Today, I finally made it down to the Sunset Valley Farmers' Market, one of several Austin area Farmers' Markets. I've been meaning to go for a while, but I've finally got off my duff and went today.  I walked, and it took me less than an hour to walk round trip; it took a few minutes longer to get home because I was laden with good stuff. 

It was a perfect day to go, since it's cool (hadn't hit 60F yet when I left).  I figured it would take me at least a half an hour and I thought that if I got there around 9:30-10:00 it would just be picking up.  Boy, was I wrong; the place was already hopping! I ended up making it there about 9:40ish, and some stalls had long queues, making it hard to see the produce.  But things seemed to move pretty fast, and I didn't buy much my first couple circuits around the market.  I spent about an hour there, and could have spent longer. 

The Sunset Valley Farmers' Market is a nationally recognized outstanding farmers market, including a Top 5 rating according to Eating Well , Austin Chronicle's Best of 2007 Reader's Poll, and a Top 10 Farmers Markets by the Audubon Society.  Not too Shabby. And now I know why. Diversity is the operative word.

It has a bit of everything, with a subtly festive atmosphere of a carnival.  Live music going on in the "food court" area, where you can pick up all sorts of breakfast goodies, mostly involving a bread of some sort to hold it all, with plenty of tables to rest your feet it. 

I ran into Julia, a former co-worker. Julia said she gets all her groceries at the Farmers' Market. No surprise, there, because you could get everything from breakfast, lunch, dinner, all the fixins, and desserts, flowers for the table, clothes, jewelry, music, and the stuff to clean it up with. You could even get goodies for the puppies, and some beautiful baguettes from Sweetish Hill as well. 

There were many stalls for produce, but several stalls were for meats, including Bison and Lamb.  Bakeries, cheesemakers, and diaries were represented, as well as florists, natural cleaners, and artisan jewel and clothing stalls.  I was disappointed that I missed the butter at the Remember When Diary stall, and the only cream he had was in gallon jugs (I don't need that much!).  Next week, I'll make sure to hit the dairy stall sooner, as he'll have smaller containers of cream.  

 While I should be avoiding dairy, I really want to do a ravioli or other stuffed pasta with cream sauce.  I got some wonderful looking Butternut Squash ravioli at the Pasta & Co stall.  Zach here has a very beautiful platter of the different pastas available today.  He's been coming here for about a year now.  I really wanted to do the ravioli in a cream sauce, but instead I'll do a sauté in olive oil, with some of that tomato I bought, and some of one of those sweet onions, and sprinkle it with some parmigiano reggiano I already have on hand.

Right next to Pasta and Co was Deli Bento.  I forgot my manners and didn't get his name, but it could very well be Takehiro Asazu, the chef for Deli Bento.  Bento boxes, if you aren't familiar with them, are the Japanese versions of lunch boxes.  I got the Teriyaki Chicken bowl, because I was afraid the full sized boxes wouldn't make it home. It was very good, and next week I think I'll try the fish bento. It looked very good. 

And right before Deli Bento was Country Grill, which has (tasty) rotisserie grilled chicken, cooked right on the spot. The smell was tantalizing, so I got a half chicken to bring home to have for dinner.  I tried a little bit of it before putting it in the fridge, and it was quite tasty. 


There was so much I wanted to try, but thankfully, lugging everything on my shoulder kept me from going too crazy.  Still, I went a bit overboard, having just bought groceries on Thursday, but I didn't do full veggie shopping as I was planning on going here. Good thing I didn't!  I meant to get jam and honey at the store, but forgot. Oh well, I'll have to settle for fresh local stuff instead!

It's not always cheaper, and not all is certified organic, but that's doesn't mean it's not good. The hydroponic tomato (which wouldn't yet be in season), was grown without pesticides. Most everything in this picture is organic or naturally grown/raised.  It's also supporting local business and sustainable growing, so it's good all around. 

It's all making me a bit homesick; one of my uncles was a farmer, and we'd get fresh chicken, eggs, asparagus, and other stuff. Another uncle kept a huge garden, so I got familiar with egglant and fresh garlic and onions, and tomatoes and zucchini. If you've never had a pasta with fresh vegetable and sauce, hours out of the garden, your missing out.  This is the next best thing. 

After 8590 steps per a pedometer I used (thanks, InnoTech), I'm nackered.  That was an event. But I plan to be back next week, but earlier.  I want some butter and cream! I'll settle for chicken with roasted beet salad for dinner.