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Flavors ….flavours… It’s one of those “you say to-may-toe, I say to-mah-toe” things, isn’t it? We Canadians spell flavours one way and south of the 49th, it’s spelled “flavors.” What difference, you might say, but this regionalism is the heart of the issue with Deborah Madison’s latest cookbook. Deborah’s tour of markets across the U.S. celebrates the great variety the nation has to offer and inspires us to go straight from our own neighbourhood markets to the kitchen.
Local Flavors gives us all equal opportunity to avail of the season’s bounty, wherever we live in North America. So often, the glorious products at our farmers’ markets seduce us into purchasing them, but leave us bewildered when we get them home. What do I do with this? Did the farmer tell me it’s good raw, steamed or stir-fried? Is it related to cabbage or onions? A quick look in Local Flavors will answer your queries. From Chapter 4: Cabbages, Kale and other Crucifers to Chapter 11: Stone Fruits, The Warm Heart of Summer, you will find descriptions and recipes to transform your exquisite raw ingredients into tantalizing, picture-perfect dishes, no matter what you found at your market today.
Resolve this summer to really take in your local flavours. Visit farmers’ markets and get to know where your food comes from. Chat up the growers and find out what drives them, their growing practices, challenges and triumphs. We have several farmers’ markets in Vancouver and many more throughout the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, each quite different from the next and all worth visiting. These are the ones we know, love and use regularly:
East Vancouver: in the parking lot of Trout Lake Community Centre, Saturdays
Granville Island: in the one-hour parking lot east of the market, Thursdays
Yaletown: dates and location to be announced, but definitely in Yaletown!
West End: in the parking lot of Lord Roberts School, Saturdays
Capers Community Markets: Robson Street location, Thursday evenings |
