Does it seem as though I always comment on the weather for market day? Oh well. Yesterday was another one of those impossibly beautiful May days - bright, sunny, warm - it's the kind of day where you almost consider it a crime against nature to go to work. Alas, Citibank does love to get that mortgage payment. Fortunately, I awoke at the crack of dawn so there was plenty of time to enjoy the day before I had to work.
First up, a run through the North Market, where I bought even more asparagus, this week from Anderson Orchard - who, by the way, have more of those super fun praying mantis nests, for anyone who wants some predators for their gardens, or a fund project for their kids. I also got some radishes, leeks and green garlic from Just This Farm, some arugula and ramps from Combs Herbs, and escarole from Toad Hill Organics.
Then it was over to the Worthington market, where the season was kicking off with the annual plant sale. I met a reader there who gifted me with the El Bulli recipe CD 1998 - 2002; now, that could be a blog premise: some people cook through Julia Child or the Thomas Keller - I could cook through Ferran Adria. Just kidding, I think I'd be reduced to a drooling, babbling puddle, incoherently demanding someone to please find me my sodium alginate and my agar agar, I have to make some carrot and tomato caviar popcorn now. But seriously, it's sure to be a very interesting read if nothing else - Thanks dude! Hmm, that might be the first time I've ever written the word "dude." No matter.
I bought some rhubarb, red popcorn from aforementioned catnip sachets from Pop & Judy's farm - seems rhubarb is finally gaining some respect, as later I heard someone bemoaning the fact that all of it was gone. I also bought a jar of some delightfully hot tomato chutney from Rohini of Rohini's Chutneys. And finally, another batch of ribeyes from Up the Lane beef. Husband has been craving those since last year. I strolled through the plants and was restrained enough to purchase only one thyme plant and one tomato plant from Good Start Growers. All in all, a good start to the market season. I'm only two weeks away from my first CSA!
Enjoy the asparagus while it lasts; the heat might cut this season's crop short, according to a farmer I spoke with yesterday; we can still count on it for at least 2 weeks, hopefully 3. Then we can salve our wounds with strawberries.
