Oh, goody goody! At long last, the Bellevue Farmers Market opens for the season this Thursday, May 18, at 3pm. Let the fresh, local feasting begin, accompanied by live music and friendly faces!
This year I hope you'll join me in making some Market Season Resolutions:
- Over the course of the season, try something from every single vendor and farmer. I'm actually thinking of making myself a little spreadsheet of our vendors' names. My husband used to frequent the now-closed Tap House in Bellevue, and they offered a punch card listing every single beer they had on tap. I guess even beer lovers need motivation to branch out. I'm betting even the other regulars haven't hit every stand. I'm guessing I regularly buy from about 20% of the offerings. Not this year!
- Try a new variety of something familiar.
Yes, that's Jalapeno Tuna, second from the top
Today I finally opened up a can of the St. Jude's Jalapeno Tuna that I bought last October. How boring I am, that I always make my tuna salad with "Original" variety? Then it occurred to me: instead of making my tuna melts with plain tuna and Pepper Jack cheese, why not use a tuna with kick and a plain (Dubliner) cheddar? St. Jude's doesn't settle for some chemistry-lab "natural jalapeno flavor," either. Inside the can was jalapeno pulp--seeds and all (I scooped out some of the seeds, since my husband doesn't like things too spicy).
Ye Newe Jalapeno Tuna Melt with Cucumber
Given how tasty this new variety was, I added the "try a new variety" resolution to the list.
- And lastly, try something entirely entirely new. Is this the year you finally ask how to prepare fiddlehead ferns? Eggplant? That one chile pepper which you don't know the name of? Something pickled? Ask your farmer what to do with it. Or ask that other person reaching for it.
Whatever you do, Market season is upon us--resolve to get yourself there!
