SUPER SPROUTS
We've been looking for a great sprout farmer since before the Mercato
opened and all our wishes came true when we met Lucila from Suzie's
Farm. A dedicated Mercato shopper, she finally took the plunge and
opened her own stand here at the market and it's full of amazing microgreens,
edible flowers and an assortment of wonderful sprouts (oh and some
great veggies, too). Along with the familiar alfalfa sprouts, try Fenugreek,
spicy Radish Sprouts, Daikon Greens and Broccoli Sprouts. Your salads,
sandwiches and stir fry dishes will never be the same.
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 GRILL WE MEET AGAIN
We hear it's cooling down this weekend, but we're not planning any soups or stews yet. The last holiday weekend of summer means firing up the grill, right? Da Le Ranch will have fresh grass-fed lamb chops, ribs and legs and grass-fed Black Angus steaks and short ribs on hand Saturday. Poppa's Fresh Fish is bringing whole Sculpin fish (with the poisonous spikes removed for your convenience) and World Famous will have salmon filets ready to throw on the fire. Want to upscale a bit? Add a cinnamon plum glaze to those lamb chops! (See below.)
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WHAT A BEAUT!
Our new favorite fruit at the market is the cool green Emerald Beaut plum. These
sweet, juicy babies with bright yellow flesh inside still have just enough firm
crunch to make them perfect for eating out of hand. With their late season, these
will only be around for a month or so. Stop by Lone Oak Ranch near India Street
and pick yours up this weekend. Buy a few extras and make this amazing glaze
for your grilled lamb chops:
Peel,
pit and chop 6 Emerald Beaut plums. Place
in a saucepan with 4 cloves crushed garlic,
1 teaspoon each ground
ginger, cinnamon and cardamom from
Just Spice, 2 teaspoons Balsamic
Vinegar from Italianissimo, 1/2 cup orange
juice from Polito Family Farms, a pinch of your favorite salt,
and enough
water just to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce
heat and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes or until sauce is reduced.
Use to coat grilled meat in last 5 to 10 minutes on grill and
serve the extra on the side.
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WE SEE SEA SALT
Whether you're finishing your favorite meat or turning popcorn from
a kids' snack into a sophisticated cocktail nibble, choose from Italian
Black Truffle Salt or salts from the Sea of Cortez at She Sells Sea
Salts, or select a woven nipa palm basket of eco-friendly Philippine
Fleur de Sel - a favorite of chefs like Charlie Trotter and Thomas
Keller- from xroads Philippine Sea Salts, new to the Mercato. You'll
never use ordinary table salt again.
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 BATTER
UP!
Grab
a Panini and an icy glass of tea from Thirsteas, or a veggie wrap
and a lemonade from Polito Farms; don't forget a lemon bar from
Montana's or a brownie from Bread & Cie. Now pick a comfy piece
of curb on Columbia or State Street and take in the classic technique
of champion stickball players from New York, New Jersey, Florida,
Puerto Rico and San Diego as Little Italy once again hosts the regional
championships starting Saturday morning. Oh, and watch for foul
balls while you're shopping. These guys can really hit!
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Photos
by Ramona d'Viola, April Gillette, Tim Stahl, and Mark Burchard. |
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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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KEEPING
IT COOL
Our wonderful insulated, zipper-top Mercato shopping bags to keep your produce, eggs, fish and cheese cold while you shop and on the way home are available every weekend at the Mercato for just $10 at the Information Booth.
MONITOR LITTLE ITALY
For a map of most current vendors, pick up a copy of the Summer issue of the Mercato Monitor, your source for Little Italy farmers' market and neighborhood news. Want to promote your business in the Monitor? Contact us now for information regarding advertising in our big Festa issue. Call 619.233.3769.
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YOUR LOGO HERE
Wouldn't
your logo look great on one of our beautiful Mercato Banners? That's
just one of the ways that local businesses like Burger
Lounge and Numero
Water Boutique support
the Little Italy farmers' market. Interested in sponsoring a banner,
sidewalk signs or our soon-to-debut demo kitchen? Contact mercato@littleitalysd.com or
call 619.233.3769. |
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