Happy Indigenous People’s Day!
Ready for another beautiful Sunday at the farmer’s market? This week we welcome back fan favorites Zeena Bakery, Iberian Delights, Mama Hu’s Sushi Bakes, and Boogie Down Bronx Honey! Not to mention Del Norte Empanadas, Bitchin’ Babkas, Pretzel Boy, and Nicky’s Made with Love Granola!
Yes, we love our rotating vendors, and we keep things fresh by adding new ones, too. We love it when we find a new vendor that can fill a real market void. Such is the case for Lily, owner of Widow’s Peak Kitchen, in Katonah, who makes the most delectably rustic seasonal galettes.
Her plum frangipane galette is already legendary at the Hastings Farmers Market where she's only visited twice. She also makes ginger cookies and hand pies, too.
Ginger has been on my mind lately. I just attended a rhisome plant swap and learned that back in 14th-century England, a pound of ginger cost as much as a sheep! Fortunately, you can find some at Madura Farms for much less than that. And with cool weather coming in, ginger’s anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant boosts couldn’t be more welcome.
Use your precious ginger to make these Thai-inspired chicken meatballs! A comforting, warm one-pot meal for the week, and a great way to use up a market haul, with ground chicken from R&M, spinach from Halal Pastures, Titusville garlic, and bone broth from Letterbox or Farm Eats.
There’s also this spicy carrot ginger soup. Serve with a thick slice of Bien Cuit's pain de campagne (country bread)—its thick crust and balanced, slow-fermentation acidity make it the perfect table bread, especially when served with Maplebrook Creamery's meadow butter.
Or, grab some ready-made ramen broth from Letterbox to make this ramen with fall vegetables.
Back to filling "market voids." You'll be happy to know that Jenny, of AYA Hummus, is now offering several types of seasonal pestos. I can't wait to try her arugula pesto this week on some La Trafila pasta, or stirred into my morning egg scramble.
And for you market shoppers who love to bake, this is the perfect time to try this poached pear ginger cake from Zoe Bakes.
Indigenous People’s Day is a time to honor the Wecquaesgeek people, the original stewards of the land along the eastern shore of the Hudson where our market now sits. One way we can carry that forward is through the farmers who grow our food — people who work the land with care and respect for the soil, the water, and the generations that will follow us. Supporting them is a small way of honoring that legacy.
There are also many local events to learn about and celebrate the local indigenous people.
The nearby Bronx Park is hosting an Indigenous People’s Day Celebration on Saturday, with free kayaking and canoeing, as well as Northeast Indigenous Dances, and an Indigenous Art exhibition and workshop. Or head to Mt. Kisco on Monday to learn about the magic of the Three Sisters Garden at The Farm at Cabbage Hill.
Fresh corn may be just out of season but learning about it never goes out of style! Nor does LeRoux Trading Co’s Wild Hive polenta, which you could use to make these James Beard corn cakes. Top with some Pura Vida trout, or Halal Pastures squash, to highlight the bounty of the season and use authentic indigenous ingredients.
Kinwich Food Truck will also join us, and you can look forward to the jazz stylings of Mr. Jon Cobert in the music tent. If you're not going away this three-day weekend, please come spend the morning with us!
