farmer’s market

The Accidental Locavore on the Road: Fall in Maine

by Anne Maxfield on September 30, 2011

Accidental Locavore Carrots

Hurricane Irene put an early (way too early) end to the Accidental Locavore’s farm boxes. Heavily supplied with winter squash and missing the last of the tomatoes, Paul and I decided to put an end to the boxes. I may be the only person disappointed by the lack of Brussels sprouts, but they too, met an early and watery end. If anyone has great ideas for crook-neck, butternut or any other winter squashes, let me know, I’ve got quite the collection (or will swap for some heirloom tomatoes).

So I was happy to find the Rockland, Maine farmers’ market loaded with a diverse selection of beautiful produce. As much as I don’t like beets, you had to stop and admire bunches of multicolored beets next to similarly colored carrots. There were still tomatoes, corn, some bokchoy, cauliflower and that veg from another planet, romansco.

My father made a beeline to the pork lady and we both bought “serious” ham-hocks. He’ll use his to make choucroute garni with local sauerkraut, while the Locavore will probably go for some split pea soup or to flavor a cassoulet (except that d’Artagnan makes such a good kit).

Accidental Locavore ChevreFurther along the market was the Appleton Creamery. They make some great goat cheeses and even though the Locavore thought she would never eat again after some of the best eggs Benedict at Home Kitchen Café, I rallied enough to taste some of their delicious chevre. Amazing that you can always find room for cheese, isn’t it? I bought some of their award-winning feta, a wheel of chevre rolled in herbs and Kaitlin gave me the last half of a terrific goat cheese rolled in lime-pepper. That made me wonder what rolling a disc of chevre in Montreal Steak Seasoning would be like. A project for another day.

{ 1 comment }

The Accidental Locavore’s Guide to Eating Local and Fresh in Maine

by Anne Maxfield on August 5, 2011

Accidental Locavore Maine Coast

So when the Accidental Locavore isn’t hanging at the bar at Cafe Miranda, what else is she eating that’s local and fresh on the coast of Maine? If you happen to be heading up to the Maine Lobster Festival this weekend, here are some food ideas to get you away from the crowds.

How about water buffalo burgers sourced from the farmers’ market in Camden  stuffed with cheese from Hahn’s End, one of the artisanal cheesemakers there too? Delicious and a healthy alternative…well, except for the cheese…to a beef burger. Grab a piece of their “Petit Poulet,” an ash-rubbed semi-soft cheese to nibble on. If you go to the market on a Saturday, Uproot Pie Company is there with a portable wood-burning pizza oven turning out great looking pies. Wouldn’t that be great (and mobbed) at the Greenmarkets in New York?Accidental Locavore Camden Farmers Market

Another favorite place is your typical lobster joint, Waterman’s Beach. The Locavore thinks it’s pretty safe to say that most fish places on remote beaches have amazing food, world-wide. Waterman’s was actually the recipient of a James Beard Award, but that hasn’t gone to their heads. Lorri and Sandy and their crew serve great lobsters, crabmeat rolls, clams and a lobster roll that the Daily Meal rated one of the best in Maine. Me, I like my lobster straight-up with melted butter and possibly a second “twin” lobster to keep it company. Or if it’s lunchtime, their crabmeat rolls are great. What’s cool at Waterman’s is that you can bring your own wine and when the bottle is empty, add it to the eclectic collection lining the railing. Last summer we spotted an empty bottle of La Tache, supposedly a gift to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and now in my mother’s collection (to disguise the two-buck-Chuck?).Accidental Locavore Lobster Roll

Since Manhattan, for all its good qualities, still hasn’t learned to appreciate a decent fried clam, the Locavore waits all year to hit Maine for real fried clams (the difference? Whole clams vs. strips). This year we found good ones at a friend’s restaurant, the Slipway in Thomaston and really good ones at the Happy Clam, a German restaurant in Tenant’s Harbor.

And the last of the local food? Besides a quart of Maine blueberries on the trip home, what’s become a must-stop for my husband is Morse’s. Maine is full of great places for food in the most unimaginable locations and Morse’s, ten miles off the highway, is really in the middle of nowhere. Their specialties are their own sauerkraut, beet slaw and pickles. There’s a restaurant serving Middle-European breakfast and lunch and the store has charcuterie from all over the world.

So, well-stocked and well-fed, we hit the road, vowing once again never to eat again…

{ 1 comment }

The Accidental Locavore’s Farm Box and a Recipe for Sugar Snap Peas

by Anne Maxfield on June 17, 2011

Accidental Locavore Farm Box Week 2

This week the Accidental Locavore’s farm box definitely looked like things are getting ripe on the farm. The big surprise was a box of beautiful strawberries, as lovely and flavorful as the ones we got in Nice. If you missed my Facebook page, they were so good with cherries on top of homemade yogurt! Accidental Locavore Yogurt with Berries

There were what may be the last of the asparagus, big purple ones (because Farmer Paul knows when it comes to asparagus, I’m a size queen) and some skinny green ones he threw in since we were chatting and catching up while banding asparagus and getting them ready for the market. The next morning, I tossed a spear in the microwave for a minute, then sliced it thinly on the diagonal and added them to my scrambled eggs for another great breakfast.

Two kinds of lettuce, a bunch of arugula and I’m set for lunch for the week.

And finally, a big batch of sugar snap peas to sauté in olive oil or butter and top with my favorite herbs. Here’s the recipe:

Sugar Snap Peas With Your Favorite Herbs

Accidental Locavore Sugar Snap PeasSugar snap peas are pretty amenable to being paired with a variety of fresh herbs. Here’s a basic recipe for them that’s quick and easy. Feel free to use your favorite herbs and citrus. A shallot thinly sliced and sautéed with the peas would work well too. Experiment and see what you like the best. Here are some suggestions: mint with lemon, lime or orange, cilantro with lime, thyme or tarragon with lemon, lemon verbena with lemon, basil with orange or lime.  Serves 4.

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound sugar snap peas (Snap off the stem ends of the snap peas and pull the string down the length)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 tablespoon fresh mint (chopped)

Heat a medium sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil. When the oil is warm, add the peas and sauté until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Add the lime juice and sauté, stirring until the lime juice is almost evaporated. Remove from the heat and season to taste with salt & pepper and stir in the mint. Serve and enjoy!

What’s your favorite herb/citrus combination?

If you want to experience Paul Wigsten’s amazing produce for yourself, catch him and his family at the Millbrook NY farmers’ market on Saturdays from 9-1. You don’t really need a black Range Rover and matching Lab, but it couldn’t hurt…

{ 2 comments }

Accidental Locavore’s 3 Reasons to Buy From a Farmers’ Market or a CSA

by Anne Maxfield on June 6, 2011

Accidental Locavore Farm Box 1

The Accidental Locavore is a strong proponent of buying as much as you can from farmers’ markets, joining a CSA (Community Sponsored Agriculture) or food co-op. After all, that’s how I became the Accidental Locavore and learned to love the surprise that comes with every delicious box. But what’s in it for you?

1. You get to know where your food comes from. By getting to know farmers and other local purveyors you certainly make a connection to the source of your food, but there are other benefits. When you know your farmer, things can be saved for you, so if you’re not a morning person (like the Locavore) they’ll put stuff aside for you, let you know what’s coming, what’s good that week and what may be at the end of its run.

2. You establish a link that goes far back in time, to our caveman ancestors, that has been eroded by our pre-packaged, fast-food society. Humans have always gathered together for food; it’s a primal need to connect around a meal. Whether it’s groups going out hunting and gathering, or sitting around dinner tables, food has been our major connection with each other. When you connect with farmers you reestablish that bond.

Accidental Locavore Turnip Greens3. Great ingredients allow you to make great food easily. When you start with lovely fresh ingredients you don’t have to do a lot to make them sing. With your connection to farmers comes a wealth of knowledge about how to cook their stuff in new and interesting ways. Even when it’s been weeks of zucchini, farmers will have yet another idea on how to prepare them.

That being said, the Accidental Locavore is excited to start another season with Farmer Paul and the amazing weekly farm box. This week was very green, with asparagus both green and purple, a bunch of spinach (that made my husband surprisingly happy), scallions, chives, mesclun and turnip greens. Think the turnip greens will get braised in chicken stock with maybe some bacon or some local andouille tossed in. The asparagus will go on the grill with some curry lamb sausage. Not sure yet about the spinach and scallions. Tune in Friday for recipes, and comment if you have a great idea for the turnip greens.

{ 4 comments }

What’s Local and Fresh in the South of France?

May 2, 2011
Thumbnail image for What’s Local and Fresh in the South of France?

For the past two weeks the Accidental Locavore has been hanging out in the South of France. I’ve been exploring the farmer’s markets in Nice and the surrounding areas, discovering what’s local and fresh in a new locale. Since one of my long term goals is to buy a house over there, this was a [...]

Read the full article →

No New Year’s Resolutions, but Three (Green) Goals for 2011

December 27, 2010
Thumbnail image for No New Year’s Resolutions, but Three (Green) Goals for 2011

For 2011 here are three goals the Accidental Locavore is setting, no resolutions, just goals . They’re not big, just some small steps in the right direction. How about you? 1.    Support local business. Whether it’s a local grower, farmer, purveyor, or the small very specialized business down the street, local is better. And get [...]

Read the full article →