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Charentais melon

Posted on September 1, 2019


At the Broadway Farmer’s Market today we, found some really beautiful organic Charentais-style melons, so fragrant that, even uncut, their aroma fills the kitchen. The Charentais is the famous melon of Provence in SE France, know for its wonderful, sun drenched flavor and firm texture. The good people at Tonnemaker Farms specified that these can’t actually be called Charentais, as they are not the exact same species but a hybrid that stands up better to the cool PNW nights.

The melons I purchased for Café Presse are currently ripening in a warm corner of the kitchen but should be ready to serve Tuesday or Wednesday, watch our facebook page for a heads up when we are offering it as a daily special. I am planning something simple to feature the pure summer flavor of the melon:

Sliced Charentais melon sprinkled with lime juice and piment d’Espelette, served with sliced jambon de Bayonne



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Markets and Sources

Tile still underfoot at the Pike Place Market

Posted on June 1, 2019

My tile in the Arcade of the Pike Place Market is still going strong, if a little dirty (I scraped some gum off this tile before taking the photo!). The tiles, found throughout the main level , were originally sold and installed in the mid-80’s to raise funds for Market preservation and restoration. Over time, they have become such a part of the texture of the Market that people hardly notice them. This tile was purchased for me as a birthday present by my sister in 1985. We have both always been been big fans of the Market. I have had the very good fortune to work in the Market for 27 years, first at Campagne Restaurant then at Le Pichet.

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Markets and Sources

Its Spring in the Béarn

Posted on April 14, 2013

Asp April 13

This white asparagus is a variety called “asperge violet” by the French to distinguish it from its cousin that is totally white including the tips. These were at the Tuesday market at Orthez.

While Seattle waits for the Spring produce, spring arrived a few weeks ago in the Béarn.  Asparagus, both white and green and as thick as my thumb mark the apex of the season.  Strawberries (strawberries!  We will be waiting  weeks for then at home) from les Landes, 20 minutes north of Orthez in varieties with musical sounding names (La Gariguette; la Cigaline; l’Elsanta).  Purple artichokes from Provence.  Violet tinges, turnips with fine cream colored skins from near Tarbes.

Its a rare treat to be able to fete the arrival of spring vegetables twice in one year.    A side benefit to a spring visit to the Béarn and a return to Seattle in May.

Asp April 13 2

Preparing asparagus the French way, which is to say, they must be peeled. I find this step necessary for white asparagus but totally unnecessary for green.

A confession: although interesting as a novelty, I find I still prefer green asparagus to white.  This after exploring a number of cooking methods and using them in a variety of different dishes and having eaten the white stalks in reputable restaurants.  I am not sure I get the hype.  The white variety is sweeter than the green and more delicate, but to my mind, it lacks the earthy flavor of green asparagus at its best.  The most successful white asparagus dish I have eaten is a creamy soup, embellished with slices of fresh black truffle.

 

 

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Markets and Sources

Rainy Saturday at the Farmers Market

Posted on October 28, 2012

Saturday morning,  having coffee at a Greek restaurant up the street from the University District Farmers Market, reading Michael Lynch’s In Praise of Reason, thinking the reasonable course might be to stay here instead of going out into the rain to shop.

Proof of what a strange transition from Summer to Fall we had this year:  tomatoes still very present on the farm tables. Even a few melons and peppers still lingering around.

All the cabbage family really hitting their stride:  Brussels Sprouts, Romanesco, cauliflower, Savoy, red and green cabbages, broccoli.

Beautiful quinces available at prices between $3 and $6 a pound depending on the stand.

Yellow chantrelles make a comeback with the rain and don’t even look that wet.

Pears, apples, asian pears, walnuts, even some grape, both concord and white table grapes.

Squashes, pumpkins, acorns, kabochas and many more but so far none of the big French red pumpkins that were so good last year.

A lot of dogeared vendors using poles to spill the pooling rain from their tents.  You know when the vendors start thanking you for “making it out in this weather”, its a crummy day.

 

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Farm Table Report – University Market May 26

Posted on May 27, 2012

New garlic and rhubarb at the U-District Farmers Market

9am Saturday at the University Farmers Market
Memorial Day Weekend and the weather feels almost like summer.  Even at 9am, the air is warm, no breeze, few clouds.

I took the old number 43 bus to the University Farmer’s Market this morning, not sure exactly what to expect.  Given the holiday weekend, it is possible that the number of farms represented (not to mention the number of shoppers) could be pretty small.  Nice weather on a holiday never helps business.

My fears are premature, though;  lots of farmers are already set up and selling at 9am and the crowd, though not large, is respectable.  The season has finally begun in earnest and the cold, dark days of winter when only hardy souls make it to the Market, are (nearly) forgotten. Continue reading →

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Markets and Sources

University Farmers Market

Posted on May 6, 2012

The sky looked broken and unpromising on the way to the University Farmers Market this morning.  The market itself, by contrast, had a decidedly early Spring feel; not cold but not really warm.  Snatches of sunshine breaking through the clouds but a rainbow hinting at rain to come.

In the year-long life cycle of the Farmer’s Markets in Seattle, the beginning of May is still very early in the season.  Continue reading →

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Markets and Sources

Ferme KUKULU in Espelette

Posted on April 6, 2012


During a recent visit to the Southwest of France, we visited one of the artisan cheese makers who’s cheeses we are lucky enough to feature on our cheese board at both Le Pichet and Cafe Presse.  Ferme Kukulu is located just outside of the small town of Espelette in the heart of the French Basque Countries.  Our introduction to this farm was provided by our friend Olivier Boyer at Corsican Cellars, who imports the cheeses of Ferme Kukulu to Seattle.

On Visiting Farms
To me, there is no better way to really understand a product than to visit the place were it is made.  Continue reading →

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Markets and Sources

The Tuesday Market in Orthez

Posted on October 18, 2011

A selection of treats from the Tuesday Market, October 2011

There are two market days every week in Orthez.  Outdoors Saturday, in the parking lot of la Moutet, is the local farmer’s market that features only the bounty of the surrounding countryside, including offerings from farmers, meat producers and culinary artisans (and also a large selection of plants, vegetable starts, trees and flowers from the local nursery). This market is small, almost intimate with only 12-13 venders, and a truck or two, selling organic fruits and vegetables, a small amount of dairy products, including Oussau Iraty, a firm sheep’s milk cheese that is the most famous cheese of the region (it is traditionally eaten accompanied by sour cherry jam),  chickens and eggs, and handmade fresh and cured sausages.  These are supplemented by a stand selling oysters from Arcachon (2 hours away) and another selling roasted chickens, hams and pork loins, all vividly on display as they turn on a huge open flame rotisserie, their fat dripping into a long tray of tiny fingerling potatoes below. Continue reading →

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Markets and Sources

This week in the Farmer’s Markets

Posted on September 26, 2011

 

As the September equinox approaches, bringing with it the official first day of Fall, Seattle has been enjoying one of the warmest stretches of Summer.  The evening when I visited the Madrona farmer’ market recently felt like an evening in July, with many people strolling idly, the park full of couples chatting on benches and bar-b-ques flavoring the air.  The products in the markets are reflective of this unexpected warmth, featuring a return of fruits and vegetables that already have come and gone earlier in the year. Continue reading →

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Markets and Sources

The Fall Harvest Season Arrives at the Pike Place Market

Posted on September 8, 2011

Maltby Produce, Labor Day Weekend 2011

When I think of the growing season in Seattle from the distance of the winter, I often make the mistake of associating July and August with height of the harvest.  This year especially, because of the very mild summer, spending time in the Pike Place Market has made the truth abundantly clear:  the real height of the harvest begins in September and continues well into October or even November.

Although the farm tables have been full since early July, the peak of the harvest season has now begun in earnest.  On this first weekend of September, the tables in the Market are fairly groaning under the weight of an ever growing selection.  Melons, figs, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers are just beginning to arrive, while favorites from earlier in the season, like lettuces, greens and radishes, are making a second, late season showing. Continue reading →

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