Perfect Pairings
The settling in of autumn brings charismatic “brothtender” Shawn and his Two Birds Provisions broth bar back to the market on a weekly basis. Broths are available in meat or vegetarian options, served warm by the cup or frozen in larger take home containers. Use the broth as is at home or it also makes a great soup with some Asian Farmer dumplings or noodles and wilted market greens. (Note that Asian Farmer is at the market on the first and third Sundays of the month, but his dumplings and noodles all freeze beautifully.)
Two Birds Provisions also offers their own soup kits and a rotating menu of ethnic specialty bowls, all prepared by Shawn’s culinary wiz wife, using local ingredients. (I’ve added Pura Vida smoked scallops or smoked salmon to her japchae for an over the top experience.)
Have you discovered FarmEats sandwich steaks? Thin slices of flash frozen grass-fed top and eye round roast beef, perfect for a stir fry with all the fresh vegetables currently on the market tables. Or how about a Philly cheese steak with peppers and onions on a crunchy ciabatta from Wave Hill or Bien Cuit?
Speaking of Bien Cuit, I’m sure you’ve noted their absence the past few weeks. They, as so many other businesses these days, are dealing with staff shortage but happily return this week. Stop by, introduce yourself to Gigi, and have her bag up all your favorites. Be sure to pick a pastry to pair with your Teagevity or Don Carvajal; are you still ordering it iced or have you switched to hot?
Here’s a favorite recipe of mine that offers more opportunity for market pairing:
See Holly at R & M Farm for the chicken, Noomi Peanut Butter, Wrights salsa, Madura honey, Kontoulis olive oil, there are scallions to be found on the produce tables and maybe even some fresh ginger. Finally, talk to Mama Lam about substituting her curry for powder.
Anthi's Greek Specialties, AYA Hummus and Hamov Eh all offer top notch dip pairings for your crudité platters. That or a mixed market salad are a fine accompaniment to your DoughNation pizza. Guoz Garden Microgreens make the perfect topper to any salad and my favorite addition to any of True Foods delicious and nutritious chicken salad choices. Also Forward Roots, Found Herbal and Hive Juice Lab will be happy to pair you up with some autumnal immunity boosts.
What are some of your favorite market pairings?
