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Market Caution

June 11, 2011
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This summer’s market mantra is “buy only what you will use in a week.” This also implies a second rule: make sure to cook what you buy. I saw that in action this morning as I found myself following Tsei Wei and Diana from Journeyman as they filled a huge basket with produce that they [...]

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Market Opening

June 5, 2011
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The Union Square Farmer’s Market opened for the season yesterday. I told myself that I would do two things differently this summer: arrive at opening time to avoid the crowds (and dogs, and baby strollers, and bike-toting hipsters), and buy only what I was certain I’d use in a week (excluding specialty items). With those [...]

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Memorial Meat

May 27, 2011
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Last weekend’s meat CSA share seemed specifically designed for grilling on Memorial Day weekend. Instead of a whole chicken I got a bone-in whole breast and some leg quarters, for beef there was a sirloin steak and two six-ounce burgers, and the pork contribution was two thick chops and a ham steak. However tempting it would [...]

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Bonus Bits

April 18, 2011
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The Jamaican work visa problem was resolved, which means Massachusetts farms will have workers for the spring and summer. The timing couldn’t have been better, as it’s lambing season at many of the farms, including Stillman’s, where I get my monthly meat fix. This weekend’s share was lamb-centric: lamb ribs, lamb stew meat, and lamb [...]

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Saturday Meat-ing

March 26, 2011
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Another Saturday meat pickup, but also some news items: Ryan Adams of Nose to Tail at Home (a through-cooking of Fergus Henderson’s Nose to Tail: The Whole Beast), is currently more than halfway through a 24-hour cookathon to raise money for The Parkinson’s Appeal. He’s also live streaming the entire thing direct from his kitchen. Go [...]

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Market Thaw

March 20, 2011
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The days are getting longer, the temperatures are above freezing, but the arrival of locally-grown green vegetables can’t come fast enough. We don’t have many alternatives here in New England, but even buying from organic farms in Florida feels like cheating. Unfortunately, I’ve learned that out-of-state produce may be our only viable option this season. [...]

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Boston Boiled Dinner for Evacuation Day

March 17, 2011
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There’s a contrarian streak in Bostonians that I find to be alternately endearing and infuriating, depending on whether I am merely observing or the recipient. Today is a day when I honor that stubbornness, taking great pleasure in referring to the observed holiday as Evacuation Day rather than Saint Patrick’s Day. You won’t find a [...]

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Meat Popsicles

February 26, 2011
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I braved the cold for the monthly meat CSA pickup, which was strangely devoid of people. Maybe I showed up at a lull, but this was the first time ever that I was able to walk up and grab my bag with no wait. In fact, the Stillman’s folks saw me getting out of the [...]

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Market Meltdown

February 20, 2011
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I don’t go through winter vegetables as quickly as I do summer fare, so I can usually wait out bad weekend weather before braving the winter farmer’s market. It also helps when the huge piles of snow in the parking lot (I don’t have the luxury of walking two blocks at this time of year) [...]

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The Winter Market

January 22, 2011
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Due to overwhelming demand, Somerville started a winter farmer’s market which takes place in the old armory building. It’s not within walking distance of Chez Belm, but it’s worth the short drive to be able to get fresh produce. Some of the summer vendors were there as well as new purveyors, so I tried to [...]

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