Yesterday the new Cambridge Center Farmers' Market on Main Street near the Kendall Square MBTA stop opened. Today we visited old friends at the Prudential Center Market. Both markets are hosted by Boston Properties and managed by Gilson Family Herb Enterprises, Ltd.
New Farmers' Market at Cambridge Center near the Kendall MBTA station
Despite the rain that fell on their grand opening, the Cambridge Center Farmers' Market had a great reception with visitors tweeting one another to spread the word about the wonderful food that was available. The vendors were very pleased with the location. Some actually sold out of their goods.
The star of last night's supper was a big plate of organic asparagus from Warner Farm in Sunderland, MA. It was so fresh that the farmer was late arriving at the market. He was in the field picking this wonderful crop.
Our Asparagus Cooking Technique
Penny sauted our market find in olive oil, added a bit of water, covered the saute pan, cooked off the liquid, added the juice of half a lemon, salt, pepper, and tossed the stalks in the hot vinaigrette that formed in the pan until they had a bit of carmalization. Then she sprinkled them with chives and chive blossoms from our rooftop herb garden.
Leigh & Rachel from Nella Pasta. This is their second year at the Prudential Market.
In addition to fresh ingredients for those who love to cook, the Prudential Center Farmers' Market has a great selection of prepared food or partly prepared food. Nella Pasta had their lovely fresh pasta salad ready for lunch, or you could buy their handmade pasta to cook at home.
Foxboro Cheese Company was offering samples of their Asiago and Fromage Blanc.
Foxboro Cheese Company from Lawton Family Farm is new to the Pru market this year. In addition to cheese they were selling grass-fed beef and humanely-raised veal.
We're so glad that the farmers' markets are back! We can't get enough of them. We've been visiting the markets near us as they open for a freelance assignment, and to gather photos and the inside scoop for our BostonZest readers, and for Penny's "Fresh & Local" newspaper column.
If you want a great saute, you need a great pan. Penny loves All-Clad and this is the the pan that turned out that wonderful asparagus.
Details:
Cambridge Center Farmers' Market ( Wednesdays 11-6)
5 Cambridge Center, Cambridge MA ( Map )
Prudential Center Farmers' Market (Thursdays 11-6)
800 Bolyston Street, Boston, MA 02199 (map)
Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2010 Penny Cherubino
