September 11, 2009
Dear Tailgate Market Fans,
Last week I had the pleasure of working with The Dirty Hoe, Landscaping & Gardening. The owners, Donna Price and Heidi Zednik, are serious tailgate fans. So is the rest of the crew and they all love to talk about food. At lunch we discussed which goat cheese flavors are our favorites, and the merits of various dairies…the fact that Luther’s corn couldn’t have been sprayed, because there were worms in the top…how early you had to get there to find lettuce…who you had seen…organic certification rules and organic vs. local issues. Just the tip of the iceberg. 
Dana shared some of her yellow watermelon ~ a volunteer from her compost pile. Rachel told us about dogs attacking her chicken tractor. Donna and Heidi shared their dark chocolate.
On Wednesday, Donna left the job temporarily to go to the Wednesday Market, “I’ve got to go; we missed Saturday! That’s church to me.” Meanwhile Rachel and I jumped in where Donna left off ~ removing a patch of tenacious giant bamboo-like grass from a clients yard. A spade would barely break the surface and soon a mattock was involved. In the midst of the huffing and puffing Rachel teased, “Just – whatever you do – don’t think about Donna at the Market!”
Yesterday, at suppertime, Julie Claire (my daughter) got really excited when she took a bite of bread. “It’s my very favorite!” With one bite she identified the bread as Wake Robin Farm’s Black Pepper Bread. That night vegetables from our garden made a sauce for the spinach pasta from the tailgate market. We tried Carol’s Lions Mane mushrooms for the first time. They were not in the pasta sauce, but on the side. Carol said mixing them in would bury their delicate flavor. Lion’s Manes are whitish with a fringe-like look. Julie generally is not fond of mushrooms, and sometimes picks them out of her food. Sautéed in butter until golden brown; her reaction to these mushrooms was “They taste like candy!” They weren’t sweet; they were just delicious and she ate every bit.
Did I mention I could barely find a parking space last Saturday at the market? Love that enthusiasm. Here are a couple of upcoming events that celebrate fall & support our local farmers:
Hickory Hut Gap Farm in Fairview is having a Harvest Festival this Sunday, the 13th starting at 9 a.m. and going into the evening. Corn Maze, Pony Rides, Face Painting, Dinner Plates, Clogging, Music, and more. www.hickorynutgapfarm.com.
True Nature Country Fair (Sept. 26 & 27, Sat. and Sun.), located in Barnardsville this year, will host an all-local Harvest Dinner at 6 p.m. on Saturday and an Old-Time Fiddle Contest at noon on Saturday – in addition to
September Bounty
the other festivities and over 70 classes. The gourmet dinner will feature foods fresh from local farms. Meat-eaters and vegans will love the menu…Candy-Roaster Soup with (optional) Goat Cheese, Kale Ceviche, Grass-fed Beef Brisket braised with Ginger, Roasted Root Vegetables, Grilled Tempeh with Carmelized Onions & Roasted Garlic, Cornbread with Ramp Butter, and a dessert of Wine-Poached Pears topped with Chocolate Ganache & Cinnamon Whipped Cream. Yum! Seating is limited, so reservations are recommended. www.organicgrowersschool.com.
Isn’t food the best!
Tailgate Market Fan Club 