Fresh Loki Salmon, Grapeseed Oil, Fractalicious Romanesco & Red, White & Blue Potatoes

Fresh whole keta salmon from Loki Fish. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Loki Fish had fresh Alaskan king, sockeye and keta salmon at the Ballard Farmers Market on Sunday, June 28th, but if you weren’t there, you missed it.

Apres Vin made is Ballard Farmers Market debut on June 28th with its artisan Washington grapeseed oils. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Apres Vin debuted at the Market this week with its lucious Washington grapeseed oils. These oils are made from the seeds of wine grapes after they are pressed for wine. As such, they have the flavors of those grapes. They are also high in antioxidants, and they have a very high smoke point, so they are great for cooking. Apres Vin has pure varietal oils and infused oils, including Cabernet Poivre, which is infused with pepper, and Chardonnay Fume, which no one can sample without saying, “Wow!”

Colinwood Farm red, white & blue potatoes. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Just in time for Independence Day and some patriotic potato salad were these red, white and blue new potatoes from Colinwood Farm. It is always a bit of a sport to see which farm can manage to get these in before July 4th. Congrats, Colinwood!

Oxbow Farm's Luke Woodward proudly showing off his prized carrots. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Why is Oxbow Luke smiling? Because he holds in his hands some of the best carrots on earth. The orange ones in his right hand are so sweet, they are like candy. The purple ones in his left hand, called Purple Haze, are beautiful roasted or eaten raw, with a much earthier flavor, and they are really cool, too. And speaking of really cool vegetables, how about this Romanesco from Boistfort Valley Farm.

Boistfort Valley Farm Romanesco. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

This stuff is not only delicious, it is the only vegetable that grows in fractals. Just look at the infinite spiral patterns in it. This is a truly magnificent crop, no matter how you look at it. Of course, on the more familiar score, Red Barn Farm has some pretty spectacular lettuces available, too.

Red Barn has five gorgeous varieties of lettuce. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

But let’s talk fruit. Apricots, in fact. They are raging right now, resulting in another “proud papa” photo, in this case of Bill — the “Bill” in Bill’s Fruit.

You would have this expression on your face, too, if you had just eaten an apricot from Bill's Fruit. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

And how about these lovely squash blossoms from Growing Things Farm.

Delicate squash blossoms from Growing Things are great stuffed and fried. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Okay, one last shot of the less familiar — fennel bulb and purslane. These both make for great salad ingredients, and the fennel is nice in a sauté or veggie roast, or even grilled. Stop by Alm Hill to check both out.

Alm Hill fennel (left) and purslane. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

So I hope you didn’t miss all this on June 28th. And whatever the case, you have better make it next time, as you never know what may show up unannounced for your dining pleasure.

Oh, and don’t let those “journalists” at the Seattle Weekly discourage you from trying stuff you’ve never seen in the big box stores. No matter how much some writers try to make their own careers last longer by pronouncing things we like to be “trendy,” we all know what tastes good. Besides, many of these “trendy” varieties of produce have been around for centuries. So feel free to stick your tongue out at the Weekly and enjoy whatever you like.

Bolles Berries, Local Roots, Daikon Radishes & Potlatch Pilaf

Siri and Jason of Local Roots Farm at Ballard Farmers Market on June 14th. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Did you miss the Market on Sunday, June 14th? If you did, you missed the introduction of our newest farm vendor, and the return of three others. Local Roots, from Carnation, grows some of the most unique, and most beautiful, produce found anywhere. Just take a look at this gorgeous chard they had this week.

Rainbow Chard from Local Roots. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Bolles Organic Berry Farm returned to the Market for the 2009 berry season on the 14th with their succulent strawberries. They’ll have raspberries and blueberries in July, and maybe someday in the future, they’ll have some of the first cultivated truffles, but they tell me that is still in the development stage. Stay tuned.

Bolles Organic Farm's berries are back at the Market. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Bluebird Grain Farms, from Twisp, is known for their magnificent, hearty and delicious heirloom grains and grain products. Now, they have introduced a new product, Potlatch Pilaf, that combines their great emmer/farro with wild rice from Oregon.

Bluebird Grain Farms' Potlatch Pilaf. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Jessies Berries is another farm that returned to Ballard this week, with their strawberries that are so fragrant, you can smell them from space. I know. I have a direct line to the International Space Station. Really. Would I like to you?

Lyall Farms, which has orchards in Mattawa, Desert Aire and Prosser, also returned to Ballard on June 14th with Tieton and Rainier cherries.

Rainier cherries from Lyall Farms. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

I know I missed a week of my running series of huge heads of lettuce last week. I was thinking about it, and I decided that maybe sexy heads of lettuce is a better slant to take. In that case, this Colinwood Farm lettuce display has got to be the pin-up photo for the month of June in the sexy lettuce displays calendar.

Okay. Look at the lettuce, not the sexy farmer! Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Most of the planet thinks every week is a good week for goat meat. Did you know that goat meat is the most commonly consumed animal protein on earth? It seems only we Americans have yet to develop an appreciation for it, but personally, I love the stuff. Well, any week is also a good week for goat meat at Quilceda Farms at Ballard Farmers Market. Just look at all these lovely cuts of goatiliciousness.

Quilceda Farm's goat meat display at the Market. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Speaking of farms that grow all sorts of unique and uncommon crops (okay, that was at the top of this post, but work with me), Stoney Plains Organic Farm from Tenino brought their first daikon radishes of the season to the Market on the 14th. Are they spectacular?

Daikon radishes from Stoney Plains. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

So, I ask you… how can you possibly justify to yourself missing yet another week of the Ballard Farmers Market? Really, how can you?

Cherries, Carrots, Zucchini, Cilantro, Amen.

First of the season cherries at Bill's Fruit. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Cherries joined strawberries in creating pandemonium at the Market on Sunday, June 7th, which begs the question, where were you?

Hayton Farms is back at the Market with their famous strawberries. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Strawberries were found this week at Alm Hill, Stoney Plains, Tiny’s, Collins, Hayton and others, while cherries were offered by Bill’s Fruit, ACMA, Ayala, Magana and more.

Oxbows infamous carrots are back. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Carrots are also taking the Market by storm, much to the delight of rabbits, people with bad night vision, and, well, everyone else. Look at these beauties at Oxbow. And Full Circle has them in orange and yellow.

Growing Things radishes. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

And when it comes to colorful, tasty roots, how about radishes. All kinds of radishes are filling the Market right now, but they don’t much like the heat, so enjoy them now, while you can. Just look at the spectacular Icicle and Easter Egg radishes from Growing Things above.  And how about this radish display from Nash’s…

Nash's radishes. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Nature’s Last Stand returned to Ballard Farmers Market on June 7th, after a long winter’s battle with snow and floods. Garlic scapes, spinach, salad mix, French Breakfast radishes, kale medley and green garlic are just some of the bits of deliciousness found on their tables.

Nature's Last Stand, complete with John's smiling, bearded mug, is back at the Market for 2009. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

And for those who don’t know what green garlic and garlic scapes are, check out this scene from Anselmo’s tables…

Anselmo's green garlic (top) and garlic scapes. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Green garlic, at the top of the photo, is garlic harvested and sold fresh, without having be dry cured, like you find in grocery stores. Sometimes green garlic is sold very young, when it looks like green onions. Garlic scapes, seen at the bottom of this photo, are the tops of hard-neck garlic as it prepares to bloom. It curls around as it grows, getting it the nickname of “rattlesnake tails,” with the rattle-looking bud at the end. Get these while their tender, and use them much like any garlic. It is milder, and a bit grassy in flavor, but it is sweeter than mature garlic, and it allows you to have some fun with your garlic seasons.

Full Circle zucchini. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Full Circle Farm won the prize for the first zucchini of the season, though we can be assured that much more with follow. And Children’s Garden was the first to have cilantro this week.

Cilantro from Children's Garden. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Needless to say, though I am going to say it anyway, Sunday, June 7th marked a significant tidal shift in produce at the Market. We are marching headlong into the peak season now. Can I get an amen? But, of course, you missed it, didn’t you? What were you thinking?

Whips & Scapes, Fire Trucks, Van Gogh Flowers & Sushi Bars

One of Seattle's newest fire trucks, at only six weeks of age, sprouts Ballard Farmers Market flags on May 31st. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

With yet another lovely Sunday, it seems everyone was out enjoying the Ballard Farmers Market on May 31st. If you were not amongst them, you missed Seattle’s newest fire truck, strutting its stuff. While its crew was sampling its way through the Market, this truck looked rather festive against a backdrop of the Market’s colorful flags. Kinda makes you wish fire trucks had big, colorful flags sticking out of them all the time, doesn’t it?

Check out these gorgeous leek tops at Nash's. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Oh, sure, I could have posted a photo of curly garlic scapes (a.k.a., rattlesnake tails), or even onion whips, but when it comes to this seasons most unusual onion family plant buds at the market, leek tops have to take the cake. They are a tasty lot, these whips and scapes, but their season is short, so get them while you can.

Collins Family Orchard is the second farm this season with strawberries at the Market. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

All it took was a little heat, and bam! Here came the strawberries. Tiny’s and Collins had them from Eastern Washington this week, but by next week, lots of folks will have them… and peas, too.

Sugar snap peas from Alvarez Organic Farms. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Sugar snap peas are always the first peas of the season. These beauties, from Alvarez, can be eaten like candy right out of the bag, sautéed, tossed in a salad, or thrown in with some pasta.

A tray-full of Japanese deliciousness for Sunday brunch at Moshi Moshi. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Are you one of those folks who has been staring forlornly into the windows of Moshi Moshi during the Market on Sundays, reading the menu and wishing they were open? Well, now they are. May 31st marked the date Moshi Moshi began serving some fine Japanese brunch on Ballard Avenue. And Sutter Home & Hearth was open again, too. I think they actually feel bad about not being open on Memorial Day weekend, when you were looking for charcoal for your barbecue.

The Tallboys at the Market on May 31st. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

The Market was aglow with the music and dancing of The Tallboys this week. Indeed, they captured such a large crowd that those “no parking” signs in the background might have come in handy.

Stoney Plains' purple kate. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Let’s see. There’s green kale, and red Russian kale. There’s curly leaf kale, and there’s dino kale. And then there’s purple kale at Stoney Plains. You know, one of the many, many things I love about the Market is when a farmer boastfully shows me their latest “cool” crop they have harvested, and purple kale definitely falls into that category, along with those leek tops, of course. And speaking of kale, did you know that Nash’s has its own variety of kale? Nash’s red kale. And they will even sell you the seeds for it, so you can grow it yourself.

Magnificent Alm Hill sunflowers. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

And if you missed the Market on May 31st, you missed these spectacular sunflowers at Alm Hill Gardens. Just look at these lovelies. Is it any wonder Van Gogh was captivated by them? They just reach out an grab you, don’t they? Like everything else at the Market. Which begs the question, where the heck were you last week?