Check the shopping bags: one for heavy veggies, one for flowers, herbs and other things that bruise easily; check the camera, extra battery (always forgotten). Check the shopping list, hard to stick to it but let's just pretend I'm capable of some kind of planning; comfy shoes, sunglasses; small bills, lots of change and off I go.... to the farmers market.
It doesn’t get any more beautiful than in the summer, when everything is blooming, bursting with intense flavors, amazing scents and colors. I love how my cooking gets inspired by this wonderful season. With the freshest, organic ingredients I can limit my food preparation to the bare minimum and actually spend more time enjoying it with my friends and family.
I get here early to avoid the crowds and adapt Alice Waters’ approach to shopping at the green market. Her advice is to come with nothing specific in mind, soak up the beauty of summer produce and then decide what to buy. So I make my “inspiration round”: touch, smell, taste whatever I can, stimulate my senses, dream up some dishes in my head.
Summer is all about freshness, beauty and simplicity. I keep that in mind as I make my way through the market. I’m looking for heirloom, ethnic and some other unusual fruits and vegetables, even edible flowers. I talk to farmers; I talk to shoppers like myself, farmers market addicts, ask their advice on what to buy, how to cook or store it. This is one of my favorite parts of shopping at the green market.
I pick some squash blossoms, with baby zucchini still attached they look so adorable. Some curious people stop by to ask me how to cook them. I like them stuffed with spiced ricotta cheese, dipped in light better and then deep fried. I also bought heirloom carrots in all shades of pink, purple and yellow, some calendula flowers(for the salad), green and purple orach, which someone explained to me, is a wild spinach, beautiful two-colored “Zephyr” squash, parsley blossoms, heirloom tomatoes, sour cherries, apricots and a few different kinds of berries. All looks so exciting and beautiful, I can not wait to get home and start my summer-inspired cooking.
I'm curious, how do you work a green market? Do you let it inspire you or plan ahead and stick to your shopping list???
For more inspiration check out this Alice Waters' video here.
It was so exciting to run into her this morning at the market and see in person, what she was going to cook today.
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What a fabulous farmers market. I'd love to buy my fruits and veggies there.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosa
My favorite markets are the one's in Italy.People shouting and vegetables neatly presented. This is a great market you have visited. ilovezucchini. I always make a pasta, zucchini,cream lemon and lot's of real Parmigiano.Have a happy summer. XX
ReplyDeleteM, I have gotten to lazy about making Saturday morning trips to the Ferry Plaza. Reading your post reminded me of why I really should get my butt out of bed and hit the market. The plentitude that you beautifully captured is so inspiring.
ReplyDeleteThese days I shop my tiny local farmer's market. Sometimes I go with a few peak season desires in mind - baby artichokes, nectarines, etc. but mostly I go to be inspired and buy whatever calls to me.
One thing I do always buy is a carton of eggs. Nothing compares to farm eggs.
Thanks for your post... you really captured the magic of the market.
E, I get lazy about it too sometimes, but the beauty of produce right now and chatting with Alice Waters yesterday just made my day, so no more excuses, I'll the save laziness for winter time :)
ReplyDeleteilovemyhouse, I imagine Italian markets must be gorgeous loud and very dynamic :)
Rosa, if you ever visit SF, that's the first place you should go :)
I supose this is one of those places where you go and want buy everything because everything looks so tempting. I like this photo with round green zucchini. I've never seen this kind of zucchini before.
ReplyDeleteahhh, i'm jealous, i love san francisco and i had the pleasure to experience the ferry market last time i was there... i loved it!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the inspiration, the kick in the pants :) I have been feeling lazy only wishing for a good book and air conditioning. Your gazpacho post and this one in particular gave me that much needed push. Lovely images of your local market. Ours is under an expressway next to an car impound (green market, Baltimore-style).
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! I love wandering a farmers market. If I went without any pre-planning at all I would probably spend a fortune and buy way more than I need, but I always get inspired by something and come home with a few items not on the list!
ReplyDeleteCool duo-toned squash, I've never seen such a thing! I just go and buy whatever looks good.. (I may have been asked at the market today if I was a "plum-o-holic" because I bought so many :)
ReplyDeleteWalking though the market is so inspiring. I love all the pretty arrangements and colours. Beautiful photos daaaaahlng.
ReplyDelete*kisses* HH
this post got me so excited about my upcoming move to san fran from nyc! what beautiful pictures and prose.
ReplyDeleteOn Saturday night I partied a little hard and couldn't get myself out of bed for an early trip to the farmer's market, and boy, did I pay the price. When I finally got there around 11:30am all of the best heirloom tomatoes and strawberries were already bought up. Next time I really just need to bite the bullet and get up. Love your Farmer's Market pictures...California's produce is so dang beautiful!
ReplyDeletethanks for "walking" me through your market: just lovely and fresh!!!
ReplyDeleteAmelia from www.zastylife.com
Beautiful pictures.. I love that zucchini (squash?) I used to live in the bay area too-this post makes me feel like it's right back outside my door :)
ReplyDeleteI love zephyr squash, and we seem to get a lot of them locally. I like to make a quick round at the farmers' market to see my options before swooping in and making choices. I always have a list, but usually a thousand other things catch my eye.
ReplyDeletewhat a great farmers market you have.....wow...and your images are just beautiful! I do go with a list in my head, but when I see something unexpected, I have to buy that too...sometimes what I want isn't in...but I never leave unhappy!! I wish we had our market all year long!!
ReplyDeleteI love that Ferry plaza farmers market although we have some pretty great markets in LA too :) I usually go to the smaller market, walk all the way to the back to check what everyone has, then make my through picking up things from my list and of course a few extra goodies as well!
ReplyDeleteExcellent photos and post and what a treat to run into Alice! When I go to the farmer's market I try to have 1 or 2 items in mind and then buy a few items also that catch my eye. It's inspiring each time.
ReplyDeleteFabulous photos! I cruise the markets having an idea of what I need for specific recipes, but I'm guilty of many impulse buys. It helps when the produce is arranged stylishly rather tossed in bins. Some vendors know how to work it. : )
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great market. I love the picture of the lavender, its gorgeous!
ReplyDeletelovely photos! :)
ReplyDeleteA relaxing weekend for me in the city would consist of waking up early, going to the farmers Market -- either the one in the Ferry Plaza or the one in Alemany, cooking, eating, and reading my book. We're so fortunate that we're so pampered here in San Francisco. Lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, thank you for the comments you left in my blog.
have a great weekend!
Great pictures! I go to the farmer's market early every Thursday and even if I have a shopping list with me, I always end up buying extra products that inspire me and that I can't wait to try when I'm back home.
ReplyDeletethank you guys for sharing, I really enjoyed reading about your farmers market experiences :)
ReplyDeletegorgeous photos, I love those little fat courgettes.
ReplyDelete...just found your blog and have bookmarked it! Love it.....
ReplyDeleteAnd love the Ferry Farmers Market!
Just beautiful! I,too, try to go to the farmer's market with nothing specific in mind and try to be inspired by the produce.
ReplyDeleteWonderfully written! The images you captured made me feel like I was there. A trip to the Farmer's Market without leaving my bedroom.
ReplyDeleteCool duo-toned squash, I've never seen such a thing! I just go and buy whatever looks good..
ReplyDeleteWonderful post... :)