Market Scene: Chicago's Green City Market
The temptation of the Chicago Green City Market in July is a little much to take. Should one leave with mounds of fresh fruit, or focus on the incredible bounty of carrots, radishes, and lettuces? I walked around in a daze for a while before I settled on anything because I knew the next table might have something new and unexpected.
The first thing I was drawn to was the table of zucchini blossoms, which almost looked too beautiful to even touch. Iron Creek Farm from La Porte, Indiana, had a great number of the beautiful flowers, which I think are best battered and fried. But that's just me.
They also had some fresh lettuces and a whole table dedicated to green beans.
The second thing that struck me was the quantity of fresh fruit. Ellis Farms, which is located in Benton Harbor, Michigan, had some incredible looking raspberries, cherries, and peaches.
Of course, the regular vegetables looked astonishing, too. But nothing looked quite as unreal as the radishes at the Kinnikinnick Farm table. They had immaculately scrubbed cherry, plum purple, helios, and French breakfast radishes. The colors were so vibrant they looked nearly fake.
Much like last year, Green Acres, from North Judson, Indiana, was overloaded with carrots. I spotted sugarsnax, yellow, purple rain, purple haze, and white carrots, possible missing some others.
They also had some more breakfast radishes. I have become so impressed with these after eating them at Mado. Chicago food blog Blue Kitchen has some great info about the item.
I left eying some freshly shelled peas from Mick Klug Farms from St. Joseph, Michigan. When the bounty is this heavy, it's hard to keep from wanting to take everything home with you. In the midst of high summer, it's an absolutely wonderful time to be in Chicago.
About the author: Nick Kindelsperger is a freelance writer in Chicago and the co-founder of The Paupered Chef.
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4 Comments:
Oh my gosh, oh my gosh - they have squash blossoms and shelled peas? I must go there this weekend! I haven't been yet this season, even though I've been anticipating their opening since the end of last season.
Chew on That at 5:26PM on 07/20/09
I live outside of chicago and am just starting to see amazing blossoms as well! my favorite it to do a goat cheese and ricotta mixture with a little basil, stuff the blossoms, tempura batter them and fry 'em up! Absolutely amazing!
coleqt29 at 9:48PM on 07/20/09
I was just there this weekend...fabulous place!! We bought some fabulous berries and delicious cucumbers, but my favorite has to be Brunkow Cheese! Their raw milk cheddar spreads, bread cheese, and cheese curds are to die for (they have samples of all cheeses, including a grill in which they grill their bread cheese samples)! Also you can't miss the homemade pastas or freshly baked breads...but if you go too late, they'll be sold out!
mlshores at 10:03AM on 07/21/09
There's always such a great variety at the market, this time of year especially, that I always seem to come away from here with enough food to completely fill my refrigerator. As far as I'm concerned though, Three Sisters Garden is the big important stop here each week. They have a great little variety of herbs I'd mostly never heard of before (the apple mint and lemon balm make great iced tea together), the two women at the booth are crazy nice, and their prices are great.
skizziks at 12:48PM on 07/21/09