Farmer's Market Love

If this were a love poem it would be written by Browning. A love song? Marvin Gaye. A painting? Hanks.
But this?
This is a Farmer's Market.
This.
This is the blending of sights, and smells and flavors.
This.
This is a gift.

This is The Little Italy Farmer's Market. I have traveled all over the city sampling the area Farmer's Markets, and none can hold a candle to this one. This is the type of Farmer's Market that you plan your day around. The one your child begs to attend. The one that feels like you've been on a date and not just food shopping.

And to prove it, I took a lot of pictures.

At the beginning of the market is the big, orange, coffee truck. It is not to be missed. The coffee is delicious.

And it is made with love. Really. I am a fan of Starbucks, but they cannot hold a candle to this.

 The produce is spectacular. Yes, I live in Southern California, but the selection at this market is beyond compare.

Gorgeous stripey beets...

 Blood Oranges by the bag...

 Cherimoyas. Wait, what exactly is a Cherimoya. Well, the man selling them said they were a tropical fruit. In flavor they resemble a banana crossed with a pineapple, but you eat them with a spoon. We bought 2.

 Oh, and flowers. Starting with my favorites! Nothing says happy, quite the way a Sunflower does.

 But there are flowers you've never seen before too. Like this one. The Pencia.

 And this one, which I think came from Alice in Wonderland, simply labeled, "Smell Me.". Who wouldn't succomb to such a basic plea.

There are musicians playing accordians, which will shockingly have you clapping along.

And it is dog friendly. In fact, there might be as many dogs as people. 

 You would be a vision strolling through the market with this basket over your arm, full of the day's produce.

And speaking of produce let's get back to it.

Agretti. What is it? Well I've been told it is a staple of Mediterranean cuisine. It is a green, not an herb, often served in pasta and delicious with lemon. Yes, we bought a bunch.

 Oh! Le Creperie. Even if you aren't in the mood for crepes, stop and watch him work. He is an artisan. One man, two skillets, and a line down the block. Worth the wait.

 Why yes, Karen Ray did get Nutella.

This is a sneaky picture of my favorite cheese place, Spring Hill. You've heard me talk about them before, here and here. I bought some today too. We will be serving it with Ranier Cherries tomorrow.

 mmmmmmmm. It's getting to be peach season. Fire up the grill.

 And more music.This time it's Spanish.

 The market is on Saturday, and if you live within driving distance it is not to be missed. We were there 2 hours, and could have spent the whole day!

And if all of that isn't enough to tempt you into visiting...
This.
This is the days haul.

Sometimes you just need to go out!

I am admittedly a bit of a homebody.  I like to cook.  I like to be with my family.  And sometimes, I have been known to be in my pajamas by 6:15pm Saturday night!  I am that girl.  There are times though, that even I like to go out. 

One of those times is with Pam.  She is smart and funny, funny and smart, charming and funny and smart, caring and funny and smart, oh and did I mention she is funny and smart?!  After an evening spent with Pam it is guaranteed that your face will be sore from smiling, and your stomach will hurt from laughing 'til you thought you might pee!  A night with Pam is good for the soul.

A favorite place for us to visit is Rustic Kitchen.  Rustic Kitchen describes itself as a lively but classic style bistro.  The restaurant's focus is on fresh food.  Everything is made on premise, including their pastas and breads.  We like to go, sit at the bar, have a glass of wine, and share a pizza.  Our favorite is the portabella, goat cheese, caramelized onion and thyme pizza.  All of their pizzas are thin crust and cooked in a brick oven.  Nothing beats a wood fired pizza.

Plus, the wine list is intriguing.  Wines are not listed by type (Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Zinfandel), but are categorized by description.  There are listings for Rough Riders (full body, peppery, hint of smokiness), Funky White Guys (crisp and acidic, lively, great with seafood), and Too Big to be Put Anywhere Else (big, heavy and over the top).  I don't know why more restaurants don't do this.  It is genius.  It makes wine approachable for every consumer.  It also encourages you to try something you might not usually.  For example: if you like Pinot Noir and you see the Mark West listed under Rough Riders, you might glance at the other wines in that section.  That might lead you to try the Concannon Syrah, which is quite good in its own right.

One small confession.. I almost always get the Centine by Banfi.  It is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.  It is smooth, and supple.  I would describe it as medium bodied.  Listed in the Easy Rider category, it is perfect with the above mentioned pizza!

So here is my challenge to you:  This week, call your Pam (find your own, you can't have mine!) and make plans to go out.  Laugh, drink, eat delicious food, and enjoy every minute together.  Oh, and if you live in the Boston area... why not try Rustic Kitchen?  There are two here.. 

Nothing is better than time spent with a good friend!

*all opinions listed in this blog are my own.  If I write a review, it is because of my love of the business.  I promise to always be truthful in my posts, and I will always call it... just the way I see it.