Pacific Grove Celebrates Its Farmers Market

Wild times in The Groove today:  The Farmer's Market changed location from Lighthouse Avenue to the corner of Central and Grand, right next to Jewel Park and the Natural History Museum.  The location was fodder for several puns such as, "Central to Pagrovians' heart is the grand idea of a farmer's market.  And it's been a jewel of an idea today."  Get it?  Thus spoke the Sustainable Harvest spokeswoman who made a speech of grand introduction before a giant purple ribbon was cut and the new locale was made official.  SH is the coordinating group that organizes all farmers' markets in the county.

In spite of a bracing wind from the Pacific and a heavy cover of dark fog, Groovers were out en force for the occasion, slinging cash about in exchange for fine produce and goods purveyed by the many vendors at the market.  It was announced by Moe Ammar, voice of the Chamber of Commerce, that - tah dah! - new toilets can be expected to appear in the park in three weeks' time, too.  This to great cheering and relief on the faces of elderly men.

After the ribbon cutting and official remarks by the assembled city council persons, the huddled crowd dispersed and a great time was had by all.

My choices today?  Fresh nectarines, mushrooms, and a Jordanian wrap, which you eat - you do not enclose yourself within its folds as the word might signify.  Also, blueberries.  I asked the blueberry man what a blueberry bush looks like and he tried to explain, indicating a bush oh, say, about this high (two feet), with berries all through it that requires lots of thrashing into the bush (shown by lots of hand waving and diving motions into a small space).

I also had a bit of an interesting interchange with a large cluster of grapes, a giant artichoke ("she has a wonderful heart," says Mr. Ammar), and a long-haired carrot.  They all posed for me and I went on my way, amazed to have found such a large collection of Groovers all in one place, in spite of the cold.

Beauty at the Farmer's Market

Farmers laid out their wares in Pacific Grove at the Farmer's Market.  Attendance seemed sparse.  I was very happy to be there and wished I'd had a lot more money with me to spend on armfuls of flowers.  As it was, I bought petrale sole, squash and red flame raisins, took pictures and kept memories, which I've been enjoying.  If only the flowers had the power to fend off the cold wind that's been blowing since then.

I have a few examples of beauty to show you, so enjoy.  I'll be back writing again tomorrow...

Mrs. Delish's cupcakes and a new kind of Hero

Over to the Groove I went, off to the Farmer's Market, the first time in a while, having been prevented by my work schedule for a long while.  Before I knew it, I had loaded my bags with tomatoes, sweet basil, plums, crimini mushrooms, squash and tilapia.  Strawberries are still looking good, so I bought a three-pack of those.  Wow, are they fragrant.  And, as I had hoped, they are amazingly delicious. 

I reacquainted myself with Mrs. Delish's who sells cupcakes to hungry passersby.  I love that she packs up your cupcake for carrying in a smart little box to keep it from squishing.  I noticed she's selling more variety now.  The chocolate with green mint frosting is the top favorite of little kids, she says.  My new addiction is the dark chocolate with vanilla frosting with toasted coconut on top.  Taste reminds me of a Mounds bar - my childhood favorite candy bar.  It was rich with dark chocolate flavor and just enough sweetness for balance.  Three bucks and you've got a little bit of heaven in a cupcake paper. 

Next door to her was a young guy selling three kinds of gourmet sandwiches.  I bought a half of a Tuna Caper:  "A logical twist on a common offering.  The capers add a satisfying briny element that makes this comfort food even more comfortable.  Lettuce and tomato are standard." Italian ciabatta bread tops it off.  Not one to limit myself to just one flavor, I also bought a half of a Goat Basque Hero:  "Goat cheese mousse topped with red fire-roasted peppers, Spanish olives, Marcona almonds on sour dough." Two entirely different but equally tasty flavor sensations.  I prefer the Goat Cheese Hero - the almonds add a nice crunch and I am a sucker for fire-roasted red peppers.  He's working on a web page and just getting his business off the ground. 

June fruit

The market came again to Lighthouse Avenue, and Pacific Grove residents responded in kind, assembling from side streets and avenues, carrying bright cloth bags that caught on the air like balloons. I strolled around again, listening to the murmuring voices of people discussing plans in twos and threes while they sampled this and that.

"Sample, ma'am!" Stone fruits are showing up more week by week, and cherries are glossy, bright and sweet. No tomatoes yet. Meyer lemons are hanging in there. Blueberries from Martinez looked too tempting to ignore, so I didn't. They joined strawberries, apricots, plums and raspberries. I passed up the fresh fish again - no chance to eat them and do them justice soon enough. I'll buy some at the market on Thursday over in Monterey. Baby spinach and Italian parsley finished off my healthy purchases, so I headed over to the cupcake lady for a sweet indulgence. Chocolate on chocolate this week, packed in a special box. "Just bring it back next week for a refill," says Mrs. Delish's. I'm hooked.

In comparison to last week, the light was brighter and I only had to wear one sweater instead of two. Businesses I took special note of this week included, to my happy surprise, Petra's Mediterranean Restaurant, who offer hummus, baba ganoush, pita and other delectable treats. Also, Dress For Change was represented in a small booth. They feature clothing that's recyclable and organic. Having a lot of determination, they just opened within the past year on Forest Avenue, and we all know how much they're up against in this tough economy.

I spent every last dollar I had and walked home wondering when I'll be able to prepare and eat all the freshness I was carrying. But, as you can see, just looking at it is half the fun.

Monday is Market Day

For the first time in a few weeks, months probably, I went to the Pacific Grove Farmers Market. It materializes every Monday afternoon, generally after 3 PM. Officially it's 4-8 PM right downtown on Lighthouse Avenue.

The market is just completing its first year of business, and it has been a struggle. Basically Pacific Grove is a destination town, shouldered aside by Monterey and Pebble Beach, over the hill from Carmel. So, you get here because you intend to get here, not because you made a wrong turn off the freeway. Shoppers who want to save a few dollars get in their cars and drive 20 miles to Marina round trip or even over to Salinas to get to the Wal-Mart or Pennies, but they miss out on what's on offer here in our foggy little corner of the universe.

The market is about two blocks long, and vendors are from Monterey and Sen Benito Counties as well as a few determined souls from as far away as Fresno. Produce is all organic and, of course, just picked, plucked or pulled that day.

Starting my walk at Grove Market (voted best neighborhood market in Monterey County for the zillionth time this year), I picked up a few staples and a market bag to flaunt my allegiance to the store. Charlie Herrera has the magic touch and runs a fine business there. I am happy to say I am ferociously loyal to the place - mostly because he sells the best darned bacon you can ever hope to eat. Try it - you'll see what I mean. I am equally happy to say that my very long-time friend Leslie is one of the best grocery clerks in all of creation; we always have a little catching up to do when I visit the store.

I trotted on down to the market then and feasted my eyes on the tubs of gerbera daisies, spring flowers, and roses, but I was really more interested in finding some seasonal fruit and greens for the table. Strawberries, raspberries, some very early apricots and cherries glowed in the mid-afternoon light. "Sample? Sample?" A vendor held out plump, red strawberry temptation-on-a-plate. I found my best deal at three brimming basketsful for $5. Another farmer was just filling up bins with late citrus including Meyer lemons. "I just picked them for you," he said smiling, and I fell for it. I chose three weighty beauties. Just because I asked, he gave me tips on pruning my own little tree, warning about suckers which steal the moisture from the rest of the plant.

The wind was rather kind and meek, but it was cold - maybe 53 or so. It's June now, and everyone is still wearing fleece, scarves and even gloves though the sun shines in nearby towns. I saw a few birds wearing sweaters, I think. At least they were flying right-side up.

The mushroom farmer's portabellas, crimini and white mushrooms were dewy and tender with freshness. I bought a pound. Next, glossy zucchini with the blossoms attached and raspberries. A small boy walked by eating some of the berries like candy, his mom herding him away from the tubs of water holding flowers.

At the last strawberry stand, a woman strolled very slowly by and sighed, "Oh, those berries smell so fragrant!" She inhaled and closed her eyes, rhapsodising about the aroma. I thought she might begin a little pirouette and I gave her a bit of elbow room.

I met a new vendor, newly here from Michigan. She and her husband had wandered west a couple of years ago and decided PG should be their home and came to live. Being a good wholesome mom from Michigan with a three-year-old girl to raise, she decided to bake cupcakes for a living. Her husband bought her some fancy carriers ("I loved him that day!"), and her fate was sealed. Now she calls herself Mrs. Delish's and offers tender and light treats at the market now and again. $3 a pop and you get about four mouthfuls of homemade goodness.