The weekly occasion brings quite a lot of distributors, dwelling cooks , artisans, native meals — and a beekeeper.
Frenchtown Farmers Market is one in all our many excellent farmers’ markets in Tallahassee. We stopped by on a latest Saturday, partly to get pleasure from the meals of Bourne Sensible and pay tribute to Black Restaurant Week and partly as a result of there are such a lot of attention-grabbing individuals and merchandise there. The market takes place each Saturday, that includes common distributors together with newcomers so there can at all times be nice surprises.
We obtained to meet Michaela Teasley, founder and CEO of Tally Kombucha, which is a fermented tea, and got here throughout her scrumptious drinks, together with our alternative of the Spiced Pear, which was refreshing with a slight zing.
It was fascinating to speak to Rebekka White, who creates artwork out of dried okra. She has a podcast with writer Chris Smith that’s “devoted to okra, not simply the pod, however the complete plant and the individuals it connects.” Rebekka, an educator and entrepreneur, had samples of her okra artistry and you’d be amazed at how lovely these are. Comply with her at the_wildokra_projects on Instagram. Chris Smith wrote the e-book, “The Complete Okra,” which received a James Beard Basis Award in 2020. The WildOkra Tasks
It was powerful not to be tempted by the array of jellies and jams being offered by Rose Marie Garrison and her husband Tracy. Rose has been making her jams, jellies and pepper sauces for greater than 35 years. Her firm is named Marie’s Jelly Jams & Herbs. It was powerful making a alternative however we picked Vacation Jam, which has a crisp fall taste with a touch of spice. We’ll be serving it on Thanksgiving.
Assembly Stefania Martucci was one other deal with. Initially from Turin, Italy she was promoting her home made gadgets, together with focaccia and baked items. We purchased the pumpkin and chocolate tarts and so they had been terrific. She’s additionally promoting a number of sizzling dishes and desserts for Thanksgiving. Attain her at [email protected] 850-363-5408. If it’s too late to order for Thanksgiving, think about her for future occasions or catch her at the market.
Amongst the different sights at the market — our outdated pal and colleague, Rick Flagg. He’s a former radio reporter and present beekeeper who based the Frenchtown Bee Farm. Alongside along with his bottles of honey, he sells samples of a variety of honey flavors, together with root beer and watermelon, in straws. You chew the straws and you’ll both sip on the honey or put the honey in tea or different drinks or meals.
Rick was at this desk with spouse, Debbie Campell, who runs Debbie’s Grand’ola. I’ve been ordering Debbie’s granola from the Pink Hills Small Farm Alliance on-line marketplace for a while and it’s actually good. Rick and Debbie have merged their firms and their lives — two very particular individuals.
We didn’t get to meet everybody and reader Ken Winker jogged my memory of “the very wonderful sausage makers, Brascomb’s Meats by Darwin Brascomb and his spouse who we purchased sausages from Saturday at the Frenchtown Market.” He advises you go to www.brascombsmeats.com for his or her very wonderful pork and turkey sausages.
One other perk on our visit: music by Robynn O’Leary and Mandy Stich.
Again to these proficient younger women: Zaira, Lyrica and Nadira Leo of Bourne Sensible had been arrange at their Frenchtown Farmers Market popup to serve their scrumptious plant-based meals, but in addition for one more cause: to commemorate Black Restaurant Week, which came about final week.
“It’s an occasion that brings collectively black or brown-owned eating places throughout the U.S.,” mentioned the women’ mother, Syrheda La Shae. “What it does, it’s a marketing campaign that not solely connects us nearly but in addition to achieve publicity with the lots that may not usually learn about us as a black-owned restaurant.”
Covid 19 is probably going one consider a rise in the opening of black-owned eating places and meals vehicles, mentioned Syrheda.
“Culturally meals is at all times essential in black households,” she mentioned. “With the onset of the pandemic, lots of people misplaced their jobs and a constant earnings, in order that they turned again to what they knew and what they knew was a supply of earnings of their households for generations.”
And that’s cooking, whether or not meaning eating places, meals vehicles, catering.
Syrheda’s daughters have been baking or cooking since Lyrica was 6 years outdated. She’s now a teen. The ladies have constructed their enterprise but in addition earned awards by serving to others. They make their very own meals and develop a lot of their components.T
The Bourne Sensible women now not personal a brick-and-mortar enterprise so followers are on the lookout for his or her popup occasions and market look.
A type of followers is Jamilla Cooper who was at the Frenchtown Market, ordering the entree particular for the day from Bourne Sensible — smoky meatless meatballs with two entrees.
“I’m a longtime supporter of Bourne Sensible,” mentioned Jamilla, at the Frenchtown Market. “Every little thing they make is scrumptious from their rice to tonics to the cooked meals which are the pièce de résistance.”
I agree.
My husband and I devoured these meatballs and picked sides of a candy rice, crimson rice and buckwheat combination and a medley of squash, zucchini and tomatoes“I positively see the pandemic as a cause lots of people are stepping into this area,” mentioned Jamilla. “A lot of individuals turned to what they know and that’s meals. Black Restaurant Week is getting the phrase out.”
For a listing of native, black-owned eating places, take a look at this chart at https://tinyurl.com/r6568e8z, compiled by Cassie Nicholace, who has performed a terrific job.
There are at all times modifications so please remark if you recognize of any additions or locations which have closed. FYI, Nice Plates and Soul Vegetarian Restaurant have closed; Nefetari’s is now not open for eating service however for catering and occasion rental alternatives and Leola’s Crab Shack has moved to 1911 S. Adams St.
We at all times meet so many inspiring individuals at farmers’ markets. Should you haven’t been to any in Tallahassee, they’re a beautiful useful resource and supply of regionally grown meals, home made items and artistic concepts. For a listing, see our web site — https://www.tallahasseetable.com/tallahassees-farmers…
The Frenchtown Market is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays
The place: 524 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Internet: frenchtownheritage.org
