Farmers Market - Sonoma’s Weekly Party

The Sonoma's is far beyond a typical farmers market - it is the Sonoma's social center.  Everyone has their place, the children in the front dancing by the band as their parents keep a half an eye on them while relaxing in lawn chairs (with some vino in hand,) the hoola-hoopers behind city hall, the middle and high school students - grouped around boom-boxes - competitively observing one another’s clique.

But for me, people-watching is no longer top priority: the recent changes in food vendors are keeping things interesting. 

There are many new faces selling artisan food these days around the square, but are they as good as they’re cracked up to be?  Occasionally, over the next few months I will explore what people are eating at Tuesday Night Farmers Market and what keeps people coming back.

Last week was the second gathering of the year and things are off to a great start. 

In the food department, I started out with homemade fruit kabobs and home cured olives, spring rolls, a falafel and cheesecake for dessert.  Some items were better than others but for the most part everything was good and surprisingly worth the extra 25 percent farmer’s market price gauging.

First the kebobs: a great way to cheaply provide refreshment to your friends and family.  Bring the kebab sticks from home, buy fresh fruit from your favorite vendors and with a knife and cutting board you have a great snack that is fun to make.  As we were enjoying our fruit, some guy put a bowl of cured olives on our table and they were amazing!  Just enough garlic and dill to let complexities of the tiny treats show through.

Unfortunately, my main course was my least favorite.  Initially I was drawn to Mommy Yammy’s Mediterranean booth because of the long line; I figured if people were willing to wait 15 minutes for a falafel, it had to be good.  Well, the falafel was boring and kind of soggy, the tzatziki was great (but tzatziki is always great). Mommy Yammy’s is primarily a catering company, so I think the chickpea falafel was created too far ahead of time.  Their sausage plate looked good; I wish I would have gotten that.

My favorite dish of the evening was absolutely ’s cheese cake.  Thank you Sheana for the first real cheese cake I’ve had since I left New York.  Delice de La Vallee is a blend of fresh triple cream cow and fresh goat milk, which is perfectly balance and not over whipped.  I love this cake!

Regardless of the mixed grub, the Tuesday night Farmers' Market represents our community and it is a pleasure eating and drinking local products with the people who make them.