The Lawrence Farmers' Market

I hardly ever get to go to the Farmers' Market because I work on Saturdays, so when I get the chance it's quite the treat! Chris and I went a couple of weeks ago to pass out flyers for the Lawrence Food Garden Tour which is this coming weekend and we are on it! (Shameless plug.) These are a few of my friends that have booths at the market:

Blackbird Bakery. Alison works with me at The Merc and makes delicious baked goods. This particular day I had a Moroccan asparagus pie thingie. Yum.

My dear friend, Audrey, and her son Lichen run Blessed Thistle Farm. And she sells tinctures at The Merc!

Dan and Cole Cottin of MAD Farm. Cole used to work at The Merc in the produce department and this is their first summer as full time farmers. I think their booth is extra fabulous!

Mural by Dave Loewenstein.

Jozie from Earth Flowers. They also sell flowers to The Merc.

Kevin Irick and his hot house tomatoes. He also sells at The Merc!

Lots and lots of Merc connections! We have a really big emphasis on buying local and the Farmers' Market really makes it apparent to me. Just walking through the market I have relationships with many of the farmers and growers or I at least recognize them from their weekly drop-offs of product. It's such a great feeling to be a part of the local food movement!

Foodie Club!

Five of my friends and I started a "foodie club" because we LOVE GOOD FOOD! We're planning on getting together once a month, at a designated person's house, for a dinner party. That person prepares the main dinner and everyone else is assigned another part of the dinner, whether it be hors d'oeuvres, drinks or dessert. I held the first dinner party. I gave Josh the assignment of buying a bottle of Domaine de Canton Ginger Liquer and coming up with fun pre-dinner drinks. He made an incredible assortment of drinks with vanilla vodka, grapefruit sparkling water, pears and mango lemonade. For the first course, I made Pecan Crusted Scallops with a Chimichurri sauce, which was quite delicious. For the main course I made Mussels in a White Wine Pesto Sauce, Garlic French Fries and Sauteed Spinach with Basil Leaves. I made this meal a few months ago for some friends and it was so fabulous that I had to make it again. Louis (of Blackbird Bakery) brought a tasty Lemon Custard Tart for dessert. It was one fantastic evening! I'm really looking forward to the next one on Thursday and I hope that we continue to have these dinner parties!