Farmer's Market season has finally arrived in Colorado! Lovie and I went Saturday and judging by the crowd, everyone was ready for the season to begin. Clearly people love the experience, while some were buying bread and stocking up on produce, it seemed like just as many were there for the atmosphere and maybe for lunch, enjoying the bustle of the crowd and the local musicians while they sat in the shade at the small tables set nearby. A few years ago, the farmer's market was a relatively unknown phenomenon in this part of the country. There were a few small markets each weekend, and you could usually count on finding a bakery, one or two local produce growers and a couple of booths where they were selling breakfast burritos. You could be done in 10 minutes. Fast forward to 
today - the farmer's markets look much more like the European markets I saw in France. The choices available now are astounding! Organic growers with early season veggies were packed in next to booths selling flowers, herbs, pastries, rustic breads, quiches, sorbet, pasta, green chiles, honey, homemade soap, dog treats and a place teaching people how to compost. Fun, ready to eat foods were everwhere -grilled meats, tamales, BBQ, pizzas and kettle popcorn. Lovie wanted to try everything (she had a stomachache when we left). Carrying my new market basket (I felt so European and ecologically thoughtful by no longer using a plastic grocery bag) that I had found a yard sale for a dollar, we made our way through the crowds. I was trying out my new theory of marketing - that I will simply find something seasonal and delicious and build dinner around it. What I ended up with was a bunch of fresh Spinach, baby Roma tomatoes, Fiddlehead Ferns (never heard of these before), first of the season peaches, cucumbers, english peas, and 1/2 pound of freshly pulled mozzerella. What a bonanza - I rushed home with my treasures and started to think about dinner.
We dined al Fresco on Spinach salad with halved baby Romas and fresh Mozzerella sprinkled with oil and vinegar and some crunchy sea salt, a loaf of Ciabatta I baked that afternoon and a glass of crisp Austrian Gruner Veltliner. I'm so glad its summer! I can hardly wait until next weekend to do it again.
t
Comments