghis and more... Taking a bite out of summer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virginia Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 My in-laws have a farm, and grow lots of fresh veggies that they thankfully share with us: tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, green beans, beets, lettuce, kale. Sometimes corn, although not this year. They also have blackberries and raspberries. Yum!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Duck Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 I prefer farmers' market produce (who doesn't?) but it can be more expensive than supermarket produce. It also may not be local. I found out a few years ago that much of the produce at one farmer's market I used to frequent was actually grown two states away and shipped in. I've become interested in the urban homesteading or mini-farm movement during the past few years because I've met a few people who participate in it. A family that lives a couple of blocks from my mother leases a vacant lot next door to their house and grow fruits and veggies on it to sale. This year they have tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, collard greens, Swiss chard, green onions, sweet potatoes, summer squash, basil, sage, cilantro, chives, mint and blackberries. They'll also have apples and pears this fall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jabe Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 My farmer's market is in my backyard.I've grown three varities of pole beans,cukes,eggplant, several varieties of peppers, Silver Queen corn, beets, zucchini and yellow squash.My tomato crop flagged bad this year because I had 10 cubic yards of compost delivered and I believe it was way too acidic, even with me adding lime. A second crop of 'maters is coming on, now about golf ball sized.Also have three blueberry bushes, a few thornless blackberry plants, and three fig bushes.I start all my vegetable plants from seed which is a hobby I've enjoyed for years.Will be time to start the fall crops soon.One of my favorite sides is to lightly steam baby beets and their greens and apply a dab of real butter on top. Suthin' chic I'm tellin' ya... but i can't find many takers down here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planted Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 We do the best we can up in the land of the ice and snow, but I do enjoy the local farm from June to November. And no, I did not inherit the 'canning gene' from previous generations, so it's supermarket produce for me during the off season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 My farmer's market is in my backyard. I've grown three varities of pole beans,cukes,eggplant, several varieties of peppers, Silver Queen corn, beets, zucchini and yellow squash. My tomato crop flagged bad this year because I had 10 cubic yards of compost delivered and I believe it was way too acidic, even with me adding lime. A second crop of 'maters is coming on, now about golf ball sized. Also have three blueberry bushes, a few thornless blackberry plants, and three fig bushes. I start all my vegetable plants from seed which is a hobby I've enjoyed for years. Will be time to start the fall crops soon. One of my favorite sides is to lightly steam baby beets and their greens and apply a dab of real butter on top. Suthin' chic I'm tellin' ya... but i can't find many takers down here. That's the way to do it, jabe. If I had the space I'd grow my own garden, too. My last apartment, all I had room for was a little herb garden on the kitchen window sill. By the way, I'm a beet lover myself and frequently find myself in the minority among my friends when it comes to beets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Duck Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 That's the way to do it, jabe. If I had the space I'd grow my own garden, too. My last apartment, all I had room for was a little herb garden on the kitchen window sill. By the way, I'm a beet lover myself and frequently find myself in the minority among my friends when it comes to beets. I like beets as well. I particularly like them during the winter when good tomatoes are hard to come by. One of my favorite winter salads combines roasted beets, blue cheese crumbles and salad greens tossed with a citrus vinaigrette dressing. Yum! I also found a recipe for roasted root vegetables that combines fresh beets, carrots, onions and potatoes. It make a good side dish for roasts or chops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jabe Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 I like beets as well. I particularly like them during the winter when good tomatoes are hard to come by. One of my favorite winter salads combines roasted beets, blue cheese crumbles and salad greens tossed with a citrus vinaigrette dressing. Yum! I also found a recipe for roasted root vegetables that combines fresh beets, carrots, onions and potatoes. It make a good side dish for roasts or chops.Not to derail, but last night I cut part of a home grown eggplant into slices a little less than 1/4" thick. Cooked on high heat in a skillet with a little canola oil until darkened. Threw in three just picked Gypsy peppers cut into strips when I flipped the eggplant. Added s and p and a dusting of Parmesan.Suberb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted August 16, 2013 Author Share Posted August 16, 2013 ^^^ Yum. Sounds delish. Disco Duck, next time you make a roasted beet salad, toss in some sherry and fresh roasted almonds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chillumpuffer Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Just been to a local (ish) market and scored a smorgasboard of delights. I didn't have my camera so just a few highlights: Over a pound of fresh King Prawns - £5 2 good sized squid £2 4 Huge Tiger Prawns: £3 Thai Basil.Lemon Grass, loads of assorted veg Donut Peaches 90p lb Sweet Peaches 4 for a quid Blueberries,Raspberries Parma Ham Ham On The Bone Local artisan cheeses It was an excellent trip out. The only thing that was slightly unnerving was the sight of 6 Pigeons for a tenner. Feathers on and just like what you see hanging around town centres - I passed on them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackandGold Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 I like beets as well. I particularly like them during the winter when good tomatoes are hard to come by. One of my favorite winter salads combines roasted beets, blue cheese crumbles and salad greens tossed with a citrus vinaigrette dressing. Yum! I also found a recipe for roasted root vegetables that combines fresh beets, carrots, onions and potatoes. It make a good side dish for roasts or chops. That is one of my favorite salads also. We grow beets in our garden, roast them and freeze them to use throughout the winter. Yum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted August 16, 2013 Author Share Posted August 16, 2013 With the abundance of fruits and vegetables in the summer months, I love going through my cookbooks to find new ideas. Two recent cookbooks that I have acquired that are rapidly becoming favourites of mine, joining the likes of Alice Waters' Chez Panisse series, are Nigel Slater's "Ripe: A cook in the orchard" and "Tender: A cook and his vegetable patch": http://www.amazon.com/Ripe-Cook-Orchard-Nigel-Slater/dp/1607743329 http://www.amazon.com/Tender-Cook-His-Vegetable-Patch/dp/1607740370/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted August 18, 2013 Author Share Posted August 18, 2013 Spent about $50 this morning at the market. With all of jabe's talk of beets and eggplants, I got a craving that couldn't wait until Sunday, so I hit the Santa Monica Farmers' Market today. Picked up some beautiful beets(Candy beets, too) and eggplants, including some Japanese ones. Tomatoes were everywhere, in all shapes and sizes. I got about five pounds of various varieties. There are so many delicious samples, that by the time you've gone from one end of the market to the other, you've had yourself a pretty good lunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted August 18, 2013 Author Share Posted August 18, 2013 Fruit, fruit, and more fruit...including the transcendent golden and sun-kissed orange raspberries of Pudwill Farm. Their blueberries and figs are pretty damn good, too. Couldn't resist picking up a dragon fruit. And I am constitutionally unable to leave a farmers market without getting some grapes and avocados...especially with football season around the corner and guacamole needed. If you like melons, you should try a Passport Melon sometime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slave to zep Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 wow, that ^ looks soooo good! yummo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Duck Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 Oooh, I see fresh figs in one of the photos! I love them but we can't grow them in our climate. You must live in a warmer part of the country. Fruit, fruit, and more fruit...including the transcendent golden and sun-kissed orange raspberries of Pudwill Farm. Their blueberries and figs are pretty damn good, too.IMG_20130817_084255.jpgIMG_20130817_084320.jpgIMG_20130817_084307.jpgIMG_20130817_083552.jpgIMG_20130817_093815.jpg Couldn't resist picking up a dragon fruit.IMG_20130817_083006.jpg And I am constitutionally unable to leave a farmers market without getting some grapes and avocados...especially with football season around the corner and guacamole needed.IMG_20130817_083029.jpgIMG_20130817_084237.jpgIMG_20130817_082946.jpg If you like melons, you should try a Passport Melon sometimeIMG_20130817_082903.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted August 19, 2013 Author Share Posted August 19, 2013 Oooh, I see fresh figs in one of the photos! I love them but we can't grow them in our climate. You must live in a warmer part of the country. Yes i do. I thought it was pretty much common knowledge by now that I live in Los Angeles, CA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bayougal65 Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 Hi Strider! I have really enjoyed reading this thread! Most people don't realize S.E. Louisiana is home to some awesome citrus varieties! Satsumas, Blood Oranges, Navels, Meyer Lemons, Kumquats, and our own Louisiana Sweets! During the fall and winter you have to travel below New Orleans to Plaquemines Parish to find the actual grove stands....and unfortunately the last storm we had (Isaac) really hurt some of the citrus crops, but people here persevere! Year-round most stands sell something, as the seasons turn, seafood, creole tomatoes, eggplant, loquats, strawberries, cabbage, cauliflower, and local delicacies such as alligator sausage, pepper jellies, olive salad, pickled okra, cobblers in a jar, sausage, boudin, and awesome stuffed artichokes! The French Market in New Orleans, to me is too crowded and touristy, but the smaller stands and many markets through-out the city and our area rock! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Duck Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 Hi Strider! I have really enjoyed reading this thread! Most people don't realize S.E. Louisiana is home to some awesome citrus varieties! Satsumas, Blood Oranges, Navels, Meyer Lemons, Kumquats, and our own Louisiana Sweets! During the fall and winter you have to travel below New Orleans to Plaquemines Parish to find the actual grove stands....and unfortunately the last storm we had (Isaac) really hurt some of the citrus crops, but people here persevere! Year-round most stands sell something, as the seasons turn, seafood, creole tomatoes, eggplant, loquats, strawberries, cabbage, cauliflower, and local delicacies such as alligator sausage, pepper jellies, olive salad, pickled okra, cobblers in a jar, sausage, boudin, and awesome stuffed artichokes! The French Market in New Orleans, to me is too crowded and touristy, but the smaller stands and many markets through-out the city and our area rock! What is cobbler in a jar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bayougal65 Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 What is cobbler in a jar? Cobbler in a jar is an amazing canned mason jar desert! It is either blackberry, peach, rhubarb, or other such fruit with dough canned in a glass jar that you just pour and bake! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted August 20, 2013 Author Share Posted August 20, 2013 Bayougal65, you had me at "alligator sausage"!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bayougal65 Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 Bayougal65, you had me at "alligator sausage"!!! Then my Turtle Sauce Piquant would really knock you out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Duck Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 Cobbler in a jar is an amazing canned mason jar desert! It is either blackberry, peach, rhubarb, or other such fruit with dough canned in a glass jar that you just pour and bake! How cool. You can just pour some into a baking dish, pop it into the oven, then present it to your guests while proclaiming, "I baked it myself!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pottedplant Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 Then my Turtle Sauce Piquant would really knock you out! Then my Turtle Sauce Piquant would really knock you out! Who Dat!!! I'll have a shrimp remoulade and a mufaletta from Central Market. Or maybe some boudin? Get cooking who dat!!! Turtle Sauce Piquant..mmmmmmm yum. Oh, I just have to say this" "First you make a rue." I don't know why the board brought up three quote posts??? Then my Turtle Sauce Piquant would really knock you out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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