PLENTY OF TREATS
After Trick or Treat on India Street Friday night, you may be craving some healthier treats. Morroccan Date Ranch will tempt you with Nature's Candy, and Polito Farms has sweet oranges ripe and ready. Had enough sweets to last a while? Treat your body to a raw food lunch at Peace Pies' booth and a Green Fix smoothie next door. Eat a peach or a pluot. Take home fresh asparagus to steam and serve with a squirt of lemon juice, or make an Asparagus Strata. You'll forget those Snickers bars in no time.

STRATA YOUR STUFF
Easy and impressive for breakfast or dinner, all Strata starts with bread, milk and eggs; then the possibilities are endless. This is a favorite of ours.
Asparagus Strata Cut 1 bunch asparagus from Suncoast Farms in one-inch pieces, and steam until tender. Chop one onion, 1 red bell pepper and 2 cloves garlic from Mercato farm stands and sauté with asparagus in olive oil. Toss with one small loaf French bread, cubed, from Belen Bakery or Bread & Cie, 2 cups shredded pepper-jack cheese from Springhill Farms, and 3-4 stalks chopped fresh tarragon from Schaner Farms. (For heartier dish, add 1 cup cubed ham.) Spoon into greased baking dish. Beat 12 fresh eggs and ½ cup milk or half and half, 1 tsp salt, and ½ tsp pepper. Pour over bread and vegetable mixture. Let stand for 10 minutes. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees until knife inserted in center comes out clean.  Serve and strut!

LAST WEEK TO VOTE
Burnin' Barack Obama Salsa for a Change was the winner in last week's sale on Burning Sensations Hot Debate Salsas at the Mercato. Whether you prefer the Obama recipe, or Kickin' John McCain Maverick Style Salsa, you're sure to get heat. This is the last week to get these salsas. Look for victory (or not) versions after November 4.

TASTE LITTLE ITALY NOV 5
Taste the flavors of Fall at the Taste of Little Italy next week!  More than 23 restaurants serve samples of their specialties at this event. Stroll through the neighborhood and discover the rich palette of dining possibilities in Little Italy while enjoying live music on India Street.  Tickets are limited so call 619.615.1092 to reserve or buy them at the Mercato!    www.tasteoflittleitalysd.com

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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Click here to get a weekly e-mail update from the Little Italy Mercato.

DANCE TO THE MUSIC
Luis Max and his new flamenco band will get shoppers moving to the music at Date and India. At the top of the market, Delaney Campbell entertains at Date and State. Know any Italian buskers? Musicians interested in playing at the Mercato can contact mercato@littleitalysd.com for more info.

MERCATO TALK
Sign On Radio featured the Mercato in the second half of their Gourmet Club radio program on October 1st. Click here to listen!

Check out Mercato coverage on October 16th post at Taste of Wine TV.

JustMyTicket.com is letting their subscribers in on Mercato happenings too.

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!