Monday, July 06, 2009

To Market, To Market

To Market, To Market is one of my favorite episodes of Sex and the City. If you haven't ever seen the show it would be a great place to start! Season 5, I believe? Well, this post has nothing else to do with Sex and the City but it does have everything to do with a market. Here in Bellingham where I live, I think we have a pretty decent Farmer's Market. It has lots and lots of produce, flowers, handmade items, and yummy, yummy food.

Another great thing about it is that it's only about three blocks from my house. I went this last weekend with my dear sister Tara. We stopped in at a produce stall of her friends, a beautiful gal with awesome scrolly tattoos on her feet and ankles and the hands of someone who works in the earth. I was impressed. Also, I think she had the best looking produce in the whole market. The way it was displayed had something do with it, but I think what really pushed it over the top was that everything was wet and shiny and just glistened in the bright sunlight. Unfortunately, you can't really tell from my photos!


Don't you just love pretty little bushels of radishes? And sweet onions? Those are fabulous just thinly sliced and stuck between two pieces of bread with mayo...



Curly, tangly squash blossoms. I should have bought some...



A tostada, enchilada, and rice from one of the vendors. This plate was on display. I love the three tostada plate for five or six bucks. Fresh, crispy corn tortillas with lots of beans, fresh cabbage, pico de Gallo, and lots of cotija cheese. They are so balanced and refreshing. If only everyone would make their salsa without cilantro for me. Is that too much to ask? Okay, I suppose it is. It sure would make my life a lot easier though! I guess I'm pretty lucky if I actually consider dealing with cilantro and the task of avoiding it a major life crisis. I'll stop whining now.


The couple that mans this stall with all the dirt and flower-stuffed boots and tea pots also sells the most beautiful eggs. Little cartons filled with eggs big and small, brown, blue and green, sometimes I even get lucky and find a couple wispy little feathers on one. I always like that. One Saturday the lady told me all about how I would go about setting up some chickens in my back yard and how they really aren't hard to look after, that a big bag of feed is only about ten dollars and would last two months at least. I knew my husband was wrong. If only I had a backyard, there would be chickens.



Now onto a stall that belongs to another one of my sister's friends, Azizi Tookas. He runs the Brandywine Kitchen company and is known for growing some of the best heirloom tomatoes around. You may recall that Brandywine's are some one of the most prevalent heirloom toms. If you're starting to gather that she knows a lot of cool people you're right. She's got ins with some of the most creative folks in town. They make their own baguettes the night before and use the freshest and best ingredients possible. This particular one is locally smoked-salmon and quinoa croquettes with lettuce, tomato, and a wonderfully flavorful roasted red pepper sauce. Really, really good.



I couldn't resist throwing in this shot of my precious little nephew. I wish the market sold some of those!

12 comments:

Tristi Jo said...

You make it all look so irresistible! I wish I could be there to walk along beside you. The one farmer's market I've been to this year was nothing to write about, that's for sure! Hope to see improvements as more foods come into season :-)

RachelleLouise said...

Tristi!! I just love that you stopped by! I'm pretty obsessed... Thanks for commenting! Now you know where to find me! : )

Unknown said...

Rachelle, what awesome pics, the nephew photo was my favorite. Love Mom

tina said...

SO EXCITED to see a picture of Charlie!!!!! Sweet Charlie :) He looks like Tara! ahhh. I hope to come visit. Do you think Tara will let Charlie come play with Emma if I bring her?

I totally choked on my coffee laughing at the comment 'if only theye would leave the cilantro out of the salsa'... ahhahaha dirty socks! YUM!

RachelleLouise said...

Mom! You finally figured out how to leave a comment! One of those computer-savvy cousins that were up from CA must have helped you! I'm glad! : )

Tina- Charlie will be a year old on the 25th! He's a little doll and I'm sure him and Emma could play. The cilantro thing still proves to be an issue, had a little get together here last week and someone brought a tasty bean dip (with mayo and sour cream mixed into the beans - had me thinking 'bean sandwich' if you know what I mean!) and there was cilantro tucked in everywhere and it caused real issues! No matter how many little bits of it sneak in now and then I still detest it! My mouth instantly reads the data like a scanner and red flashing lights go off, sirens, and huge ABORT, ABORT messages play. It's that bad. : )

Anonymous said...

looks like a great market! fun photos:)

Claudia said...

So I'm not the only non-cilantro person. And make my own salsa so I can omit it! So had to laugh. The Market looks grand the little guy is adorable.

RachelleLouise said...

Rebecca - Thank you for leaving a comment! I think it is a pretty great market, I need to go more often! Sometimes when something has so many great things to offer it's almost overwhelming I think! Otherwise I can't think of why I don't buy more goodies regularly there to cook with! Maybe I will make a point of it in the next few weeks and then come blog about it. Hope you come by again! : )

Claudia - Also, thank YOU for the comment! I've hated cilantro since I can remember. There is something so repugnant about it to me. The taste is just extremely off! I know we're out there, you always hear that people either hate or love cilantro. My husband is kind of in the middle, he can eat it but doesn't prefer it. But me, I won't go near it at all. I don't even like cutting or dealing with it for other people's food! So yeah, that it always comes in salsa is a bit of a bummer! You know who else doesn't like cilantro? My favorite cooking lady of all, Ina Garten! : ) Stop by again soon!

Duong said...

Love reading this blog Rachelle :)

You've made everything look beautiful as usual! I'm SURE you have the anti-cilantro gene. I bet me having to eat a worm is a feeling akin to you eating a handful of raw cilantro, ick! And Charlie's golden head of hair is so adorable, he looks so much older than the 8 mo. old I once held.

Ann said...

I love, love, love farmers markets -- thanks for sharing. My husband shares your opinion of cilantro, and of course I just love it so I keep a side dish handy just for me!

RachelleLouise said...

Duong! Thanks so much for you comment! I just love that like the blog! Have you had any adventures in the kitchen lately? I think of you every time I make fresh rolls. : )

Ann, I know how that can be with husbands! I LOVE Sade, of course my husband really can't take her. He says they played 'Smooth Operator' way too much back in the day! Anyway, we just have to make do, don't we?! : ) I love markets too. Is there one in your area that you really like?

Ann said...

I live in Tacoma, and we have THREE markets throughout the week. There's one downtown on Thursdays , and one in the Proctor area on Saturdays, and one on Tuesdays in our trendy 6th Avenue Business District. My favorite (and largest) would be the downtown market. (http://mysimplycomfortablelife.blogspot.com/2009/05/downtown-farmers-market.html)