SARDINE ON A STICK
No, it's not the latest Fair food. Fresh grilled sardines are the signature appetizer at Sea Rocket Bistro. Enjoy the fish with local lima bean salad this weekend, or try a just-caught sea urchin. We think Sea Rocket will make a splash at the Mercato!

MERCATO MEAT-UP
Rey Knight will join the Mercato this weekend with his amazing charcuterie. Hard salami, sausage, and breseola are just a few of Knight Salumi's offerings. Perfect as a starter, or add some smoked goat cheese from Springhill Farms, a seeded baguette from Bread and Cie and call it a meal! Don't forget to stop by Da-Le Ranch's booth. Their lamb sausage isn't baaad but their farm fresh bacon and pork chops are sow good we can't stand it.

FRESH. FROZEN.
Mercato shoppers will be the first ones ever to get a taste of organic Viva Pops gourmet popsicles this weekend. Well, we've tasted them, and we can assure you they're amazing. Lisa uses our own Lone Oak Ranch for the fruit in the Nectarine Basil and Tart Plum pops. Other local farmers supply the ingredients for the Lemonade Lavender and Yellow Watermelon popsicles. You'll want to try every flavor!

EGGPLANT SCAGLIONE
Regular Mercato shopper Joe Scaglione shared this recipe using all Mercato ingredients.

Thick slice purple, red and white eggplant from Sage Mountain or Schaner Farms. Marinate in Italian olive oil from Italianissimo, with pepper and roasted sea salt from DiSegno Plus.

Meanwhile, sauté a chopped onion and 3-4 cloves of garlic from Santiago Soto, a large chopped tomato from Kawano Farms, and chopped sweet basil from Mission Hills Nursery. Grill eggplant in a vegetable basket for 2 minutes per side. Top with sautéed vegetables and a generous portion of grated parmesan from Lisko Imports. Buon Appetito!

Shop the Little Italy Mercato every Saturday from 9 am to 1:30 pm, year-round. Shop Date Street from Kettner to Union

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What's Your Recipe?
Our shoppers and vendors love to share recipes that use Mercato ingredients. Share your culinary creation, and be sure to tell us which stands have your favorite ingredients, and you may be included in our upcoming cookbook. Email mercato@littleitalysd.com

REACH MERCATO SHOPPERS
Mercato shoppers eat all week long! Advertise your restaurant or lifestyle items in the Mercato Monitor, the newspaper that covers the pulse of the Little Italy Mercato. Email mercato@littleitalysd.com or call 619.233.3769 now!

MERCATO TALK
What are the savviest local food bloggers saying about the Mercato?