Archived Article By Tom Fitzmorris
Originally published June 11, 2008
Hooked Up With Cork & Bottle
Mid-City Farmer's Market Returns
Before the hurricane, the farmer's markets around town were becoming a major resource in the culinary community. Four of them were in Orleans Parish alone, run by the groundbreaking Market Umbrella group nurtured at Loyola University. Others started up in Gretna, Covington, and Mandeville.
Farmers, fishermen, and artisan food producers were showing up with amazing local produce. Chefs showed up too--not only to buy goods for their restaurants, but to perform cooking demos and even (at the Uptown Square market) to cook and serve a "green plate special" every week.
The storm decimated the markets. Only two of the Orleans markets returned, and then only after many months. They're going strong, as are the ones on the West Bank and North Shore.
And now, fired by the enthusiasm of Jon Smith, the Mid-City market is now back on Thursday afternoons. It's at the American Can Apartment Building on Orleans Avenue at Bayou St. John, from three until seven. That's where Smith has his quirky and wonderful wine store, Cork & Bottle. With assistance from Market Umbrella and the apartment building owners, he restored the Thursday event, now called the Mid-City Green Market.
As he's done with his store, the Mid-City market is innovative. This week (today), he has a chef by the name of gary Granata coming in from Alabama to do some advanced healthy dishes, demonstrating and serving them. One is called "bubbaghanoush," a Southern take on the Middle Eastern eggplant dish, I guess. The other is made with farro--the primitive wheat-like grain still raised and eaten in Italy and by curious eaters here. It's tossed with roasted squashes and other vegetables, and sounds good.
Here are some of the vendors who will be at the market today:
- Taylor's Happy Oaks Farms. Farm direct vegetables, greens, tomatoes, eggs and other produce.
- Mauthe's Fine Dairy. If it comes out of a cow, Mr. Mauthe has it.
- Pete & Clara's Seafood. Shrimp, drum, stuffed crabs and other Louisiana seafood.
- Azul Dulce Farms. Farm grown blueberries in Franklinton.
- Voo-Dough Bakers. Fresh baked breads and cookies.
- Mizell Farms. Flowering plants, herbs, other garden goodies.
- Sweets by Lana. Homemade candies and pralines and treats for your puppy.
- Georgie's Shortbread.Handmade shortbread cookies and lemon curd.
- New Orleans Organic. Organically grown wheatgrass and sprouts.
- Durham Produce Peaches. For 28 years, peaches, plums and nectarines and other produce from Jemison, Alabama.
- Kathia's Cheeses. A longtime standard in Farmer's Markets around the area, with fresh, handmade cheese.
- Cynthia Portera. Baking specialty goods and dressings.
- Freshly Squeezed Organic Juices.
- Bean Coffee Company. Freshly roasted, organic, fair-trade coffee.
market@midcitygreenmarket.org
© 2008 Tom Fitzmorris. All rights reserved. news@nomenu.com