Did I tell you or did I tell you? Summer has arrived in Lansdowne, just like I promised!
Judging from the lines at each of this week’s produce tables, it didn’t disappoint. And summer dinner tables just garnered another Michelin star.
First up on the menu…and first of the season: super-sweet local corn from Amish land.
“Hello you sweet thing…it’s been 9 months since our last rendezvous. You look as delicious as ever. Can I give you a ride home…to MY house?” That first bite… serious swooning. I’m sure I heard angels, and you possibly heard the crunch …followed by a satisfied sigh. Perfect.
The tomatoes upped their game a bit…more of the big red beefsteaks, but now here are the new multicolored minis…so perfect for dipping into your favorite dressings, and sized just right and tidy for packing lunch at the office or snacking on the trail. Try doing that with a big red bruise-able bad boy…which, by the way, is the piece de resistance on top of a perfectly grilled burger…wid or widdout. Or sliced on top of a homemade pizza. Or a perfect BLT, or…well, I could go on and on. You do you.
Tender leafy greens and grilled onions for the aforementioned burger, and we’re already halfway to heaven.
But don’t stop there…because PEACHES! Glorious pink and gold globes of godallmighty goodness. Who needs GA when our PA peaches are already ripe and run-down-your-chin juicy. No cooking required…just your hands, and a napkin. Still warm from the sun or chilled from the fridge, it’s the perfect stand-alone dessert for a hot summer night….and they’re here all summer, folks…along with their bald sibling, the nectarine! And did you know that besides being delicious, peaches are full of antioxidants that can give your skin a healthy glow?…or that calling someone a peach is a really nice way to say “thank you?”
Nerd Alert: Peaches may be one of the oldest foods on the planet. First appearing in China, they were, and still are, revered in Eastern religions as symbols of longevity and eternity.
For more peachy keen history, click right here. Or just eat one for your personal gratification. No judgment.
And we’re only at the beginning. In the next week or so we’ll have melons …ropey-skinned ‘lopes and heavy green watermelons. Plums and pears and berries (blue and red) are all on their way.
This is why local eating is sooo worth the wait. And why farmers are so worth their weight. (See what I did there?) Because growing food takes more than dirt, rain and sunshine. It’s a labor of love, faith and cock-eyed optimism.
So, belly on up to the feast, everybody. It’s summer!
In the Artist’s Tent: Crafty Kate’s Creations with the perfect handcrafted gifts for just about anyone on your gift list, no matter what their interests. Be sure to stop by and see…and shop.
Don’t forget to read ALL of the LFM newsletter for upcoming events and news.
Pardon our appearance. We appreciate everyone putting up with the movable feast that is the LFM’s weekly-but-subject-to-change set up. As you probably know by now, the entire parking lot, from Lansdowne to Owen Avenues is scheduled for a face lift in the more or less immediate future. But don’t hold us to a date. In the meantime, we need to be flexible in who’s tent goes where. Please be patient if your favorite vendor isn’t where you last left them. And you may have noticed that we have finally resurrected the LFM Manager tent, so please stop by to say hello.
I’ll be looking for you!
Terry Baraldi