It was a cold and rainy start to farmers' market season. I went downtown to the Metro Hall Farmers' Market, which opened today. I wasn't sure what to expect because it is right downtown between office buildings and Roy Thomson Hall. It was a small affair but they still had a good selection of vegetables, fruits, meats, cheeses and baked goods.
My cooking mind goes wild at a farmers market. I pick up one item and a meal starts to form, then at each stall I add to the idea. Today I bought rhubarb first. I think I'll make a simple compote and put it over angel food cake for dessert tonight. Brantview Farms from St. George was there. They sell apples and apple products. I saw their apple mustard and immediately thought of salad dressing. The farmer I spoke to suggested I mix it with apple butter for a great bbq sauce, something I might try tonight on a roast chicken.
There is nothing like fresh local asparagus, so I had to get some. I'm going to blanche them and put them in the salad. While I was buying asparagus I asked the farmer for advice about my green beans that are growing up on my window sill. He said they are big enough now to go in the ground. I feel like a mother hen, or I guess a mother bean towards them, I'm sort of fond of watching them grow and change everyday. I think I will keep them indoors just a little while longer.
By the time I arrived at The Cheese of Canada stall I already had a meal planned in my mind. They have loads of different local Ontario cheeses. I told them about the apple mustard and my plans for a salad. They had two suggestions (and they seemed as excited about them as I was) I forget the first suggestion, but in any case I went with the second one. Eweda Cru is a firm raw sheep's milk cheese similar to gouda produced by Best Baa Dairy. It crumbles and has a nice nuttiness (like I know what nuts taste like...) it's going to be great in the salad.
It is such a nice experience to go talk to the farmers that grow the food you eat. I think they have the single most important job there is. Farmer's Feed Cities!
Metro Hall Farmers’ Market
55 John Street, near King St.
Thursdays, 8 am - 2 pm, May 28 to October 15, 2009
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