I was driving along 315 today and suddenly I realized the leaves are starting to turn! I guess my denial of the coming of Autumn has to come to an end. Fine. Next week I'll buy some squash and accept reality. I feel as though my market reports have been a little boring lately since I haven't been buying very much. I haven't discovered any new and exciting products or anything, I haven't invented a miraculous new way of making eggplant delicious. The good news is we will be doing more cooking in the near future because (drum roll please):
I am no longer a Restaurant Widow.
Yes, it's true, folks. Husband has left the dark world of restaurant management to join the rest of us lowly - but happy - plebes on the dining room floor. Changes are happening at Chez Widow. Husband promises he will be writing about wine for me in the future - I promise to censor out all of the bad words.
But! I have digressed! Let's talk about this week's markets. My CSA box this week included: sweet corn, arugula, red peppers, garlic, shallots and onions, basil, another tiny little pumpkin (pictured above), eggs, and you know, all of those things I can never remember. I should really keep taking pictures of the full box . . .
At the North Market, where it was the Microbrew festival and the Columbus Cutters get-together (which Husband is thrilled I missed, by the way, so he doesn't have to hear my incessant talk over the next few weeks about how I really need a Vespa, it's so practical, they get 100 miles to a gallon, I'd look so cute on it, etc. etc) I purchased one of my last boxes of Toby Run shitakes of the summer, just another thing to look forward to next year. I also stopped by Cottage Gardens for my requisite pound of fresh kidney beans. Attention farmers: please grow more beans! I can't believe how wonderful these fresh beans are.
The Worthington Farmer's Market afforded me with my much-loved Arbor Hill organic potatoes, loads of sweet and hot peppers, what is probably the last sweet corn of the year, along with the last white nectarines of the year . . . last last last. I also bought some Italian sausage from OinkMooCluck! farm, and some lamb chorizo and sweet onions from Northridge Organics. I also bought this interesting Russian purple kale along with regular, curly kale from Garden Patch Produce, dogged greens supplier:
Friday, when Husband and I went to El Arepazo, we walked through the dwindling farmers in the Pearl Alley market and bought these amazing pears. I am growing to love pears this year. Husband doesn't really care for them, but I am really enjoying them - these were so juicy and melting, I found them better peeled, as the peel (especially if it has scalded spots) interferes with the pear experience. Under ordinary circumstances, I would never advocate peeling a fruit because the peel is so good for you, but sometimes sensory revelations have to come first:
And lastly, not to end on a negative note, but I visited Whole Foods first "farmers market." I have decided to just post a picture and refrain from comment:
