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Cooking Demonstration This Saturday!
We are very excited to have Chef Lisa of My Fare Lady Personal Chef Service join us this Saturday, September 19. Chef Lisa will be sharing some of her culinary secrets and making Bruschetta from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. She will be giving out samples too. The warm weather this week has been great for ripening tomatoes for bruschetta, so be sure to check out the recipe below. If you would like to learn more about Chef Lisa check out her website www.myfarelady.com The cooking demonstration will take place at the City Tent which is by the Northwest entrance to the Market.
I have been buying extra produce at the Market lately and freezing some of it to enjoy in soups, stews and chili this winter. If you buy more than you can carry remember we do have a wagon for you to borrow, or simply drop off your bags at the city tent and pull up with your car, we will be happy to help you load up!
Mark your calendars for November 14th and December 5th as we will be bringing the Market inside Civic Plaza from 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m., watch for the vendor list coming soon.
The Rhubarbaians will be back to perform this Saturday from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. They are always a Farmers Market audience favorite! On September 26th music will be provided by John Richards, a Bloomington native and a Bloomington Parks & Recreation employee! John will be playing the Market from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., be sure to stop by and enjoy some great music.
Meet the Vendor - George St. Martins Pickles
After searching for the perfect pickle and not having much success, George decided it was time to start making his own pickles. With a background in the restaurant business and food distribution, it was natural for George to start making pickles. Three years later George started sharing his garlic pickles, jalapeno pickles and horseradish pickles (to name just a few) with Farmers Market patrons.
George has been at the Minneapolis Farmers Market for about 16 years. He not only sells pickles but also olives, olive oil, vinegar and imported cheese at the Minneapolis Market. We are lucky to have his pickles at the Bloomington Market because it is the only market he participates in besides Minneapolis! As a Bloomington native George loves to be able to help support our Market. The St. Martin family is actually one of the first families to settle in Bloomington back in the 1860's.
Making pickles and bringing his other products to markets is definitely a labor of love. George starts his market day at about 10:30 p.m. on Friday night. It takes a few hours to load all of his equipment and products into trucks. He needs to begin setting up in Minneapolis at 2:30 a.m., once finished with there, the truck heads to Bloomington.
Once a week George makes about 200 lbs. of pickles. He buys local ingredients when he can, it is very important to use the freshest ingredients possible. One of the challenges of making pickles in small batches is to keep the flavor consistent. There are many variables when using fresh produce and sometimes George has to adjust his recipes to compliment the produce. For example, the flavor of the jalapenos vary depending on when they were picked. George is always trying new things and adding new varieties too. One of George's favorites is the "half done" or "half dill" this is a pickle that is in between a cucumber and a pickle but it is made with no vinegar. This variety is very popular on the East Coast but is on the rise here in Minnesota.
You will find St. Martins Pickles on the NE corner of the Market. Be sure to stop by and try some of these great pickles!
Chef Lisa's Bruchetta
- 1 large ripe tomato, finely diced
- 1 small red onion, finely diced
- 1/4 packed cup parsley (Italian or curly), chopped
- 1/4 packed cup basil, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, finely diced
- 1/3 cup Olive Oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp. sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 baguette, sliced
- 1 cup broken walnuts
Dice vegetables and herbs and toss in bowl. In another bowl, combine the olive oil and vinegar and whisk well until it emulsifies. Whisk in sugar, salt & pepper. Poor oil/vinegar into veggie bowl and toss to blend. Serve with sliced baguette.
Bloomington Farmers Market Information:
Hours
Market hours are 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.; for safety and fairness there is NO shopping
before 8 a.m. Also, for environmental health reasons, pets are not allowed in
the Market.
Parking
Please note the map and designated parking areas. The East Lot of Civic
Plaza, where the Market is held, is for Handicap Parking only. There is
plenty of Free Parking on the West Side of Civic Plaza. There is also parking
across 98th street in the VEAP parking lot and at Public Works off James Ave.
Volunteering
If you are interested in volunteering at the Farmers Market, we can use your
help! Please contact Jill Murphy 952.563.8889 or Keri Lahl at farmersmarket@ci.bloomington.mn.us
for more information.
We can also use your help spreading the word about the Bloomington Market. If you have a place to hang a sign about the Farmers Market (church, workplace, coffee shop, etc.) you can either print the poster yourself or pick up a copy at the City's information tent.
We are looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!
Best regards,
Keri Lahl
Market Coordinator
