52 replies to this topic

[Pam R]

I got some great berries at Vic's last weekend - they had saskatoon, local strawberries and blue. Also picked up a few things at Cramptons - like my first pickling cukes.

Have got to make it out to the farmer's market - maybe this weekend, if it isn't going to be too hot.

[Domestic Goddess]

Sorry to have just found this thread. I'd like to delve into the banana blossoms question. First of all there are two kinds of banana blossoms, the dried/semi dried kind and the fresh kind (usually called a banana heart).

For pics and some background on the Dried Banana Blossoms: Click here.

These can be used in Chinese braised dishes like pork hocks or pork belly. It adds a distinctive flavor and texture to the stew.

For pics and background on the fresh banana blossoms/banana heart: Click here.

These can be cut into wedges or quarters and is an essential ingredient in the Filipino dish called Kare Kare (Peanut stew). These can also be used in a light a refreshing salad ( first boiled and then lightly simmered in coconut milk, vinegar and some pepper). This type of salad is great with fried fish.

[Domestic Goddess]

Forgot to add that the fresh banana heart is also great with Fish Sinigang (Sour Soup).

[Pam R]

The emails have started coming from Crampton's Market again. They're open for the season and have local fiddleheads (for the next week or so), asparagus, rhubarb and wild morels.

I haven't made it to the store yet, but hope to get there this weekend to see what else they have.

[winefellow]

It's been a SPECTACULAR year for local wild morels...I've been out about 6 times picking and have gathered at least 200 mushrooms per pick. I believe the slow, cool (and not overly wet) start to the season has fruited many more 'shrooms than usual and the season has lingered nicely due to the absence of excessive "mushroom-frying" heat. I've pigged out numerous times on these delectable spring treats and have, as usual, gifted many to culinary-oriented friends and colleagues. My favourite way to cook them is perhaps the most simple; sautéed in butter in a large pan with crushed fresh garlic cloves until the natural juices have precipitated from the mushrooms and cooked off. If you're doing a sauce, the juices make an important contribution. Discard the garlic and eason the mushrooms with salt, pepper and a drizzle of fresh lemon juice just before serving. They make a fantastic accompaniment to veal (scallopine or chops), chicken or pork and are très sympatique served in concert with fresh fiddleheads, asparagus, spring peas or pea shoots.

Having said that, Chef Masa of Yujiro Restaurant on Grant Avenue was going to prepare his "goody-bag" of morels tempura-style...that had the potential to be amazing!

And the best part...

Folklore has it than when it's been a great Morel year, it will also be a fantastic Chanterelle year! Can't wait 'til July!

Cheers, all. Happy cooking, eating and drinking!

[prasantrin]

The St. Norbert's Farmers Market is opening early this year!

According to their website, they open June 7th for their 20th Anniversary, 8am to 3pm.

I wish I could be there. I need a Farmer Burger!

[prasantrin]

Sadness of all sadnesses! My beloved farmer burger stand is no more!

My mother just gave me the report of the first market day of the year. There were a lot of empty spaces, but whether because the season is still young, or because a lot of businesses aren't participating, she did not know. She ran into the guy from whom I bought a farmer burger every Saturday morning, and he's not opening this year. He said 20 years was enough! Other stalls have farmer burgers, too, but no one has homemade relish like his! Perhaps I'll have to drive out to Plum Coulee or wherever his farm is and try to buy some directly from him!

At least my lemon tart guy is still there!

[Pam R]

There's a new weekly market opening, according to the Free Press. Starting June 26th, you'll be able to visit the 'Village Market' at the corner of River and Osborne (Gas Station Theatre) on Thursdays.

According to the article in today's paper, all of the vendors will be selling food (and other items) grown or made within a 100-mile radius of the city.

The rest of the article is here.

I think it's an interesting idea and seems like a good location for it. I'm not sure what the hours will be, but I don't see myself making a point of getting there. It's nice if you're in the area, and there are plenty of people in that area.

Think you'll check it out?

[prasantrin]

Interesting. I think it's a great idea in theory, and it could do very well given the area and some of the psuedo granola types out there.

But the traffic and parking situation out there is already hell (I read it would be even worse this summer while they do some watermain work), and the "regulars" who hang out at that corner don't inspire a lot of people to linger. I can't imagine it's going to be popular with anyone who doesn't live in the immediate area. It seems like it will be quite small, though, so they may not need a very large customer-base to be successful.

But I'll still go at least once.

[Pam R]

I agree. There are a lot of condos and apartments in the area though -- if I lived on River, Wellington, Evergreen, etc. it could be a really nice addition to the area. And this could be something that helps turn that little part of the area around.

[prasantrin]

And the seniors in the area might appreciate it, too. My grandparents used to live in Villa Cabrini, and a lot of the seniors don't walk much farther than the benches in front of the building. It would be nice for them to have access to something a little more interesting.

[prasantrin]

My mother and I dropped by the FortWhyte Farms Market today. There wasn't much there--just some mixed greens, spinach, radishes...a couple of other things I can't remember. It's a nice little space (indoors), and in a few weeks they'll have more, but they had a slow start this year, they said. They also had whole chickens for sale, as well as honey produced on the farms (we bought some earlier at the gift shop--a large bottle on sale for $8!).

Prices are a little high (it was $4 for 1 bag of spinach which I think was either 1/2 lb or 1 lb), but I appreciate the work they're doing.

Open only Tuesdays and Thursdays 12-6, and it's located before entering the Centre, so you don't need to pay admission to go to the Market.

[Pam R]

Thanks for the info, Rona. I've never been to their market. I just got an email update from Crampton's. She's got strawberries, Saskatoon berries, local carrots, local sweet onions and local garlic. Plus a lot of other things.

[Dejah]

Brandon has 2 farmer's markets: one at the Riverbank Discovery Centre down the hill from my house, and the other in the parkade of the downtown mall. I haven't been to the one downtown, but have frequented the riverbank one every summer.The latter is only on Saturday mornings, and the riverbank is every Thursday evening and Saturday morning. Like Fortwhyte, there isn't much available yet.

I didn't get there last week or tonight, but the organizer, Jesse, sent some garlic scapes up with my son who does massages at the market. I've read about the scapes on eGullet but haven't had them, so it was a new item to enjoy. They were really pungent when I was peeling the stalks and cutting them up, but they didn't taste as strong as they smelled after stir-frying. I liked them.

By the end of next week, there should be lots more vegetable varieties, flowers, plants, beewax products, local honey, baking, strawberries from the Portage farm, organic black Angus beef and bison. Quite often there is a young musician busking.

Jesse and his wife grow a lot of different vegetables: various squashes, ground cherries, etc. There's always something new every week. I enjoy trying whatever they recommend. Prices are a little higher but well worth it.

There is also a "u-pick" about 5 miles from my house. It's runned by an elderly couple. I've been going there for years picking peas, beans, carrots, corn, raspberries, beets. This was before the farmer's markets started. I loved spending a morning there and usually end up way more than we can eat fresh, so I share with my elderly neighbors along our street. The couple stopped for a couple of years due to health problems, but it seems they've started up again.

[Dejah]

Daughter has bought a house on Elgin. She mentioned a new branch of Young's grocery will be opening one block from the house soon. Have you heard anything, Rona?

[prasantrin]

Daughter has bought a house on Elgin. She mentioned a new branch of Young's grocery will be opening one block from the house soon. Have you heard anything, Rona?

I haven't heard anything! We were just at Young's a couple of days ago, and didn't see any notices or anything. My mother's comment was, "But that's weird! It's so close!" Maybe we'll go by again and ask what's up.

As an aside, the "new" Young's is nicer than the old Young's, but it's well on its way to looking just like the old one, especially in terms of cleanliness.

[debler]

there is Organza on confusion corner, I got some fiddle heads there this last summer.... never forget the viriety of veggies that can be pickled, like Veitnamiese eggplant, they are white and small, round, crunchy, really nice....

[prasantrin]

St Norbert Farmer's Market is opening this Saturday, and will be open till Halloween this year.

AND, I just checked the vendor's list, and it looks like Pembina Valley Meats is back!! I only went to the market twice last summer, because it just wasn't the same without my weekly farmer burger fix. If PVM is really back, I'll be making my usual weekly trip!

I'm excited, and I'm not even in Winnipeg, yet!

[Pam R]

I just read this in the paper. I hope the weather doesn't ruin it -- frost warning tonight, low of 1 and it'll only be 6 in the morning. That also makes me wonder what will be available -- if the weather we've been having will reduce what would normally be available.

[prasantrin]

Just a note--Pembina Valley Meats isn't back, and the St. Norbert Farmer's Market website is in need of an update. I'm still annoyed that it got my hopes up. Spenst is an adequate substitute now that they've got homemade relish to add to the burgers.

The Farmer's Market seems to have fewer vegetable stands this year, but more other stuff--more prepared foods for sure (Danny's Whole Hog kiosk gets bigger ever year, and lines get longer, but seriously, it ain't that great).

[Pam R]

According to their website, the St. Norbert Farmers Market isn't opening until June 5th. I guess this makes sense in normal years, but this year that seems like it's way too late. It's already +20C here and I'm ready for the market.

Anybody know if any other markets are opening earlier this year?

A little more googling and I found this link that shows all the markets in Manitoba with their dates. Nothing in the Winnipeg area opens earlier.

Edited by Pam R, 19 April 2010 - 09:48 AM.
To add the link.

[Dejah]

Not farmer's market, but check out the new Lucky Supermarket on Winnipeg Avenue for great selection of Asian produce, etc.
Brandon farmer's market by the river also opens in June. Last spring, pickins were slim at the beginning. Maybe with the early warm temps, more will be available this year.

[Dejah]

Daughter and fiance came out from Wpg yesterday with 2 bags of fiddleheads from Crampton's. Love those, and they'll be part of Mother's Day supper: surf 'n' turf. Missed out on the fresh morels apparently. Won't hold that against them;-)