We here at Shoestring Austin inadvertently took part in the first day of Eat Local Week (Dec 4-11) by hitting up the Barton Creek Farmers Market and perusing the local vendors’ wares. In case you haven’t been, you should definitely go! Just hit up the Barton Creek Square Mall between 9 AM and 1 PM every Saturday, rain or shine, and check out great locally-grown produce, farm-raised meats, Austin artisans and live music, tucked in the back of the mall behind Dillard’s. There are plenty of free samples to munch on as you snack your way through the market, but you’ll have to be sure to get there early for dibs on the best offerings. When they’re gone, they’re gone!
The highlight for Celebrity Intern and I was the delicious cheese from Full Quiver Farms, hailing from Kemp, TX. We, tragically, missed their superb cheddar (which sold out before 11 AM), but were able to score some Colby on the rebound. We even doubled back for a container of their Garlic-Basil Cheese Spread, and sampled the Chive spread as well (yum!), after making the rounds of the remaining vendors. They’ve got plenty of samples for cheese-heads, and if you want to know more about the farm (which has been making cheese since 2002), you can check out their website for more info. LOVE!
Just try to tell us this doesn't look AMAZING! "Cheddar from Full Quiver Farms" photo by Flickr members Michelle and Jimi
In addition to the cheese, we were able to talk a bit with a farmer on the issue of agricultural reform, the subject of the recently passed Senate Bill 510. While well-meaning, the bill seeks to place further restrictions on small farms under the guise of food safety, which may require farmers and small food vendors to submit to FDA regulations that simply don’t apply if you’re growing and producing food in a facility smaller than the typical Big Agriculture Congomerate. Or so explained our small-farm representative. We’d like to think that tainted meat produced in huge factory farms are a far cry from the kind of concern and care smaller farmers have for their individual animals, and object to any restrictions that would require all farms to be treated equally, but see Food, Inc. for a more thorough investigation of Big Agriculture vs. The Little Guys.
In other news, Celebrity Intern and I also picked up some of Lamba’s Royal Indian Food, and served it up with a hunka hunka burnin’ cauliflower for dinner this evening. Edible Austin describes Lamba’s chicken curry as “already legendary,” and we found it delightfully tender, with a slow burn. Apparently the secret ingredients are serrano chilis, which are more common in Tex-Mex cuisine than Indian, but have a nice kick to them. We regret not buying a container of the Tikka Chicken as well, but hey, there’s always next Saturday!
Finally, to round out our purchases, I insisted on picking up one of the all-natural soaps from Fleegal Farms. With tons of variety, I wasn’t sure which to choose (and didn’t see the Lemon Smack advertised on their website, but will have to aim for that one next time!), but Celebrity Intern stepped in with his usual aplomb and suggested a bar of the Sensitive Sweet Birch Soap. From the label:
This bar is scented with sweet birch essential oil which is well respected for it’s healing properties especially for eczema and other skin sensitivities. It creates a beautiful lather in any type of water and is one of my most popular soaps.
Nice one! Made from a variety of oils, including coconut, palm, castor, wheat germ, avocado, cocoa butter and shea butter, it smells delightful, and I’m looking forward to hitting this shower with this one tonight.
Before we left, we grabbed a flyer from Greenling, a local company that delivers organic fruit, veggies and more straight to your door. Order a minimum of $25 one time, or get a regular delivery once a week, depending on your needs. You can even schedule the time of the delivery to suit your schedule. Sweet! I’m looking forward to checking this company out and taking advantage of the 10% off coupon from the back of their flyer, and I’ll keep you posted on the results!
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Tags: Barton Creek Farmers Market, chicken curry, Eat Local Week, Fleegal Farms, Food Inc., Full Quiver Farm, Garlic-Basil Cheese Spread, Greenling, Lamba's Royal Indian Food, Michelle and Jimi, natural soaps, organic food delivery service, Senate Bill 510
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[...] Farmers Market: Barton Creek Farmers Market – granted, this was the only one we hit up in 2010, but we’ll remedy this in 2011 for a [...]