Letter: Coastside Farmer’s Market Field Notes

Erin Tormey is the director of Coastside Farmers’ Market

I am telling you what, Marketeers,

Strange combinations of folks and factors running hot and cold are no surprise to anyone who lives on the Coastside.  Given my personal history, I have developed a high degree of comfort with bizarre combinations, still, it was a wacky thing to wake up last Wednesday to blowing fog and chilly winds, only to enjoy a sunny afternoon at the Rockaway Beach Market, followed by 4 days of blazing heat and SPF 80 conditions, then just enough time to get your collection of woolens out of the dry cleaner to prepare for summer.

What? No summer woolens you say?  You must be new to the neighborhood, so welcome! And don’t worry, at the Coastside Farmers Market we are here for you! You can get beautiful hand carded, spun wool yarn AND tasty organic coastal strawberries from Green Oaks Creek and enjoy a classic only-on-the-Coast combination of delights! Talk about a great way to get your fiber, and wear it too!

Or, if you are just getting comfy with creative combinations, here’s a combo that’s easy, pretty and not too terribly risky:  try some of Spring Hill Jersey’s Lemon Quark with Triple Delight’s first of the season blueberries on a toasted piece of Baguette from Bay Bread Company in Half Moon Bay or Brioche in Pacifica.  Lovely.  The Vanilla Bean Quark with Swanton’s Berries on one of Octoberfeast’s croissants is a revelation too, and not something you’ll find on any brunch buffet I am aware of outside the Coastal comfort zone.

On the other hand, if you’re the sort who likes the idea of jumping out of a jacuzzi and into a snowbank, and has a similar attitude toward cookery, I discovered that strawberries and cherries and chipotle chiles in infused in balsamic vinegar have a similarly delightful if disconcerting sensory effect on one’s system, thanks to Debbie of Big Paw.  Splash some over a bowl of Bussalacci’s peak of season cherries, some chopped spring onions and a hearty cracking of Steven’s bourbon soaked black pepper.  Let that sit for a bit while you steam some of Eda’s or Maria’s beautiful beets.  Peel them warm, cut them in quarters, toss them in the marinade, crumble some of Harley Farms ricotta over the whole thing, then pour it over a plate of mixed coastal greens and thinly sliced fennel.  Dang pretty, dang tasty and dang unusual.

Not quite as weird as a day where is hotter in San Francisco than it is in Livermore, but close.

Speaking of a sensory swing, try this on:  Wednesday Claire Diament-Turner entertains the throngs with French torch songs, then on Saturday The Zoo Human Project delights the Half Moon Bay contingent with their particular youthful enthusiasm and world-grass accousto-indie flair.  Some nice ukulele is coming your way, thanks to my pal Patrick at Absolute Flooring, who is the sponsor of this season’s musicians.  I keep thinking maybe one day he’ll show up with a nice tasteful bamboo dance floor for the Marketeers to get their groove-on on, and maybe one day he’ll surprise me. Gives me the chills just thinking about it.

One last thing, while we are on the subject of combinations you would not commonly encounter in these parts:  I am betting that O’Odam ( a language of indigenous Americans of the Southwest) has never been uttered in the Oddfellows Hall. 

If you want to see (or hear) that change, then Mark your calendars for 7:30pm,  Friday May 30th, when the Coastside Farmers Market is sponsoring a benefit concert for The HEAL Project featuring the Santa Cruz River Band in the hallowed halls of the Oddfellows Building, one of the oldest original buildings on the Coast.  Coming to you live and fresh from sunny Arizona*, these fella’s play over 20 instruments between the three of them, and perform everything from Dylan tunes on a vihuela to turn-of-the-century Guapangos with a penny whistle.  Toss in a lament to and old hat, a lullaby in Welsh and a love song to a giant piece of black stone that is sung in part O’Odam, and well, there’s an experience to remember.

Your local Farmer’s Market has been an active partner since the inception of The HEAL Project, and most of the Coastal Farmers in your Market have been guest teachers in the HEAL Classroom, including Dee Harley, Farmer John, John Giusti Aaron from Tunitas Creek Ranch and yours truly.  We all want to see this home-grown award winning Agriculture- AS- the-Classroom program thrive, and we have a few challenges to that end.  Ask me about it any time. I’ll talk your ear off.

Meanwhile, I look forward to seeing you at the Market!

Erin Tormey

Coastside Farmers Markets

In Half Moon Bay @ Shoreline Station

Saturdays, 9 am to 1 pm

Opening day: May 3, 2008

In Pacifica @ Rockaway Beach

Wednesdays, 2:30 -6:30pm

Opening Day: May 7, 2008