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HFTM | Pershing SQ 28Oct10

just a few things that made it home from the market… ages ago

So it’s kinda been on and popping at the Farmers’ Markets here in LA.  Between challenges to the size of the Hollywood Farmers’ Market by another local business and vendors at other markets accused of selling not so local or organic as claimed, the value and authenticity of the markets and their produce has come up for debate.

Me, I’m still in.  What started earlier this year as just something to do has become something I, just, do.  Even at the CubeFarm, people would come up to me and talk about market day.  My weekly bounty would be on display in the afternoon as I watched minutes on the clock and strawberries disappear.

But, I haven’t been to Pershing Sq since the end of October.  With the Ice Rink up and my time at the CubeFarm winding down, I’ve been glued to my desk and going to Hollywood on Sundays.

I’m so happy to be able to say that I’m SuperGrateful for the time I’ve spent going to Pershing SQ this year.  It’s been such an important experience in the evolution of my relationship with food.

Nikki♥

*One quick word about the CubeFarm. They really are a great group of people doing good work for the folks of LA Country.  So glad to have got the chance to spend more time with them this year.

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HFTM | Pershing SQ 20Oct10 – Repeat Performers

just a few things that made it home from the market…

{Kale Strawberries Tomatoes Yellow Zucchini Chinese Broccoli Scallions}

The day is quickly approaching where carton after carton of strawberries will be just a memory.  That got me thinking about the things that have made it home from the market in the last year and what’s coming around the bend.

BLOOD ORANGES!!! MEYER LEMONS!!! TANGELOS!!!!!!!!!!

Nikki♥

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HFTM | Hollywood 17Oct10 – Play Misty For Me

just a few things that made it home from the market…

{Red Potatoes, Green Beans, Squash, Zucchini, Golden Beets, Salad Greens, Habanero Chilis, Dill, Red Bell Peppers, Lemon Verbena, Tomatoes, Tarragon, Italian Parsley}

I always think of Clint Eastwood’s directorial debut every time it barely rains.  I doubt it ever aired on a melancholy Sunday afternoon at 3 on Channel 5, but it feels like it should have.

Now I’ve got movies I grew up on stuck in my head.  Did anyone else watch the Blondie & Dagwood movies on Sunday mornings?  Were the Kung Fu flicks on Saturday or Sunday?

I’m going to make some more tea and crawl into bed and watch my own Sunday afternoon movie, All About My Mother.

Nikki♥

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HFTM | Pershing SQ – Too Much?

just a few things that made it home from the market…

I was super organized this morning.  I had my list full of things crossed off before I stepped one foot out of the door.  I did forget one thing, though.

I was about to head off to the farmers’ market when I noticed that I was feeling a bit warm.  I was feeling a bit moist, too.  Then it hit me.  I missed a step between  “it rubs the lotion on its skin” and “brusha, brusha, brusha.” Thankfully, the realization wasn’t accompanied by that all too natural scent, eau d’humanity.

Why am I telling the world that I forgot my anti-perspirant this morning?  Because it cut down on my mosey.  I couldn’t take in what every stand had on offer.  I, even, had on the pretty dress and was carrying the market basket.*

I knew I wouldn’t want to venture back out into the heat if I went back to the office to freshen up after a not so quick** trip to Fright Aid.  So, on a sunny LA afternoon, I put the Tom’s in the bottom of the basket, held my head high and arms tight, and I quickly hit Pershing SQ.

From the looks of things, too quick.  Really, there was only one guy I missed.  But, his spot was packed with people and I was not in the mood for any discenting opinions.

So, I got what I got and I’m sitting here, eating those strawberries, wondering if I’ll have enough left to make Bryant’s Strawberry Hot Pepper Jam.

Nikki♥

*Yes, I take the market basket to work.  It’s the only way the tomatoes survive the commute.

**Standing in that line that didn’t seem long, yet took forever, I really wanted to twist the cap and put Tom to work.  Alas, I just kept sweating.

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HFTM | Hollywood – Late, Again

just a few things that made it home from the market…

I think I’ve figured out why I beat myself up for not getting up early on a SUNDAY.

I was in Whole Food on Friday night. {♥: Stay Strong}  Um, in WeHo pet-sitting for friends, I decided to pop in to Whole Foods to pick up a few things for dinner.  {♥: Whew, that sounds better.}

It was weird, before I started to regularly shop at my local farmers’ markets, WF was fruit&veggie mecca.  Price be damned.  Everything so beautifully, artfully, colorfully arranged.  Um, ‘kay.  Whatevs.

Seriously, I walked in and started looking around the produce section like I was lost.  I had no urge to  splurge on any pretty perishables.  No one was offering me samples of just-picked fruit.  No one smiling as I milled about ready to offer answers before I could ask a question.  No bountiful baskets of bundled herbs with hand printed signs offering up a can’t miss deal.  No antsy kids counting down until closing time.  Eh, it just wasn’t the same.

I did pick up a few mushrooms and a garlic bulb.  And, my, did I stare at those rad golden beets, but I couldn’t put my head around buying anything I couldn’t wait two days to get at the market.  Oh, and my friend, PG, had picked tomatoes from the garden for me.  Score!

So, one would think after that epiphany, I would get up early, right?  Or wait, listen to this.  I didn’t get to do Pershing last Wednesday because it was like cold and rainy.   So, with very little fresh and green or orange or red or yellow in the house, I still got there at the end again.

It did just occur to me that I’ve been sick the last couple of days.  Maybe… Nah.  Sunday is just not my get up and go day.

Maybe next week.

Nikki♥

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HFTM | Pershing SQ – You Made Me Love You

just a few things that made it home from the market…


This week in “Yay!” is brought to you by the color Yellow and Lunch Hour Chinese Takeout {♥:No Judgement}…

Zucchini and I didn’t “meet cute” when I was a kid.  We were re-introduced this week by way of Kung Pao w/random veggies that the guy behind the counter couldn’t completely separate out.  I’m philosophically opposed to throwing away vegetables, even ones I don’t like.  {♥: Huh? Tell me lies… tell me sweet little…}  Okay.  I thought about it.  I started putting the chunks of zucchini aside and then tasted one.  It was love at first crunch.

We hooked up at Pershing the next day.  If everything goes according to fantasy, I  think it’ll be a late Summer ’11 wedding.  Or, maybe we’ll just elope and I’ll post the pictures.

Nikki♥

*

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HFTM | Pershing SQ {Beautiful & Bruised}

they made it home from the market…

When I’m choosing what to bring home from the farmers’ market, I feel like I’m looking for something completely different than when I’m at conventional grocery stores and Whole Foods.

Perfection has a different set of criteria.  Those peaches, the ones above, would be sitting and left to rot.  Because they would have been next to ones that were less visually flawed or they wouldn’t have been on display at all.

But, my word, you should have smelled them.  I couldn’t take it all in.  I couldn’t breathe deeply enough.  They may have been visibly bruised, but beyond the skin there was just a gentle nudge to the otherwise firm flesh.  And, oh, were they sweet.

It’s only been a year since I’ve been going regularly to a few of my local farmers’ markets.  It’s been this amazing experience learning to use my other senses in picking produce.  I, now, know why it’s still hit or miss at conventional stores, cause pretty is only part of the story.

Nikki♥

*Oh, the tomatoes?  Those poor things are a casualty of my tote every week.  The busted ones end up in a pot of something moments after the last snap.  It’s like they make the sacrifice so their friends can rest another day.