Market Watch: August 6, 2010
The show is going on this week at the Market - not only is it National Farmers Market Week, the weather should be sunny and not oppressive, and some of the best tasting produce of the year starts arriving at the Market in August. Sure, a lot of it looks familiar since you've been seeing for a few weeks now, but this time of year it really comes into its own in terms of flavor and scent. Speaking of, the smell of the cantaloupes mixed with the tuberose — have I mentioned this before? — should be called "farmers market." Go to the north end of Row 2 to see what MW is talking about.
Anyway, as it is National Farmers Market Week, Market patrons are being encouraged to bring their cameras and take photos of their favorite stuff at the Market, whatever it is — produce, baked goods, dogs, tee-shirts, you name it. The photos will be posted on the Market's Facebook page and maybe their Flickr page, too. It should be interesting to see the Market through patrons' lenses. Also, stop by the City tent to pick up a free Illinois - Where Fresh Is fridge magnet that was produced just for this week. Heck, pick up two! The info on the magnet will help you find a farmers market in Illinois, no matter where you are.
Here's a little list of what you'll be able to find this week: green beans, rainbow chard, kale, okra, green onions, cabbage, fresh herbs, lettuces (better arrive early if you want some) tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, turnips, peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums, early apples, eggplant, kohlrabi, raspberries, gooseberries, currants, sweet corn, potatoes, garlic, fresh whole onions, and who knows what else. Of course, there will be a vast array of frozen, farm-raised meat at the Market, as always, as well as goat cheese, honey, eggs, baked goods, and prepared foods. By the way, Veggie Trails should be back this weekend.
MW came into a bunch of peaches last weekend but did not feel like making jam due to the heat, because MW is apparently a delicate flower of some sort these days. At any rate, here's one thing you can do with a bunch of peaches: freeze them. I got some quart freezer bags and washed all the peaches. Then I peeled them, cut or pulled them away from the pit, sliced them into little wedges, dosed them with a bit of lemon juice, and loaded them into bags. You can also add sugar — it will help them last a bit longer in the freezer. MW likes to use frozen fruit in smoothies or over shortcake out of season. Peaches will taste good in December, yo.
If you need another canvas grocery bag to add to the menagerie, Market totes are available once again for the low, low price of $8. Hopefully there are more t-shirts available; if MW heard right, there might be, even in kids' sizes! Anyway, the City is accepting cash and checks only for these items, not their own Market money, which is kind of funny. MW has heard that Common Ground Food Co-op will be carrying the bags and shirts at their store in coming days, so if you were denied at the Market, try the co-op. MW also hears the City is considering shipping these items outside the area for former residents who desperately miss Urbana's Market. Email Lisa, the Market's Director, if you're an out-of-towner who needs some Market merch.
Have a great weekend! Eat well!
Most Recent Food Comments
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles
Also worthy of a mention: Most Oddly Named Restaurant with Fantastic Food: Let’s Take Seat http://letstakeaseat.com/
Other possibilities along this vein: Most Bizarre Restaurant Decor, Runner-Up: The new Merry Ann’s Diner on Nevada has a mural of the scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest,” where the plane is chasing Cary Grant on a desert landscape. Never understood how that ambiance is supposed…
As a teenager too broke to actually buy anything, I indulged in many a free cup of Kopi water.
Excellent additions, LY.
Possible Honorary Categories: Most Bizarre Restaurant Decor: Mas Amigos on Springfield Av. With painstaking attention to shelving, the owner proudly displays his NFL football helmet collection. WTF? Best Pancakes: Courier Cafe. Huge, fluffy, served with hot syrup. If you can stuff 3 of these down, you don’t…
Most Popular Food Articles (60 days)
- Triptych’s “work of art” in danger
- Bar-B-Q on a budget
- Rick’s bakery serves up tasty pastries
- Aroma Cafe, putting the sexy back in toast
- Picking up dinner at Peking Garden
- Cafe Zojo steals the show
- Speakeasy-style cocktails shake up downtown
- Triptych bypasses another hurdle, waits for results
- BEST Food & Drink
- Throwing off the shackles of Tex-Mex
Most Recent Comments
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles
And without bloodshed. Sounds like the Savoy trustees aren’t as narrow-minded as some of their whiny pants constituents. Do you think quack Snell is already planning an asinine counterattack or is he still laying low after those “threats” against his person?
hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.
Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Excellent. I am glad sometimes American dreams are encouraged, rather than stifled.
Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.
funny, as your summer begins, another Summer ends.
@Dan - Wow. Unfortunately, I have to refrain from further comment due to a previous employment relationship. But with that brief context you might be able to imagine possible comments or responses I could have.
Oh, by the way, the “Champaign County YMCA” no longer exists. The official name is now the “Stephens Family YMCA” (the website has not been updated, but check out the latest program guide). And no, it’s not just the name of the building. It’s the name of the organization.
Facebook
Twitter
Full Site
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…