This little piggy

I have an admission to make. I don’t go to the farmer’s market every weekend. I wish I did, but I don’t.  But in summer, when the produce is at its most exciting and vibrant, my excuses just don’t cut it.

The reason for this sad state of affairs is partly one of finances and total lack of restraint (I tend to overspend wildly at the farmers market and usually walk away with my wallet around $150-$200  leaner) but also one of time and availability. Saturday morning is usually fairly busy with dog/running/appointment/errand related business.

But the other day I was driving around furiously erranding (yes, that is a word I made up just then), and I saw a sign telling me that the Caulfield Farmer’s Market was back on. I rushed over (they were starting to close up) and picked up some gorgeous items including blood plums that were so sweet I am convinced they were injected with sugar syrup, corn on the cob that made me scream ‘the rains r comin, the rains r comin’, tiny little strawberries and blueberries barely made it home unscathed and my absolute favourite vegetable in the universe: butter lettuce.

These adorable gems of butter lettuce were in individual pots. That night, I came home and for dinner, I harvested a whole lettuce, tossed it with a dressing (mayo, worstershire, sesame oil, honey and lemon juice, all in very small quantities) and voila – dinner. I didn’t put a single other thing in, because it would detract from the simple, fresh, amazing beauty that is the butter lettuce in fresh flight. My heart was singing at the joy of my butter lettuces. I’m having the last one tonight.

Anyway, the point of this little ode to my beautiful butter lettuces is simply that if you’re not heading down to your local farmers market, you’re missing out. They’re great all year around, but during summer they really do take on a life of their own. There are loads of markets all over Melbourne, but here are links to the two I tend to frequent:

• Melbourne Community Farmer’s Market, alternatives between Collingwood Children’s Farm, GasWorks, St Kilda Peanut Farm and Abbotsford Convent (slow food):  www.mfm.com.au
• inSeason Markets runs Caulfield, Ballarat and North Melbourne markets: www.inseasonmarkets.com.au

Otherwise, check out this site for listings of farmer’s markets all around Victoria: www.whitehat.com.au/victoria/Markets/Farmers.asp