Sharp knives and squash blossoms!
It’s the sharpest time of the month! That’s right, Matt from Ready, Set, Sharp! will be back at Irvington, so bring your dull blades and let him 'magic" them back to smooth-cutting perfection.
Last week at the market, the beautiful squash blossoms under the Halal Pastures tent caught my eye. These are a special seasonal treat — the kind of thing you just don’t find at the grocery store! They’re wonderful tucked into quesadillas, or gently sautéed with some La Trafila pasta, after softening some Madura onions and garlic in Agape Premium olive oil. Some people like to remove the fuzzy pistil or stamen first to avoid their slightly bitter taste, but I must confess I don’t usually bother. But my favourite way to eat them might be the most decadent of all: stuffed and fried, like these crispy squash blossoms with goat cheese, honey and thyme, featuring some tangy chèvre from Sugar Shack Creamery.
And speaking of creamy deliciousness, have you all tried the new gourmet cream cheese dip and spread from Doc Pickle? With chives, dill, pickles (of course), and everything bagel seasoning, it is an absolute treat! Shim was giving out samples last week, and I have to say, I’m regretting not buying a tub!
There’s all sorts of delectable dips at the market this weekend, from the smoked bluefish pâté at Pure VidaFishery, to the homemade chimichurri at Villa Emilia Empanadas, and, of course, Jenny’s hummus. That’s right, AYA Hummus will be back, so be sure to stock up on your favourites, like her delicious Ayurvedic variety made with sweet potatoes and vegan kale pesto. And don’t forget to take a peep at the specials she may have been blending up for us! I always love the creativity on display under her tent — whether that’s finding an all-natural way to make an orange and blue hummus (Go Knicks), or collaborating with other vendors, like her gorgeous ramp hummus made with Tivoli Mushrooms ramps that appeared at the market a few weeks back. Keeping it in the family!
And after all those dips, it’s time to head in a sweeter direction: summer fruit is really starting to shine at the market, with berries showing up in all their glory. Last week, raspberries and blueberries made theirfirst appearance at Caradonna and Mead Orchard, and organic strawberries at Titusville Farm. (I also got to commiserate with Titusville's farm manager, Max, about how arduous strawberry picking is, and the love and dedication it takes to garden organically. Grrr those squirrels in my yard...)
Whatever berries you find at the market — and let’s be honest, they go fast — they’ll be perfect in this Zoe Bakes summer berry cobbler with shortcake. Its red, white, and blue look is perfect with July 4th right around the corner! The river towns are, of course, marking the 250th anniversary of the United States of America with a festive maritime celebration. Check out information on Westchester’s Sail 4th 250 here.
If you’re looking for an easy, flavourful dinner, oven-roasted chicken shawarma is such a great choice, and this is the perfect market to set you up to do just that. We’ve got R&M or Letterbox ready to supply you with the freshest of chicken, and our beloved Zeena Bakery back with her incredible spice blends. You can build all that warm, fragrant shawarma flavour right in your oven — no grill or rotisserie needed. Serve it with rice and a market cucumber-tomato salad, or pile it into a bowl with some greens and sauce made with White Moustache yogurt.
Did you get a chance to try a Pretzel Boy jumbo sourdough pretzel (made with local flour) when they were here two weeks ago? Lucky us, they are back this weekend — please keep giving them a warm Irvington welcome!
We’ve got a plan to dazzle all your senses this weekend, not just your tastebuds! Come hear the jazz stylings of Grace Radonis as she graces us with her presence (sorry), feast your eyes on the stunning work of artisan Cari-Anne at CAF Pottery, and delight your nose with the heady scents of Copper Faucet’s soaps and candles. It’s going to be a wonderful day at the market, and we’ll be there for you, as we always are, rain or shine! Come say hi.
