Letter: Coastside Farmer’s Market field notes

It’s midway through the summer and I have yet to get in any hammock time, although I do have a rather wonderful and dilapidated sofa on my front lawn to laze about in of an afternoon, which is as good a place as any to indulge in a summer reading spectacular. 

For my money, there is not a much better way to spend a temperate afternoon than to prop ones feet up, and dive into a new book about some arcane but historically relevant detail while sipping a seasonal Aqua Fresca, wouldn’t you agree?  What? You have yet to discover this simple delight? Well, lucky you.  Seems there are still minor miracles to discover.  Aqua Frescas are quite elegant and easy to prepare, or you can get really complicated should your explorations in the culinary tend to take you a bit further afield -

All you need is an excess of any kind of really ripe summer fruit, some seltzer water, an optional, easy to make, but quite intriguing herb syrup, a nice big goblet and a novel about a gal named Gertrude who drew the map of modern day Iraq. Seriously.  Head for your favorite neighborhood independent bookstore and pick up a copy of something by an author you know nothing about, about a person you have never heard of.  Then throw an old sofa on the lawn, an old t-shirt on your bod, and a sarong if you really feel like letting your freak flag fly, and settle in.

The beautiful Maria grows organic golden raspberries and the sassy Adriana does too. Tina brings gorgeous red and black cane berries for our indulgence, and often I am tempted to pick up a basket of every color and let them glow on the counter. But I found if you toss a few on a cookie sheet and pop them in the freezer, make a batch of ice cubes from a groovy little infusion of lavender and fresh thyme ( or tarragon if you are unleashing your inner francophile) and have one or two really great old-timey water goblets on hand, you can hydrate, boost your immune system, and up your daily dose of fiber and take your cerebral cortex out for a spin all in one swell foop, and look great doing it.

Pick up some mint or tarragon from Eda & Farmer John, a collection of berries from any one of our fine women farmers, a few ripe peaches, and some lavender from Tunitas Creek Ranch. When you get home , put your tea kettle on while you tear up the herbs and put them in a 4 cup measuring cup.  If you are of a mind, you can add about a tablespoon of local honey.  Once the kettle comes to a boil, pour the water over the herbs and stir for about a minute.  Do double duty and get a quick mini-facial by letting some of the steam tickle your cheeks as the water cools . After about 2 minutes, pour the water through a strainer into ice cube trays and put it in the freezer.  Discard the spent herbs.  Place a generous handful of each color berry on a cookie sheet and put that in the freezer too.  Go about your business until Sunday afternoon.

At the appointed hour, pull out a wonderful, big tall goblet. Fill with frozen berries, fresh peach slices and herb-infused ice cubes. Splash a bunch of seltzer water over the top, fill it to the brim, sip and be transported from the hillbilly sofa to the banks of the Euphrates, or the Po, depending on the volume, herb combination and the glassware you selected for the occasion.

Thanks to the good folks at Chez Shea for their support of the Market, and for giving me nothing but good ideas about lunch.  And Thanks to My Pal Zoe Kersteen-Tucker for putting our Markets on the Map - the SamTrans Map, that is. Turns out that simply by responding rapidly to one rather important request from La K-T, SamTrans is publishing a little handout with scheduels, locations and bus routes to every Certified Farmer’s Market in the County. Very, Very, Cool.  Drop me a line if you’d like to see the schedule. Talk about being transported….

See you at the Markets!

Erin Tormey
Coastside Farmers Markets

In Half Moon Bay @ Shoreline Station
Saturdays, 9 am to 1 pm

In Pacifica @ Rockaway Beach
Wednesdays, 2:30 -6:30pm