Rosy rhubarb and sweet spring garlic

Who went home with a rescue puppy last week?

Sorry, no cute dogs and cats on offer at the market this Saturday, however we have plenty of watermelon radish which you should ALWAYS have on hand in your fridge to brighten your salads, your crudités boards, your tacos and yes, even your day.

Watermelon radishes, as beautiful as they are crunchy, are the gift that keeps on giving. Roast them for the perfect side dish to brats on the grill (Letterbox, R&M and Goode & Local) Pickle them and add them to your fish or carne asada tacos. Or cut them raw, into pretty pink slices to scoop up dips like hummus (AYA HUMMUS returns this week) or tzatziki.

You can find everything you need to know about watermelon radish and how to cook, pickle or serve it here.

Many of you brought your grills out of hibernation last weekend. Put them to good use this weekend and pick up some beautiful cod from Pura Vida Fishery to make this NYT recipe for grilled cod with your very own salsa verde. Fresh Meadow Farm is bringing plenty of spring garlic, alway such a flavor revelation. Use spring garlic in spring soups, or to make this fantastic green garlic toast.

Some sad news: Annie’s Ginger Elixir is shuttering their market operations. Owners Annie and Allard are moving to London. Their product will still be available online but their pretty, pink good-for-your-gut nectar will no longer be available at the market after this weekend. So, if you are a fan, stock up while you can. 

Manor Sangria, purveyors of summer liquid joy in a Mason jar, is not going anywhere. They will be here Saturday with their classic summer blend that makes entertaining so effortless — and fruity.

This is rhubarb’s moment to shine! Make this rhubarb cake if you’re hosting a brunch or as the perfect picnic contribution. For the most vivid stripes, use the reddest rhubarb stalks you can find. They will fade to hot pink after poaching and baking. When strawberries come in you can make this tartly sweet strawberry rhubarb jam.

Red Barn Bakery is inserting rhubarb into so many of her baked goods this week. Strawberry rhubarb crisps, scones, and she’s even inserting rhubarb into her red lentil pancakes, because when it comes to rhubarb — or anything else that’s hyper-seasonal at the market, carpe diem!

Our farmers will be bringing plenty of plant seedlings this week. Look out for organic dwarf heirloom tomatoes at Fresh Meadow Farm —  great for tight garden spaces and containers and no need to stake them! 

See you at the market!