|
It’s a wonderful time of year for us at the market, because
growing season is just around the corner.
Our stallholders sell produce direct to you from their farms, orchards
and small businesses, so peak growing seasons mean peak range and
volume at the market.
This all adds up to spectacular spring shopping.
Soon, we’ll be debuting summer fruits and vegetables –
including ever-popular berries (put them to use in our Recipe of
the Month – a dish that sounds simple but tastes absolutely
stunning).
Right now we’ve got plenty of produce to make your first spring
salads truly memorable; from fresh greens to nuts and specialty
cheeses. Scrub down the barbecue and open the season in style with
quality beef, pork or organic lamb from the market – trust
us, you won’t taste better.
Remember, too, that now’s the time to pay attention to your
garden. Hamlin Nurseries and gardening legends Eion and Ann Scarrow
have a variety of well-priced plants available at the market to
get you inspired. Put that prize-winning pumpkin in soon, too, now
that the danger of frost is almost over. Enjoy!
IN SEASON
This month at the Clevedon Village Farmers’ Market you’ll
find: strawberries; oranges; cherimoya; tangelos; courgettes; salad
greens; fresh herbs; beetroot; broccoli; cauliflower; lemons; watercress;
collard greens; turnips; leeks; radishes; carrots; spinach; kale;
telegraph cucumbers and bok choy. Please see overleaf for a full
list of stallholders and their produce.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE (BUT NOT THROUGH TRANSPOWER)
Most of you will be aware of Transpower’s plan to plant a chain
of gigantic power pylons right through the heart of our beautiful
rural communities – and the communities of others further south.
We think the plan stinks, and those of you who agree with us have
a unique chance to act right now.
Environment minister Pete Hodgson has just “called in”
Transpower’s application, which basically means that the Government
is preparing to hear public submissions before making a final and
binding decision about whether the plan can proceed.
If you care at all, take the time to read Transpower’s application
and make a submission – everybody who is affected has a right
to be heard. You can find Transpower’s application online at
www.gridnewzealand.co.nz. Submissions must be sent to the Ministry
for the Environment by Friday, October 5 this year.
A public meeting designed to brief local residents and assist in
preparing submissions is scheduled for September 17 at the Whitford
Hall, from 7:30 to 8:30pm - all welcome.
WINE MATCHING 101
Well, let’s face it – a lot of us like to drink the stuff,
but that doesn’t necessarily mean we know what to serve with
a chorizo, chickpea and pumpkin risotto.
So, courtesy of the UK’s Daily Telegraph, we’ve included
the following tips to save you from horrible gastronomic faux pas
at the dinner table.
- Match intensely flavoured food with strong wines. Remember that
the way a dish is cooked can have an impact on its flavour –
poached salmon is delicate, while barbecued salmon is much more
powerful.
- Acidic foods should be matched with wines that have similar
levels of acidity, otherwise the wine will taste “flabby”.
Apparently.
- Fatty meats and other protein-rich foods (including hard cheese)
are best paired with tannic red wines.
- Sweet foods always make wine taste drier, so choose one with
similar levels of sweetness.
- Salt plays havoc with tannin, so pair lightweight, acidic wines
with salty food.
- Spicy foods are best paired with fruity, fragrant whites such
as Riesling. Avoid tannic reds, because they’ll taste bitter.
And don’t bother with anything flashy – the spices in
the food will always dominate.
|
MARKET
PROFILE
Willowbrook Farm
Ruth Agnew from
Willowbrook Farm
Mum-and-daughter business team Mary Tarbitt and Ruth Agnew
really know their stoechus from their dentata.
Lavender, that is.
And so would you if you grew, harvested and processed enormous
quantities of the stuff to produce your own brand of delicious
lavender beauty products.
Mary and Ruth’s Willowbrook Farm range includes soaps,
hand cream and beautifully-presented gift packs – all
made with top quality ingredients and full of the soothing
scent of true French lavender.
Visit them also for flag iris and lavender plants (in season),
as well as fresh seasonal cut flowers.
|
|
|
SYLVIA’S COOKING WITH GAS
No really, she is. Sylvia Sandford’s market cooking demonstrations
are underway and proving a real hit with market-goers (and
with the stallholders who get to sniff all those yummy smells
wafting about). Watch her whip up mouth-watering dishes from
market produce every Sunday 10am till 11am at her outdoor
stall right next to Market Espresso.
“The cock crows, but the hen lays
the egg” - Proverb
MARKET MONEY
Most stalls don’t take plastic, but there’s no need
to panic – we have Eftpos facilities available at the
coffee room, and we’re more than happy to give cash out.
God bless technology.
|
|
